Robert Toia's choice of Tonga over Australia for the Rugby League World Cup carried a substantial reported pay gap: Australia offered players $40,000, while Tonga pays $2,550 for the group stages and $850 per knockout game.
Toia's decision reflects his family ties to Tonga. Born in New Zealand, he moved to Australia at six and represented Tonga at the 2025 Pacific Championships.
His 2026 breakout season included Queensland selection in State of Origin and a premiership with the Sydney Roosters, establishing him among the league's leading centres.
After Tonga's win over Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night, Toia told nine.com.au, "That was probably up there with one of the (best games),"
"It was crazy. Especially after last year's campaign, them beating us ... the rivalry goes back a long time, so to get that win, we have to celebrate it.
It is special. "I actually saw this video of a Tongan guy who had a disability in one of his arms. He rode a bike less than 10km/hr for six hours from his village just to watch the boys play. That is just a small thing that makes it (sweeter)."
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf praised Toia for turning down the larger reported payment and making sacrifices to represent his heritage.