The story of Whallan Tau-Loi: From pre-season to finals
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PNG Hunters backrower Whallan Tau-Loi made a surprise debut midway through the 2023 season.
In 2024, he is now a regular face in the Hunters' line-up.
Within the space of 12 months, he has graduated from PNG's top competition to a Hostplus Cup player, ready to play in his first finals series.
Tau-Loi sat down with the Queensland Rugby League in pre-season and again ahead of the finals to share his story and track his progress throughout 2024.
With one major goal behind him, he now has his sights set on the big one - a potential premiership.
Here is the story of Tau-Loi.
Tau-Loi’s first steps
In a country obsessed with rugby league, Tau-Loi didn’t actually begin playing the game himself until he was a teenager.
Hailing from the Central Province, in a village called Gaire, the 27-year-old was one of five kids – four boys and one girl, with Tau-Loi the second youngest for his parents David and Tetei.
His older brothers Ted and David both played the game and it was because of their influence that saw Tau-Loi eventually follow in their footsteps.
“Growing up, I didn’t really play rugby,” he said.
“I started playing when I was 15. Seeing my older brothers play, it influenced me to be like them.
“They played in the village competition. They’re my role models… I really look up to them. Every time they play, everyone is calling out for them and it motivates me to be like them.”
Tau-Loi first started playing the game in his village, including one season alongside his brothers.
But for the backrower, the next steps came pretty quickly.
In 2016 he was selected to represent an under 20s team in the zone championships in Lae.
In 2018 he toured the Cook Islands with the Motu Koita Rugby League Association and also won a grand final for his district.
It was off the back of this success that then saw him earn selection with Central Dabaris in Papua New Guinea’s top league.
“I got selected to train with Central Dabaris and that’s where it began for me,” he said.
“I stayed there three years and I’m really grateful for them as well. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have exposed my talent.
“They had a really big impact. The first year I wasn’t really that good but I got Rookie of the Year. By the third year, they picked me to be the captain.”
Midway through the 2023 season, Tau-Loi received a phone call from then-PNG Hunters coach Stanley Tepend.
“I was on my way home with my little family,” the father-of-two said.
“I was 15 minutes away and coach Stan calls and says, ‘Is it okay if you come into camp?’
“I told him I was going to drop my family with my in-laws and then I turned around. I headed to camp and he told me to wait because they were in a meeting.
“I waited and then he called me over and said there was a possibility I might have a game. I had no idea.
“I thought I was just going to train but it was a good opportunity and chance for me to play at this level.
“I was really emotional. I didn’t tell anyone until it was confirmed. It was pretty special.”
Hostplus Cup debut
For Tau-Loi, it wasn’t just rugby league where his older brothers had a great deal of influence.
In 2010, he lost his father. Ten years later, his mother passed away as well.
During this time, it was his two brothers who stepped up.
“Losing my parents has been my biggest challenge,” Tau-Loi said.
“Both my parents are gone. When I lost my dad in 2010, that really hit us and we reached rock bottom. We struggled all the way.
“In 2020, I lost my mum. She was my number one supporter. Everyone played rugby and she was always there.
“My brothers stepped in and played a role, as a big brother should do. They really helped us siblings, the younger ones.
“They’re really proud of me now. They’re always checking up on me.
“My eldest brother, the firstborn, he usually checks up and asks if I need anything to help me with training. I’m pretty thankful for him.”
With these tight-knit bonds, it’s no surprise then that Tau-Loi’s Hostplus Cup debut – on July 1, 2023 at the Hunters’ home stadium – was an emotional one.
He was already achieving a dream and donning a jersey revered by many across his home nation.
But it was made even more special by the presence of his eldest brother, Ted.
“We were in the sheds and they said they had a special welcoming,” Tau-Loi said of the moments leading up to his debut.
“I was sitting down and my brother with his wife and kids came inside. I couldn’t hold back my tears.
“It was pretty special, not just for me but my family as well. Playing in front of a home crowd, I had to make it count... something I could remember and tell my kids.”
It was no easy feat for Tau-Loi.
His first game was against the Central Queensland Capras, with the first-timer lining up opposite PNG cult hero, Nixon Putt.
Tau-Loi had looked up to Putt as he came through the ranks and now he had to minimise the impact of one of his favourite players.
“Just before that game the coaches told me I was going up against Nixon Putt,” he said.
“They said to stay in front, be in front of him, be in his face. Everyone knows that he’s a hard runner and good defender so I was pretty nervous but I had to do what I had to do.
