Only two players remain from the first game of the Norths Devils’ new era and one of them reaches a milestone tomorrow.
Moses Noovao-McGreal made his debut in Round 1 of the 2018 season alongside Jack Ahearn in the first game of a Devils a rebuild that has yielded two premierships.
Tomorrow against the Mackay Cutters, Noovao-McGreal plays his 50th Hostplus Cup match with Ahearn still in his team.
Plenty has changed around the pair.
Their teammates in that first game included Herbie Farnworth and since-retired veterans Sam Tagataese and Guy Williams. The Tweed Seagulls that day included AJ Brimson and Origin prop Moeaki Fotuaika.
That change showcases the journey that Noovao-McGreal, 26, has taken with the Devils and new coach Dave Elliott, who returns to Mackay tomorrow to take on his former team.
Noovao-McGreal’s career highlights have come during his Devils stint – a treasured premiership in 2021 and selection for the Cook Islands.
“It’s really hard to separate them but there have been so many good memories at this club,” Noovao-McGreal said.
“I’ve really enjoyed the people here and I’m still enjoying the game and learning a lot.”
Resilience has been a key feature in Noovao-McGreal’s career.
He lived in his native Auckland until he was 16, playing rugby league with the Glenora Bears – the junior club of the likes of NRL players Sione Faumauina and Fuifui Moimoi.
Noovao-McGreal attended the same school as his former Devils teammate Leivaha Pulu before heading to Sydney at age 16 for a contract with the Manly Sea Eagles.
He played NSW Cup for Manly before moving to the Sunshine Coast Falcons, where he didn’t crack first grade but was spotted by the Devils as they built for the 2018 season.
“My manager told me that Norths had a few positions to fill and they wanted to talk to me and it just seemed like a really good fit,” Noovao-McGreal said.
A minor ankle injury prevented Noovao-McGreal from playing every game of the Devils’ triumphant 2021 season. He missed selection for the finals series last year before re-establishing his first-grade spot under Elliott this season.
“I’ve always tried to be positive and I know there is a lot of competition for spots at a club like Norths,” Noovao-McGreal said.
“I’m grateful to get to 50 games but I’m more interested in helping on the field and getting our season rolling.”
The Devils are coming off a 34-0 loss to the unbeaten Capras – evoking memories of a 36-0 home loss to Burleigh in 2021 – in a match at Bishop Park last Saturday that broke established streaks.
It was the Capras’ first win over the Devils since 2011 and it was the first game that Devils back Connor Broadhurst can remember missing with injury in his Cup career.
The Devils’ ironman succumbed to a minor hamstring twinge – the first time he had not featured in a Cup round since he was overlooked for a place by Burleigh in 2016 – but he will return for the clash with the Cutters.
Elliott is aiming for consistency across 80 minutes for a Devils team that has dominated patches of every game this year without nailing their first win.
The Devils’ last trip to Mackay came in the only round played in the Covid-aborted 2020 season when Ahearn slotted a field goal for a 23-22 win.
Noovao-McGreal played in the forward pack that night with the likes of NRL regulars Jordan Riki and Ethan Bullemor.
