Kristian Woolf’s tenure as the head coach of Mate Ma’a Tonga has been nothing short of a rollercoaster. At his peak, Woolf guided the team to unforgettable victories against rugby league powerhouses Australia and Great Britain, catapulting Tonga to unprecedented heights in the sport. His strategic acumen and the heart he instilled in his players earned him the adoration of Tongans worldwide, who celebrated his role in establishing Tonga as a formidable force in international rugby league.

However, the tides have turned for Woolf in recent years. The retirement of several key players who were instrumental in Tonga’s golden era has ushered in a period of uncertainty. Younger, less experienced players have stepped in to fill the void, but the team’s performance has faltered, putting Woolf’s coaching under the microscope.

The 2022 Rugby League World Cup was a bitter disappointment for Mate Ma’a Tonga, who were bundled out in the quarter-finals by a determined To’a Samoa. The loss was a significant blow, given the high expectations for Tonga to make a deep run in the tournament. The subsequent 2023 tour of England only deepened the concerns, as Tonga was soundly beaten 3-0 by the English, raising questions about whether Woolf’s success was largely due to the exceptional talents of his previous squad.

Woolf’s current win rate with Tonga stands at a modest 54%, with the team losing its last four test matches. The once-celebrated coach now faces mounting pressure to prove that his earlier triumphs were not just a product of having star players like Andrew Fifita, Jason Taumalolo, Will Hopoate, and Michael Jennings at his disposal.