Tonga’s Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tuku’aho and Tongan Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua, who is the Tonga Rugby League president, were on the stands as Tongan star Jason Taumalolo played his 300th NRL game in Brisbane on Sunday.
The game was played at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville with the North Queensland Cowboys celebrating the historic milestone by defeating the Penrith Panthers 26-12.
Fakafanua said their presence honoured Taumalolo’s impressive career, especially his influence for the Tonga Rugby League team and young Tongan players in the island kingdom and around the globe.
“Jason Taumalolo’s 300-game milestone is more than a personal achievement – it’s a proud moment for the Kingdom of Tonga,” Fakafanua said in a statement.
“It reflects the exceptional talent our nation continues to produce and marks a new chapter in rugby league history as the first Tongan to reach this extraordinary feat in a game that holds a special place in the hearts of our people.
“Jason’s impact extends far beyond the football field. His decision to represent Tonga at the peak of his career was a defining moment for rugby league in the Pacific. By choosing country over personal gain, he inspired a generation of young athletes to wear their heritage with pride and helped transform Tonga into a force on the international stage.
“On behalf of Tonga Rugby League and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga, we not only congratulate Jason on this remarkable achievement, but also thank him for the dedication, sportsmanship, and excellence he has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career.”
Princess Angelika, daughter of King Tupou VI and the island kingdom’s high commissioner to Australia, joined Fakafanua, who is also the country’s Prime Minister and a number of Tonga Rugby League officials at the event.
Taumalolo turned his back on New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup to play for Tonga.
Facebook / Tonga Rugby League
Taumalolo played a powerful game again on Sunday and said after the game he did not really think too much about his achievement and had a job to do.
“I haven’t really thought about too much of how much I have achieved and how many game I’ve played,” he told Fox League and public after the game.
“I tried to take tonight as another game. At the end of the day I gotta come out here and do my job.
“Maybe when I retire, when I kick the feet up eventually and look back on the game like tonight and yeah, with a smile on my face and enjoy what a career I’ve had.
“For now, still got a job to do.”
Taumalolo turned his back on New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup to play for Tonga, and that kicked off a trail of other NRL stars saying no to Australia and New Zealand to play for their countries of origin instead.
NRL Pasifika stars Andrew Fifita and Sio Siua Taukeiaho joined Taumalolo and Tonga and the then Mate Ma’a Tonga team stunned New Zealand in 2017 before beating Great Britain and Australia in 2019.
Tonga beat the Kiwis to qualify for the 2024 Pacific Cup final, going down 20-14 to Australia, while Samoa played in last year’s decider against New Zealand.
More Tongan players have over the years decided to follow Taumalolo’s footspes, including Addin Fonua-Blake, ‘Eliesa Katoa, Isaiya Katoa and Daniel Tupou.
“That had a massive impact on me,” said Dolphins’ playmaker Katoa, who is eligible for Australia and New Zealand.
“I felt like that is where we started to see that whole shift with Jason, and Andrew at the time, defecting from playing for the Kiwis and the Kangaroos.
“That was one of the biggest decisions they would have made in their footy careers, and you see now the impact that has had, not only on Tonga but with the rest of the Pacific nations,” Katoa told NRL.com.
Taumalolo’s example also caught on with Samoan heritage players like Payne Haas, one of the biggest names ever to defect to Samoa.
Haas, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Jeremiah Nanai and Murray Taulagi have helped Samoa become a Pacific powerhouse after previously playing for Australia or New Zealand.
The big next thing for Taumalolo and Tonga, apart from his NRL schedule, is competing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, with Tonga’s first game scheduled for 17 October against England in Perth.
