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Elite must play in RLWC: Tonga's Woolf

Ian LaybournAAP
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf says the island team are committed to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Camera IconTonga coach Kristian Woolf says the island team are committed to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. Credit: AAP

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf says his players remain committed to the 2021 World Cup but he is adamant that the tournament must include the game's elite players.

The World Cup is in the balance following the withdrawal of Australia and New Zealand due to safety concerns amid the coronavirus pandemic, a decision backed by the 16 NRL clubs who will provide at least half the players.

St Helens' Australian coach Woolf, who steered Tonga to the semi-finals of the 2017 World Cup and masterminded subsequent wins over Great Britain and Australia, says his players are still keen to come to England but they are awaiting further details of bio-security arrangements.

"I've had really regular contact with a large number of the Tongan group and the overwhelming feeling is that they're really hopeful that the World Cup goes ahead," Woolf said.

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"There's a lot of disappointment that Australia and New Zealand won't be a part of that which stems from the fact that our last game as a team was the 2019 Oceania Cup when we managed to beat both Great Britain and Australia.

"Not being able to get together as a group and keep that momentum going to prove we belong in that top echelon is where that disappointment comes from.

The Game AFL 2024

"Everyone is in a difficult position at the moment and what's going to happen I'm really not sure.

"Before people can make decisions about what they're doing there's more information needed from the NRL and there's certainly more information needed from the World Cup in terms of if it goes ahead, what is it going to look like?"

Woolf says he does not expect Australia and New Zealand to change their minds about participating and is concerned by the stance taken by the NRL clubs - where the majority of Tonga's players ply their trade.

"If NRL clubs decide they won't release players, then that makes everything very difficult," he said. "There's two things I hope for.

"I really hope we don't go ahead and then get cancelled at a later date because players or teams can't commit.

"And whichever teams are participating, I really hope we have the elite players because that's what a World Cup is - the best our sport has to offer.

"If Australia and New Zealand don't want to be a part of that but everyone else does, then at least if we get our best players I'm certainly for us all cracking on and doing that."

Woolf, in his second season in Super League, says he's tried to reassure people back in Australia of the situation in England.

"I feel that we're 12 or 18 months ahead of Australia in dealing with COVID, we're almost at the point where we're learning to live with it so to speak.

"It's still extremely disruptive in rugby league, don't get me wrong, but the country outside of rugby league has started to move on and live with the virus to some extent."

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