The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the contract extension of International and State of Origin second rower Keaon Koloamatangi for a further two seasons until the end of 2026 today.
Koloamatangi, 25, has played 82 NRL matches, all of which have been for the Rabbitohs, since making his first grade debut against the Storm at AAMI Park in round four, 2020.
Koloamatangi, Rabbitohs first grade player number 1157, has also played five Test matches for Tonga in 2022 where he was named in the team of the tournament, and he has been selected in Tonga’s squad for the upcoming tour of England. Keaon made his State of Origin debut for New South Wales in Game III of the 2023 series, and he previously won the Rabbitohs’ John Sattler Rookie of the Year award in 2020.
Koloamatangi, a South Sydney junior from the Mascot Jets club alongside current Rabbitohs and New South Wales teammate Cameron Murray, is excited to have extended his contract at his junior club.
“It means the world to me and my family to be re-signing with the Rabbitohs,” Koloamatangi said.
“We had a bit to think about going into November 1 and I wanted to get something done before then with the Club.
“I’m grateful that everything has panned out. My family and I are happy and we think that Souths is the best place to be for our future.
“There’s massive belief here that we can win comps. We’ve been very close in recent years so I didn’t want to leave and throw away all of the hard work we’ve done, as well as the hard work we have in front of us. That’s not in my DNA.
“The Rabbitohs are always in the forefront of my mind and I want to win at least one comp here before I retire.”
Rabbitohs Head of Football, Mark Ellison, says Koloamatangi is a key member of the Rabbitohs forward pack.
“Keaon has worked so hard to achieve what he has so far in the game and he is a great example of how hard work and persistence can pay off,” Mr Ellison said.
“He’s risen through the ranks at South Sydney and broke through for a first grade position in the COVID-affected year of 2020. He’s had ups and downs with injury through the early stages of his career but he has become a true professional and is now reaping the rewards on and off the field.
“He’s represented his Country and State and the next thing on his list to achieve is a Premiership with the Rabbitohs. He has the work ethic and the want to achieve this with his teammates and he will play a key role in any success we have as a Club.
“He grew up alongside another South Sydney man in Cameron Murray and nothing would please us more than to see these two achieve their goals alongside each other and their teammates this coming year and into the future.
“Off field he is engaged to the beautiful Heavenly and they have started a family with the arrival last year of their daughter Psalms.
“Everyone at the Rabbitohs loves working with Keaon and we can’t wait to see the heights he can achieve in the coming seasons in red and green.”
Biography
Name: Keaon Koloamatangi.
Date of Birth: 23 May 1998
Place of Birth: Sydney, NSW
Position: Second row
Height: 191cm
Weight: 106kg
Junior Club: Mascot Jets
NRL and Club Debut: Rabbitohs vs Storm, AAMI Park, 5 June 2020 (Rd 4)
Rabbitohs Player No.: 1157
NRL Games: 82 (all for the Rabbitohs)
NRL Points: 60 (from 15 tries for the Rabbitohs)
Rep Honours: Five Tests for Tonga (2022); World Cup with Tonga (2022); one game for New South Wales (2023); one game for New South Wales Residents (2019); one game for New South Wales under 18s (2016)
Awards: John Sattler Rookie of the Year Award (2020)
Achievements: Rugby League World Cup 2021 Team of the Tournament - Interchange (2022)
