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.
He was the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder. His sister Megan Tahapeehi has represented the Kiwi Ferns, and his older brother Brendon represented New Zealand as a professional basketball player.
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.
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. 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.
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. During the 2009 Four Nations Pongia was an assistant trainer and mentor for the New Zealand national rugby league team. He was replaced as a Raiders assistant coach for the 2012 season by Justin Morgan.
Quentin Pongia was the wellbeing officer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2017.
Pongia died of bowel cancer on 18 May 2019 in Greymouth, at the age of 48.
Quentin Pongia - Wikipedia
Kiwi prop came to Canberra from the C’bury (NZ) club in 1993. After securing a place on the 1993-94 Kiwi tour of England and France, Pongia added much-needed muscle to the Canberra pack in the Raiders' grand final win over C’bury in 1994. Following his return to Auckland to play with the Warriors in 1998 Pongia captained the Kiwis in the Third Test of the Trans-Tasman series but the move was short-lived and he returned to Australia to play for Easts in 1999. Named NZ captain for the ANZac Test that year he withdrew from the fixture after being injured in a club match. Injury also saw Pongia miss out on the Tri Nations competition in 1999 and, after returning from a seven match suspension in early 2000, a torn muscle injury saw him miss the remainder of the domestic season. After representing NZ in the World Cup Pongia’s club appearances were limited to just three matches in 2001. Released by the Roosters he sought a two-year deal with the London Broncos but the deal fell through and he joined Chaitillon of Paris as captain-coach. After a disastrous start to the season he moved to the south of France with Villeneuve. Pongia was a member of the team that won the French Cup in 2003 and he linked with Wigan in the English Super League where he contested the Challenge Cup final. Pongia played in 35 Tests between 1992 and 2000.
- ALAN WHITICKER
Quentin Pongia - Playing Career - RLP
A summary of the career stats for Kiwi prop came to Canberra from the C’bury (NZ) club in 1993. After securing a place on the 1993-94 Kiwi tour of England and France, Pongia added much-needed muscle to the Canberra pack in the Raiders' grand final win over C’bury in 1994. Following his return to...
www.rugbyleagueproject.org
