Tui Lolohea is one of just a handful of survivors from Tonga’s first and only World Cup win over New Zealand which signalled the start of rugby league’s Pacific revolution.
And as he approaches the twilight of his career, the 31-year-old playmaker has the chance to complete a full-circle moment by beating the Kiwis in Saturday’s semi-final.
Lolohea was part of the Tongan side - bolstered by the defections of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita - that stunned the Kiwis in 2017 to become the first tier-two nation to defeat a tier-one country.
Lolohea and Taumalolo are the only Tongan players who remain from that day heading into this weekend’s semi-final with New Zealand in Newcastle.
“We were obviously down at halftime, I think it was like 16-2, and then we scored four tries back to back in the second half,” said Lolohea.
“Honestly to beat a tier-one team for the first time, like to be a part of history, was obviously amazing.
“I think we've created a bit of a rivalry with the Kiwis over the last couple of years, and we've had some wins, we've had some losses, and they've always been good games.
“No doubt it's going to be another big one, it's finals footy, and you know it's one before the big dance.”
Lolohea has been present for all of Tonga’s big scalps, featuring in the 2019 defeat of Australia which followed a victory over Great Britain from a week earlier.
But there was a chance the Huddersfield five-eighth wasn’t going to be a part of Tonga’s World Cup campaign.
Lolohea didn’t feature in the 2025 Pacific Championships and the emergence of Isaiya Katoa and Latu Fainu had put the veteran’s place in the squad up in the air.
A heart to heart with coach Kristian Woolf - the mastermind behind Tonga’s international rise - gave Lolohea an indication of where he stood.
“I just wanted to know if I was going to be in the squad … and when I finally got the call, you know, I was saying to my wife, ‘This is probably it’,” Lolohea said.
“I just felt so grateful this time to be selected.
“Obviously, I'm the older one on the team with a couple of boys. This is probably going to be my last, so it would be nice to go out (on a high).
