Dymock: Experience will make a difference come World Cup

After being outclassed by the Kiwi Ferns in a 50-12 loss on Saturday in Auckland, Tonga now hope to build an environment which will attract more big-name NRLW players with Tongan heritage.

Outside of captain Lavinia Tauhalaliku – who opted to play for Tonga after representing New Zealand in 2020 – coach Milton Dymock’s side was predominately made up of international newcomers, with players based in both Australia and New Zealand.

But reinforcements may be on their way with New Zealand winger Katelyn Vaha'akolo, who scored twice against Tonga, declaring her interest in switching allegiance to Tonga after this year’s World Cup.

“I really do want to play for them one day, but I want to try and make the World Cup squad (with New Zealand) at the end of the year,” Katelyn Vaha'akolo told NRL.com.

“Another year, definitely, it would be cool. I’d love to be part of that.

“I definitely got emotional hearing the Tongan national anthem, but I am so proud of that team, they really gave us a good run and you can’t fault heart.”

There was also a strong Tonga flavour to the New South Wales team which beat Queensland in Friday’s Ampol Women’s State of Origin match, with forward Simaima Taufa born in Tonga and winger Tiana Penitani being of Tongan heritage too.

Both players were part of the Australian Jillaroos in their last match back in 2019 and like Vaha'akolo are odds on to be part of this year’s World Cup for their current nation.

Dymock said while an injection of experience would be a huge help to his team, he also wants to ensure players are doing it for the right reason.

“It would always make a difference to us. Obviously the girls you are talking about have got a bit more experience, NRLW experience, so the more experience that we have in the camp hopefully that rubs off on the younger girls,” Dymock said.

“It’s individual preference. We don’t want to deny anything to anyone, if they see fit to play for New Zealand, New South Wales, Cook Islands, then so be it.

“I don’t think it’s just about next year, hopefully we can build at the back end of the year with [matches against] a couple of sides looking for a game ahead of the World Cup.”

We just want to give girls an opportunity to play for Tonga if they want to, and we would love it to happen.

Milton Dymock

Tonga struggled to match the intensity of New Zealand through the first 40 minutes at Mount Smart Stadium and found themselves 30-0 down at the break.

But Dymock took heart from an improved second-half showing, which included his side scoring twice in the final 15 minutes, much to the delight of the crowd of over 18,000 – a world record for a women’s match – who braved the wet and cold conditions in Auckland.