Her Royal Highness Princess Angelika Lātūfuipeka Tukuʻaho and Lord Fakafanua, Prime Minister of Tonga, were in Townsville today to honour Tonga’s own Jason Taumalolo as he reached the milestone of his 300th NRL match, celebrating an extraordinary achievement in the distinguished career of the Tongan rugby league star.
“Jason Taumalolo’s 300-game milestone is more than a personal achievement – it’s a proud moment for the Kingdom of Tonga. It reflects the exceptional talent our nation continues to produce and marks a new chapter in rugby league history as the first Tongan to reach this extraordinary feat in a game that holds a special place in the hearts of our people.
Jason’s impact extends far beyond the football field. His decision to represent Tonga at the peak of his career was a defining moment for rugby league in the Pacific. By choosing country over personal gain, he inspired a generation of young athletes to wear their heritage with pride and helped transform Tonga into a force on the international stage.
On behalf of Tonga Rugby League and the people of the Kingdom of Tonga, we not only congratulate Jason on this remarkable achievement, but also thank him for the dedication, sportsmanship, and excellence he has demonstrated throughout his distinguished career.”
Lord Fakafanua, Prime Minister of Tonga, Chairman of Tonga Rugby League
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Na’e ‘i Townsville he ‘aho ni ‘a Pilinisesi Angelika Latufuipeka Tuku’aho mo e ‘Eiki Palemia, Lord Fakafanua, ke fakalangilangi’i ‘a e foha ‘o Tonga ko Jason Taumalolo ‘a e makamaile ko ‘ene a’usia ‘a ‘ene va’inga hono 300 he fe’auhi ‘akapulu Liiki Fakafonua, ko ha lavame’a makehe ʻeni ʻi he mala’e ‘oku ‘iloa ai ‘i he ‘akapulu liiki ma’a Tonga.
.“Oku ʻikai ko ha lavameʻa fakafoʻituitui pē ʻa eʻene aʻusia ʻe Jason Taumalolo ʻa ʻene vaʻinga ‘akapulu liiki hono 300, ka ko ha momeniti fakangalongata’a ki Tonga. ʻOku fakahaaʻi ai ʻa e talēniti makehe ʻoku ha mai mei hotau fonua, pea ʻoku ne fakaʻilongaʻi ha konga foʻou ʻi he hisitōlia ʻo e vaʻinga līiki, ʻo hoko ai ʻa Jason ko e ʻuluaki Tonga ke ne aʻusia ʻa e fakalangilangi ko ʻeni ʻi ha sipoti ʻoku matuʻaki ʻofa mo mahuʻinga ki he loto ʻo e kakai Tonga.
ʻOku mamaʻo ange ʻa e ngaahi tokoni ʻa Jason ʻi he malaʻe vaʻinga. Ko ʻene fili ke ne fakafofongaʻi ʻa Tonga ʻi he tumutumu ʻo ʻene vaʻinga ko ha taimi liliu ia ki he ‘akapulu līiki ʻi he Pasifiki. ʻI heʻene fili ke ne fakamu’omu’a ‘a fakafofonga’i hotau ki’i fonua ʻi he’ene lelei fakafoʻituitui, mo ne fakalotolahiʻi ‘a e toʻutangata ʻo e ‘aho ke nau polepole ʻi honau Tonga, pea tokoni ki hono hiki hake ʻa Tonga ke hoko ko ha fonua mālohi ʻi he malaʻe ‘akapulu līiki fakavahaʻapuleʻanga.
‘Oku fakafofonga’i atu ʻa e Komiti ‘Akapulu Liiki “a Tonga mo e kakai ʻo e fonua, ʻo ʻikai ngata pē ʻemau fakamālō mo fiefia ʻi he lavameʻa ko ʻeni kuo aʻusia ʻe Jason, ka ʻoku mau toe hounga’ia foki kiate ia ʻi heʻene tukupā, ta sipinga lelei, mo e tuʻunga māʻolunga ʻo e sipoti kuo ne fakahaaʻi ʻi he lolotonga ʻo ʻene ngāue manakoa he va’inga ni.
Lord Fakafanua, Palēmia ʻo Tonga, Sea, Komiti Liiki ‘a Tonga