Joseph Malaki Tomane

Joe Tomane, a flying, hard-running, hirsute winger, didn’t fit the mould of most rugby professionals. A spotlight-avoider, humble and a man of devout faith, Tomane let his rugby do the talking and when it did, it did so loudly.

Born in Wellington, New Zealand, with both Kiwi and Samoan heritage, Joe Tomane starred at schoolboy level in both rugby codes. He played league alongside Israel Folau at Marsden High and then union with James O'Connor at Nudgee College in Brisbane. Tomane finished his secondary schooling with two seasons in the Nudgee 1st XV (2006-07) and in that final year was selected for Australian Schools.

Unfortunately, Tomane was soon lost to rugby when he chose to pursue a career in the National Rugby League. Tomane spent four years in the NRL (2008-11) where he played two seasons at both the Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans. In 32 first grade matches, Tomane scored 20 tries however he later reflected on that time in league with a view that his career had been about all the wrong things – money, fame, fortune - and he had played for ‘‘the wealth’’, not for the love of the game.

Struggling with injury and form while playing for the Ipswich Jets, feeder club to the Titans, Tomane saw the door closing on a professional career. It was at that point he rediscovered his Christian faith and ‘‘challenged’’ God to guide him out of ‘‘the lowest point of my career’’.

Tomane returned to rugby in 2012 when he signed a two-year deal to join World Cup winning coach Jake White at the Brumbies. A ‘stunning arrival’ in Canberra saw the winger chosen for the season’s opening Test, against Scotland in Newcastle. Tomane later reflected, "I just didn’t see this coming, I never thought in three months my life would be turned around in such a massive way ... this is unbelievable.'' Unfortunately, an ankle injury suffered at training two days after that Scotland match ruled him out of the subsequent test series against Wales.

Injuries went on to play a cruel role in his career over the following three years although Tomane did earn selection to the 2015 Rugby World Cup from which he returned with a runners-up medal. The following year he lost 10 weeks to a medial ligament tear in his right knee and then upon a return to club footy with Uni-Norths suffered a double tibia break to the same leg. That was to be Tomane’s last game of rugby in Australia after he signed with French club Montpellier.

Joe Tomane played 17 Tests for Australia in a four-year international career.

Highlights

2007

Represented Australian Schools against England U18s, Samoan Schools and New Zealand Schools

2012

Tomane won his first Test cap on the right wing in the 6-9 loss to Scotland at Newcastle.

2013

Tomane earned eight caps throughout 2013 including two starts against the British & Irish Lions and appearances in four of the five Spring Tour internationals. He scored his first Test try in the 54-17, 2nd Test victory over Argentina in Rosario.

2014

Following a hamstring injury Tomane had to wait until the back end of the Rugby Championship and the subsequent Spring Tour in order to add to his Test cap tally. He played left wing in each of his five starts for the season.

2015

He was selected in the run-on XV for three Tests amid fierce competition from Adam Ashley-Cooper, Rob Horne and Drew Mitchell. Tomane won selection to his first Rugby World Cup however his sole appearance was in the pool stages, against Uruguay at Birmingham.