AAP NEWS: TONGA officials thought Jason Taumalolo was tipsy when he called to say he wanted to represent the nation in 2017 to save Test rugby league.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf thought he was on the end of a drunken prank call when Jason Taumalolo told him he wanted to play for him.
It was 2017 and Taumalolo was coming off one of the great finals runs with North Queensland just weeks out from the World Cup.
New Zealand, co-hosts with Australia, were banking on Taumalolo to lead their charge as the Dally M Medallist just one year earlier.
“I’d just come off Mad Monday and he (Woolf) thought I was still a bit tipsy,” Taumalolo reflected on Tuesday.
“I’m pretty sure he thought I was taking the piss when I told him.
“Looking back now it was a pretty funny conversation when it did happen.
“But I told him no I’m sober … I spoke to a few of the other boys, and the rest is history.”
History already defines Taumalolo as one of the most important figures in the international game.
Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga labelled him a pioneer on Tuesday, with the Cowboys lock leading a pacific revolution that revived the global game.
It was only nine years ago Tonga were playing in front of 4000 fans in Campbelltown, battling with the Cook Islands.
Come Sunday, the 28,000-seat CommBank Stadium is expected to be sold out for the Pacific Cup final against Australia, after Tonga’s inspiring 25-24 win over New Zealand.
“It’s been a hell of a journey,” Taumalolo said, to a chorus of 1000 fans singing hymns at a last-minute open training session in Blacktown on Tuesday.
“I haven’t really reflected on it, because I am still playing.
“But if I do look back on it now, it’s one of my proudest moments being able to represent and being part of what Tonga rugby league has been about.”
Taumalolo, by his own admission, could not have predicted what his decision to prioritise Tonga would do for the game.
Andrew Fifita announced similar plans to turn his back on the Kangaroos the next day, while fellow Kiwis Siousia Taukeiaho, Manu Ma’u and David Fusitua followed suit.
In the years since, the likes of Jarome Luai, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton have all prioritised Samoa over Australia, helping the Pacific nation qualify for their first World Cup final in 2023.
“Fast forward seven years, I didn’t see the effects it would have on international football.
“I can’t take all the credit, there are other players who made the decisions to play too. Looking back now it’s one of the biggest decisions I made in my career.”
Taumalolo is also ready to be up for the fight against Australia, after the Mate Ma’a beat the Kangaroos in 2019.
Taumalolo himself is not the same force now that he was in 2017 on the field, having been worn down by 275 games of being one of the NRL’s best middles.
But he still had one of his best games of the year by far in last week’s win over New Zealand, with he and Addin Fonua-Blake weapons in the middle.
“You want to be part of big games and when you are you want to be at your best,” Taumalolo said.
“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.”
