Reports out of the Mate Ma’a Tonga camp is that Jason Taumalolo will be ruled out of the Pacific clash against Samoa. Taumalolo required knee “clean out” surgery after the Cowboys season finished 8 weeks ago and has not yet fully recovered.
Taumalolo’s surgery is said to loose bits of cartilage or bone and smooth down rough, damaged surfaces inside the knee joint.
It was reported in early 2024 that Taumalolo was on a modified training and playing program as he dealt with a degenerative cartilage issue in his knee.
Clean out surgery addresses cartilage or bone damage, and smoothens rough, damaged surfaces inside the knee joint.
The reports come as a massive blow for Tonga as Taumalolo is one of their most experienced players with 285 NRL games and 30 international test matches on his sheet.
Tonga remain hopeful Taumalolo will play next week against the Kiwis.
Felise Kaufusi has been promoted from the bench into the lock position. This leaves Demetric Vaimauga and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki as the likely candidates to slot into that open bench spot.
In Toa Samoa’s camp, Head Coach Ben Gardiner has trimmed his reserves to just Terrell May and his older brother Tyrone May.
If he is healthy, Terrell May will be bumped from reserves to the bench closer to kickoff on Sunday afternoon.
Taumalolo Background
Taumalolo was born in Auckland, New Zealand to parents Tominika and Vaai Akolo. Enrolled in primary school under his given name, Vaai, his teacher was unable to pronounce it correctly, instead deciding to call him “Jason”.
He grew up in Māngere and started playing rugby league at the age of 4 for the Papakura Sea Eagles and attended De La Salle College with his older brother Warner.
At age 12, Taumalolo had moved to Townsville after being scouted and signed to a scholarship by the North Queensland Cowboys while playing for a touring New Zealand under-16 team.
In Townsville, Taumalolo played his junior rugby league for Townsville Brothers and attended Kirwan State High School, where he became an Australian Schoolboy rep at the age of 16.
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