Fuifui Moimoi

Fuifui Moimoi
Moimoi while playing for New Zealand in 2009
Personal information
Full name Fuifui Moana Moimoi
Nickname Fui
Born 26 September 1979
Nuku'alofa, Tonga
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 110 kg (17 st 5 lb)
Playing information
Position Prop
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2004–14 Parramatta Eels 201 22 0 0 88
2015– Leigh Centurions 0 0 0 0 0
Total 201 22 0 0 88
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2006–2013 Tonga 8 0 0 0 0
2007–11 New Zealand 12 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP

Fuifui Moana Moimoi (born 26 September 1979, in Tonga) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays for the Leigh Centurions in the English Championship (rugby league). He has played most of his career for the Parramatta Eels of the National Rugby League (NRL). A New Zealand and Tonga international representative forward, Moimoi played his entire NRL career to date at Parramatta where he has attained cult status.[1]

Playing career

2000s

A Point Chevalier Pirates and Glenora Bears junior, Moimoi was spotted by then New Zealand Warriors coach Daniel Anderson in 2002 while playing in the Bartercard Cup for the Mt Albert Lions.[2] Moimoi then joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs for the 2003 season as a trialist.[3] However he made his first grade debut for the Parramatta Eels in 2004.

On Tuesday 10 September 2007, News.com.au reported Australian selectors have inquired about the international eligibility of Moimoi. Moimoi was born in Tonga, grew up in New Zealand. Moimoi is eligible to play for Tonga as well as either Australia or New Zealand. Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr revealed Australian selectors asked about the eligibility of Moimoi. He has also represented American Samoa in 2000.[4]

On Monday 24 September 2007, the New Zealand Rugby League association confirmed Fuifui Moimoi's inclusion into the Kiwis train-On squad to take on Australia, Great Britain and France for the end of season tests. Moimoi made his debut for New Zealand in a 58–0 defeat by Australia in Wellington on 14 October 2007. He was selected to go on the 2007 All Golds Tour.

He was named in the New Zealand training squad for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[5] He was also named in the Tonga squad.[6] Moimoi was not selected for the final New Zealand squad, and because he had recently played for New Zealand, he was ruled ineligible for the Tongan side. He contested his right to play for Tonga in court, but to no avail.[7]

After the 2009 NRL season, Moimoi returned to the New Zealand national team, being cleared by the RLIF to play in the Four Nations.[8]

2010s

On 20 April 2010, Moimoi signed a further 2-year contract to continue to play with the Eels until the end of 2012.[9] He was originally selected for New Zealand's 2010 Four Nations campaign but withdrew due to injury.[10] Moimoi was selected play for New Zealand in the 2011 ANZAC Test from the interchange bench. At the end of the season he was selected to travel with the Kiwis to Europe for the 2011 Four Nations tournament.

In June 2012, Moimoi was reported as wishing to continue his football career until the end of the 2016 NRL season.[11]

Moimoi was selected to play for Tonga as a prop forward in their 2013 Pacific Rugby League International match against fierce rivals Samoa.

Later in the year, Moimoi played for Tonga in their unsuccessful 2013 Rugby League World Cup campaign. Moimoi played in all of Tonga's 3 matches.

In 2014, Moimoi decided to retire from the NRL after 11 years and 201 first grade games the Eels. The club had advised Moimoi that he would not be retained for the following season.

On 30th November 2014, it was confirmed that Fuifui Moimoi had signed a one year deal with the English club Leigh Centurions with the option to extend for a further year. On Friday 20th March 2015 it was announced that Leigh Centurions had activated the option for a 2nd year.[12]

References

  1. ↑ AAP (21 April 2006). "Eels enigma Moimoi ready to make return". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
  2. ↑ "Yo ho ho and ninety years done" Superleague, Issue 1 2010. p.27.
  3. ↑ Stevenson, Andrew (3 October 2009). "No razzle-dazzle without Fuifui". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  4. ↑ Kilgallon, Steve. (19 September 2010) NZRL vows to avoid flip-flops – league – sport. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved on 17 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Kiwis select Sonny Bill". Sky Sports. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008.
  6. ↑ "Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads". BBC. 8 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  7. ↑ "Fuifui Moimoi ready to rumble in biggest game of his career". Rugby League Live. 10 September 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  8. ↑ Read, Brent; McDonald, Margie (6 October 2009). "Fuifui Moimoi cleared to play for New Zealand". The Australian. Retrieved 7 October 2009.
  9. ↑ "Fuifui Moimoi re-signs with Eels". Sydney Morning Herald. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 23 April 2010.
  10. ↑ McKendry called into Kiwis for injured Moimoi NZRL, 11 October 2010
  11. ↑ Nicolussi, Christian (29 June 2012). "Parramatta enforcer Fuifui Moimoi planning on playing through till 2016". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). Retrieved 27 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "leighcenturions.com". Fuifui Moimoi Extends His Stay With His Famileigh. 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-03-20.