‘You want to die for the badge’: Tongan great Jim Dymock’s heartbreak for island nation

Jim Dymock’s silver lining to missing out on green and gold was a Tongan education that’s lasted a lifetime and shone bright as the proud rugby league nation recovers from a devastating earthquake.

Pamela Whaley

@pamelawhaley

3 min read

January 25, 2022 - 12:30PM

Jim Dymock knows first hand the resilience and spirit of the Tongan people.

NRL

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Jim Dymock had just lost a grand final when another rejection sprinkled salt in the wound.

But looking back, this was the day he truly started to embrace his Tongan culture.

In 1994 Dymock had just helped Canterbury to the NSWRL grand final alongside Terry Lamb and Dean Pay, only to be beaten by an insatiable Canberra side that remains responsible for the Raiders most recent title.

Jim Dymock and the Canterbury Bulldogs were defeated by the Canberra Raiders in the 1994 NSWRL Grand Final. Picture: NCA

To make matters worse, this was Dymock’s best season in the league so far, and he was in line for a Kangaroos jersey, but didn’t get it. He was offered a Tongan one instead. So he took it.

He would go on to play six tests for Australia after winning the grand final with the Bulldogs the following year, but there was something special about his first red and white one with the Tongan badge on his chest in the Pacific Cup.

“It all clicked for me in 1994. It gave me a chance to learn about the culture and my heritage. It was fabulous. It was so good. We won that competition and went back to Tonga. I couldn’t speak Tongan then, but they were so proud we won,” Dymock says.

His mum Virginia Finau was one of 10 daughters and three sons who came to Australia more than 50 years ago.

But it wasn’t until wearing his first Tongan jersey that Sydney-born Dymock was able to appreciate where she came from, and how the culture shapes who he is no matter how often he visits.

Jim Dymock coached the Tongan team at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia. Picture: NCA

“It’s a story the children of expats all around the world know so well, finding ways to connect to a land they may have never visited before. It’s in their blood.

“There was so much passion there in the Tongan team because of the war dance before games. Normally with the Australian sides you’re sitting around in the sheds and there’s some music on, but with the Tonga team the boys were singing hymns, so I had to learn the hymns. We all went to church together and did all these things together.

“The camps were more about the culture and spirituality than rugby league, so it made you want to die for the badge.

“Anytime you’re on the bus you’re singing songs, all the boys played guitar.

“It was unbelievable. I wanted to be there and represent them and I was very happy to do that.”

Ali Fulivai, Taukolo Tonga, Jim Dymock (centre), John Hopoate and Talite Liava'a before they turned out for Tonga in the 1994 Pacific Cup. Picture: Supplied

Dymock was one of a handful of professional players available to play the Pacific Cup back in 1994 and it inspired him to coach the side later as a means of giving to the rugby league-mad community

Just as he’s trying to do now.

These days most of his family live in Australia but pictures of the devastation wrought after Tonga’s recent earthquake have left him shattered. Like many around the world, he’s not sure of the best way to help.

The Gold Coast Titans, where Dymock is currently an assistant coach, are collecting clothing and supplies to be shipped over to Tonga, and also plan to auction off jerseys from their round one clash with Parramatta to help. The Eels are pitching in to do the same.

Melbourne and the Warriors will fundraise for relief in their pre-season trial next month, while the NRL has reached out to UNICEF and the federal government for advice on how to best assist.

Dymock has been gladdened by the NRL’s response to the devastation in Tonga, including his own Gold Coast Titans, who are collecting supplies and fundraising for the nation. Picture: NRL Imagery

A whole-of-game response is being looked at for later in the year, but at the moment it’s unclear whether financial donations or supplies are needed most.

“It’s just hard when you want to help out and you want to make sure all the funding and all the clothes go to the right people,” Dymock says.

As communications improve, the NRL have been able to contact a handful of staff based on the island and players have been able to reach families to confirm their safety. But the clean-up will be huge, and the recovery long.

“I was devastated to see what happened,” Dymock says. It’s been 14 years since he’s been back to Tonga but the bond he formed on that 1994 Pacific Cup tour is as strong as ever.

“The first thing I did was call my mum to see who was affected. All the lines were down and she didn’t know, but most of the family is here now in Australia so it wasn’t too bad for us.

“But for the people over there, they’re a pretty resilient bunch of people and they’re the nicest people you could meet, they’re so friendly.

“The world is ready to help, we’re just waiting to see how. I know they’ll get back on their feet.”