St George Illawarra Dragons-bound forward Keaon Koloamatangi has revealed he may not play in the Rugby League World Cup in a bid to be fit for the start of the 2027 pre-season with his new club.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs prop, one of the best in the game, is eligible for both Australia and Tonga at the World Cup.
He is yet to make an eligibility call, having played ten Tests for Tonga between 2022 and 2024, before making his debut for Australia during last year's Ashes series and playing in all three Tests.
The one-time NSW Blues representative told The Sydney Morning Herald though that he is battling with a number of injury niggles, and could need off-season surgery to be ready for the start of pre-season in mid-November with this year's wooden spooners.
He also confirmed the fact Australian players will be paid a far higher figure than other nations will have no bearing on his decision.
“When it comes to that [pay] stuff, we get paid pretty well with our salaries – if you only play for your country because of the money, that's pretty weak,” Koloamatangi told The Sydney Morning Herald on Tuesday.
“My decision won't be based on money. My body is pretty sore at the moment, and I need to go for a few scans at the end of the year, just to see if I can play.
“It's a possibility [I don't play at all]. I'll keep it [my options] open. I'll get my knee checked out. I've also had a few niggles in the lower back.
“I don't want to make myself look like a fool if I don't play well because I'm injured – I'll make the call when the time comes."
Koloamatangi is one of six new recruits for the Dragons who are expected to rapidly bounce their way up the ladder at the start of the 2027 campaign.
The Dragons have won just three games this year, but have also retained all six of their young forwards - Dylan Egan, Hamish Stewart, Toby Couchman, Ryan Couchman, Loko Pasifki Tonga and Jacob Halangahu - which Koloamatangi will be expected to lead in 2027.
Australia are in Group A alongside New Zealand, Fiji and the Cook Islands for the World Cup, while Tonga are in the combined Group B and C with Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Lebanon, France and England.
Tonga's games are against Samoa, Lebanon and England, with the top two teams from the combined ladder of that group progressing to the semi-finals against the top two teams Group A.
