Willie Tonga
Encyclopedia
Willie Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league
footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys
of the NRL
. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin
representative centre, he previously played for the Parramatta Eels
(who he has now re-signed with), then the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership.
woman, Maria Naden. Esi Tonga
, also a Rugby League player, is his younger brother.
Showing a talent at a young age while living in Peak Hill, New South Wales
, Tonga soon adopted Rugby League and played for the Cootamundra
side while his parents attended the Bimbadeen Bible College. After leaving Cootamundra, Tonga's parents and their five children moved to La Perouse
in Sydney, and Tonga played Rugby Union for the Matraville
Sports High School First XV. It is claimed he did not enjoy this as much as rugby league. His parents continued to move around working for the Aboriginal Inland Missionaries and the family finally settled in Cherbourg, Queensland
, an Aboriginal community in Queensland.
, Tonga moved into the Parramatta
area. Making small but sure career moves, his best known achievements were yet to be acknowledged when he moved on to the Bulldogs on 2004. His career catapulted in that one year, earning State of Origin
selection, allowing him to become the 145th player to be chosen for the Queensland side since 1980.
Winning the NRL Grand Final with the Bulldogs in 2004, and the Dally M
Centre of the Year award, Tonga was also picked for the Australian side for the Tri-Nations
series, making his first full year in the NRL his most successful to date.
, commencing in 2009.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
match for 2009. In June, Willie Tonga played in Game II of the 2009 State of Origin Series to replace Justin Hodges. Tonga was retained for the third match which the Maroons lost.
In 2010 Tonga played all three Origin matches for the Maroons. At the end of the season he also represented Australia again for the first time in five years in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer for the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the NRL
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. An Australian international and Queensland State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
representative centre, he previously played for the Parramatta Eels
Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. The Parramatta District Rugby League Football Club was formed in 1947, with their First Grade side playing their first season in the New South Wales Rugby Football League...
(who he has now re-signed with), then the Bulldogs, with whom he won the 2004 NRL Premiership.
Early life
Born in the former Woden Valley Hospital on the 8 August 1983, his full name is Viliami Sione Tonga, known as Willie. He was the first child of Tongan immigrant John (Sione) Tonga and WiradjuriWiradjuri
The Wiradjuri are an Indigenous Australian group of central New South Wales.In the 21st century, major Wiradjuri groups live in Condobolin, Peak Hill, Narrandera and Griffith...
woman, Maria Naden. Esi Tonga
Esi Tonga
Esikeli Tonga is an Australian professional rugby league footballer for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League...
, also a Rugby League player, is his younger brother.
Showing a talent at a young age while living in Peak Hill, New South Wales
Peak Hill, New South Wales
Peak Hill is a town in Parkes Shire in the Central West of New South Wales, Australia. At the 2006 census, Peak Hill had a population of 946 people.It is on the Newell Highway and the Dubbo to Parkes railway line, completed to Peak Hill in 1910...
, Tonga soon adopted Rugby League and played for the Cootamundra
Cootamundra, New South Wales
Cootamundra is a town and Local Government Area in the South West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia and within the Riverina. At the 2006 census, Cootamundra had a population of 5,566. It is located on the Olympic Highway at the point where it crosses the Muttama Creek, between Junee and...
side while his parents attended the Bimbadeen Bible College. After leaving Cootamundra, Tonga's parents and their five children moved to La Perouse
La Perouse, New South Wales
Lapérouse is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The suburb of Lapérouse is located about 14 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the City of Randwick....
in Sydney, and Tonga played Rugby Union for the Matraville
Matraville, New South Wales
Matraville is an older established area of the lower Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Matraville is located approximately 9 kilometres by road south-east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of...
Sports High School First XV. It is claimed he did not enjoy this as much as rugby league. His parents continued to move around working for the Aboriginal Inland Missionaries and the family finally settled in Cherbourg, Queensland
Cherbourg, Queensland
Cherbourg is a town in the South Burnett region of Queensland, Australia. It is located off the Bunya Highway approximately north-west of Brisbane and from the town of Murgon. It is situated very close to the dam wall of Bjelke-Petersen Dam. Attractions in Cherbourg include the 'Bert Button...
, an Aboriginal community in Queensland.
Sydney NRL
Scouted by Arthur BeetsonArthur Beetson
Arthur Henry "Artie" Beetson, OAM , was an Australian rugby league footballer and coach. He represented Australia and Queensland from 1964 to 1981. His position was at prop. Beetson became the first Indigenous Australian to captain his country in any sport. and is frequently cited as the best...
, Tonga moved into the Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
area. Making small but sure career moves, his best known achievements were yet to be acknowledged when he moved on to the Bulldogs on 2004. His career catapulted in that one year, earning State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
selection, allowing him to become the 145th player to be chosen for the Queensland side since 1980.
Winning the NRL Grand Final with the Bulldogs in 2004, and the Dally M
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Centre of the Year award, Tonga was also picked for the Australian side for the Tri-Nations
Rugby League Tri-Nations
The Rugby League Tri-Nations was a rugby league tournament involving the top three nations in the sport: Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand...
series, making his first full year in the NRL his most successful to date.
North Queensland
On 1 April 2008, it was announced that Tonga had signed a four year deal with the North Queensland CowboysNorth Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
, commencing in 2009.
In April 2009, he was named in the preliminary 25 man squad to represent Queensland in the opening State of Origin
Rugby League State of Origin
State of Origin is an annual best of three series of rugby league football matches contested by the Maroons and the Blues, who represent the Australian states of Queensland and New South Wales respectively...
match for 2009. In June, Willie Tonga played in Game II of the 2009 State of Origin Series to replace Justin Hodges. Tonga was retained for the third match which the Maroons lost.
In 2010 Tonga played all three Origin matches for the Maroons. At the end of the season he also represented Australia again for the first time in five years in the 2010 Four Nations tournament.