'Had to make a big decision, wasn't easy': Staggs opens up on special reason to choose Kangaroos over Tonga

Kotoni Staggs’ long-held desire to represent both sides of his culture prompted him to leave Tonga’s national side and push for an Australian debut.

Staggs will play his first Test for the Kangaroos in Saturday’s Pacific Championships opener against Samoa, after previously representing Tonga three times.

The Brisbane centre still lists the 2019 victory over Australia as a career highlight, along with the chance to meet his father for the first time in Tonga.

It also swayed him to maintain his preference to represent Tonga at last year’s World Cup, prioritising playing for the Pacific Island nation ahead of Australia before injury ruled him out.

But the Indigenous star from Wellington in NSW’s central west believes now is the time to fulfil a childhood dream of representing Australia in rugby league.

“I wanted to represent Tonga because of my old man, to pay respects on his behalf and get to know my other side of the culture,” Staggs told AAP. 

“Obviously I didn’t grow up around that so I wanted to get to know my dad’s side of the culture and do that for him. 

“But I’ve grown up here, I was born in Australia. That’s always been a dream.  I’ve always wanted to put the green and gold jersey on.

“I had to make the big decision on who I was going to play for. It wasn’t easy. 

“But at the end of the day I’m here now representing my mum’s side and the country I was born in.”

Staggs had long agonised over the decision with coach Mal Meninga having assumed as recently as last month the centre would continue to prioritise Tonga amid a Kangaroos centre shortage.

But the 24-year-old ultimately decided after the Broncos’ grand-final loss to preference Australia, signing forms to make the Kangaroos his priority after returning to Brisbane.

Staggs has now set his sights on playing as many Tests as possible for Australia, after being told by Tonga coach Kristian Woolf there were no hard feelings over the decision.

“He was really good about it. He knew that opportunity to play for Australia is every kid’s dream if they can do that,” Staggs said. 

“I said ‘there’s no hate, I thank you for what you’ve done for me and giving me a chance to be able to represent my father’.”

Kotoni Staggs. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Staggs said the chance to enter Kangaroos camp had been a welcome distraction after Brisbane’s 26-24 grand-final capitulation to Penrith.

“It’s pretty sad and devastating,” Staggs said. 

“But as a club and organisation you take a lot out of the season we’ve had.

“It probably won’t be the last time we’re going to be in a situation like that. Hopefully we make some more grand finals and we can ice them ones. 

“It’s just the start of something great to happen.”