Quentin Pongia

Quentin Lee Pongia[2] (9 July 1970 – 18 May 2019) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1990s and 2000s.[1]

Quentin Pongia
Personal information
Full nameQuentin Lee Pongia
Born(1970-07-09)9 July 1970
New Zealand
Died18 May 2019(2019-05-18) (aged 48)
Greymouth, New Zealand
Playing information
Height182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb; 225 lb)
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–97 Canberra Raiders 74 3 0 0 12
1998 Auckland Warriors 18 0 0 0 0
1999–01 Sydney Roosters 43 3 0 0 12
2003 St George Illawarra 2 0 0 0 0
2003 Villeneuve Leopards
2003–04 Wigan Warriors 30 0 0 0 0
Total 167 6 0 0 24
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1992–00 New Zealand 35 2 0 0 8
Source: [1]

Background

He was the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder. His sister Megan Tahapeehi has represented the Kiwi Ferns,[3] and his older brother Brendon represented New Zealand as a professional basketball player.[4]

Playing career

Originally from the West Coast, Pongia transferred east in 1988. He registered and played for the Riccarton Knights Rugby League Football Club in the Canterbury Rugby League competition, representing the province in 1991 and 1992.[3][5]

Pongia later played for the Canberra Raiders. He also became a New Zealand international and was selected to go on the 1993 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France, playing in all five test matches. He played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup. Pongia played for the Auckland Warriors and was the NZRL player of the year in 1998.[5] He joined the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League before heading to France. Pongia went to France as player coach of Paris Chattilon, but it didn't work out and he moved to Villeneuve, winning both the Championship and the Lord Derby Cup with the club.

In 2003, after the French season had finished, Pongia returned to Australia and played two matches for the St. George Illawarra Dragons. He then finished his career in England playing for the Wigan Warriors. Pongia played for the Wigan Warriors at prop forward in the 2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the Bradford Bulls. He was forced to retire from rugby league after it was discovered that he suffered from hepatitis B.[6]

Post playing

In 2009 Pongia was the strength and conditioning coach for the Canberra Raiders Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team. He was promoted to assistant coach for the Raiders National Rugby League team for the 2010 season.[7] During the 2009 Four Nations Pongia was an assistant trainer and mentor for the New Zealand national rugby league team.[8] He was replaced as a Raiders assistant coach for the 2012 season by Justin Morgan.[9]

Quentin Pongia was the wellbeing officer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2017.[10]

Death

Pongia died of bowel cancer on 18 May 2019 in Greymouth, at the age of 48.[11][12]

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2018. Retrieved 1 January 2019.
  2. PONGIA, QUENTIN LEE 1992 - 2000 - KIWI #634 Archived 2 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine nzleague.co.nz
  3. Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
  4. "Kiwis' rugby league legend Quentin Pongia's last days – old videos, rain on the roof and laughter". The New Zealand Herald. 25 May 2019. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
  5. New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.4
  6. Quentin Pongia Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine Wigan Warriors
  7. McFadden, Pongia join Raiders staff AAP, 25 September 2009
  8. New Zealand Rugby League, The 2009 Kiwis (Auckland, Sentra Printing 2009) p.19
  9. Raiders appoint Justin Morgan as Assistant Coach Archived 20 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com, 19 October 2011
  10. Sea Eagles - Former NRL star looking after players wellbeing
  11. "Quentin "Q" Pongia". The Press. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  12. "Rugby League: Former Kiwis prop Quentin Pongia passes away after cancer battle". The New Zealand Herald. 18 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
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