Taumalolo: I’ll do talking on paddock

Kiwis defector Jason Taumalolo will do his talking on the field.

Kiwis captain Adam Blair and former captain Benji Marshall have taken swipes at the North Queensland Cowboys lock since his decision to turn his back on the Kiwis to play for Tonga at the Rugby League World Cup.

He gave coach David Kidwell barely 48 hours notice of his choice.

Born in Auckland to Tongan parents, the 2016 Dally MMedal cowinner said he chose Tonga to help develop the game in the Polynesian nation. way to attract players.”

McGahan’s frustrations have come to a head in the wake of Jason Taumalolo and fellow former Kiwis David Fusitu’a, Manu Ma’u and Sio Siua Taukeiaho choosing to play for Tonga at the upcoming World Cup.

Kangaroos forward Andrew Fifita has also made the controversial

And, having arrived in Nuku’alofa on Thursday for a preCup visit, he gave short shrift to the likes of Blair and Marshall.

“Obviously I’ve caused a bit of media stir and all that, but at the end of the day, I’m here to play for my country and I’m looking forward to doing that,” Taumalolo said.

“Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion. Everyone’s entitled to say what they want, but at the end of the day it doesn’t bother me — I tend to leave all the talking on the field.

“I wish in some way we could switch to play for Tonga but can potentially still pull on a New South Wales jersey again in the future — as dual Australian- Fijian representative Jarryd Hayne did this year after returning from a stint playing in the NFL .

McGahan blames Australia for further reducing New Zealand’s ability to take the field soon, but I guess I’ll have to wait until we come across them on the battlefield.”

Taumalolo — whose arrival in the Tongan capital was delayed by 24 hours due to an overloaded flight — said he was doing his parents proud by playing for Tonga.

Other players including Manu Ma’u and David Fusitu’a have also elected to represent Tonga rather than the Kiwis, making them a credible World Cup contender. Tonga’s World Cup opener is against Scotland in Cairns on October 29. retain their best players — by pushing for league’s international eligibility laws to be relaxed, to allow players who qualify for more than one country to play for a tier- two nation.

“That whole eligibility rule has been driven from Australia,” he said.

“It has damaged the international game. People are looking at rugby