Leka Halasima has put his hand up to play in the centres for Tonga at Rugby League World Cup 2026 after making the position his own with the Warriors in recent weeks.

The 20-year-old had been making a name for himself in the secondrow since debuting in 2024 but shifted to left centre in Round 22 due to injuries.and proved such a revelation that Warriors coach Andrew Webster has continued to pick him there.

Against the Panthers in Round 23 Halasima ran 239m with the ball and produced 11 tackle breaks as well as a try assist, while he has scored in each of his other three games at centre.

“I was originally a centre … so transferring from backrow to centre was pretty easy. I have kind of got the speed and everything, it's just the defending that I still need to learn," Halasima said. "But I will get there soon.

Born in Tofoa on the kingdom's main island of Tongatapu, Halasima hopes to represent Tonga on the game's ultimate stage after making his international debut in last year's Pacific Championships.

"I just want to be part of the World Cup; to be part of the team, represent my family and my culture and where I come from," Halasima said.

Tonga's opening match is against England at Perth's HBF Park on October 17 before travelling to Sydney to meet Lebanon at CommBank Stadium on October 23.

Tonga then play fellow Pacific powerhouse Samoa at CommBank Stadium on November 1 in a match likely to determine a semi-final berth.

With Rob Toia, who edged him for the NRL's 2025 Rookie of the Year award, set to be right centre for Tonga, Halasima said he was happy to play the left centre role.

“As long as I'm on the field, then I'm happy," Halasima said. “Wherever he puts me, I wouldn't mind.

“I will be happy wherever the coaches want me, even if it's in the middle, on the bench ..."

Halasima said not having to tackle as much in the centres had given him the impetus to provide the team more spark in attack.

“It gives me a lot of energy, playing in centres," he said. "I like helping the boys out, getting to where we need to get, especially having all the energy.

“It’s not like in the middle where you're like you're blowing or you're on the edge, so you have to come in and carry."

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