Tonga have received a boost on the cusp of the Rugby League World Cup with playmaker Junior Amone getting official clearance to play in the tournament.
When His Royal Highness Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala announced the Tonga squad on Tuesday it was with 24 players, with one to be omitted.
At that point coach Kristian Woolf was still in dialogue with officials about the eligibility of Amone, who played the last of his 51 NRL games for St George Illawarra in 2023.
He was later deregistered following a conviction for an assault involving a hammer.
Amone, 24, was ordered to serve an intensive correction order before returning to action for Wynnum Manly in the Queensland Cup where he hit top form this season.
Woolf confirmed on Friday that Amone, who played at the 2022 World Cup for Tonga, had received the green light with Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika dropping out of the final 23-man squad.
"We had to make sure there was approval from the IRL and the NRL for Junior to make sure he was eligible to play," Woolf told AAP.
"Junior is a very talented player and I have been quite impressed by his comeback into rugby league.
"He played Queensland Cup this year and I thought he was quite dominant at that level.
"Junior is in a position where we need a bit more depth and that's why I have looked at giving him this opportunity."
Amone is in a battle with experienced Huddersfield five-eighth Tuimoala Lolohea and Wests Tigers playmaker Latu Fainu to partner Dolphins whiz Isaiya Katoa in the halves.
It was a tough selection call to leave Queensland prop Fotuaika out but Woolf made the decision for the "balance of the squad", given the strength of the forward pack.
Woolf made what he said was "another hard call' to leave Tonga stalwart Felise Kaufusi out of the 23, made doubly difficult by the fact he also plays for the Woolf-coached Dolphins in the NRL.
"I love what Felise brings both on and off the field and for what he has brought to us in the past," Woolf said.
"That was a very hard call on him but the great thing about the team we have named is the number of guys who have played in the finals series.
"You add to that the number of them who have played in the grand final. That shows you the form they are in and the confidence and match fitness they are coming in with."
Sydney Roosters trio Robert Toia, Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi all won the grand final while Tyson Frizell played in the decider with Newcastle.
Woolf said there was a balance of experience, headed by warhorse leaders Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo, along with youthful energy brought by the likes of Warriors weapons Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima.
Toia and debutant winger Jojo Fifita were both in Australia's sights while New Zealand had their eyes on Foketi, but all three elected to represent Tonga.
"That does impress me," Woolf said.
"They have had plenty of encouragement from other nations to try and get them to change their minds but I said all along that I was very confident of where their hearts sat and that never changed."
Tonga open their World Cup campaign in Perth against England on Saturday, October 17.
Australian Associated Press
