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<\/p>\n\u201cIt will make their country stronger, and I\u2019m all for that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Such has been the seismic shift, a future in which Australia does not feature in a World Cup final could eventuate as soon as the 2026 showcase.<\/p>\n
But Taumalolo was in no mood to play fortune-teller, insisting, \u201cI can\u2019t foretell what\u2019s going to happen next year \u2026 [but] in a game of rugby league, anything can happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, his focus rested solely on Sunday\u2019s war. Taumalolo hopes to cast aside a horror 2025 in which he managed just 10 games \u2013 his fewest since 2011, when he was just 18 and earning his stripes.<\/p>\n
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A Lisfranc injury suffered in last year\u2019s Pacific Championships derailed the start of his campaign, while a calf complaint kept him sidelined for 14 weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt wasn\u2019t the type of year I wanted, just back-to-back injuries and re-injuring myself. I didn\u2019t really give myself the chance to get back on the field,\u201d Taumalolo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot being able to start the year kind of put me behind the eight-ball, so I was a little bit disappointed on that side of things. But it was good to be able to string together a few games at the back end and to be even given the opportunity to come here and play for Tonga, I got lucky there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe body\u2019s feeling good, so I\u2019m ready to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Taumalolo admits the thought of when his last hurrah in the Tongan jersey will come has entered his mind, adamant he will leave the squad in a better place than when he joined it, the end of next season will thrust him into unfamiliar territory.<\/p>\n
Having signed a historic 10-year deal with the North Queensland Cowboys, the 32-year-old will become a free agent from November 1, 2026.<\/p>\n
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North Queensland\u2019s Jason Taumalolo returned from a lengthy lay-off in round 23 against the Eels.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
The injury-plagued lock is determined to see out his contract, but insists he has not given his next move any thought.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being at the Cowboys, I\u2019ve been there my whole career and would like to finish as one of the players who get to finish as a one-club man. In saying that, anything can happen in rugby league,\u201d Taumalolo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou see players you would never expect to leave their clubs [leave], but I haven\u2019t exercised that thought just yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI signed the deal for a reason, but a lot of contracts have gone out the window \u2026 you rarely see those these days, where guys want to see it out and want to stay with their club.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnything can happen between now and then, but Tonga is my first focus.\u201d<\/p>\n