Tonga veteran Felise Kaufusi wants to play in one last World Cup and gain revenge over arch rivals Samoa, with a thumping defeat last year still playing on his mind.
The 34-year-old forward hopes to add to his 15 Tests for Tonga in the 10-team tournament in October and November in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.
Tonga have a tough draw. After playing England and Lebanon they face Samoa in Parramatta in a November 1 blockbuster that could decide which of the two teams plays in the semi-finals.
Kaufusi has played for Tonga against Samoa in four Tests and lost them all but the 34-6 defeat in last year’s Pacific Championships still burns.
In front of 44,682 fans at Suncorp Stadium, Samoa dominated a match that included a 95-minute delay for a thunderstorm.
The previous losses to Samoa were close but last year’s defeat still sticks in the craw for Kaufusi due to its magnitude and the occasion.
"That hurt, that last one," Kaufusi said.
"We got thumped at Suncorp and it hurt even more when that rain came. It just prolonged it. We will do our best to not ever see that or feel that again.
"If both teams have what they can on paper, and all the boys go back to heritage, it is going to make for a cracker World Cup and a lot of competition.
"I think of Tonga v Samoa as our State of Origin. There is always a lot of, not friendly, but competition there. The boys want to beat each other."
Tonga currently have a wonderful pack that includes young guns Demitric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima and Siua Wong along with proven performers Addin Fonua-Blake, Jason Taumalolo and Moeaki Fotuaika.
Getting in the squad will be no breeze for Kaufusi.
"I would love to but I know how much talent and how much youth we have in that position," the Dolphins stalwart said.
"I’ll be disappointed if I don’t make it but I know our future for Tonga is in a good space. I would never say no to Tonga, but I have to worry about us in clubland week-in and week-out."
Kaufusi played his first three Tests for Tonga before linking with Australia.
He was a member of the Kangaroos winning World Cup squad in 2017 on home soil and played in two Tests but not the final.
After representing the Kangaroos on four occasions he switched back to Tonga in 2022 at the World Cup, where Samoa won a thrilling quarter-final 20-18.
