rugby league

The Kiwi NRL club has advised long-serving playmaker Johnson to test his value on the open market, even though there's a year to run on his contract.

The timing and public nature of the Warriors announcement was criticised by Nikorima, coming midway through New Zealand's three-Test series in England.

He said his room mate Johnson was caught off guard, days out from Sunday's second Test in Liverpool.

It's been nine months since Mate Ma'a Tonga's memorable run to the World Cup semi finals, which included a famous victory over New Zealand in Hamilton.

The Kingdom's request for a rematch against the Kiwis in October was rejected by New Zealand Rugby League, who also vetoed Tonga's desire to host the Kangaroos in Auckland.

Woolf said despite both sides wanting the match to go ahead roadblocks keep getting in the way.

"Our first option was that we wanted to play against New Zealand but it was very clear early on that that was not going to happen," he said.

Williams is targeting next year's Rugby Union World Cup with the All Blacks but his future beyond that is undecided.

The dual international turns 34 next August and is weighing up ending an illustrious career spanning Australia, New Zealand, France, Japan, rugby league, rugby union and boxing.

Williams became a pariah in the 13-man game after his walk-out on Canterbury in 2008 over a contract dispute.

Major League Rugby completed its inaugural season last month with the Seattle Seawolves beating the Glendale Raptors in the grand final.

Former Fiji sevens captain Osea Kolinisau (Houston SaberCats) and 'Ikale Tahi first five Kurt Morath (Utah Warriors) were among the Pacific players to feature in the debut Major League Rugby campaign.

The competition's top try-scorer, Tonata Lauti, was born in Tonga before moving to Salt Lake City with his family in 1996.

The Warriors wilted in a 36-12 loss on the Gold Coast on Sunday after establishing a 12-8 lead at halftime.

A win would would have put them three victories clear of ninth with five games remaining.

Instead, they leaked five unanswered tries and miss a chance to consolidate their first NRL finals campaign since 2011.

It was a shock turn of events given they had won their past seven at Cbus Super Stadium, 14 of their past 15 against the Titans and seven of nine away games this year.

Trailing 20-0 with seven minutes remaining of the semi-final against England, Mate Ma'a charged home with three converted tries and were on the attack again when Andrew Fifita appeared to be stripped of possession by England back-rower Elliott Whitehead before regathering and diving over for what would've been a match-winning try.

With Fifita ruled to have knocked the ball on several Tongan players were left in tears as a dream World Cup campaign came to an end.

Toa Samoa reached the quarter finals at last year's World Cup despite failing to a win any of their four tests.

A host of injuries and retirements has left new Kiwis coach Michael McGuire scrambling to name a squad to face England in Denver next weekend.

Matt Parish expects most of his World Cup team to be available for Samoa's Pacific Test against Tonga in Campbelltown but said New Zealand has managed to convince a couple of players to cross-over.

After establishing himself as arguably the form New Zealander of the NRL during the opening six rounds, the Wests Tigers' No.6 is still dreaming of ending his six-year exile from the national set-up.

On form, he is undoubtedly the leading contender to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves for the mid-year Denver Test against England and has consistently out- pointed the other leading contenders.

Last week, two fans were given indefinite bans from attending matches by the NRL, after directing abuse at South Sydney star at the end of his team's round-two loss to the Panthers.

Inglis said he was now fine with the matter, but still didn't want to talk publicly about the incident, which he had reported immediately to South Sydney management.

"I'll speak about it when I'm ready," Inglis said on Tuesday. "It's just a very touchy subject - I'll speak when I'm ready to speak about it."

The first two clashes have been announced with Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa going head-to-head, as well as a match between Papua New Guinea and Lebanon.

Cronulla Sharks prop Andrew Fifita recently pleaded his allegiance to Mate Ma'a Tonga (MMT), turning his back on the State of Origin series as well as any chances to play for Australia's Kangaroos.

MMT coach Kristian Woolf says he fully supports Fifita's decision and the huge sacrifice it comes with.