Lunch with the king of Tonga and quality time spent with his subjects have Jason Taumalolo primed to deliver a blockbusting display against Samoa.

The Tongan co-captain and his team spent five days in Tonga before flying to Brisbane to prepare for the Pacific Cup clash with the Samoans at Lang Park on Sunday.

A highlight was lunch at the royal residence with King Tupou VI. Taumalolo was feted as a national hero on the trip, with team management struggling to get him from one venue to the next because of his popularity.

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"It's a privilege for us to be in that position to meet the king. That rar

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