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Feleti, Fui *and Etu* starting for Tonga

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
Just to let people know the Tongan side for Sunday's clash against Samoa has been named - Feleli at starting five-eighth, Fui as starting prop.

I'll be going to the game up here at Leeds on Sunday afternoon, so should have a report on how they go and hopefully some photos ready for Monday morning.

http://www.therfl.co.uk/HOME/news_item_top.php?id=126 (scroll down the bottom past the England stuff)

Tonga side for 22 October:
Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney);
Tyrone Smith (Harlequins RL),
Andrew Emilio (Bulldogs),
Lelea Paea (Roosters > Gold Coast),
'Etuate Uaisele (Parramatta);
Feleti Mateo (Parramatta),
Joel Taufa'ao (South Sydney);
Solomon Haumono (Harlequins RL),
Kim Uasi (Manukau Jetz),
FuiFui MoiMoi (Parramatta),
Richard Fa'aoso (Castleford > ?),
Lopini Paea (Sydney Roosters),
Willie Tupou (St George).

Interchange:
Mickey Paea (Sydney Roosters),
Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers),
Sam Moa (Balmain Ryde-Eastwood),
Maka Ritcher (Western Suburbs)
 

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
Oh, your right Nikki. I'll bold him too.

I've added the teams, any off-season changes pending.
 

Stagger eel

Moderator
Staff member
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65,417
hey Bart, the Samoan team may also include our new winger we signed from the Central comets, McConkie Tausa.

look out for him.
 

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
Will do Eela.

Haven't laid my hands anywhere on the Samoan squad that actually made the flight over here yet, but should be able to get a list by/on Sunday.
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
150,734
thanks Bartman,

Feleti would have to be th biggest 5/8 in the world
 

BlueNGoldBlood

Juniors
Messages
1,296
That Tongan side doesnt look to bad, would have liked to go to this game just to see Fui and Feleti run around, oh and Etu too :lol:
 
D

Deleted member 10972

Guest
Last time the team was named, Kurt Sorenson Jr was at lock, & Charlie Tonga was in the starting pack.
 

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
They got beat by Fiji, so probably a slightly different bunch of players in the touring party that did/could be in Engalnd for this match and the Fed Shield tournament that follows?

Solomon Haumono, Tyrone Smith and Richard Fa'aoso already being over here might have cost some other guys like Kurt and Charlie their spots.
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Well, Tonga got the victory. And Samoa have to try and qualify for the World Cup again next year, as Fiji get through on for and against.

Fui did OK, but seemed to match every good thing (barge or big hit) with a silly thing (penalty or dropped ball) in the first half. Had a spell in each half, probably played 50 minutes in total. Made a great break downfield in the second half which led to a try a few tackles later, but Somolon Haumono stood out as the best prop on the field.

Feleti was hot and cold, looked really dangerous early on in attack, organising runners and kicking wide for the wingers. But he made a few bad passes, bad decisions and bad kicks as the half went on, and seemed to lose his confidence a bit. Tonga had been really dominant but couldn't capitalise and turn it into points. So the halfback Taufau'o stepped up and started to take over more. Feleti made a great break in the second half though, drew and offloaded to Taufau'o who continued downfield, and a try came a few tackles later.

I'll post some pictures of these guys after I get some sleep, but if Etu was in jersey 2 as I thought he was, then he did OK without getting much ball. Nothing flash but solid in defence, fielded all kicks taregted down his wing and had good communication with his centre. If he was in jersey 5, then he didn't capitalise off a few attacking opportunities and kicks to the in goal, and Samoa made some inroads down that side in each half...

As for our new signing McConkie Tausa, he actually played lock for Samoa. Didn't do anything wrong or anything flash, which makes sense if he was out of position. But he still must be highly regarded to get in the starting side, as all of the Samoan bench players seemed quite talented when they came on. To be honest it looked like Samoa needed some organising either side of the ruck (or maybe they had one too many organisers in there?) and looked most dangerous when they got the ball to Carmont and attacked the left hand side.

Tonga's next match is a tour match against Cumbria (North West England - Barrow, Whitehaven, Workington) on Wednesday night and then against England in London on Saturday. Caoch Jim Dymock is still looking pretty stylish these days too...
 

JessEel

Accredited Media Releases
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28,677
MEDIA RELEASE



Tonga became the first team to qualify for the 2008 World Cup after overcoming Samoa 18-10 in the final match of the Oceania group.



The Tongans' victory, in a tight and tense match played in difficult, wet conditions at Headingley, means runners-up Fiji also go through to the main draw.



Samoa, frontrunners after beating Fiji and Cook Islands in earlier group matches, lose out on automatic qualification because of an inferior points difference but could win a reprieve in the repechage.



Today's qualifiers will join Australia, New Zealand, England, France and Papua New Guinea in the 10-team tournament, to be held in Australia in two years' time.



The Samoans would have gone through had they lost by six points, and the outcome rested on a missed goalkick from full-back Tangi Ropati, arguably their best player.



Man of the match was Harlequins forward Solomon Haumono, who led the Tongans from the front, scoring the all-important try on the stroke of half-time that broke the deadlock.



Tonga substitute Taniela Tuiaki had opened the scoring in the 22nd minute but Conrad Ta'akimoeaka pulled Samoa level four minutes before half-time after Castleford second rower Gray Viane had made the crucial break.



Winger Malo Solomona, cousin of New Zealand Test forward David, added a second try for Samoa early in the second half but the match was settled when substitute Makasini Richter went over on the hour and scrum-half Joel Taufa'ao kicked his third goal from as many attempts.



In other results, a two-try display from former Leeds Rhinos winger Mark Calderwood helped England to a 26-10 victory in their opening Federation Shield match against France.
 

Redback71

First Grade
Messages
8,105
man that tongan side is good they may go a long way what is the exact date of the world cup by the way
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
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73,540
Tonga
Fetuli Talanoa, ‘Etuate (Tonga) Uaisele, Andrew Emilio, Lelea Paea, Tyrone Smith, (Ali) Feleti Mateo, Joel Taufa'ao, Fuifui Moimoi, Eliakim Uasi, Solomon Haumono, Lopini Paea, Richard Fa'aoso, William Topou. Interchange: Mickey Paea, Taniela Tuiaki, Sam Moa, Makasini Richter.

Samoa
Tangi Ropati, Malofou Solomona, Miguel Start, George Carmont, Smith Samau, Rota Setu, Channarith Ly, Eward (Hutch) Maiava, Albert Talapeau, Shannon Stowers, Frank Winterstein, Gray Viane, McConkie Tauasa. Interchange: Chris Vaefaga, Peewee Moke, Junior Tia Kirifi, Conrad Ta'akimoeaka.

Tonga 18 (Tuiaki, Haumono, Richter tries, Taufa'ao 3 goals) Samoa 10 (Ta'akimoeaka, Solomona tries, Ropati goal). Referee: S Ganson (England). Man of Match: Solomon Haumono.
 

Nikki

Coach
Messages
11,495
bartman said:
Oh, and Jimmy coming back on after half time
221006jimi.jpg


And there's a shot of the anthem and hakas over in this thread:
http://forums.leagueunlimited.com/showthread.php?t=157177

Yayee!!! They still wore their Island shirts.. (I'd call em Hawaiin Shirts, but they are big Tongan guys) :lol:
 

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