Toia Chooses Tonga Over Australia at World Cup
Sydney Roosters centre Robert Toia will represent Tonga in the 2026 Rugby League World Cup instead of Australia.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Soccer
Live Poll
Would you watch a World Cup match over a higher-paying national team?
Sydney Roosters centre Robert Toia has chosen to represent Tonga at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup rather than Australia. He accepted $2550 for the group stages plus $850 per knockout game, instead of a reported $40,000 flat payment offered by Australia.
Why it matters
The decision highlights how family heritage and national ties can outweigh financial offers in international rugby league selection. It also underscores the competitive stakes of Tonga's semi-final against New Zealand.
The figures come from reported player payment terms, with Toia's group-stage fee of $2550 and knockout fee of $850 set against a reported $40,000 flat payment from Australia. The reported Australian offer has not been independently verified in the extraction, and Tonga's semi-final result against New Zealand remains unknown.
The players
Robert Toia
Robert Toia is a Sydney Roosters centre who has played for Queensland and represented Tonga at the 2025 Pacific Championships.
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters are a professional rugby league club in the NRL and the 2026 premiership winner.
The details
Toia, who was born in New Zealand and moved to Australia at age six, played for Queensland in the 2026 State of Origin series and won the 2026 premiership with the Roosters. He said family heritage and his connections to Tonga shaped the decision, adding that representing Tonga meant more than the money on offer. Tonga had earlier defeated Samoa at CommBank Stadium.
Timeline
Toia represented Tonga at the 2025 Pacific Championships.
Toia played in the 2026 State of Origin series and won the 2026 premiership.
Tonga defeated Samoa at CommBank Stadium on Sunday night.
Tonga faces New Zealand in the semi-final on Saturday.
Season Trajectory
Toia's choice follows a recurring pattern in which players with Pacific heritage weigh national representation against Australian offers, with his prior Tonga appearance at the 2025 Pacific Championships setting the precedent. The decision adds a high-profile figure to Tonga's campaign as the squad prepares for a semi-final against New Zealand.
Toia's presence adds a Roosters centre to Tonga's squad for the knockout stage, with his fees set at $850 per knockout game in addition to the $2550 group-stage payment. Fans following the tournament can track Tonga's semi-final against New Zealand on Saturday as the squad seeks a place in the final.
The takeaway
Toia's decision shows that heritage and personal connection can weigh as heavily as financial terms in international sport. Readers following the tournament can watch how Tonga performs in its semi-final against New Zealand.
What happens next
Tonga faces New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final on Saturday, which will determine Tonga's progression in the tournament.
Further reading
For more on international competition formats and selection decisions, see our Soccer coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Zero Tackle.
Live Poll
Would you watch a World Cup match over a higher-paying national team?
