Manoa Thompson (born 11 June 1968) is a Fijian former professional rugby league footballer. Primarily playing as a centre, he played his first grade career with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Western Suburbs Magpies, and the Auckland Warriors in the NSWRL / ARL competition, as well as playing in the Super League for the Warrington Wolves. He represented the Fijian national team.
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| Born | 11 June 1968 Suva, Fiji | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 95 kg (14 st 13 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Fullback, Wing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Relatives | Jarryd Hayne (son) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Thompson is the father of former professional NRL, NFL, and rugby sevens player, Jarryd Hayne.
Early years
editThompson was born in Fiji to a Fijian mother, Elenoa Tokalautawa, and an Australian father, and moved to Australia when he was 11.[3] He was adopted by his mother's younger sister, Ana Waqanibaravi Thompson.[4] He played his junior football with the Alexandria Rovers.[5] Thompson also played rugby union and toured Japan with a New South Wales schoolboys side that included Graham Mackay and Scott Gourley.
Playing career
editThompson joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where he played in their champion under-21 side before playing in their under-23 side. He made his first grade début for Souths in round 11 of the 1989 season.
Thompson went on to play 61 first grade games for Souths between 1989 and 1993. He spent 1994 with the Western Suburbs Magpies, playing in only seven matches after having knee and ankle surgery during the off season. In 1995 he was part of the inaugural squad for the new Auckland Warriors franchise and played in the centres for the Warriors in their first ever competition game, a 25–22 loss to the Brisbane Broncos in front of 29,220 fans at the Ericsson Stadium in Auckland. However, he again only played in seven matches and was not retained for the 1996 season.
In November 1995 Thompson signed with English club Warrington and played for the club during 1996's inaugural Super League I.[6] He left Warrington in February 1996 after failing to settle in Britain.[7] Thompson represented Fiji in 1996. His only appearance saw a 72–4 loss to Great Britain at the Prince Charles Park in Nadi, the score being the record for the largest test win by the Lions.
After returning from England, Thompson trialed with the Canberra Raiders before signing with the Penrith Panthers. However he spent the season in reserve grade and returned to South Sydney during the off season.
After not securing a contract, Thompson moved to France and played for AS Saint Estève before spending a year in rugby union, playing for RC Narbonne alongside David Knox.[5] Thompson then returned to league, spending a season with AS Carcassonne before retiring.[8]
Later years
editIn 2007 he was working as a delivery driver.[9] He is still involved in rugby league, sitting on the Australian Fiji rugby league board[10] and helping to coach that organisation's youth sides.[11]
References
edit- ^ "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". Rugby League Project. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ Rothmans RL Yearbook 1996 by Raymond Fletcher and David Howes, published by Headline, ISBN 0747277672, page 116
- ^ "Fiji calls Souths star to join side". The Canberra Times. Canberra. 31 July 1992. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
- ^ "Ana Waqanibaravi Thompson's facebook post". 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018 – via Facebook.
- ^ a b Rugby League Week, 10 September 2015, p.45
- ^ "Tongans head for Warrington". The Independent. London. 28 November 1995. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "WIRE CUT!; Manoa heads back to Fiji". The Mirror. 3 February 1996. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "RL: Thompson joins Carcassonne". AAP. 28 July 2000. Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Jarryd steady and ready". News.com.au. 19 May 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
- ^ "ARFL Board Members". afrl.com.au. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- ^ "Australian Fijians win NSWRL U/16's Development Cup". rleague.com. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
