Cronulla winger Sione Katoa will represent Tonga in the Pacific Championships after earning selection in a 20-man squad captained by incoming Sharks recruit Addin Fonua-Blake.
Coming off a consistent NRL season in which he scored a career-high 17 tries and averaged 145 metres across 24 games, Katoa is set to add to his tally of five Tests for Tonga against Australia and New Zealand in the coming weeks.
The 27-year-old last played for his parents' birth nation at the World Cup in 2022.
Front-rower Fonua-Blake, who will officially become a Shark on November 1 having completed his final season at the Warriors, will share the captaincy duties with Jason Taumalolo. The likes of Paul Alamoti, Felise Kaufusi, Lehi Hopoate, Haumole Olakau'atu, Keaon Koloamatangi and Eliesa Katoa also feature in the squad.
The Sharks didn't have any players named in the Australian or New Zealand men's teams, with Kiwi trio Ronaldo Mulitalo (knee), Briton Nikora (ankle) and Kayal Iro (hamstring) unavailable due to injuries. Sharks NRL assistant coach Steve Price is also an assistant to Stacey Jones for New Zealand.
For the women's Pacific Championships, NRLW stars Quincy Dodd and Tiana Penitani were selected in the Jillaroos squad, while Annessa Biddle and Brooke Anderson will represent the Kiwi Ferns.
Tonga squad
Paul Alamoti (Penrith Panthers)*
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (The Dolphins)*
Addin Fonua-Blake (New Zealand Warriors)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles)*
Isaiah Iongi (Parramatta Eels)*
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Felise Kaufusi (The Dolphins)
Keaon Koloamatangi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Tolutau Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Tuimoala Lolohea (Huddersfield Giants)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Haumole Olakau'atu (Manly Sea Eagles)
Taniela Paseka (Manly Sea Eagles)*
Moses Suli (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Sitili Tupouniua (Canterbury Bulldogs)
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
*Denotes international rookie.
Men's Pacific Championship Fixtures
October 18: Australia vs Tonga at Suncorp Stadium, Queensland
October 27: New Zealand vs Australia at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
November 2: New Zealand vs Tonga at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
November 10: Pacific Championships Final, CommBank Stadium, Sydney
