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Penrith's Paul Alamoti, who scored a try in the NRL grand final, was named in the Tongan squad. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)
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.
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
