Kristian Woolf is confident Tongan fans will support his invitational team in Saturday's test against Great Britain despite falling out with their national body.
Woolf will coach a side led by NRL star Andrew Fifita just weeks after the International Rugby League (IRL) suspended the Tongan National Rugby League (TNRL).
The decision angered supporters of the TNRL, who have called on fans to veto the invitational team's game against the Lions in Hamilton, New Zealand.
- Tonga Invitational games ruled as official 'tests' despite suspension
- Tonga 'invitational' side named for tests
- Grant Chapman: Tongan rugby league debacle shows Pacific sport shortcomings
Woolf's side then battle against Australia in Auckland seven days later, with both games officially given test status by the IRL this week.
"All the messages that we're getting is that people really want to get behind this team. That's exactly what they should do," Woolf told reporters on Friday.
The game against the Lions comes after most of the Tongan players threatened to boycott their test matches due to a dispute with the TNRL board.
Chief amongst their issues was the sacking of Woolf.
"It's a terrific group of men. They stand up for what they believe in. They've done that a number of times over the last few years, Woolf said.
"They're a group that everyone involved with Tonga, whether they be in New Zealand, in Tonga, or in Australia, should be really proud of.
"They've made a lot of sacrifices to represent their country, and they've represented the country extremely well. Again, everyone should get behind them."
It will be the first time a Tonga team have faced the Lions, who are touring for the first time in over a decade and coached by Wayne Bennett.
They also played their first Test against Australia this time last year.
"We wouldn't have got these opportunities a couple of years ago," Woolf said.
"Last year was the first opportunity against Australia, to ever play the best team in the world. That was a terrific occasion and terrific opportunity.
"This year we've played New Zealand already, now we're playing Great Britain, and we get another shot at Australia."
Woolf said their landmark tests against tier-one nations is indicative of their rise, which began with their semi-final run in the 2017 World Cup.
"It's a real show of where Tongan rugby league is going," Woolf said.
"The more opportunities like this that we get, the closer we're going to get to the mark and the more competitive we're going to be.
"We get the opportunity then to be a genuine player of the international scene.
"That's obviously what we want to do, and we've got a roster there that says that we deserve those opportunities. We need to make the most of it."
Join us at 8pm Saturday for live updates of the Tonga Invitational XIII v Great Britain rugby league test.
AAP
