Wayne Bennett will make his return to international coaching.

The 72-year-old, who has previously coached Australia, New Zealand, England and Great Britain, has been named as an interim coaching advisor for Tonga in their one-off Test against New Zealand on June 25 at Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland.

His former premiership player, Dean Young, will coach Tonga in the Test with Kristian Woolf unable to fly to New Zealand due to his commitments with Super League frontrunners, St Helens.

Young is considered one of the rising talents in the coaching world and has helped Todd Payten’s Cowboys shock the NRL in 2022.

Together with Bennett, the master and apprentice will be out to replicate the feats of 2019 when Tonga shocked Australia 16-12 in one of rugby league’s greatest upsets.

Bennett is having a season away from the NRL spotlight, as he assembles his side ahead of Redcliffe’s entry into the competition next season.

Former Tongan international Sika Manu will also be on the nation’s coaching staff.

“My commitment to St Helens and the inability of the representative and international weeks to line up in the two hemispheres means it is not possible to be in New Zealand for a week during the Super League season,” Woolf said in a statement.

“But we have been able to put together an amazing coaching staff with Dean, Wayne and Sika.

“Dean has been an assistant on the Tongan team previously, and is one of the brightest young coaching prospects in the NRL.

“Sika was the captain of this team through a golden period, and understands the passion of the Mate Ma’a Tonga.

“And no-one has had more success in coaching rugby league than Wayne Bennett – having him there will be a great experience for both the players and the staff.

“This is a strong coaching staff for what will ultimately be a new-look Tongan team missing some players from the English Super League, who will be playing an important international Test while competing for spots in the World Cup squad.”