Huge drama has hit the Great Britain Rugby League Lions team ahead of their opening tour match vs the Tonga Invitational XIII kicking off at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday night.
A gigantic fire burning from the under construction SkyCity Convention Centre has seen the team evacuated from their nearby inner-city Hotel.
Given 20 minutes to pack their bags and evacuate from the SKYCITY Grand Hotel, across the road from the raging inferno, the League Lions are now safely on the bus down to Hamilton to prepare for their match vs Tonga Invitational XIII a day earlier than planned.
This change in plans has seen the coaching staff’s selection meeting postponed, meaning the GBRL Lions will instead name their test side tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, Tonga Invitational XIII have named a very strong team to contest their first ever match vs the League Lions. Consistency and star power is the key in the Kristian Woolf coached side with only 4 players missing from their June Oceania Cup test against New Zealand.
Rugby League World Cup Stars Ata Hingano and Michael Jennings are back in the team after missing the June test due to injury. Star player and fan favourite Jason Taumalolo has been named co-captain alongside NRL premiership winner Sio Siua Taukeiaho.
Tonga Invitational XIII:
1. Will Hopoate
2. David Fusitu’a
3. Michael Jennings
4. Kotoni Staggs
5. Daniel Tupou
6. Tuimoala Lolohea
7. Ata Hingano
8. Andrew Fifita
9. Siliva Havili
10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho ©
11. Ben Murdoch-Masila
12. Manu Ma’u
13. Jason Taumalolo ©
Interchange:
1. Sione Katoa
2. Addin Fonua-Blake
3. John Asiata
4. Sitili Tupouniua
5. Junior Tatola
6. Konrad Hurrell
7. Tesi Niu
Coach: Kristian Woolf
