Tonga star relishing England test - 12 years after international bow for Wales
Aussie enforcer Tyson Frizell admits he feels greedy at the prospect of making history against England.
The all-action Newcastle Knights second-row, 32, is set to debut for Tonga in Sunday’s first Test at St Helens.
But it comes 12 years to the day after making his international bow for Wales - and six years after helping Australia beat England in the 2017 World Cup final.
No one has ever played Test rugby league for three different countries before.
And Frizell certainly didn’t envisage it when - days after his 20th birthday in 2011 - he stepped out for Iestyn Harris’ Wales minnows.
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He recalled: “At that age, it’s not something you aspire to. It’s maybe at the back of your head and one day you might dream of it. I never thought it would happen.
“But I do pinch myself now: not many people get to represent one country but I get to represent all three of mine and my heritage.
“My mum’s Tongan, my dad’s born and raised in Wales and I’m born and raised in Australia.
“I’m very proud of my background, where my parents come from and where I’m from. But coming back to Tonga is something I always wanted to do.
“The last time I wore a red jersey was the red of Wales in the 2013 World Cup. That’s part of my career I hold very close to my heart. It got me into international footy.”
Frizell has gone from strength to strength since, earning 14 Kangaroos caps and representing New South Wales State of Origin on 16 occasions.
He’s one of the NRL’s most respected forwards and it’s no surprise Tonga chief Kristian Woolf wanted him on board to face England.
Frizell - whose adopted brother Shannon Frizell lines up for New Zealand in tomorrow's Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Argentina - insists he’s not got any grief from his former Aussie team-mates for switching again.
Frizell in action for Australia against England at the 2017 World Cup (Getty Images)He said: “No. I’ve done my job for Australia. I’ve bled for those colours. I’ve put that aside now. I’m going to do exactly the same for Tonga.
“It’s the first time a second tier nation has been invited here for a full tour against England so credit to all the work the guys have done so far. Kristian has put a lot of things in place and it makes for an exciting three weeks.”
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Meanwhile, the ex-Cronulla and St George-Illawarra ace has admitted he almost joined Hull KR for 2024.
He was in talks with their Aussie head coach Willie Peters about moving to Super League before re-signing with Newcastle in July.
Frizell said: “I was really close. It was either Hull KR or Newcastle.
“I had a close relationship with Willie when he was at Knights. He floated the idea that if I was ever wanting to come over to England I should give him a call and I was out of contract.
“We had a conversation. It was enticing to come over: a new experience, challenge and something new for the family.
“But we’d just had a newborn and I just thought I had some unfinished business at Knights.”
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