From City to Samoa and Tonga, now Jorge Taufua wants to represent Fiji

He's already represented (NSW) City, Tonga, and Samoa and now Fiji is a possibility for Manly winger Jorge Taufua as he continues his journey around the South Pacific.

After honouring his father's Tongan family in 2013 and 2015, the 27-year-old winger did the same for his mother's Samoan heritage in the 2018 mid-year Pacific Nations Test at Campbelltown Stadium.

Now he's digging through the family archives as he thinks he has grandparents from the Fijian islands.

"Last year was a massive milestone for me to actually play for both," Taufua told NRL.com.

"I don't think there are many players who are split between the two. There is a lot of young Polynesian talent in the game now so to be a part of that group makes me feel very grateful.

"I'm hoping I do have a Fijian grandmother or grandfather as then I'd be able to play with Api [Koroisau]. I love the Fijian style of football as well.

"I'm not exactly sure if I do but I will try to find out."

Otherwise, it's back to choosing between Samoa and Tonga.

"I love both equally. I take great pride in both countries because they are both part of me."

Taufua is also a fully fledged Australian - he was born in Canberra - and played twice for NSW City Origin team (2013-14). He has a handy collection of representative jerseys.

Prior to potentially adding a third-nation to his international resumes, Taufua wants to get back to consistently playing NRL games as the last two Telstra Premiership seasons have been marred by injury.

An ACL tear in 2017 and a broken collarbone in 2018 reduced Taufua to 12 games each year.

"It's just how it has been the last few years. I always try to have a new approach each season and I seem to be saying the same thing each year 'I hope I go well without injuries'," he said.

"We've got new medical staff here and Dessie [Hasler] is back. So I'm happy and feeling good at the moment.

"I'm optimistic and I know I'll be saying 'touch wood' again for this year."

Despite playing the last five games straight to end 2018, Taufua still underwent off-season surgery.

"My collarbone hadn't properly healed since that round-three crack against Souths.

"So they took some bone graft from my left knee. The surgeon is happy. The club doctor and physio here are happy and contact work is going really good at training."

Taufua made his NRL debut in round five of 2012, when he scored a try against Parramatta. But that was under coach Geoff Toovey, who had replaced Hasler at the end of 2011.

"I was in the under 20s when Des was last here so I knew fully well of his reputation," Taufua said.

"There's a level of respect that everyone here has for Des. He has some kind of aura around him."

Heading into his eighth season as a Sea Eagle, he is off contract but keen to extend his tenure.

He's also hoping to help centre Moses Suli keep developing.

"He is a big boy and he moves really well for that size," Taufua said.

"He's one of those Islanders who is really, really quiet. He is next-level quiet.

"I've put ownership on myself to get at him, motivate him, get him talking to me both at training and hanging out with him."