Injury rocks Tonga as strong squad confirmed for World Cup

Tonga have confirmed their 24-man squad for the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, with Kotoni Staggs set to miss the tournament due to injury.

Staggs, who was expected to be one of the first players picked for the Pacific Island nation, will be forced to sit out the tournament as he battles to recover through the off-season.

The Tongan squad features 21 NRL players, to be joined by Tuimoala Lolohea, William Hopoate and Konrad Hurrell out of the English Super League.

Christian Tuipulotu and Sitili Tupouniua are the only two other players from the 17 that played New Zealand in the mid-year Test to miss the squad, while 18th man Joe Ofahengaue is also not selected.

The Tongan squad is bolstered by the addition of Felise Kaufusi, who turned his back on Australia, while David Fifita is also included to add yet more depth to their already bloated forward pack.

Siosifa Talakai and Daniel Tupou, who both played for the New South Wales Blues this year, will also play for the Tongan team, while Tesi Niu is another inclusion alongside the three Super League players.

Moeaki Fotuaika and Ben Murdoch-Masila are the other two players who didn't play mid-season but have been picked to play at the World Cup in a squad which will look to challenge Australia, New Zealand and England as their rival Tier 1 sides, but will also look to once again progress further than any of their rivals in the Pacific Islands.