Tonga coach Kristian Woolf has slammed critics of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita for choosing to play for the minnow nation at the Rugby League World Cup.
The pair's move to shun New Zealand and Australia has earned mixed responses from both sides of the Tasman, as they joined the likes of New Zealanders Manu Ma'u, Sio Siua Taukieaho and David Fusitu'a at Tonga.
Former Kiwi captain Benji Marshall claimed Taumalolo's decision was "disrespectful", while Cooper Cronk said Fifita's move to change allegiances after being named for Australia was "poor".
But in a column on Players Voice, Woolf said that was the kind of situation he had grown accustomed to after Tonga had long had to deal with players leaving their squad to join top-tier nations.
"We understand it. We're very accustomed to it. There are usually three or four late call-ups for us," Woolf wrote. "Every one of our players and support staff understand and support those players when it goes the other way. It has surprised me how little consideration seems to have gone into the reverse situation."
