'My proudest moment': How Taumalolo inspired a rugby league revolution
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As he surveyed the sea of supporters who had turned out to watch Tonga train ahead of the biggest game in their history, Jason Taumalolo reflected on the moment that international rugby league’s Pacific revolution began.
Taumalolo, who made his international debut for Tonga in 2013 against Samoa at Penrith before going on to play 10 Tests for New Zealand, had promised Kristian Woolf he would return to the island nation at some stage.
After a change in the IRL’s eligibility laws for the 2017 World Cup, Taumalolo decided the time was right, but Woolf was initially unsure when he received a phone call after North Queensland’s Mad Monday celebrations.
"He thought I was still tipsy,” Taumalolo recalled as Tonga began their preparation for Sunday’s Pacific Cup final against Australia at CommBank Stadium in front of 1000 fans in Blacktown.
“I told him, ‘no, I’m being serious’. I had sobered up and I made the decision that I’m coming back. I talked to a few of the other boys and the rest is history.”
The other revolutionaries included Kiwi team-mates Siousiua Taukeiaho, Manu Ma’u and David Fusitu’a and Australian prop Andrew Fifita.
Fusitu’a was already in camp with the New Zealand team when he made the decision, while Fifita had been selected for the Kangaroos.
Taumalolo and Fifita had been rivals in the 2017 ANZAC Test but a tweak to the IRL eligibility rules allowed them to switch allegiances and change the face of international rugby league for the better.
Before 2017, players had to nominate which nation they wanted to represent at the start of each season and could only make one change in every World Cup cycle.
The rule had sidelined the likes of Robbie Farah, Feliti Mateo and Fuifui Moimoi from previous World Cups but under the change players overlooked by first tier nations could choose to play for a second-tier nation.
Big men doing big things
What wasn’t anticipated was that players would turn their backs on Australia, New Zealand or England to play for their heritage until Taumalolo’s phone call to Woolf.
“I knew Kristian for a long time, and I did promise him that I would come back, but it wouldn’t be as an old player who wouldn’t be picked for New Zealand,” he said.
“Going back, and playing for my country and my heritage, was something that I wanted to do, so I made the decision that while I was playing pretty good football I'd go back and represent them."
Tonga's success at RLWC2017 - beating New Zealand and qualifying for the semi-finals - inspired the likes of Jarome Luai, Brian To'o and Stephen Crichton to follow suit and lead Samoa to the final of the last World Cup in 2022.
The move is now being replicated in the women's game, with Evania Pelite and Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala switching from Australia and New Zealand to help Fetū Sāmoa qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“Fast forward to seven years now, I didn’t see the effects that it would have eventually on international football," Taumalolo said.
“I can't take all the credit for it, there's other players that made the decision to change too, but looking back at it now, it's probably one of the biggest decisions that I've ever made in my career.
“It’s one that I'm grateful for and one that I'm grateful that all these boys made a decision to play for Tonga.
“It's probably one of my proudest moments, obviously, being able to represent them and being a part of what Tonga rugby league has been about.”
What Taumalolo helped create was not only a team able to compete with the top nations – and beat them – but a supporter base that turns almost every Test in which Tonga plays into a home game.
After packing Suncorp Stadium for the opening Test of the Pacific Championships and Go Media Stadium for last Saturday’s epic 25-24 defeat of New Zealand, the Sea of Red have ensured a sold-out final at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
The winning moment: Katoa
Tongan players credit their fans for virtually singing the team to victory after the Kiwis levelled the scores at 24-24 and Tuesday’s open training session at Blacktown was as much a warm-up for the fans as the players.
“Our people always turn up wherever we go - whether it's Brisbane, Auckland or Sydney, they always seem to find their way to come to support us no matter what,” Taumalolo said.
“I love every time I get to come into this camp and seeing the boys again, and being a part of this atmosphere. It gives you a little bit of energy and a bit more confidence when you do.”
Tonga are in the Cup Final
After running 198 metres, including 100 post contact metres, during 54 minutes of action against the Kiwis, Taumalolo spent more time signing autographs and posing for photos than training in a bid to manage his load.
However, the 31-year-old insists he will be ready to deliver another powerhouse performance against the Kangaroos as Tonga aim to win their first major trophy.
“It’s a bit surreal that making that decision would have such special moments where we have beaten Australia and beaten New Zealand and I always look at those moments as ‘how good is this’ moments.
"Last weekend was a do-or-die moment, and it's probably one of the biggest matches in rugby league when Tonga play New Zealand.
"You want to be part of big games and when you are you want to be at your best.”
