Having named a Tonga wider squad last month, coach Kristian Woolf has cut it down to a squad of 19 for their Test against Australia. In narrowing the squad down to 19, Woolf has combined the bulk of his World Cup squad with the group that played against Samoa earlier this year in what should result in a familiar Tongan team taking the field against Australia.

Based on the World Cup and their last outing vs Samoa, what intrigues me most about the Tonga squad isn't so much the players that were selected, but those who were left out. This is an example of Tonga's depth and unlike Australia and Aotearoa, Tonga have the luxury of selecting a full-strength team with all their best players available for selection; not retiring or injured.

Sure, Manu Ma'u is out injured but he will be replaced on the edge by Tevita Pangai Junior. Coach Woolf has called on Sika Manu and Ben Murdoch-Masilla from England's Super League, both of whom are edge forwards who were low key impressive in the World Cup run. Manu is the OG toko, the experienced lad who holds it all together, while in a team stacked to the brim with power/mobility, Murdoch-Masilla is up there among the biggest, most nimble Tongan forwards in the squad.

Sio Siua Taukeiaho is the one to watch with regards to the edge as he plugged a hole on an edge in the Test vs Samoa, when Manu, Murdoch-Masilla and Pangai Junior weren't playing. This was followed by Taukeiaho doing a great job through the middle for Sydney Roosters this season, thus I suspect Taukeiaho will play through the middle for Tonga against Australia.

Cautious is the word that springs to mind when I ponder the halves combination selected, as Tuimoala Lolohea and Ata Hingano simply haven't been playing much NRL footy of late. Let alone playing good footy, carrying form into this fixture. What does work in their favour is that they have already established a strong combination with each other and their powerful forward pack, a combination that enables them to prepare well for moments exactly like this.

Along with the halves duo, Will Hopoate will play fullback while Sione Katoa and Siliva Havili share hooking duties. Any other international team would love to have that cohesion and consistency in selecting their spine. While the halves ain't been playing NRL footy, Hopoate, Katoa and Havili have had strong seasons in the NRL, genuinely kicking on from the World Cup campaign and together, as a play-making group, they should be able to rely on that cohesion to cover any flaws.

The usual battle between Konrad Hurrell, Solomona Kata and Michael Jennings for the two centre spots will be interesting - as it always is. What changes the predicament here is that none of those three have been at their best this season and Kata is the only one who played in a Finals team. This is complex, considering that it's hard to suggest that Kata is a better centre than Hurrell and Jennings, yet Kata had the best season of the three.

Tevita Tatola and Moeaki Fotuaika were in the squad that played against Samoa, neither is in this squad to play Australia. That's because of Tonga's depth in the middle forward bucket and even without Ma'u, Scott Sorenson didn't win selection as edge forward cover after being selected in the wider squad. Leivaha Pulu and Robert Jennings will be in camp as development players, while the other players from the wider squad who didn't win selection in the squad are Mahe Fonua, Samisoni Langi, Sam Moa and Ukuma Ta'ai - Agnatius Paasi moved to Kiwis camp.

As a member of Fotuaika's fan club, I'd love to see him in there and he'll be in the mix soon enough; his non-selection here leaves the door open for a possible Kiwis poaching. Other than Fotuaika winning the development player spot, none of the guys who missed out on selection genuinely warranted selection ahead of Tonga's strongest possible squad.

More of the same for Tonga and they've enjoyed blessings from the footy gods as they enjoy the benefits of not having any injuries or unavailabilities of their top-17. Whether more of the same is enough to defeat Australia, that's the funky narrative that I'll explore in previewing this Test.

Hit an ad to support the Tonga yarns.

Or jump on Patreon and support the Niche Cache directly, we drop bonus stuff for the Patrons and take care of the homies.

Peace and love 27.