Young One New Zealand Warriors forwards Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima will line up for Tonga in the Pacific Championships starting on the weekend of October 18-19.
The Tongans begin their campaign against Sāmoa at Suncorp Stadium on October 26 before travelling to Auckland to face the Kiwis at Eden Park on November 2.
Vaimauga and Halasima come into the Tonga squad for the first time after breakout NRL campaigns for the Warriors this year, Vaimauga missing just one of the team’s 25 matches while Halasima appeared in every game.
A runaway winner of the Warriors’ Rookie of the Year award, he was desperately unlucky to be overlooked for the Dally M Rookie of the Year award.
The Tongans will be led by ex-Kiwis in former Warrior Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo.
Other former Warriors in the squad are second rower Eliesa Katoa, hooker Siliva Havili and standoff Tuimoala Lolohea.
Tonga | 2025 Pacific Championships
Paul Alamoti (Penrith Panthers)
Kulikefu Finefeuiaki (Dolphins)
Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks) co-captain
Moeaki Fotuaika (Gold Coast Titans)
Leka Halasima (One New Zealand Warriors)
Siliva Havili (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
Lehi Hopoate (Manly Sea Eagles)
Eliesa Katoa (Melbourne Storm)
Isaiya Katoa (Dolphins)
Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks)
Felise Kaufusi (Dolphins)
Tolu Koula (Manly Sea Eagles)
Isaiah Iongi (Parramatta Eels)
Soni Luke (Penrith Panthers)
Will Penisini (Parramatta Eels)
Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys) co-captain
Robert Toia (Sydney Roosters)
Daniel Tupou (Sydney Roosters)
Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne Storm)
Demitric Vaimauga (One New Zealand Warriors)
Siua Wong (Sydney Roosters)
