Teen Waratahs speedster, Aussie Olympic Rugby Sevens hopeful Hadley Tonga in rush for success
He’s the teen speedster who knocked back overtures from NRL club and didn’t believe his dad played high level footy until he saw a photo. Now he’s trying to emulate his feats.
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It’s a case of like father like son for rugby sensation Hadley Tonga - he just didn’t know about it,
With speed to burn and head-turning skills, the teenager has already signed a multi-year deal with the Australian rugby sevens program after multiple approaches from NRL clubs.
He’s also part of the NSW Waratahs Academy and their under 18s squad which earlier this year beat their Queensland Reds opposites in an annual battle and are hoping to repeat feat again on September 19 in Sydney.
But Tonga has revealed he was unaware of his father Sione’s ‘secret’ past as a top level player himself until quite recently.
“My dad played in Hong Kong in 1999 in the sevens and I didn’t believe he did it until he showed me a photo,” said the 18-year-old, who lives at Blacktown and plays rugby for The Kings School.
“And he also played 15s in Japan.
“I want to follow in my father’s footsteps.
“We don’t look alike though. He was in the forward pack, and I’m a winger or fullback.
“He always gives me tips and his wise, and I take a lot of information from him.”
The superfast winger started playing football when he was eight with his local clubs, the Blacktown Scorpions and Western Sydney Two Blues.
“I started off playing league for the Wentworthville Magpies during primary school, even played a bit of AFL,’’ said Tonga, who has overcome a syndesmosis knee injury and surgery earlier this year to be back on the field.
“But I always wanted to play rugby union.”
Tonga was recently identified by Waratahs coach Darren Coleman as one of the most promising young talents in NSW rugby.
The Waratahs take on the Queensland Reds in their under 18s battle at Forshaw Rugby Park on September 19.
The match is the second in an annual series between the two powerhouse rugby Academies.
The two matches at Forshaw Rugby Park will be played at 12.30pm and 2pm.
WARATAHS ACADEMY BLUE U18S TO TAKE ON QUEENSLAND REDS
1 Nathaniel Tiitii The King’s School, 2 Lipina Ata Newington College, 3 Will Goddard Knox Grammar School, 4 Aden Ekanayake Gordon Rugby Club, 5 Lachlan Doheny Eastwood Rugby Club, 6 Sam Niulala Trinity Grammar School, 7 Austin Durbidge The King’s School, 8 Toby Brial The Scots College, 9 Hwi Sharples St Joseph’s College, 10 Joe Walsh St Augustine’s College, 11 Hadley Tonga The King’s School, 12 Boston Fakafanua The King’s School, 13 Malakye Enasio Knox Grammar School, 14 Brendan Palmer Hunter Wildfires Rugby Club, 15 Leo Jaques The Scots College, 16 Bailey Park The King’s School, 17 Nick Ashdown The King’s School, 18 Edwin Langi The King’s School, 19 Eamon Doyle St Joseph’s College, 20 Luca Cleverley Newington College, 21 Sam Blank St Augustine’s College, 22 Tyrese Lokeni The King’s School, 23 Tom Klem Shore School
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