Tepai Moeroa

Background

Born in the Cook Islands, Moeroa moved to Sydney, New South Wales as a 5-year old and played his junior rugby league for the Colyton Colts, St Clair Comets and Seven Hills Kangaroos. He was educated at Newington College before being signed by the Penrith Panthers. After finishing with Penrith, Moeroa joined the Parramatta Eels. Moeroa played for the Eels' Harold Matthews Cup team in 2010 and 2011, the S. G. Ball In 2011, Moeroa played for the New South Wales Under 16s team and was selected for the Under 18s team in 2013 but had to withdraw because of rugby union commitments. In 2012, Moeroa played for the Australian Schoolboys rugby union team, also playing for them in 2013 along with the Australian rugby sevens team. Moeroa received 9 caps over two years playing for Australian Schoolboys, the third highest amount of caps equal with Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale. Moeroa played for the Parramatta Eels NYC team in 2013 and 2014. Moeroa has been compared with Sonny Bill Williams, who is also a cross-code athlete.

2014

In Round 18 of the 2014 NRL season, Moeroa made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels against the New Zealand Warriors playing off the interchange bench in the Eels 48–0 loss at Mt Smart Stadium. In his next match in Round 19 against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Moeroa scored his first NRL career try in the Eels' 12-32 loss at Parramatta Stadium. On 24 July 2014, Moeroa re-signed with the Eels on a 3-year contract to the end of the 2017 season after Super Rugby clubs Waikato Chiefs and New South Wales Waratahs were trying to sign him to return to rugby union. Moeroa finished off his debut year in the NRL with him playing in 9 matches and scoring 3 tries for the Eels in the 2014 NRL season. On 2 September 2014, Moeroa was named at second-row in the 2014 NYC Team of the Year. In late September 2014, Moeroa was contacted by New Zealand Kiwis officials asking about his international intentions, wanting to include him in the Kiwis squad for the 2014 Four Nations, although Moeroa turned down the opportunity to pursue his dream of representing New South Wales in State of Origin and Australia and his country of birth Cook Islands. On 18 December 2014, Moeroa was selected in the Emerging Blues Camp by Laurie Daley, identifying him as well as 21 others as potential future New South Wales State of Origin players.

2015

On 31 January and 1 February, Moeroa played for the Eels in the 2015 NRL Auckland Nines. On 2 May, Moeroa played for the Junior Kangaroos against Junior Kiwis, starting at second-row, scoring a try and being named Man of the Match in the Kangaroos' 22-20 win at Cbus Super Stadium. He finished off the 2015 season having played in 19 matches and scoring 1 try for the Eels. On 26 September, he played for the Prime Minister's XIII against Papua New Guinea, playing at second-row in his team's 40-12 win at Port Moresby.

2016

On 1 February, Moeroa was named in the Eels' 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad. Moeroa finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 22 matches for the Eels.

2017

In February 2017, Moeroa was named in the Eels 2017 NRL Auckland Nines squad. On 10 February 2017, Moeroa played in the 2017 All Stars match for the World All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars where he started at lock in the 34-8 loss at Hunter Stadium.

Shot put

Moeroa is a national age group shot put champion. He holds many state-age shot put records and is ranked third in Australia for under 20s.