‘I’m all in’: Fonua-Blake embraces Origin dream alongside Koula debut
Tongan NRL stars Addin Fonua-Blake and Tolu Koula are stepping into State of Origin as Pasifika players continue to shape rugby league’s biggest stage.
pmn.co.nzHere’s the latest I could confirm about Tolu Koula:
- Tolu Koula recently re-signed with Manly Sea Eagles on a long-term deal, keeping him at the club through the end of 2031. This was reported in early 2026 as Manly successfully retained him amid external interest [news source excerpts indicate a five-year extension to 2031].[1]
- He’s been highlighted as a key NSW representative, with recent coverage noting his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in 2026 and praising his pace and athletic background, including his track-and-field roots from a family with Olympic athletes [Yahoo Australia coverage of Origin selection and build], [PMN NZ coverage on Koula’s Origin debut and accompanying stories].[3][4]
- His official NRL State of Origin profile and related team listings confirm his role on the NSW wings around the 2026 Origin period, reinforcing that he’s become a regular top-tier representative player [NRL State of Origin profile], [NSWRL profile].[6][7]
- For broader context, his Tonga/XIII and international profiles reflect his dual eligibility and evolving career as he advances in both club and representative rugby league [Pacific Championships profile page for Tolutau Koula], [World Athletics profile referencing his athletic background].[2][5]
If you’d like, I can tighten this to a one-sentence update and add a short timeline of his contract status and representative milestones, or pull more precise quotes from the cited articles.