Mateo to lead Tonga against Kiwis

Parramatta utiliy Feleti Mateo will lead Tonga in Rotorua tonight in a one-off test that will act as a dress rehearsal for the Kiwis ahead of the Four Nations rugby league tournament.

Mateo, who has been named at five-eighth, played in a similar build-up fixture last October before the World Cup, which New Zealand went on to lift.

The Tongan starting 13 announced yesterday includes several players with National Rugby League experience.

They include ex-Kiwi Epalahame Lauaki, a former New Zealand Warrior who is now at English club Hull, and Newcastle's Richard Fa'aoso in the front row.

The pack also features Warrior Ukuma Ta'ai, who will become a double international, having played test rugby for Tonga, Wests Tigers' Viliami Mataka and Melbourne-bound Cronulla lock Atelea Vea.

In the backs, Warrior Siuatonga Likliki and Parramatta's Etuate Uaisele form one centre-wing combination.

In the match in Auckland 12 months ago, the Kiwis beat Tonga 56-8.

New Zealand utility Lance Hohaia, who was named at fullback for that fixture, was a late scratching because of a minor hamstring niggle.

He went on to be the Kiwis' World Cup-winning fullback and will again wear the No 1 jersey at Rotorua International Stadium.

Despite having four new caps in their 17, New Zealand are odds on to beat Tonga again, but Hohaia said he and his team-mates were wary of the opposition.

"We're not going to be taking them lightly at all," he said.

"They have a good side. They're going to play well and that's they way we've been preparing."

Hohaia also expected there would be plenty of emotion in the Tongan camp over the tsunami that smashed through Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga two weeks ago, causing more than 180 deaths.

"It's obviously a tragedy to have something like that happen," he said.

"They're probably going to draw on that for inspiration for the game."

The Four Nations gives Hohaia and the rest of the New Zealand Warriors in the Kiwi squad the chance to put a disappointing NRL season behind them.

He said his fitness was "not too bad" after not having played for more than a month.

He also welcomed the chance to have a bit of break and to recharge the batteries.

Last year, there wasn't much opportunity to do that between the end of the Warriors' run deep into the playoffs and the start of the World Cup.

"It's good to have a bit of time off and freshen up a bit," he said.

"I'm feeling really good and looking forward to playing again."

The test is the first New Zealand have played in Rotorua since they beat Papua New Guinea there in 1996.

After the match, the Kiwis head for the Four Nations, which will be staged in England and France and will open with a meeting between New Zealand and Australia in London on October 25 (NZ time).

Tonga: Toshio Laiseni, Sam Huihahau, Pita Maile, Siuatonga Likiliki, Etuate Uaisele, Feleti Mateo (captain), Eddie Paea, Epalahame Lauaki, Eliakim Uasi, Richard Fa'aoso, Ukuma Ta'ai, Viliami Mataka, Atelea Vea.

Interchange (one to be omitted) - Joel Taufa'ao, Sione Tovo, Siosaia Vave, Paki Afu, Nafe Seluini.

- NZPA