Blacks and Blues: Why one of the best-paid rugby players in the world has joined NSW
All Blacks legend Richie Mo’unga has joined NSW Origin camp, taking part in an opposed session on Monday.
Mo’unga jumped in at fullback with Queensland Cup side Wynnum Manly as the Blues’ continued their preparations ahead of Wednesday’s Origin III decider at Ballymore, the home of rugby’s Queensland Reds.
The 30-year-old is one of the biggest stars in world rugby – and one of the best paid at nearly $2m a season. He has just won the domestic competition in Japan.
He leapt at the chance to spend a few days with the Blues after being sounded out by coach Michael Maguire, football manager Frank Ponissi, and highly-respected All Blacks’ leadership management and mental skills guru Gilbert Enoka, who is also in camp.
“I’m here for four days, it’s a bit of ‘PD’ [personal development] and an opportunity to dive into another environment and take some notes and learnings back to Japan,” Mo’unga told this masthead on Monday.
“Chris Webb is the director of the Japanese team [Toshiba] I play for, Chris used to manage the Wallabies for many years, and he’s good mates with ‘Madge’ [Michael Maguire] and Frank. They offered me the opportunity to do some PD, and as a league fan – and a NSW fan – it would have been rude not to.
All Blacks legend Richie Mo’unga at NSW Blues training on Monday.Credit: Grant Trouville/NSWRL
“I never played league. My older brothers, Tonga and Simon Mo’unga, played for the Canterbury Bulls in the Bartercard competition in Christchurch.
“They were my role models growing up.
“My dad [Saimone] didn’t let me play. I had scholarship and opportunities in rugby. That was my path.”
Mo’unga followed the New Zealand Warriors, but his fondest memories were of watching Parramatta and 2009, when Jarryd Hayne led them to the grand final.
All Blacks’ No. 10 Richie Mo’unga in action at last year’s Rugby World Cup.Credit: AP
“I wanted to be like Jarryd, and move like Jarryd,” he said.
Mo’unga, a diminutive No. 10, revealed he had met with the Warriors about a potential code switch at the end of the 2018 season, and the chance to replace Cronulla-bound Shaun Johnson.
“It got as serious as meeting with Stephen Kearney, my agent, my father-in-law and ‘Sully’ [recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan],” Mo’unga said.
“The reason I stayed was because I played rugby, and my only dream and goal was to be an All Black to play at a World Cup.
“I had an opportunity to go to the Warriors in 2018 – but in 2019 there was the World Cup in Japan. That swayed me.
Richie Mo’unga with NSW Blues’ general manager Frank Ponissi and All Blacks’ legendary mental skills coach Gilbert Enoka at Ballymore.
“It’s one of those things you’ll always have conversations with your mates, saying how it would have been awesome [to switch].
“But I’m pretty happy with where I’m at and what I’m working towards, which is the World Cup here in 2027.”
Joseph Suaalii, who was elevated to 20th man for NSW after an injury to Luke Keary, will join the Wallabies on a three-year lucrative deal at season’s end, and Mo’unga was an even bigger fan after seeing him move in person.
“There’s no doubt he’s an extremely gifted player,” Mo’unga said.
“He will beat any defender when it is one-on-one. He has that powerful running game, but also a deft touch in terms of his skill set and vision. I’m looking forward to seeing use that.
“There will be other parts of the game he’ll need to work on. He wouldn’t have hit a ruck in years, or kicked the ball that much, which you need to do in that centre and wing role.
“But he’s young, exciting, he has an appetite to learn – he’s some athlete.
“The sky is the limit for him in terms of union.”
Mo’unga said he followed NSW because of his parents, Saimone and Linda, but his five siblings were proud Maroons’ supporters.
“They don’t know I’m here yet, and I’ve kept it hush from them for those reasons,” Mo’unga said.
“They’re pretty vocal about Queensland. I had the last laugh on the family chat after the last game [in Melbourne]. We’ll see how it goes Wednesday.”
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