Kristian Woolf is unsure if his move into the coaching hot seat with the NRL’s Dolphins will bring the curtain down on his game-changing stint in charge of Tonga.
Since he returned from a trophy-laden spell in charge of English club St Helens, Woolf has been shadowing Wayne Bennett with a view to taking over at the Dolphins in 2025.
With Bennett returning to South Sydney next season, Woolf will make a move into the Dolphins job.
But Woolf was non-committal whether that promotion would limit his involvement with Tonga, who he has been the head coach of since 2014.
“That (my Tongan future) is probably not relevant right now,” Woolf said on Sunday after Tonga lost 20-14 to Australia in the Pacific Cup final.
“It’s not something I want to talk about, I'll figure that out in due time.
“The first people I talk to will be the bloke beside me (captain Jason Taumalolo). He's been here with me since my first involvement in 2013.
“I've got enormous respect for him and Addin (Fonua-Blake), they will be the first two people I speak to.”
During Woolf’s time in charge, Tonga have recorded historic Test wins over the Kangaroos and Great Britain, and beaten New Zealand twice.
The country’s stature has improved to the extent that the majority of the crowd attending Sunday’s final day were Tongan and included the nation's royal family and prime minister.
Taumalolo said that with Woolf, Tonga had “the right guy at the helm”.
“Whether or not Kristian continues or not, that's not our decision,” Taumalolo said.
But Woolf says regardless if he remains involved with Tonga, the nation can expect to be challenging the game’s superpowers for many years to come.
“We're only going to get better,” Woolf said.
“Every team will look at a couple of players they would love to have been involved.
“But I thought a number of young guys really put their hands up and stamped themselves. Lehi Hopoate was outstanding.
“(Forward) Siua Wong played in the centres, Eli Katoa is only going to get better, and I thought he was the best player on the field for us.
“We're on the improve and they’re only going to get better by playing together. The future is bright.”
