Time for equality: drawcards Tonga, Samoa urge NRL

Joel Gould and Scott Bailey | October 25, 2025

Tonga and Samoa have challenged the NRL to bring more equality to the international game, with Sunday’s Pacific Cup blockbuster on track to draw more than 45,000 spectators.

Tonga’s coach Kristian Woolf insisted on Saturday that the Suncorp Stadium match was the “best example of what the two nations bring to the sport of rugby league” before saying that should lead to greater “respect” and resourcing.

Samoa counterpart Ben Gardiner then backed his claims, with both teams pointing to matters beyond pay, including around travel and off-field conditions.

“Things are more equal and we get a lot more respect than what we used to but we are still a long way behind the bigger nations and Australia in particular,” Woolf said.

“Particularly when you look at the conditions that are afforded to the team. I think it is time we got a bit more respect.

“You look at every angle and there is not equality there. If we are going to talk about eligibility, I’d love to see equality first.

“Australia are still given a lot better conditions than what we are. 

“You look at squad numbers, flying business class, kits, level of motels, being able to take over referees … there are a whole lot of ways that it is still not equal.

“It is about time we get a bit more recognition to be honest.”

Gardiner made a point to conduct an unscheduled interview hours later, backing up his Pacific counterpart.

“There’s a need for fairness across the board to make sure that everyone is treated equally, especially leading up to the World Cup,” Gardiner said.

“Teams like Australia have been given special conditions around their CBA and in terms of the support they’re getting from the NRL.

“A number of guys across both teams come from the NRL, and they deserve fairness in terms of how they’re supported leading into the World Cup next year.”

Sunday’s crowd is expected to be a financial boon for the game, with any crowd beyond 40,033 making for the most attended Test in Australia in the past decade.

The teams point to the fact they will virtually sell out this Test like a State of Origin match and make $1 million for the NRL, but players will receive $3000 each rather than $30,000 pocketed by Origin players.

Tonga and Samoa toured England in 2023 and 2024 respectively, and were restricted to 21-man squads with players flying economy class.

Australia have been able to take 24 on the current Ashes tour and flew business class. A referee has also toured.

The NRL did chip in a third of the cost of Tonga’s recent trip to their homeland.

Kangaroos players will get $40,000 each for the World Cup next year but at this stage Tonga and other nations will have to find a way of paying players themselves, a situation Woolf alluded to with his point that the 2026 tournament should provide a level playing field.

“A World Cup should be a really competitive World Cup where every nation has the same opportunities and the best opportunity to bring in the best players that are available,” he said.

“Equality makes that decision a little bit easier as well and it will give everyone the best chance of winning it.

“Every player in our squad is an NRL player. We are all registered to the NRL and come under the same EBA and are represented by the same RLPA.

“These competitions are now NRL competitions. They are no longer IRL. 

“Even the World Cup has been taken over by the NRL … it is time to create a really even and competitive international game.”