3 minute read
Tepai Moeroa is making the most of his mid-year code switch from the Waratahs, who didn't win a Super Rugby game, to the Storm who have hardly lost.
Tepai Moeroa didn't think twice when Craig Bellamy asked him about joining NRL premiers Melbourne from the winless NSW Waratahs.
The 25-year-old had already decided to return to rugby league after an unsuccessful stint in Super Rugby - both individually and with the Waratahs enduring the bleakest period in their history.
Moerora played six years with Parramatta before switching to rugby union, which he played as a schoolboy, but only managed seven games in two Super Rugby seasons.
He put the feelers out in May and was training with the Storm a few weeks later.
"I told my manager I was keen to get back into league and Melbourne had a few injuries in the forward pack and the opportunity came up to make the move," Moeroa said on Monday after making his Storm debut in their last round win over Manly.
"I flew to the Sunny Coast and met with Craig (Bellamy) and Frank (Ponissi) and did a bit of testing and the next week I was up here.
"It was pretty crazy how quick it all happened."
Going from a team that couldn't win a game to a team that seemingly can't lose, Moeroa said was "awesome".
He had no regrets about trying his hand at rugby, only that he should have gone earlier in his career.
"The experience was great - I enjoyed my time with the Waratahs but for the transition to be successful I might have needed to make that move a couple more years earlier to give it a solid crack," Moeroa said.
The backrower hoped he could work out a long-term future with Melbourne but his focus was on retaining a spot in the match-day squad.
With Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) and Felise Kaufusi (suspension) due back, he may be squeezed out for Thursday night's match against Canberra.
"That's the goal - it's hard trying to debut for Melbourne with the outstanding depth in the forward pack," he said.
"If I can hold on to a bench spot and play finals footy that would be awesome."
