Tonga Rugby League

The 30-year-old, who will play for St Helens in the Super League this season, was naturally worried about his family’s safety when he heard the news about the devastating natural disaster.

However, he says he’s been able to make contact with them back on the Pacific Island and much to his relief, discovered that everyone is OK.

“Obviously it’s been a tough couple of weeks, but I finally got through to my sister and through to my dad,” Hurrell said.

The Salford ace has had one question running through his mind over recent months – what the hell is going on?

Tonga’s official board fell out with coaches and players, meaning boss Kristian Woolf was sacked and the top stars that committed to the Pacific island would have boycotted games.

Things were so bad, the International Rugby League board took action and brought in the ‘Tonga Invitational XIII’ to make sure the top talent played this Autumn, bossed by the new St Helens chief.

The Mate Ma'a Tonga fullback reaffirmed the position of players ahead of the World Nines that they would not be backing down on their demands for an overhaul of the Pacific nation's rugby league bureaucracy.

Hopoate said the league community must not interpret relative silence on the issue over the past week as any sign the problems have been solved.

"We have been keeping in contact and don't want to wreck the preparations of those playing finals footy," Hopoate told NRL.com.