Eating lobster and wild boar, meeting with the King, making school visits and watching the local grand finals. And then the waiting – and waiting – for Jason Taumalolo to pose for photos and sign autographs.

Welcome to the Tonga rugby league team’s trip to the South Pacific.

The Tongans head into Sunday’s Pacific Championships showdown with Samoa refreshed and with a new appreciation of how much rugby league and success mean to the 100,000 people living on the only Pacific island never to have been conquered or colonised.

Some financial help from the NRL and private sponsors allowed coach Kristian Woolf and the players to enjoy five days they will never forget.

While Addin Fonua-Blake, Felise Kaufusi, newcomer Stefano Utoikamanu and halfback Isiaya Katoa were popular with the locals, t

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