LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Mate Ma'a Tonga coach Kristian Woolf and star forward Felise Kaufusi have shown their support for the nation's women's Rugby League 9s team as they gear up to compete for gold at the Pacific Games.
Led by captain Ana Ngahe, the team includes former Kiwi Ferns back Lavinia Tauhaliku, and Metanoia and Mele Fotu-Moala, whose sister Teuila was the 2017 international player of the year.
Tonga will face Cook Islands in the final, and Kaufusi, who is gearing up for his second NRL season with the Dolphins, has sent a video message to the women's team ahead of their crucial matches.
Woolf, who is the assistant coach for the Dolphins, also sent a message of support to the team as they prepared for the final.
After securing victories against Samoa and Cook Islands, Tonga remains the only unbeaten team in the women's tournament, and coach Monica Henry expressed pride in her team for making history as the first Tonga women's team to compete at the Pacific Games.