Michael Jennings pledges future to Tonga instead of Australia and New South Wales

Michael Jennings has confirmed that he will see out his representative career playing for Tonga rather than with Australia or New South Wales Blues.

He and Andrew Fifita will help lead Tonga in their Pacific Test against Samoa on June 23 in Campbelltown.

Jennings said he felt prouder playing for Tonga in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup than any of the times he has played for New South Wales Blues or Australia.

He told NRL.com: “My focus now is Tonga.

“I’d love to play Origin but made the decision I wanted to stay after the World Cup.

“To see how much passion and the feel, personally for me every time I put an Australian jersey or New South Wales jersey on, it never compared to putting on the Tongan jersey, just how much passion and how much it meant to my family.

“When we played against Samoa, it was an intense game. The atmosphere was humbling, the vibe was all positive. An unbelievable experience for me. I can’t explain it. That experience has changed everyone’s minds. The effect that it had with the fans and younger generation.”