Sam Moa
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| Full name | Samuela Moa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 14 August 1986 Tonga | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 16 st 7 lb (105 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Prop | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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As of 22 December 2020 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Samuela Moa (born 14 August 1986) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a prop, most recently for the FC Lézignan XIII in the French Elite One Championship. He is both Tonga and New Zealand international.
Moa has previously played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks and the Sydney Roosters, with whom he won the 2013 Telstra Premiership in the NRL, and Hull F.C. in the Super League.
Background
Moa was born in Tonga and raised in New Zealand.
Playing career
Wests Tigers
Moa started his career at NRL side Wests Tigers.
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
He then signed with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2008 and playing in one National Rugby League match.[3]
Hull FC
He was signed by Hull F.C. in January 2009 and arrived a week before the club's fixture with Huddersfield Giants which he featured off the bench in his debut. Moa is good friends with former Hull F.C. and Tonga teammate Willie Manu and former Hull F.C. and Tonga teammate Epalahame Lauaki (now at Bradford Bulls). The trio were commonly known by the Hull fans as 'The Tongan Mafia'.[4]
Sydney Roosters
Sam signed for the Sydney Roosters for the 2013 NRL season, winning the premiership with them at the end of the season. Many observed that Moa's performance in the grand final was particularly memorable, flattening Manly's Glenn Stewart with an aggressive kick-off return in the 1st minute.[5]
Catalans Dragons
Moa joined the French side ahead of the 2017 Super League season.
He played in the 2018 Challenge Cup Final victory over the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.[6]
On 2 December 2020 it was reported that Moa would leave the club at the end of the 2020 season[7]
FC Lézignan XIII
On 11 December 2020 it was reported that Moa had signed for FC Lézignan XIII[8]
Coaching career
In November 2021, Catalans Dragons appointed Sam Moa as assistant coach to Steve McNamara. He returned to the club one year after having left the club and retired from playing professional rugby. [9] Sam Moa has signed with the Parramatta Eels for the 2025 season as assistant coach.
International career
Tonga
Moa first played for Tonga in 2006 as part of the 2008 World Cup qualifying series.
Moa was subsequently picked in the 2008 World Cup squad and went on to feature in all three of Tonga's matches at the tournament.[10][11]
New Zealand
He declared himself eligible for selection for New Zealand at the next world cup citing his desire to be part of a world cup winning squad. Despite playing for Tonga against Samoa in the Pacific Rugby League International in April 2013, he played for New Zealand in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.[12]
References
- ^ loverugbyleague
- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "League: Moa comes back from NRL extinction". Otago Daily Times. 18 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "TONGAN MAFIA SUPPORT ANDERSON'". Hull FC. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
- ^ "Sydney Roosters beat Manly Sea Eagles to take NRL grand final". The Guardian. 6 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Catalans Dragons beat Warrington in Challenge Cup final to make history". Guardian. 25 August 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
- ^ "Sam Moa: Catalans Dragons prop leaves after not being offered new contract". BBC Sport. 2 December 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "Sam Moa has found a new club". www.loverugbyleague.com. 11 December 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2021.
- ^ "Dragons Catalans › News › 2021 › Nov. › Sam Moa appointed as assistant coach".
- ^ "Sam Moa named in Tongan Squad". Catalan Dragons. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Roosters prop Sam Moa takes flight with Kiwis". Stuff. 10 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
- ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2013: NZ star Williams opts out". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
External links
- 1986 births
- Living people
- Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers players
- Catalans Dragons players
- Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks players
- Hull F.C. players
- Lézignan Sangliers players
- New Zealand national rugby league team players
- New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in England
- New Zealand expatriate rugby league players in Australia
- New Zealand sportspeople of Tongan descent
- New Zealand rugby league players
- People educated at Keebra Park State High School
- Rugby league props
- Sydney Roosters players
- Tonga national rugby league team players
- Tongan rugby league players