Former Hull FC men become growing influence around NRL club

Former Hull FC forward Sam Moa has paid tribute to locally-born coach Steve McNamara as he takes on his new role as assistant coach of Parramatta Eels.

Catalans Dragons head coach and former Hull FC captain McNamara was a former mentor to Moa, who is preparing to start life in his new role in a new season with the NRL club. Moa played for Hull FC from 2009 to 2012 before joining Sydney Roosters.

Paramatta confirmed over the weekend that another former Hull FC player, Peter Sterling, will become an ambassador of the Parramatta Eels Foundation with the club planning a new centre of excellence that will be the largest rugby league facility in Australia.

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Speaking in an interview on the NRL's official website, about his coaching journey, Moa said: "I broke my arm for the third time and then decided that it was time to focus on coaching. Steve McNamara, who was a good mentor of mine, knocked on my door. He was the coach at Catalans Dragons and asked me 'mate, do you want to jump on board as my assistant and work on the defence at Catalans Dragons?' And it's something I couldn't turn down and I find myself here."

Discussing his role and vision for it, the 38-year-old former prop said: "I felt that throughout my career my traits that held me in good stead were probably my leadership and my skills in that sort of space. And I felt that towards the end of my career it was something that I gravitated towards.

"In my role here with the middle forwards, I think there's a way that you need to play the game. I think that whilst the game has evolved and the game has changed with the laws and the new rules, the core foundation of the game defensively will always remain the same. You need to play the game in a way that you gain the respect of first and foremost your team-mates, your supporters and your family, and that's how hard you want to play the game.

"There's like an unwritten code of honour there for forwards where you need to go hard, you need to go after people whilst staying within the boundaries obviously but repeating those efforts and setting the tone for your team so that when teams look that they are going to play against Parramatta, they know they are going to be sore for three or four days after and they know they are going to be in for a hard, physical battle. It's not just for players but as staff as well, it's about continuing to try to be at your best."

Moa, who represented both Tonga and New Zealand at international level, also spoke about the influence of Australian sporting culture, as he prepares for a challenge in the world's premier club rugby league competition.

He said: "It's about having a crack, having a go. It's about taking criticism without taking it too personally. And just getting out there and trying to make the most of your situation. The competitive nature of the Australian culture and psyche is hugely important to me."

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