The ever-growing Tongan influence in the NRL will be on display tonight when the Kiwis play the island nation in Rotorua in what is the world champions' first match on home soil since being crowned almost a year ago.
Parramatta utility Feleti Mateo is the captain and lead act for
a Tongan team sprinkled with NRL talent.
Tonga's new coach Rohan Smith - son of veteran NRL coach Brian Smith - has named a team that includes former Kiwi Epalahame Lauaki, Newcastle second rower Richard Fa'aoso, Cronulla's Melbourne-bound Atelea Vea, Viliami Mataka (Wests Tigers), Etuate Uaisele (Parramatta) and rookie Warrior Ukuma Ta'ai.
Ta'ai will become a double international after previously representing Tonga in rugby.
Mateo lines up 10 days after being in the Eels side defeated by Melbourne in the NRL grand final.
Also backing up from that game are Melbourne forwards Jeff Lima, who starts for the Kiwis at prop, and Adam Blair, who is on the bench.
Coach Stephen Kearney has named four debutants. Newcastle centre Junior Sau, Bulldogs winger Bryson Goodwin and Sydney Roosters prop Frank-Paul Nuuausala are in the starting line-up. Rotorua-born Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is on the bench.
While there is no shortage of new blood, Kearney has retained the spine of the team that shocked the Kangaroos in last year's World Cup final.
Warriors utility Lance Hohaia starts at fullback, while the halves pairing of Nathan Fien and Benji Marshall is also reunited. Wigan halfback Thomas Lealuai, who started at hooker in the final, has been relegated to the bench, with livewire Souths rake Isaac Luke - who missed the Anzac test through suspension - starting.
The match is the only hit-out for the Kiwis before their Four Nations opener against Australia in London on Sunday week.
They then face France in Toulouse the next week and England in Huddersfield on November 7. The top two teams from pool play contest a final in Leeds on November 14.
The match also serves as a warm-up for Tonga before the Pacific Cup in Papua New Guinea.
* New Zealand vs Tonga
Rotorua International Stadium, 7.30 tonight
New Zealand
Lance Hohaia
Bryson Goodwin
Steve Matai
Junior Sau
Sam Perrett
Benji Marshall (c)
Nathan Fien
Jeff Lima
Isaac Luke
F. Nuuausala
Bronson Harrison
Frank Pritchard
Greg Eastwood
Tonga
Toshio Laiseni
Sam Huihahau
Pita Maile
Siuatonga Likiliki
Etuate Uaisele
Feleti Mateo (c)
Eddie Paea
Epalahame Lauaki
Eliakim Uasi
Richard Fa'aoso
Ukuma Ta'ai
Viliami Matak
Atelea Vea
Interchange
Kiwis: Thomas Leuluai, Iosia Soliola, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Adam Blair.
Tonga: Joel Taufa'ao, Sione Tovo, Siosaia Vave, Paki Afu, Nafe Seluini.
The ever-growing Tongan influence in the NRL will be on display tonight when the Kiwis play the island nation in Rotorua in what is the world champions' first match on home soil since being crowned almost a year ago.
Parramatta utility Feleti Mateo is the captain and lead act for
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