Tributes are flowing around the NRL and rugby league world after Tongan trailblazer Jason Taumalolo likely played the last game of his World Cup career on Saturday night. Tonga had their tournament ended in a 34-10 loss to New Zealand that sent the Kiwis through to next weekend’s final.
It’s widely expected that it was Taumalolo’s last-ever game at the World Cup considering he’ll be 37 by the time the next one rolls around. The North Queensland Cowboys enforcer is coming off contract at the end of 2027 and his future in the NRL is up in the air.
He played 48 minutes on Saturday night in a typically gutsy performance, running for 116 metres and making 31 tackles. Born in Auckland, the 33-year-old played 10 Tests for New Zealand before switching his allegiance to Tonga in 2017 and representing the tiny island nation 24 times.
It was the catalyst for more players to switch from New Zealand and Australia and represent their Tongan and Samoan heritage. Taumalolo is widely credited as the architect of Tonga and Samoa’s rise in international rugby league because he was the first to be brave enough to switch allegiances at the height of his career.
Jason Taumalolo in action for Tonga against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
“I think with the core group of players that we have right now they can really make their mark in the international scene,” Taumalolo said after Saturday night’s loss. “They’re only going to get better too, so if they got a lot of international games they can connect and this campaign, for most of them, was probably the first time they’ve played alongside each other.
“They’re only going to get better from here … We’ve got players that could have easily played for New Zealand or Australia, and they opted to play for our little nation in Tonga and make our people proud.”
Tributes flow for Jason Taumalolo
The fact Taumalolo said ‘they’ instead of ‘we’ was a good indication that his World Cup career could be over. Tributes have been flowing on social media, with one pundit writing: “Sad for O.G Jason Taumalolo. He changed the international game. The kids he inspired will take Tonga to the promised land someday.”
Another commented: “While I’m stoked that the Kiwis have won this, I want to salute Jason Taumalolo. Probably the most influential international player I’ve witnessed in my lifetime. He deserved to lift a RLWC trophy once, but even without it his legacy is unmatched in my opinion.”
While a third added: “There’s a kid out there who is saying to himself he’s gonna play for Tonga. Taumalolo might never win a World Cup for Tonga but he’s the reason that kid is even thinking that. What a legend.”