“To be honest, I just have this attitude of never giving up. There’s been people helping me all throughout my journey and I just want to give back to them.
“Not just them but my teammates as well.”
Tau-Loi claimed the two points in his debut match and went on to play another four games in season 2023, with the Hunters failing to make finals.
Smaller than most in his position, Tau-Loi aimed high and he made quite the impression, particularly against the Redcliffe Dolphins in Round 20, where he made a jaw-dropping 50 tackles.
“I didn’t know. I had no idea,” Tau-Loi said of his feat.
“I didn’t believe it. It’s a pretty proud moment for me knowing I made that much tackles.
“I think because of my size they kept running towards me.”
It was an exciting year for the rookie forward. But it was also just the beginning.
Pre-season
The PNG Hunters came into the new pre-season ready for one of their toughest challenges yet.
Under new coach Paul Aiton, PNG had assembled a massive squad of 50 players, opening the door for young guns to make an impact and fresh talent to be unveiled.
For players like Tau-Loi who had been there the year before, the pressure was on more than ever to fight for a spot.
Speaking at the end of January, the benchmarks were clear.
Tau-Loi had been told to gain weight and to sharpen up in defence.
“To be honest, last year I was just starting and getting used to the systems,” he said in January.
“There’s areas I need to improve on and that’s what coach is doing. I need to improve on my defence.
“I’m really small and I’ve been told to put on weight as well. I’ve put on six kilos so far but they’re still telling me to gain more.”
Aiton and his coaching staff laid those challenges out for Tau-Loi, with wider goals for the entire playing group, including learning how to get the “little things” right.
But for the 27-year-old, he had his sights set on a few personal goals.
“I want to help the team reach finals,” Tau-Loi said.
“If there’s a bonus, making the grand final and winning it.”
Season 2024
Despite the pre-season pressure, Tau-Loi went on to become a regular face within the PNG Hunters starting side.
Week in, week out he was there as starting backrower, finishing the regular season with 18 games to his name.
He made over 500 tackles over the course of the season, totalled 1142 run metres and scored four tries in a solid year.
He ended up putting on a total of 10 kilograms and believes he has seen improvement within himself.
“Compared to last year, I’m feeling pretty good,” Tau-Loi said ahead of the 2024 finals series.
“I think my skills, both in attack and defence have improved. I’ve been working closely with coach Paul and he’s been really helpful.
“He teaches us to put the team first in everything we do and get the little things right.
“The biggest challenge was maintaining my spot in the team. There’s a lot of talent and competition amongst ourselves so that was the biggest challenge.
“But I feel confident in myself… It means a lot to me to actually work hard and to gain the trust and confidence from coach Paul and to maintain the passion and remain in the starting line-up.”
The Hunters finished the 2024 regular season with 12 wins and eight losses, locking in fifth place on the Hostplus Cup ladder.
Fables of Cup finals edition: PNG Hunters 2017
The Hunters’ first finals campaign since 2017
The 2017 season was a historic one.
The PNG Hunters claimed their first Cup premiership in stunning circumstances, snatching a win in the dying minutes over the Sunshine Coast Falcons.
Since then it’s been a rollercoaster for the proud club as they’ve struggled year in, year out to return to finals footy.
Until now.
For the first time in seven years, the Hunters are playing finals, ready to host the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in Port Moresby on Saturday.
Tau-Loi is named in the second row and pinching himself over the opportunity ahead.
He’s ticked off that pre-season goal.
“Making it into the finals... that’s the big one,” he said.
“I think the (Round 22) game against Tigers, that’s when I knew we had a chance of being in the top eight.
“It feels unreal. It feels good to be in the finals. It’s been seven years since the Hunters played finals so pretty proud of how far we’ve come.”
Despite having the home ground advantage, PNG know the Seagulls will present a challenge as they travel to Port Moresby with plenty of experience in their ranks.
But for Tau-Loi, he also knows the proud country of Papua New Guinea will be watching on closely.
“I think it’s going to be a really tough one,” Tau-Loi said.
“I want to give back to my country as a whole… my teammates, my family and my country as a whole, I want to give them back a big win.”
As for Tau-Loi’s goals now, that “bonus” goal he mentioned in pre-season has become the focus.
“My goal now is just make that grand final and win it,” he said.
“What it would mean… that’s a tricky one. It’s hard to describe it. The feeling… it would mean so much, to me, my teammates, my family and my country as whole.”
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