Tonga Celebrates as Taumalolo Takes His Place Among Rugby League’s Greatest

It’s been a big week for Jason Taumalolo. While the Tonga co-captain was home in Nuku’alofa with his teammates, he was being honoured in Brisbane as one of the best players ever to play international rugby league.

On Thursday night Taumalolo was named in the first-ever International Rugby League Hall of Legends. That puts him alongside names like Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Sir Billy Boston. Of the 42 players chosen, he is the only one still playing.

He couldn’t be at the Suncorp Stadium ceremony. Mate Ma’a Tonga’s World Cup ended with a semi-final loss to New Zealand last weekend, and the squad went home to a hero’s welcome. On Friday the team was to visit the Royal Palace as guests of Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, with a national parade planned for the afternoon.

The choice that opened the door

Ask any Pasifika league fan why Taumalolo belongs in this group and they’ll take you back to 2017.

That year, he gave up his place in the Kiwis jumper to play for the country of his parents. Andrew Fifita did the same with Australia, and a wave of Tongan-heritage stars followed. The red sea of fans and the team’s run to the World Cup semi-finals are now part of rugby league history.

Almost a decade later, playing for your heritage is seen as a source of pride rather than a step down. You could see it at this year’s tournament, where Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and the Cook Islands fielded stronger teams than ever.

Two more Pacific greats

Taumalolo isn’t the only Pasifika name on the list.

Petero Civoniceva built a long career in the green and gold before pulling on the Fiji Bati jersey and captaining his homeland, including at the 2013 World Cup. He was in Brisbane on Thursday to accept his honour in person.

Luisa Avaiki is one of the women who built the game, playing internationally for 13 years with both Fetu Samoa and the Kiwi Ferns. She is one of six women in the first class.

With these three players, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa are among the eight nations represented.

The wider class

The 42 legends span more than a century of the game. They include 10 early pioneers, six women and 26 men from the post-1954 era. New Zealand is represented by Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki and Mark Graham. Jones is coaching the Kiwis in this Sunday’s final. Australia’s list includes Darren Lockyer, Brad Fittler, Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater.

A selection panel from across the rugby league world narrowed down a list of more than 240 nominees. The IRL has said this is only the first group, so more players will be added. Wheelchair rugby league players will be considered for the first time at the 2030 World Cup.

For the people of Tonga, the timing could hardly be better. Their captain was being cheered through the streets of Nuku’alofa on the same weekend his name was added to the game’s history books.