Tepai Moeroa is no stranger to Parramatta and Bankwest Stadium.
The hard-running centre grew up in Sydney’s western suburbs playing both league and union on weekends as a youngster, juggling representative honours in both codes.
Moeroa was an NSW U16’s and U18’s representative in Rugby League, and an Australian Schoolboy in rugby union while attending Newington college. The talented youngster would earn nine caps in total for the Australian Schools team, the 3rd most alongside Quade Cooper and Kurtley Beale.
But it was in the rival code where Tepai Moeroa began his professional sporting career.
Moeroa wore the blue and yellow league jersey and called Parramatta Stadium home, notching more than 100 appearances for the Eels after making his debut at just 18-years-of-age representing the Prime Minister’s XIII, the World All-Stars and the Cook Islands during that time.
Soon after, rugby came calling and Tepai answered, signing a two-year deal with the Waratahs, joining the team in 2020.
Injuries disrupted the big centre’s season in his first year with the Tahs, but his man of the match performance in the final round of 2020 against the Rebels, with some hard direct running and tackling, showed the Waratahs faithful what they had been missing.
2021 started off in a similar vein for Moeroa with injury delaying his start to the season, missing the opening game against the Reds.
Moeroa returned in Round 2 against the Brumbies making his presence felt in the midfield, with some trademark hard running lines and aggressive defence.
Now back to full health, Moeroa is keen to make the 12 jersey his own and make the most of a familiar stomping ground this Friday.
“This year I’m looking to just not nail down a consistent starting spot, I’m looking to stamp my authority” Moeroa said.
“My role is to get gain line, hopefully make a linebreak, and get quick ball so our guys can play on top.”
“I’ve got a couple of fond memories from Bankwest while at Parramatta. Now I’m looking forward to making some new ones with the Waratahs, hopefully we can turn it into a fortress”.
Come down to Bankwest Stadium on Friday night to watch the Tahs in their first home match of the 2021 Harvey Norman Super Rugby competition. Click here to secure your tickets.
Or if you’re dying to see more rugby at Parramatta, you can sign up for a 2-game Flexi at Bankwest Stadium. (LINK: https://nsw.rugby/experience/membership/parra-2-game-flexi)
