Joe Ofahengaue

Ipswich Brothers junior Joe Ofahengaue played for Queensland Under 20s and the Junior Kangaroos, and was named in the National Youth Competition Team of the Year in 2015, a year in which he played 14 NRL games for the Broncos, including the grand final loss to the Cowboys.

In 2014, he had played prop in Brisbane's 34-32 loss to the New Zealand Warriors in the NYC grand final, with Craig Hodges his coach.

At the start of the 2015 season, he was told by Broncos head coach Wayne Bennett he wouldn't play first grade that year, but he surprised Bennett with a superb season, characterised by a potent attacking game and ferocious defence.

Ofahengaue played 16 NRL games in 2016, 14 off the interchange bench, and also spent time in the Queensland Cup, with Souths Logan Magpies. Ofahengaue made his State of Origin debut off the bench in Game I of the 2019 series in Brisbane, a match the Maroons won 18-14. He started in the front row in the Game III decider in Sydney, with Queensland losing 26-20.

Ofahengaue quit the Broncos at the end of the 2020 season, and signed with Wests Tigers. New Queensland coach, Paul Green called on Ofahengaue for Game I of the 2021 series, in Townsville.

Born in Auckland, of Tongan descent, Ofahengaue was nine when the family moved to Australia. He played prop for the Junior Kangaroos against the Junior Kiwis in 2014, but never lost touch with his Tongan heritage. He has represented Tonga seven times, and was part of their 2017 World Cup squad.

Ofahengaue played against Australia in Test matches in Auckland in 2018 and 2019, with the Kangaroos winning 34-16 in 2018, but going down 16-12 the following year. At the start of the 2022 season, Ofahengaue had played 128 NRL games and scored seven tries.

He hasn’t got it given to him. He’s had to work very hard for a long, long time. He’ll go a great job for Queensland.

Craig Hodges NYC coach of Joe Ofahengaue

In 2018, Ofahengaue was selected to play for Tonga in their first ever Test against Australia at Mt Smart Stadium.

Fast forward to 2019 and Ofahengaue made his Origin debut for Queensland in Game I of the 2019 series and his impact was immediate, running for 100m in his opening 32 minutes.