B rad Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Could Tonga field the biggest team ever for the next RLWC? Tongan rugby league is all about power and go forward and if they play to their strengths they could field a team of monsters that looks like this. Total Weight Forward Pack and Reserve : 1132 Kgs Average Weight Forward Pack and Reserve : 113.2 Kgs Total Weight Team : 1841 Kgs Average Weight Team : 108.2 Kgs 1 Hopoate 2 Fusitu'a 3 Suli 4 Staggs 5 Tupou 6 Lolohea 7 Asiata 8 Fonua-Blake 9 Havili 10 Taukeiaho 11 Murdoch-Masila 12 Olakau'atu 13 Taumalolo 14 Pangai Jr 15 D Fifita 16 Fotuaika 17 Paseka Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Kevin Sinfield Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Love the stats, I wonder if a record exists for this. The Tongan side will certainly be big that’s for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Man of Kent Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Humongous side but still lacking international class halves for my tuppence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshmagpie Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 2 hours ago, Man of Kent said: Humongous side but still lacking international class halves for my tuppence. All eyes on Junior Amone’s development at the SGI Dragons. If he develops well, they could be ok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost crayfish Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Kotoni Staggs might be shifting to 6 next year as well, which could help Tonga. Putting him in the halves with Lolohea worked against Australia... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UTK Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 Though Asiata suits the theme of biggest ever team it'll likely be a Lolohea + Hingano/Hopoate/Staggs pairing with Niu at fullback. If Fainu gets a favourable outcome in his court case it'll help their spine prospects immensely as well. Probably the best forward pack in the world and they have a lot more depth (outside the spine) than in 2017. Would not want to be facing them in the quarters which makes the result of the opener even more important. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B rad Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 4 hours ago, UTK said: Though Asiata suits the theme of biggest ever team it'll likely be a Lolohea + Hingano/Hopoate/Staggs pairing with Niu at fullback. If Fainu gets a favourable outcome in his court case it'll help their spine prospects immensely as well. Probably the best forward pack in the world and they have a lot more depth (outside the spine) than in 2017. Would not want to be facing them in the quarters which makes the result of the opener even more important. I left a lot of people out that could easily make the side. Tesi Niu could play fullback and he would add a lot more strike power but has been bad under the highball. Hopefully he might improve on this year. Hopoate is more experienced, better defender, safer option. Niu could definitely be there though or even in the centres. Depending on how people play next year Will Penisini, Moses Suli, Brenko Lee, Will Hopoate, Tesi Niu, Mahe Fonua or even Samisoni Langi could play centre. Kotoni Staggs if fit will have the other centre spot unless they put him to 5/8 Lots of options. Hingo needs to play top grade. Hopefully he does and goes well. Poor dude has been injured for a long time. Keaon Kolomatangi might be in for David Fifita. Fifita though eligible hasn't declared for Tonga yet. He is hot and cold though and playing for Australia might not even be an option. He might not even make the Tongan side if he cant get more consistent. They have a big pool to choose from. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B rad Posted November 8, 2021 Author Share Posted November 8, 2021 5 hours ago, Saint 1 said: Perhaps, but I don't think power or go forward is their limiting factor anyway. Look at that spine. Even with a spine not as good as other top nations they have still managed to beat everybody because of their power and go forward. Its their style. I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedfordshire Bronco Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 16 hours ago, B rad said: Could Tonga field the biggest team ever for the next RLWC? Tongan rugby league is all about power and go forward and if they play to their strengths they could field a team of monsters that looks like this. Total Weight Forward Pack and Reserve : 1132 Kgs Average Weight Forward Pack and Reserve : 113.2 Kgs Total Weight Team : 1841 Kgs Average Weight Team : 108.2 Kgs 1 Hopoate 2 Fusitu'a 3 Suli 4 Staggs 5 Tupou 6 Lolohea 7 Asiata 8 Fonua-Blake 9 Havili 10 Taukeiaho 11 Murdoch-Masila 12 Olakau'atu 13 Taumalolo 14 Pangai Jr 15 D Fifita 16 Fotuaika 17 Paseka No Hurrell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris22 Posted November 8, 2021 Share Posted November 8, 2021 That side is outstanding apart from the half backs. Mind you, I suppose the same could be same for England! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B rad Posted November 9, 2021 Author Share Posted November 9, 2021 4 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said: No Hurrell? Yeah well. If he plays good next year. He brings a lot of passion to the side. I don't think he has been at his best for awhile though. He would up the average weight been 110 Kgs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost crayfish Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 17 hours ago, Saint 1 said: I don't expect that experiment to persist to be honest. With Gamble and Te Maire Martin the Broncos have a couple of serviceable stand-offs now, especially with Reynolds doing the bulk of the organising and kicking. True, but it all might depend on how good a centre Selwyn Cobbo proves to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrPosh Posted November 9, 2021 Share Posted November 9, 2021 I remember seeing a team in an amateur game in Bradford in the mid-90s that was comfortably heavier than the current Tonga team. People called Romans they go the house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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