Tonga call-up ‘crazy’ feeling for Sea Eagles’ teenage flyer
A TALENTED teen with some of the fastest wheels in rugby league can now show off his skills on the international stage after being chosen in Tonga’s squad for the Test against New Zealand on Saturday.
Manly sensation Tolutau Koula, 19, is set to relish the extra space at fullback playing behind a forward pack that includes Jason Taumalolo and Addin
Fonua-blake. Tevita Pangai Jr will also come off the bench.
Tonga’s rapid rise since the 2017 World Cup has been one of the great stories in rugby league, and Taumalolo can be thanked for helping spark a generation of players who would rather pull on the red jersey than chase the big bucks playing for New Zealand or Australia.
“He started that whole movement of top-tier lads wanting to play for their own country and not the tier-1 teams. It was pretty special to play against him,” Koula said of Taumalolo, who got the better of him and the Sea Eagles last Friday night.
“I grew up a pretty passionate Blues fan but playing for Tonga was always in the back of my mind. With everything that Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita have done to inspire young lads to follow their path, it’s a big reason why I wanted to play for Tonga.”
International rugby league has been in hibernation due to the pandemic but a return to New Zealand this weekend will be the boost the game needs before this year’s World Cup.
Tonga beat New Zealand at the 2017 World Cup in one of the competition’s great upsets and then knocked off the Kangaroos two years later on a night that will never be forgotten.
“I really enjoyed that and what they did. Me and my family watched every game,” Koula said when asked about the 2017 tournament and his time spent in the stands at the Pacific Tests over the years.
“You get goosebumps just being in the stands, and to potentially be out there on the field now is going to be crazy.”
Koula will now get the chance to represent Tonga, just like his parents did at the Olympics. Ana and Toluta’u Sr competed for Tonga at multiple Olympic Games, including Sydney 2000.