Brisbane Broncos outside back Israel Leota has confirmed he will switch codes from rugby league to rugby union, signing a two-year deal with Moana Pasifika for the 2026 and 2027 Super Rugby Pacific seasons.
Widely regarded as one of the NRL’s brightest young talents, the 20-year-old struggled to secure a regular spot in the Broncos’ first-grade squad, despite representing Queensland at the junior level in 2023 and 2024.
Although opportunities in Brisbane’s competitive back five may have arisen down the line, the 22-year-old has chosen to return to his rugby union roots and pursue the game he has loved since childhood.
“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 stated.
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“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.”
Leota’s new club, which he will join next season, is an island-based franchise in New Zealand’s Super Rugby Pacific competition, renowned for featuring players of Pasifika heritage from Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Moana Pasifika finished seventh this year out of 11 teams in the competition, recording six wins and eight losses.
The club’s head coach, Fa’alogo Tana Umaga, revealed that Leota has been on their radar for some time and expressed excitement about the heights he could reach in rugby union, building on his achievements in rugby league.
“The honours that Israel has reached already, show what a talented young player he is. 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,” Umaga said.