Broncos rookie Israel Leota to defect to rugby union after All Blacks legend Tana Umaga poaches him for Moana Pasifika

The Broncos have lost another promising winger with a rookie sensation opting to switch codes and link up with a Super Rugby outfit following a poaching raid from an All Blacks legend.

The Broncos have lost another promising winger with Souths Logan sensation Israel Leota defecting to rugby union after being poached by an All Blacks legend.

This masthead can reveal Broncos rookie Israel Leota will join Dolphins-bound Selwyn Cobbo at the Red Hill exits at season’s end after opting to switch codes.

The hulking 20-year-old will link with Super Rugby outfit Moana Pasifika after negotiations with coach Tana Umaga, an All Blacks icon who played 74 Tests from 1997-2005.

Leota was part of Brisbane’s full-time squad this season but the powerful winger has surprised Broncos bosses by seeking a new career path with New Zealand Rugby.

The well-built Leota, who weighs 101kg and stands 190cm, has scored 18 tries from 21 games with feeder club Souths Logan in the Hostplus Cup and was knocking on the door for a Broncos debut.

Leota first joined the Broncos Academy as a 16-year-old and Brisbane had high hopes for the tryscoring winger, but the Magpies young gun was aware of the club’s embarrassment of backline riches.

Israel Leota playing for Souths Logan. Picture: NRL Photos

Jesse Arthars and Josiah Karapani have been Brisbane’s starting wingers over the past month, while Storm flanker Grant Anderson will link with the Broncos next season.

That prompted Leota to explore the possibility of a cross-code challenge and he was impressed by the pitch from Umaga, a former blockbusting centre or winger who is one of the greatest players in All Blacks history.

Israel Leota during the Brisbane Broncos training at Red Hill. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Leota has impressed in the Hostplus Cup this season, scoring 11 tries from as many games, including a hat-trick against the Capras in round 7, to go with 39 tackle busts, 13 line breaks and an average of 116 metres per match.

Leota was part of Queensland’s under-19s squad in 2023 and had ambitions to wear Maroon at senior level, but he has walked away from his State of Origin dream to test himself in Super Rugby.

Israel Leota in action for the Queensland under-19s. Picture: NRL Imagery

The Ipswich Grammar graduate played rugby league for Logan Brothers between the ages of eight and 12 before trying his hand at rugby union and Aussie rules.

“I switched codes. I went to union for a year because I was going to a GPS school and I switched and played some AFL,” Leota told the QRL website in 2023.

“I only came back to playing league when I was 16, went to Souths Acacia Ridge to play with my mates and now I’m here.”

“As a young kid growing up, every young kid from Queensland wants to play for the Broncos and Queensland.”

Growing up, Leota idolised his current Souths Logan coach, Broncos fullback great Karmichael Hunt, who also switched codes and played for the Wallabies.

“’K’ (Hunt) was a big idol I grew up watching,” he said.

“He taught me a lot of basics and a lot of things that really helped me understand (rugby league), just getting back into it.”