Mateo to lead Tonga into Pacific Cup

Parramatta Eels star Feleti Mateo will lead Tonga in its SP Brewery Pacific Cup warm-up match against New Zealand tomorrow night and headlines a powerful squad aiming to take out the inaugural tournament in Port Moresby. <br><br>Tongan coach Rohan Smith is set to use tomorrow night’s match to decide the final make up of the squad to travel to Port Moresby on October 19. <br><br>Mateo is joined in the squad by several NRL players in Newcastle’s Richard Fa’aoso, Cronulla's Melbourne-bound Atelea Vea, Viliami Mataka of Wests Tigers, Parramatta's Etuate Uaisele and 2009 rookie Warrior Ukuma Ta'ai, who is set to become a dual international after previously representing Tonga in Test rugby. <br><br>The Tongan squad also includes former Warriors back-rower and Kiwis international Epalahame Lauaki while UK Super League stars and former NRL players Tevita Leo-Latu and Willie Manu have also been named. <br><br> Tonga, ranked third of the Pacific Nations behind Fiji and PNG following the 2008 Rugby League World Cup, faces host nation Papua New Guinea in their first round Pacific Cup match on Sunday, October 25 at Lloyd Robson Oval. <br><br><strong>Tonga: 2009 Pacific Cup Squad</strong> <table width="80%" align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center"><strong>Surname</strong></div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center"><strong>First Name </strong></div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center"><strong>Club</strong></div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">AFU</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Paki</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Bulldogs </div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">EMELIO</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Andrew</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Penrith Panthers</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">FA’AOSO</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Richard</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Newcastle Knights</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">HUIHAHAU</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Sam</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Canberra Raiders</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">LAISENI</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Toshio</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">NZ Warriors</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">LATU</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Tevita</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Wakefield Warriors</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">LAUAKI</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Epalahame</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Hull FC</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">LIKILIKI</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Siuatonga</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">NZ Warriors</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">MAILE</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Pita</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Melbourne Storm</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">MATEO</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Feleti</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Parramatta Eels</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">MOA</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Sam</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Hull FC</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">PAEA</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Eddy</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Cronulla Sharks</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">TA’AI</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Ukuma</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">NZ Warriors</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">TAUFA’AU</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Joel</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">South Australian Rugby</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">TOVO</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Sione</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Newcastle Knights</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">UAISELE</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Etuate</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Parramatta Eels</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">UASI</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Eliakim</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Parramatta Eels</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">VAVE</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Siosia</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Gold Coast Titans</div></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">VEA</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%" nowrap="nowrap"><div align="center">Atelea</div></td> <td valign="top" width="33%"><div align="center">Cronulla Sharks</div></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <strong> COACH: </strong>Rohan Smith