Promising prop Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga says he is โfully committedโ to St George Illawarra just weeks after requesting permission to explore his options, admitting the situation could have been avoided with better communication from both parties.
Tongaโs manager Craig Clifton last month said his clientโs NRL snubbing for the opening six rounds of the season was โdemoralisingโ and โdetrimentalโ to his wellbeing in a scathing letter to Dragons officials that was obtained by this masthead. The NSW under-19s State of Origin forward is contracted until the end of next year, but half a dozen clubs were ready to pounce if he came onto the open market.
Clifton wrote that it had โbecome evident that his continued tenure at the Dragons is no longer tenable or beneficial for either partyโ, that Tongaโs concerns were not addressed and seized upon comments made by then coach Shane Flanagan that there was no one better to be promoted into the winless side as proof that his client wasnโt valued.
The Dragons knocked back the request, and Tonga returned to first grade shortly after. Tonga then retained his spot in the team for the Anzac Day clash against the Roosters after Dean Young replaced Flanagan as coach.
Speaking for the first time about the situation, Tonga said he was ready to fulfil his contractual obligations.
โIโm fully committed to the Dragons,โ Tonga told this masthead. โI need to be playing first grade to keep developing as a player, and it was frustrating at the time. Iโm just doing everything I can to help the team and try to get us a win. There was a period there where I wasnโt sure where I stood, but itโs good to be back in first grade.
โThe communication could have been better at the time and that is partly on me โฆ I wasnโt really sure where I was at, I wasnโt really hearing much [from the club] and the whole thing could have been handled differently.
โIโm just focused on doing my best and being the best player I can be.โ
Tonga wasnโt chosen in the touring party for the clubโs season-opening game in Las Vegas and only got recalled to first grade after Cliftonโs release request.
โIt was hard, thereโs only so much you can develop in [NSW] Cup,โ he said. โYouโre always trying to take your game to the next level, and it can be hard to do that when youโre not in the NRL. Iโve got such a long way to go, and Iโm just working hard to get to where I need to be.โ
Several rival clubs are watching Tongaโs situation with interest, but his focus for now is adding to his 12 first-grade appearances.
โIโm just really focused on this year with the Dragons, and then we will get to November 1 and see what happens,โ he said.
โIโm just worried about trying to get some wins because itโs been a tough start to the year. The boys are all trying hard. Hopefully the results will come.โ
Itโs been a disrupted season for Tonga, who had to deal with a neck scare during a training incident in March. The Bankstown Bulls junior was placed in a neck brace and rushed to hospital in an ambulance amid fears of a serious injury.
โIt was pretty scary,โ he said. โI just got into a tackle with one of the boys. I didnโt want anyone to know about it when it happened โฆ but [precautionary measures were required]. It ended up being all good.โ
Tonga has a close relationship with Willie Talau, who was recently promoted from NSW Cup to Youngโs first grade assistant. And while Young has been in charge for just one game as an interim head coach, the hulking 116kg, 196cm front-rower feels he can turn around a 12-game winless streak stretching back to last year.
โ[Young] just knows how to fill you with confidence before games,โ he said.
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