![\"Jason](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/b15e9ff54cfce5145329d208c3dae23d9dfc3894d5dfd495f3f95300c64e935b.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cAddin Fonua-Blake went to the school he attended, so did Eli Katoa. Leka Halasima went back to the village where he was born, and [assistant coach] David Tangata-Toa visited the village where his father grew up,\u201d Woolf said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went with Paul Alamoti to a school, and the principal was telling us how he went to school with Paul\u2019s dad, and how they were even in the same class.<\/p>\n
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Jason TaumaloloCredit: @tongarugbyleagueofficial<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was really touching for all the players to have that moment and connection with people or a certain place. It meant a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tongans spent Thursday visiting the Australian High Commission, trained Friday in front of 1000 locals, before they rushed to the Royal Palace for lunch with the King, Aho\u2019eitu \u02bbUnuaki\u02bbotonga Tuku\u02bbaho.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were served fresh octopus, lobster, clams, wild boar, some traditional desserts \u2013 the food really was fit for a king,\u201d Woolf said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere were a lot of protocols we needed to follow when meeting the King. He was very engaging, he spoke to a couple of players more than others, but he made it clear he appreciated what the players were doing for the country.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Rob](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/5dbaa30f96e5838efbaa37cd5a0da518079feb62c54223fce6af15ba6dc64c1b.jpeg\")
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Rob Toia soaks up the local culture in Tonga last week.Credit: @tongarugbyleagueofficial<\/p>\n
The players were later paraded on the back of floats through the capital, including a truck covered with a giant photo of Woolf. The coach only wishes there was a different image used, \u201cbecause I looked like the most miserable bloke in Tonga\u201d.<\/p>\n
John Hopoate, the former league representative player who travelled with the Tongan staff \u2013 and visited his family village of Fua\u2019amotu with sons Will and Lehi \u2013 said it quickly became clear Taumalolo was the favourite.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverywhere Jase went, he was mobbed,\u201d Hopoate said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we finished on the floats on Friday, we had to wait about an hour for Jase because he was signing autographs and taking photos. It\u2019s to do with his stature in the game and the fact he defected to Tonga when he was in his prime.<\/p>\n
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\u201cHe\u2019s close to being the king of Tonga the way he is received when he walks around. I consider myself to be a future immortal over there, but Jase is the \u2018king\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Tongans rounded out their trip by attending the local grand finals, including the A-grade competition won by the Viane Doves.<\/p>\n