Charlie Tonga

Charlie Tonga (born 27 September 1977) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer and former coach of the Tonga national rugby league team.

Playing career
As a player, Tonga was recognised as a powerful front-row forward, He played in the NRL for Sydney Roosters and Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, and was noted for his damaging running ability.

In his time at both clubs, Tonga played only a handful of NRL matches, and spent most of his time at the Sydney Roosters playing for the club's feeder team, Newtown.

After a wayward youth and a stint in jail on an assault charge, Tonga rose to become an NRL player and a stint coaching the Tongan national side. It was in Woodford Prison as a young man in 2000 that Tonga met former Australian rugby league hooker and pastor Noel Gallagher. The meeting changed Tonga's life. Tonga, now a gentle giant, has said that youthful pride was the problem in his early 20s and when he came out of jail he thought his career as a footballer was finished. A stint in BRL Open 1's with Browns Plains in 2000 (where he would win a Grand Final) followed before his meteoric rise from Easts Tigers to the NRL with the Bulldogs in 2005. Two seasons with the Roosters followed, but re-discovering his roots and helping others became a large part of his life. Tonga won an Ipswich Rugby League title with Swifts in 2011, and retired from playing soon after.

Post-playing
Tonga was later named as coach of his native Tonga and lead the side in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

Tonga is a committed Christian pastor and youth minister who is called "Power Up" in Campbelltown, and works with kids at risk.

Career highlights

 * FG debut: Canterbury v Newcastle, Energy Australia Stadium, 24 April 2005 (round 7)
 * Played in the 2006 Premier League Grand Final (scored one Try)
 * Played 20 First Grade Games