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Two things quickly come to mind when Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi thinks about Christmas Day. Family and food.
With Tongan heritage on his dad's side and Cypriot heritage on his mum's, food has always played an integral role in family celebrations.
It's why many of Iongi's fondest memories are centred around meals, whether it's helping his grandfather George cook souvlaki or cooking a Tongan meal with his dad.
"When I was younger, we'd be with my mum's family in the morning and have breakfast," Iongi told NRL.com. "Then we'd have a break and in the afternoon have dinner with my dad's family. We'd spend the whole day eating good food.
"My grandfather would cook souvlaki every year for Christmas. We've got a souvla that he'd put the chicken on and it takes a couple of hours to cook. He's said he wants to pass it on to us.
"It's pretty special for me and my brother to be able to do those little things like cook for our family the food we grew up eating. For my grandfather to pass it on is pretty special and hopefully someday I can do the same to my kids and grandchildren."
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Isaiah Iongi Try
Iongi has rapidly developed into one of the hottest prospects in the game, played for Queensland Under 19s in 2022 and progressed through the Panthers pathway before shifting to Parramatta this year.
The youngster has made the Eels No.1 jumper his own through the opening month of the season and shapes as a crucial pillar as coach Jason Ryles builds the team back up to a premiership contender.
Iongi's upbringing is emblematic of many Australians, the 21-year-old proud to have grown up in a family that successfully blended Tongan, Cypriot and Australian cultures.
It's also reflective of an increasingly diverse rugby league playing ranks, with more than 60 nationalities represented in the NRL.
As the league celebrates Multicultural Round this weekend, the game will acknowledge the melting pot of cultures that make up this great sport.
Iongi was one of few players growing up in Queensland with Cypriot heritage but he is grateful for the sport's ability to bring people from divergent backgrounds together
"It shows the respect the NRL has for the players," Iongi said. "The players love this week. They get to go out there in Multicultural Round and represent who they are and their families.
"It means a lot to represent your family and your culture. It's your identity so to be able to showcase my family means a lot to me."
Match: Eels v Dragons
Round 5 -
home Team
Eels
17th Position
away Team
Dragons
12th Position
Venue: CommBank Stadium, Sydney
While Iongi is one of few Cypriots playing elite rugby league, he is a member of a rapidly expanding group of Tongan players in the NRL.
A trip to Tonga as an 11-year-old to meet his family allowed the youngster to learn more about Tongan culture and helped strengthen the connection to his father's homeland.
Among the traits repeatedly drilled into the emerging fullback has been the importance of respect and he's confident those lessons have contributed to his success on the football field.
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The numbers behind Multicultural Round
"I went to Tonga when I was 11 for three weeks with my dad and brother," Iongi said. "It was a good time to meet the rest of my family over there.
"From hanging out with our cousins we've built what my dad runs on and what our culture runs on, which is respect. We grew up being taught about respect and caring for each other."
The fullback was a teenager when Jason Taumalolo made the groundbreaking decision to pledge his allegiance to Tonga in 2017 and has been caught up in the red wave that has followed.
Such is his talent, Iongi received a call up to the Tongan squad for last year's Pacific Championships after just one NRL game.
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Iongi impresses on debut
While he did not have a chance to play in the tournament, the experience whet the appetite for a youngster desperate to feature in Tonga's clash with Samoa at the end of the season.
"It was pretty special to be in the squad," Iongi said. "Because I grew up not knowing much about my culture, to be able to be part of that camp was a real eye opener. What I was able to learn from what they do and how they do things was good.
"To be part of it last year was one of my goals and to be part of it this year is another of my goals. Getting to play this year is also a goal so hopefully I get my debut as well."
