The dual-code athlete who chose the Cook Islands over the Kiwis
In short: In the high-stakes world of professional rugby, few players navigate the divide between union and league as successfully as Tepai Moeroa. A former shot put champion, he has balanced international commitments and club rivalries while moving between two distinct sporting disciplines.
Born in Avaruna, Cook Islands, in 1995, Tepai Moeroa's athletic journey began with a move to Sydney at age five. Before finding fame on the rugby field, he was a national age group shot put champion, holding several state-age records and ranking third in Australia for the under-20s category.
Moeroa's career is defined by his ability to transition between rugby union and rugby league. In his early years, he played union for the Rooty Hill Raptors and later for Newington College. His talent in the union code was significant; by 2013, he had earned nine caps for the Australian Schoolboys, a feat shared only by players like Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale.
Despite interest from Super Rugby sides like the Waikato Chiefs and the NSW Waratahs, Moeroa committed to the NRL. He made his first-grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in 2014, a season that saw him score his first NRL try against the South Sydney Rabbitohs. His loyalty to his roots was evident in 2014 when he turned down an invitation to play for the New Zealand Kiwis, choosing instead to pursue opportunities with the Cook Islands and New South Wales.
His professional path has seen him represent the Melbourne Storm, the Parramatta Eels, and international sides including the Cook Islands and the World All Stars. While injuries, including multiple concussions, have impacted his seasons, his versatility has allowed him to compete at the highest levels of both rugby union and rugby league.
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