Moana Pasifika snatch NRL rookie from the Brisbane Broncos

Moana Pasifika have secured the signature of Brisbane Broncos winger Israel Leota, who will switch codes at the end of his NRL contract to join the Super Rugby Pacific side on a multi-year deal.

The move had been flagged earlier in the year in NRL circles and Moana have now confirmed the switch.

The 20-year-old Porirua-born back will link up with Moana from the 2026 season, committing through to 2027, after establishing himself in Brisbane’s top 30 squad and representing Queensland Under-19s in back-to-back Origin series.

Leota said the chance to return to rugby union was too good to turn down.

“I’ve been watching from afar and I can see the environment that the team has created. It looks infectious. It looks like it’s a great place to be around,” Leota said.

“It is also a really good opportunity for me to come over and have a crack at the game that I grew up in and have loved for a long time.”

Standing at 6’3 and weighing 101kg, Leota has spent this season playing in the Queensland Cup with Souths Logan Magpies under former Wallaby Karmichael Hunt. He finished the regular season ranked second in the competition for both tries and linebreaks.

Leota, who moved to Australia at a young age and attended Ipswich Grammar, had played both codes before committing to league at 16.

Moana Pasifika head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga said the club had been monitoring his development closely.

“The honours that Israel has reached already show what a talented young player he is,” Umaga said.

“We have been tracking him for a while and are really excited that he has decided to come back to his roots in terms of footy and culture.”