The Round Five Friday night derby between St Helens and Warrington Wolves promises to be one of the occasions of the Betfred Super League season for all sorts of reasons – including a strong Tongan flavour which will also be a hint of what’s to come in the Rugby League World Cup at the end of this year.
That is down to a combination of the Saints head coach Kristian Woolf – who will lead the Tongans into the World Cup – plus the generosity of the Saints club and also, whisper it, the energy of a former player of their old enemy Wigan.
Paul Koloi concedes with good humour that he did not make a huge impression during his brief spell in one of Wigan’s last seasons at Central Park, having been signed on the back of his performance for Tonga in the World Nines – with the small matter of succeeding Va’aiga Tuigamala, the cross-code legend who died so tragically young recently, and with whom he had played rugby union for Ponsonby in the Auckland suburbs.
He was back playing in Queensland within a year, but remained a good enough player to earn a place in Tonga’s 2000 World Cup squad – and stayed in London after the tournament for romantic reasons.
More than two decades on, he’s still based in the south with his wife and three children – but the recent devastation in Tonga has prompted a reconnection with Rugby League.
“I contacted the Tongan High Commission in London and asked what we’re doing as a Tongan community,†Paul explained.
“I felt I needed to do something, so I reached out to other Tongans, and it’s developed momentum from there.
“To start with we auctioned some rugby union jerseys, and we’ve already raised nearly £20,000 through various different things. St Helens were already keen to show their support with Kristian as the coach and other Tongan guys at the club, and I’ve said I will get a good Tongan representation at the game.â€
Koloi has been on quite a journey, travelling to South Wales with members of Fui Fui Moi Moi’s family to ensure that there will be a representation from Wales’s Tonga community in St Helens, and then heading north to Murrayfield to collect some more kit and equipment from the Scotland Rugby Union.
Tonga’s move to another level of international Rugby League in recent years, with their unforgettable run in the 2017 World Cup and subsequent wins over Great Britain and Australia, means they have a stronger place than ever in the hearts and minds of League fans all over the world.
There have been significant fund-raising initiatives in Australia and New Zealand around the start of the NRL season, and the RFL has already worked with the Pacific Islands Rugby League Group to ensure that the Combined Nations All Stars will play their Mid-Season International against England in Warrington this June in jerseys that will raise further money for the recovery efforts.
There will be further details of those jerseys next week, but tonight the focus will be on St Helens – where the Tongan High Commissioner will be a guest of honour to show her appreciation for the efforts of Koloi and the St Helens club.
Saints have been supported by their kit suppliers O’Neills in donating two pallets full of clothing and equipment, and will also work with their sponsors Home Bargains and with the Red Cross Saints Supporting Tonga – OFA ATU TONGA - St.Helens R.F.C. (saintsrlfc.com)
The RFL will provide further details of fund-raising through Unicef Pacific, building on Unicef’s existing relationship with RLWC2021, in the coming weeks.
