KEY POINTS:
The Tongans have surprised everyone but themselves by assembling a squad that is capable of shaking some of the big-name sides at the Rugby League World Cup starting in Australia in 10 days' time.
Tonga's starting side would have been stronger still had the Rugby League International Federation allowed other Tongan-born players and those born to Tongan parents in Australia and New Zealand to switch allegiance.
And like the Kiwis and Kangaroos, this team has suffered through injury withdrawal and from clubs requiring players to have surgery now so they will be fully recovered to take part in pre-season training.
It's been a tricky road to credibility for the Tongan side and one they've negotiated with skill.
The Tongan National Rugby League has been quietly approaching players over the past three years, rebuilding a sport that was in disarray in the Tongan islands and a side that had little attraction to those who had made it to the big time in Australia or England.
The first move was to appoint former Wests, Bulldogs and Eels lock/five-eighth Jim Dymock as coach, to add some credibility to the national team organisation. Dymock, 36, was a Kangaroo in 1995-96.
He was part of Australia's 1995 World Cup-winning side, played State of Origin from 1996-98 and won the Clive Churchill Medal for man of the match in the 1995 grand final where the Bulldogs beat Manly.
His reputation in the game is assured.
"In 2000 and for the next couple of years we didn't have much to offer the NRL boys," said TNRL director William Edward. "We decided to go to Jim and, when we approached him, he jumped at the chance to coach. It's taken us three years to get to where we are now. Jim brought in professional training staff.
"The players were a bit blase at first, but as the organisation improved they showed more interest. We've had some of these players since 2005. This year we had guys like Michael Jennings and Anthony Tupou ringing us up and saying they'd like to represent Tonga."
The island nation realises its place in the scheme of things and would not stand in the way of players of dual eligibility who wanted to represent Australia or New Zealand, Edwards said, but they were disappointed at the RLIF decision to refuse Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Tuiaki the chance to represent Tonga.
The pair had previously played for New Zealand but the Kiwis said they were not part of their plans for 2008.
The Tongans have a long-term plan through to the World Cup in 2013, where they plan to make a major impact on the tournament.
After seeking the NRL's help, they have a list of 134 Tongan-eligible players who are in NRL feeder grades including the New South Wales Cup, Queensland Cup and Toyota Cup under-20s competition. Around 60 per cent are aged 16-21 years.
So they have the up-and-coming talent. What they need, after years of relying on funding from the Tongan Government and the royal family, is big sponsorship dollars and more big games so they can put their best team on the park and sell it to league fans.
"We need more international competition to fund growth of the game," Edwards said.
In 2001 there were just 14 senior league sides in Tonga. Now there are 50 teams from under-12s upwards and next year there is a plan to take mini-mod football into schools in what has long been a rugby-mad nation. Television broadcasts of the NRL which started three years ago have helped to publicise the 13-man game.
"We're not trying to compete with rugby and I don't think we've taken away from rugby. But the players who used to play both now stick to league. They like the running and tackling rather than the ruck and maul."
It is important that the Tongan side gives a good account of themselves in this World Cup, Edwards said. A good performance from the national side can attract more sponsors to keep the ball rolling.
They hope the Tongan side can get more credibility with NRL sides. The clubs pay players a bonus if they reach "representative sides" which so far means State of Origin, Australia or New Zealand.
In the future, the Tongans would like to see the Tri-Nations competition expanded to include a combined Pacific Island side.
"We've thrown that one up with the NRL but there's nothing formal yet," said coach Dymock. If the islands could be included in the Tri-Nations, it would draw players to their island nation teams who currently stick with Australia because they want to play State of Origin.
Such a deal would also bring money to the Tongan/Samoan/Fijian game through gate receipts.
