Quentin Lee Pongia was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1990s and 2000s.
17 Facts About Quentin Pongia
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Quentin Pongia was the grandson of fellow Kiwi international Jim Calder.
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Originally from the West Coast, Pongia transferred east in 1988.
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Quentin Pongia registered and played for the Riccarton Knights Rugby League Football Club in the Canterbury Rugby League competition, representing the province in 1991 and 1992.
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Quentin Pongia 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.
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Quentin Pongia played at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
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Quentin Pongia played for the Auckland Warriors and was the NZRL player of the year in 1998.
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Quentin Pongia joined the Sydney Roosters of the National Rugby League before heading to France.
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Quentin 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.
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In 2003, after the French season had finished, Quentin Pongia returned to Australia and played two matches for the St George Illawarra Dragons.
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Quentin Pongia then finished his career in England playing for the Wigan Warriors.
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Quentin Pongia played for the Wigan Warriors at prop forward in the 2003 Super League Grand Final which was lost to the Bradford Bulls.
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In 2009 Quentin Pongia was the strength and conditioning coach for the Canberra Raiders Toyota Cup team.
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Quentin Pongia was promoted to assistant coach for the Raiders National Rugby League team for the 2010 season.
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Quentin Pongia was replaced as a Raiders assistant coach for the 2012 season by Justin Morgan.
16.
Quentin Pongia was the wellbeing officer for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2017.
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Quentin Pongia died of bowel cancer on 18 May 2019 in Greymouth, at the age of 48.