Apologies if anyone has posted this before. I was listening to this interview in the car yesterday and was impressed by Iongi's attitude. An outstanding ambassador for young kids, his family, his heritage, other players rising through the ranks, and our club.
Defined by humblenss and gratitude, this quietly-spoken 22 year-old and budding star, was raised in a Brisbane-based multicultural family of Tongan and Cypriot descent.
Back in mid-October a few months ago, he spoke to Terrell May, his former neighbour, about growing up, how it all started as a seven-year old playing footy with his dad being his greatest influence and playing six as a junior.
And then about moving to Sydney facing his hardest challenge to date, making ends meet back then as an 18 years old working for a car washing company, construction sites, work as a removalist missing pre-season training, and the excitment of signing with the Panthers and the Eels.
And now living his dreams.
Sharpening his game
May: What aspects of your game did you sharpen the most (in the move to Parra)?
“In the team rooms and the [Parra] video sessions," Iongi replied.
"I think that's the thing I probably picked up more rather than on the field. I think just to learn more about the game, my knowledge."
"Because I really never knew how, (or had) like a sense of how to play football. It was just fun. I just played it.”
Filling into Gutho’s shoes
"At the start when I was coming to Parra and he (Gutho) was leaving it felt like I had to fill in his shoes."
"But I think once going there at training and listening to to Ryles talk, (I was told) pretty much just to play my game, which gave me confidence to do that."
"So, no, [after that] I didn't I didn't feel like I had to fill anyone's shoes. I had to go into a standard but not to fill anyone's shoes.”
Moses’ Confidence & Leadership Lifts the Team
May: What have you learned the most from Moses?
"His confidence. He's a real good confidence player and he lifts the team," Iongi answered.
"His leadership, towards us boys. He steers us around the field, puts us when he when he does a good play or when someone else does a good play."
"He pulls us up and gives us more energy and confidence."
Finally gelling and getting Ryles' systems
"It was towards the back end of the season I felt like our best part of the season."
"I feel like we've we all starting to get the hang of and know each other and how our system works."
May: Are you ever going to change clubs or is this a club that you're looking to stay for a very long time?
“I want to stay at this club for a long time. I feel like they've gave me a good opportunity. So I want to keep that keep that opportunity and keep going. Parra is good. I like them."
"It's a good club to be at, especially with all the boys."
"It's a good culture there.”
Blocking Social Media
May and Iongi were both sceptical about social media and fickle fans who would turn on you after a bad game, and the dangers it posed for family and friends who might be affected by the commonplace negativity.
"Now that I've seen what it does, I don't really look into it (social media) anymore," Iongi noted.
"It can give you a positive side of things as well but I block it out. I'm not looking at social media."
"But my family's they're always on it. They are always looking at comments. Reading all these articles. Fake articles. I block it out."
Wise.
PS: There is a also slightly shorter interview with Justin Horo (Sep 29, 2025) which is a good listen if you have a spare 15 minutes.
Replies
'I want to stay at this club for a long time. I feel like they've gave me a good opportunity' - excellent.
Absolutely love Isaiah. He's everything fans can hope for in a recruit, & looks like a very long & successful career ahead. Followed through Panthers reserves and couldn't have been happier when he signed. Ionghi is one of the really exciting aspects to 2026, imo.
A a fantastic signing & congrats again to the Eels for this one.
Thanks for sharing, HOE.
I might've missed negativity towards Ionghi & his signature, but feels to me that his signing has recieved a lot of praise on the site, & there is a lot of belief & excitement about Isaiah being at the Eels.
HOE, a lot of people here have only been negative in one aspect of recruitment, mainly relating to elite class in demand players that the club have identified and chased and missed. There are a lot of great posters that I know you know, that are positive towards a lot at the club but are dismayed at this one aspect. I'd like to think i'm in this category. Of course their are others that want to blow the whole place up. We are not all in that frame of mind my friend.
'I see a clear distinction between the two.
'I might not be on top of whom your referring to, or what has pressed your buttons, but if my negativity about this one aspect of recruitment is seen as destructive then i'll refrain from it moving forward.
Bluey, I'd agree with most of that in principle. You and NOS are both very reasonable, great posters.
But if something is horsesheet, based on various sources, should I stay quiet publicly because people don't like it? Perhaps, yes.
No don't ever stay quiet. I just needed to make , what i see as a clear difference, and trying to gauge what you believe to be perhaps too negative. Just attempting to reflect on what you clearly believe in for this site moving forward,
NoS,
I found it interesting he has never done any sprint training.
That could be a potential area of improvement across the board.
They all practice wrestling, why not try to improve leg speed, too, for an extra edge?
Isaiah Iongi will be one of our best. The kid oozes talent and class. The signings and recruitment of Iongi, Rylie Smith, Talan Da Silva and Hopgood have been tremendous. All 4 could be long term mainstays in our team as we transition from the bottom of the ladder towards finals footy.