Robert Toia has credited his Tongan upbringing as the backbone for his emergence from numerous career setbacks and can’t wait to repay the faith when he wears the red jersey for the first time at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.
It will be a full-circle moment for the State of Origin centre, from last week having the chance to explore his parents’ roots in the Kingdom to Sunday being able to represent his heritage in front of them in Brisbane, the home of his rugby league upbringing.
Toia was even able to relive his school days this week in a “weird” twist of fate, with Tonga preparing for their date with Samoa with a training session on Wednesday at his alma mater, St Joseph’s Nudgee College on Brisbane’s northside.
Robert Toia's highlights from his Dally M Rookie of the Year season
“Representing Tonga is so special and I just can't believe that I have the opportunity to do so. It's something I've been wanting to be a part for a while,” he said at Tonga’s fan day at Logan Brothers Rugby League Club on Thursday.
“It represents both of my family, my mum and dad. So, you know, both their villages.
“The big thing I took from the Tongan culture is just the respect and just the humbleness.
“That's so big in Tongan culture, just respecting your elders and obeying your parents. That’s a massive thing I try to carry day-to-day.”
Match: Tonga XIII v Toa Samoa
Round 2 -
home Team
Tonga XIII
3rd Position
away Team
Toa Samoa
1st Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
It’s thanks to those ideals the 21-year-old is reaping the rewards with yet another representative berth in a year that “still feels like a dream.”
Toia made his NRL debut for the Roosters in Round 1. He was selected to play for Queensland after just 10 games, playing a key role in the Maroons 2-1 series victory.
Now, he will cap a rapid rise with an international debut.
“You know, it's everything," Toia said. "Just the support from your parents and loved ones, you know, it can really make a difference. The constant support they gave, it obviously just shows the love we have for each other and just the respect both ways."
While 2025 has been a stunning success, it has not been all smooth sailing for Toia.
The emerging talent suffered two ACL tears and a broken jaw in the space of three years prior to this season.
Looking back, Toia recognised the time out game him a chance to improve his game before his debut finally arrived.
You wouldn’t know it from his 2025 campaign, in which he earned the reputation of one of the most formidable defensive centres in the NRL, but coming through the grades Toia admits it was his weakness.
Two for Toia
Fittingly, it was watching a Roosters teammate, who has had a similarly injury-riddled path to the top grade, that inspired him to add another tool to his repertoire.
“That's one thing I was glad that, you know, I started adding to my game. If you ask any coach my junior years, they wouldn't even know I could defend,” Toia said.
“Billy Smith was a big factor in that. I kind of looked up to him. I've never told him this, but I looked up to him so much, just not only due to the setbacks, but seeing what he does with the ball and off the ball.
“I valued how much he cared for the defensive side with things, his little attention to details, it’s so beautiful to watch.
“I've always wanted to add that to my game, but I’m just so surprised and shocked that I've been able to add it so early.”
Classic: Samoa v Tonga, 2015
So how does he do it?
“First things first, it’s your prep, it’s getting your feet right and just getting up,” Toia said.
“The more space you take, you know, the less space they have. So getting that space up there, taking up that space helps so much and then just really just shortening your feet and then just read it.”
Someone who has witnessed all of Toia’s pitfalls and his sensational emergence is Roosters and Tonga teammate Siua Wong, who couldn’t be prouder to run out alongside him for Tonga on Sunday.
“It's awesome, hey," Wong said. "I feel like everything happens for a reason. If he didn't go through those setbacks he wouldn’t have been able to put himself in the position that he is in now, and I feel like mentally, physically, everything, and you know, he’s so much stronger and better.
“He gives us so much confidence, he’s put in so much work this year.”
Wong said Toia was all the more set up for his debut on the back of the culture built by Tonga coach Kristian Woolf and the leadership group to embrace him like family.
It’s the same community feel that sums up the Tongan fanbase for the 22-year-old backrower, especially after last week’s eye-opening tour of the country.
“Obviously Tonga’s such a small nation, but just through footy alone we can do big things and big ups to the fans who are always turning up,” Wong said.
“That's the Tongan culture, always having that generosity and community and I feel like that's what's here today and what we’ll represent on the field on Sunday.
“One thing that really struck me is they live with so much less than what we have in Australia, but I feel like they're five times, 10 times happier than people who live in Australia, and they’ve helped us come back and be more content.”
That feeling pauses for 80 minutes on Sunday, not content with anything other than victory against their arch-rivals.
