Joel Gould (AAP)   

Rough-and-tumble Kurt Donoghoe has a softer side that comes to the fore when he speaks of his beloved late grandmother, who inspired his Rugby League World Cup journey with Fiji Bati.

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.

Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai are poised to reprise their Newcastle finals heroics for New Zealand after both were selected to debut for the Kiwis at the Rugby League World Cup.

The rollercoaster career of playmaker Junior Amone has taken a positive turn after he was named in the Tonga squad for the Rugby League World Cup.

The run to the grand final by Newcastle has set prop Jacob Saifiti free to play the World Cup opener for Fiji in a huge boost to the Bati. Saifiti was named in the Mick Potter coached 23-man squad by...

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has lifted the lid on the generational talent of premiership-winning Mark Nawaqanitawase and expects the rugby-bound winger to return to the code.

When Mark Nawaqanitawase lit up the NRL preliminary final with a suite of magical acts his former Australia rugby sevens coach John Manenti responded with a knowing nod."That's just Marky," he said.

Robert Toia has told Tonga he plans to play for them at the World Cup, with the Sydney Roosters star at the centre of one of the tournament's biggest tug of wars.