Rugby union legend Toutai Kefu honoured by Queensland Sport Hall of Fame

Three months after he and his family fought for their lives in a home invasion, rugby union great Toutai Kefu says their spirits have been lifted by some surprising news.

THREE months after he and his family fought for their lives in a home invasion, rugby union great Toutai Kefu will be honoured for a different form of courage.

Kefu will be one of six champion sportspeople inducted to the Queensland Sport Hall of Fame at the Brisbane Convention Centre on November 25, timely recognition of his exceptional 60 Test career which was a vibrant thread in the last great era of Australian rugby union.

Kefu will join Olympic water polo gold medallist Gail Miller, rugby league Test star and former The Courier-Mail league writer Jack Reardon, Australia’s most capped hockeyroo Madonna Blyth, Olympic diving gold medallist Matthew Mitcham, and widely travelled soccer star Steve Corica as Hall of Fame inductees.

Kefu and his family are making solid progress dealing with the physical and mental fallout after Toutai, wife Rachel and two of their children were hospitalised when their Coorparoo home was invaded by four knife and machete wielding teenagers who have since been charged with 44 offences.

Toutai Kefu recounts more of the night his family were forced to fight for their lives during a home invasion

Toutai Kefu’s family returns to scene of home invasion

But the battle is ongoing and the unexpected QSport award has been a spirit-lifter for one of the code’s most popular players.

“It’s wonderful … an unbelievable privilege,’’ said Kefu, who played 103 games with the Queensland Reds from 1996-2004.

“When I told (wife) Rachel she was so surprised. It has been a tough few years with Covid and the incident so this is really good news.

“There was a bit of luck with the timing of my career. We had some players who were the best in the world in their positions. There was John Eales and Tim Horan. I was a massive fan of Jason Little … Ben Tune, Joe Roff, George Gregan. Unbelievable players.’’

As, indeed, was dynamic No 8 Kefu.

Lauded by former Wallaby coach Eddie Jones for having a rare and precious combination of the skills of a back and the toughness of a powerhouse forward, Kefu left such a mark that Australia has never been able to find someone quite like him in the 18 years since he played his last Test.

As timely as the QSport honour is, the triumphs and turmoil of professional sport seem inconsequential compared to the stresses of the home invasion which sent shockwaves far beyond the sports world.

Toutai Kefu at home in Coorparoo. Picture: Liam Kidston

Kefu’s wife Rachel was the source of particular concern after undergoing surgery to a deep cut to her arm and will require a year of intense therapy before it returns to normal.

“She is going well. She has her moments. But she is really doing well. She is a trooper. To put up with five kids and myself you have to be quite resilient. She is a tough one. She will get through it. I have no doubt about that. We are all supporting her.’’

Kefu does not pretend to be fully over the incident physically or mentally but is “getting there.’’

“I am mentally all right. I have had conversations with psychologists. They were quite informal. Stuff that we have experienced he said was really normal such as nightmares and waking up late at night hearing noises. It’s normal. With time and talking about it, it will get less and less.’

“I just have got some issues with my wrist and got a scan. I had two broken bones in a foot and spent five weeks in a moon boot which came off three weeks ago. I’m fine.

“We are a pretty tough family this one. My parents raised us boys pretty tough and that has probably been passed on to my kids as well.’’

Kefu won a World Cup in 1999 and two Bledisloe Cups against New Zealand with captain John Eales promising him free beer for the rest of his life after he crashed over for the winning try in Eales’ last Test match against New Zealand in 2001.

“I am still waiting for that beer …,’’ he said.

Kefu considered himself fortunate to play in Australia teams good enough to look the mighty All Blacks in the eye … and occasionally stare them down in wins which would trigger memorable celebrations.

“In 1998 when we won the Bledisloe Cup in Christchurch in an afternoon Test, Jeez we had some celebrations that day and night and the next day.

“I remember us passing the Bledisloe Cup around. Everyone was drinking out of the Cup that night. It was an unbelievable atmosphere.’’

“My brother played in the under-21s Test match before us and they won with a field goal in the last minute. We invited them around to my place and we ended up with a $3500 hotel bill. I shouted all my brother’s mates all bloody night even though I left the hotel to be with my wife.’’

Kefu playing for Australia against South Africa in a Tri-Nations test match 2000. Picture: Brett Costello

Polynesian players are now the backbone of the Wallaby team but the Kefu family, who came to Australia when Toutai was two, were among the first Tongan rugby players to make their mark in Brisbane. The cultural breakthrough was not without its challenges.

“Coming through the grades there were not many islanders around at that time. Rugby is a middle and upper class sport. There was always a challenge in being the only Polynesian out there. It was a predominantly white sport back then. Being a Polynesian you were going to stand out.’’

“It changed as I got older and people realised the Polynesian were here to stay.’’