How Keaon Koloamatangi and Latrell Mitchell’s rep decisions could ignite South Sydney’s premiership run

Back then, 20-year-old Keaon Koloamatangi was just one of thousands of red-shirted fans who packed the South Auckland stadium as Mate Ma’a Tonga took on the Kangaroos.

Last weekend he traded his seat in the nose bleeds for a spot in the starting side when he made his Test debut against the Kiwis at the same South Auckland Stadium.

Describing it as the highlight of his career to date, the 24-year-old wants to bring that Test match experience back to the NRL as South Sydney plot a path towards the finals.

“I was in the crowd in that stadium in 2018. I was dressed in all red, sitting right at the top,” Koloamatangi tells CodeSports.

“It’s pretty funny how fast things change.

“Just seeing all the red flags last week – even though it was the Kiwis’ home ground – the Tongan fans turned up. It was something that I’ll remember forever.

“Being around some of the top players in the comp, you can’t believe it at first, but then you get a sense that you belong there and you deserve your spot.

“That’s what I want to bring back to Souths, just playing consistent footy and being the best you can for the team.”

It’s been a quick rise for the Mascot Jets junior.

He was still a year and a half away from making his NRL debut when he cheered on Tonga against Australia in 2018, but has already racked up 50 NRL games and a grand final appearance for Souths.

Running out in front of the jam-packed Mt Smart Stadium to sing the Tongan national anthem and perform the Sipi Tau was the culmination of a childhood dream.

“It really hit home running out and seeing the stands,” he says. “It was great to represent my family. I’m a family guy, and any opportunity to play for Tonga, I was always going to put that first.

“I’ve always wanted to represent Tonga and represent my dad and my family back home first.

“I had heaps of family turn out in New Zealand. I met a lot of them for the first time, and saw a lot of them for the first time in a while too.

“Definitely the highlight of my career so far.”

Fresh off the high of playing Test footy, Koloamatangi was in fine form on Saturday night, running for 159 metres, including 60 post contact metres, and making 36 tackles as the Bunnies scored a 30-12 win over Parramatta in atrocious conditions at Accor Stadium.

The result leaves the Bunnies seventh on the ladder, two points below the Eels and two points above Manly.

The win marked Latrell Mitchell’s long-awaited return from injury, with the fullback getting through 80 minutes and kicking five conversions from five attempts.

Mitchell’s triumphant return had New South Wales selectors facing a tricky selection dilemma ahead of the Origin decider in Brisbane, before the South Sydney talisman ruled himself out of contention.

It could mark the turning point in the 8-7 Rabbitohs’ season, says Koloamatangi.

“It’s a great call, we need him and we see where his head’s at,” he says of Mitchell’s decision to focus on Souths.

“He’s massive getting our sets off to a good start, breaking tackles and defenders and getting fast play the ball.

“We were able to get going on the back of that.

“Obviously there’s a lot of noise saying that he should play Origin, but he said that he’s focusing solely on the Rabbitohs.

“It gives everyone a boost, and with him in, we can be a team that wins the comp.”

While Mitchell has put his own rep career on hold, Koloamatangi says his next focus is on Tonga’s World Cup campaign later in the year.

And after being named as Brad Fittler’s 20th man for last year’s Origin opener, he also has designs on a sky blue jersey in the future.

“Just knowing that I was being looked at for one of the best teams in the league that you can make, it was very humbling,” he says of his Origin squad selection a year ago.

“I didn’t play, but it’s another goal of mine to play.

“Obviously that’s a massive goal for me, so hopefully over the next couple of years we get there.”