By Michael Chammas
Clive Churchill Medal winner Liam Martin is expected to be ruled out of Australia’s Pacific Championship campaign due to injury.
Australian coach Mal Meninga named Martin in his 21-man squad on Monday afternoon, however the back-rower is expected to rule himself out of the tournament.
Martin has been battling separate shoulder and rib cartilage issues and isn’t in the physical state required to compete for the Kangaroos later this month.
Canberra backrower Hudson Young was named in the preliminary squad but missed out on selection when the team was reduced to 21 on Monday.
Young, who played Origin this year, is the frontrunner to replace Martin.
Meantime, rising Penrith star Paul Alamoti has capped his breakout season with the Panthers by being called into a Tongan Pacific Championships squad dripping with talent.
Centre Alamoti, who scored the match-winning try in Sunday’s NRL grand final win over Melbourne, is one of five debutants called up by coach Kristian Woolf.
Pain and pleasure: Liam Martin with his Clive Churchill MedalCredit: Getty Images
The others are Manly prop Taniela Paseka and winger Lehi Hopoate, Parramatta-bound fullback Isaiah Iongi and Dolphins forward Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.
But aside from a nod to the future in a squad that includes Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa, Woolf has kept faith with the core of the Tongan players who revolutionised the international game in 2017.
Jason Taumalolo, Addin Fonua-Blake, Daniel Tupou and Huddersfield five-eighth Tui Lolohea are all included in Woolf’s set-up.
Roosters forward Siua Wong, who made his Tongan debut on last year’s three-Test tour of England, is part of a formidable forward pack that also contains South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu.
The impressive squad will give Tonga hope they can cause a boilover against Australia in their first meeting since 2019.
Tonga defeated the Kangaroos five years ago and will be looking to repeat that feat at Suncorp Stadium on October 18 in the Pacific Championships opener.
The Tongans face New Zealand in Auckland on November 10 in their other group stage game.
Tonga squad: Paul Alamoti*, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Addin Fonua-Blake, Siliva Havili, Lehi Hopoate*, Isaiah Iongi*, Sione Katoa (Cronulla Sharks), Eliesa Katoa, Felise Kaufusi, Keaon Koloamatangi, Tolutau Koula, Tuimoala Lolohea, Soni Luke, Haumole Olakau’atu, Taniela Paseka*, Moses Suli, Jason Taumalolo, Daniel Tupou, Sitili Tupouniua, Siua Wong
* Denotes uncapped
with AAP
