Quentin Pongia

Quentin Lee Pongia (9 July 1970 – 18 May 2019) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1990s and 2000s. and his older brother Brendon represented New Zealand as a professional basketball player.

Playing career 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, and was part of the 1994 Grand Final winning premiership team. 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.

Post playing 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.

Death Pongia died of bowel cancer on 18 May 2019 in Greymouth, at the age of 48.