Wests Tigers centre Mahe Fonua has been named in the train-on squad for Tonga's upcoming Test match against Australia at Mount Smart Stadium on October 20.
The 25-year-old has appeared five times for Mate Ma'a Tonga, including recently at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and has been named in the 29-man preliminary squad by Coach Kristian Woolf.
Fonua has been named in the squad by 2018 teammate and departing Wests Tigers playmaker Tuimoala Lolohea, who will make the move to English Super League and link up with Leeds Rhinos in 2019.
Woolf has named a number of star players for the clash, including the likes of Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo, Tevita Pangai Junior and the NRL's leading try-scorer in 2018 David Fusitu'a, while also listing rookie forwards Scott Sorensen and Moeaki Fotuaika, who are yet to make their international debuts.
The squad also features five Super League players — Sika Manu (Hull FC), Samisoni Langi, Sam Moa (both Catalans Dragons), Ben Murdoch-Masila (Warrington Wolves) and Ukuma Ta'ai (Huddersfield).
The Test will be the first time that Tonga have faced Australia in a Test match that promises to be one of the highlights of the season following the Pacific minnow's rise to prominence in recent years.
The final Mate Ma'a Tonga squad will be announced next month before entering a 10-day training camp.
Tickets for the Test will be available from nrl.com/tickets.
MATE MA'A TONGA TRAIN-ON SQUAD
| PLAYER NAME | TEAM |
| Andrew Fifita | Cronulla Sharks |
| Addin Fonua-Blake | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles |
| Mahe Fonua | Wests Tigers |
| Moeaki Fotuaika | Gold Coast Titans |
| David Fusitu'a | New Zealand Warriors |
| Siliva Havili | Canberra Raiders |
| Ata Hingano | Canberra Raiders |
| Will Hopoate | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs |
| Konrad Hurrell | Gold Coast Titans |
| Michael Jennings | Parramatta Eels |
| Robert Jennings | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Solomone Kata | New Zealand Warriors |
| Sione Katoa | Penrith Panthers |
| Samisoni Langi | Catalans Dragons |
| Tuimoala Lolohea | Wests Tigers |
| Sika Manu | Hull FC |
| Sam Moa | Catalans Dragons |
| Ben Murdoch-Masila | Warrington Wolves |
| Joe Ofahengaue | Brisbane Broncos |
| Tevita Pangai Junior | Brisbane Broncos |
| Agnatius Paasi | New Zealand Warriors |
| Leivaha Pulu | New Zealand Warriors |
| Scott Sorensen | Cronulla Sharks |
| Ukuma Ta'ai | Huddersfield Giants |
| Jason Taumalolo | North Queensland Cowboys |
| Junior Tatola | South Sydney Rabbitohs |
| Sio Siua Taukeiaho | Sydney Roosters |
| Peni Terepo | Parramatta Eels |
| Daniel Tupou | Sydney Roosters |
