Tonga Rugby League

The 30-year-old, who will play for St Helens in the Super League this season, was naturally worried about his family’s safety when he heard the news about the devastating natural disaster.

However, he says he’s been able to make contact with them back on the Pacific Island and much to his relief, discovered that everyone is OK.

“Obviously it’s been a tough couple of weeks, but I finally got through to my sister and through to my dad,” Hurrell said.

Fetū Samoa defended strongly in a credible 28-8 defeat by New Zealand but the agility and foot work of the Kiwi Ferns ultimately proved too strong at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Coach Ross Uele believed the team would only get better with more time together.

"If we had another week under our belt it could have been a different story, but full credit to the Kiwis," he said.

"They're the benchmark and I'm really happy with the girls and what they did today."

The Herald revealed last week Luai was weighing up whether to represent Samoa or New Zealand, and had never entertained the idea of running out for the Blues alongside childhood mate Nathan Cleary.

Luai would not turn down an offer from Blues coach Brad Fittler, but made it clear his heart was with the Pacific nation where his father, Martin, grew up. Samoa could follow in Tonga's footsteps and become a little league powerhouse.

The Salford ace has had one question running through his mind over recent months – what the hell is going on?

Tonga’s official board fell out with coaches and players, meaning boss Kristian Woolf was sacked and the top stars that committed to the Pacific island would have boycotted games.

Things were so bad, the International Rugby League board took action and brought in the ‘Tonga Invitational XIII’ to make sure the top talent played this Autumn, bossed by the new St Helens chief.

The Mate Ma'a Tonga fullback reaffirmed the position of players ahead of the World Nines that they would not be backing down on their demands for an overhaul of the Pacific nation's rugby league bureaucracy.

Hopoate said the league community must not interpret relative silence on the issue over the past week as any sign the problems have been solved.

"We have been keeping in contact and don't want to wreck the preparations of those playing finals footy," Hopoate told NRL.com.

The 20 year old started at centre in last weekend's 34-14 Oceania Cup rugby league defeat by New Zealand in Auckland and says it's an occasion he will cherish for the rest of his life.

Staggs is of Indigenous Australian and Tongan descent but has yet to meet his Tongan father, who lives in the United States.

He says getting to know a bit more about his Tongan background was a humbling experience.

As Tonga closed in on a drought-breaking win over Pacific Island rivals Samoa in the first Pacific Test in Penrith in April 2013, the exuberant red army of Tongan supporters could no longer be contained.

A few made their way onto the field as Samisoni Langi lined up the conversion of his own try six minutes from full-time, one getting so far as to be able to give Langi a congratulatory pat on the back before departing in his best 'Hayne Plane' impression.

Foran hasn't pulled on the black jumper since the last Anzac Day test in 2017, having battled injury for the second half of last year.

The 28-year-old also missed five games earlier this season due to an ankle injury, but declared himself back to full strength after playing four-straight games.

"My body's starting to feel really good," said Foran.

"It's great to be playing week in, week out footy and not have any niggles and injuries at the moment. My ankle's feeling good. Physically, I feel really good."

The brawl came after days of heightened tension between Samoan and Tongan rugby league fans, ahead of their second round World Cup clash in Hamilton on Saturday.

Police say a crowd of up to 200 Samoan and Tongan fans gathered in a carpark near the Manukau Institute of Technology in Otara last night.

"It was major disorder", said Superintendent Sandra Manderson, the police national commander for major sporting events.

"Some people in the crowd were carrying poles and sticks... I believe there was also a machete taken off someone."