Parramatta Eels whiz-kid Tepai Moeroa wants a shot at Rio Games
Date
September 20, 2014 - 10:00PM
Adrian Proszenko
Chief Rugby League Reporter
Parramatta young gun Tepai Moeroa has revealed his ambition to compete in track and field at the Rio Olympics while juggling his football commitments.
Moeroa is one of the most exciting prospects in the NRL after making nine first-grade appearances at the back end of the season.
The Eels quickly re-signed him to a new three-year contract to thwart poachers, including Super rugby franchises Waratahs and the Chiefs.
However, the 18-year-old is equally skilled throwing a shot put and discus. He set several age records during his time as a boarder at Newington College.
In his first interview, Moeroa outlined his plans to participate in the 2016 Games, most probably in his preferred discipline of shot put.
"We'll see what happens, when everything settles down, next year we'll start looking at the Olympics," he said. "I've been concentrating on league but still do [track and field] training. If you put your mind to it, you can go far."
Moeroa was born in the Cook Islands, spent his early years in New Zealand and came to Australia at the age of five. However, he will play for the Kangaroos if given the opportunity at representative level.
"I could go New Zealand but I always wanted to play Origin," he said.
The Australian Schoolboys rugby star has vowed to use a chunk of his Eels contract money to buy a house for his parents to repay them for the sacrifices they have made.
"[Mum] had to sacrifice a lot. It wasn't easy [financially], we had to struggle and stuff to get to where we are today," he said.
"That's what the house is for, it's the beginning."