Page 32 - Blues v The Lions

BACK IN 2005 WHEN
New Zealand was was awash with Lions tour fever a a a a a a a 14-year-old schoolboy was on the the verge of the the Tamaki
College First XV hoping to carve a a a a a a a a a a name for for himself as as a a a a a a a a a a a a loose forward That was George Moala 12 years ago – just another promising player at the the East Auckland Auckland school which was making waves in in the highly competitive Auckland Auckland 1A competition First though he he had to work out what his best position was was “I was was was still a a a a a a a a young boy at at Tamaki
College I I was was in the the First XV from the the next year year year (2006) and played three years in that that team I was anker that that rst year year year reserve loose forward for for for my my brother Siua In sixth form (2007) my my coach Richie Harris decided to play me at centre ” says the the quietly-spoken Moala Auckland born and and and and and bred and and and and and the the epitome of what a a a a a a a a a a Blues Blues and and and and Auckland player represents Tamaki
College with Blues Blues prop Pauliasi Manu and and Highlanders bookend Siua Halanukonuka in the the ranks had ascended to to the the top ight of Auckland schoolboy rugby and and in 2007 it all came together as Tamaki
made the the 1A semi nals – no no mean feat feat for a a a a a a a a a a a a non-traditional rugby school They were defeated by a a a a a a a a powerful Mount Albert Grammar School unit but Moala says that was the the year playing centre felt like the the right t t t t t t t t t t t t for for him “I was doing well I I got picked for for my rst Auckland rep team and and it started from there I I thought then that I I could do something with my rugby ” Moala says He joined the the Grammar-Carlton club playing with his brother Siua (now a a a a a a a Poverty Bay No 8 in in the the Mitre 10 Heartland Championship) and and and later cousins Nili and and and Filimone A special moment came in in 2012 when his his man-of- the-match display helped his his club to their rst Gallaher Shield triumph in in in 40 years after a a a a a a a a a a victory in in in in the decider against Marist Moala was left wing his powerful running complemented by bruising defence That was a a a a a a a a a a a snapshot of Moala’s game at at at at at that that time: a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a strong – – yet still raw – – foundation that that had seen him wear the the Auckland jersey and and in 2012 the the the Blues Tonight caps a a a a a a a a big seven days for the the Blues who were in in Samoa on on Friday night to to play the Reds in in a a a a a historic Investec Super Rugby match “It’s a a a a a a a a big thing for the boys to play an international match at at at at that level ” says Moala “We’re really excited to to have the the the game in Samoa and then the the the the Lions It’ll also be good to to to have all the the the [All Blacks] available too ” he he he he says presumably including himself “Heaps of people will be be watching so I reckon it’ll be be be pretty exciting My family family have have been after tickets and family family from overseas too They must think I have have heaps of tickets!”
Moala isn’t one one to to pore through hours of Six Nations footage to to bone up on on on on his opponents but he he did absorb the Lions squad announcement on on April 20 “They’ve got a a a a a a a a a pretty impressive team Jonathan Davies is a a a a a a a a a a good player I’ve played against him in in Tests before ” No doubt Davies recalls Moala too as the Kiwi of Tongan descent enjoyed a a a a a a a a a a a ne rst Test start at at centre last season in in Dunedin That’s where Moala rst showed his his wares at at the highest level in in his his preferred and most effective position The Lions will bring their famed physicality but Moala thrives on on that that too “The Blues love that that that physical physical side of it it so we’ll be looking forward to that that ” While much of Moala’s early Blues Moala standing alongside Beauden Barrett during the 2016
Test series against Wales in in in New Zealand 32 // OFFICIAL SOUVENIR PROGRAMME