Tahs teen Clem Halaholo finds rugby the right fit as cousin Davvy Moale stars in rugby league

His cousin is ripping it up in the NRL and at the rugby league World Cup but this teenager has chosen a different route for his career - and an unusual hobby for a footballer.

Clem Halaholo scoring against the ACT Brumbies in round two of the U19 rugby championships 2022. Pic: Julian Andrews

He’s a music loving, rugby union fanatic who works on a construction site most days and dreams big at night.

Sydney football talent Clem Halaholo has been turning heads and scoring tries for the NSW Waratahs Gen Blue side in the U19 national rugby championships for the past month.

And while a former league player himself and proud of his cousin Davvy Moale - a rising star of the NRL with South Sydney and who scored on debut off the bench for the Cook Islands in their crucial 18–12 win World Cup win over Scotland - rugby is the right fit, right now.

“It’s really inspiring seeing him do so well. I want to be up there like him one day as well,’’ Halaholo said of his cousin.

The 18-year-old from Redfern works as a form worker in the construction business when he’s not training with the Waratah and has applied to attend the International Sports College of Australia to study business.

NSW Waratahs Gen Blue player Clem Halaholo at Daceyville. Pics: Julian Andrews

“I think I’d like to be a business accountant one day,’’ he said.

“I quite like the construction stuff. It keeps me fit and I just work on my off training days.

“My goal is to make it into the Waratahs squad and I’m playing with Sydney Uni in Colts and hoping for grade next season.

“My big goal is to make the Junior Wallabies. Every game we play I just wanna do my best.’’

Halaholo best has seen him make three consecutive Teams of the Week in the national championship series which are selected by Junior Wallabies coach Nathan Grey after each round.

Clem Halaholo scores in the NSW Waratah's match against the Brumbies.

It is also seen him crash over the try line in the Tahs first round win over the Queensland Reds and score twice in the Waratahs second round victory over the ACT Brumbies.

Halaholo is following in the footsteps of his father Billy who also played grade rugby for Sydney University.

The teen still lives at home with his parents in Redfern with five of his six siblings.

“From the moment I started playing football I just loved it,“ Halaholo said.

“I liked the learning side and developing new skills and the better I got the more I enjoyed it.

Clem Halaholo barging his way to the touch line.

“I was with the Roosters development and then Souths Harold Matts team but after that I chose rugby.’’

Off the field Halaholo is also learning new skills.

“I really like playing music and I’m learning how to play the piano right no,’’ he said.

“It’s good for my heart and mind.”

The U19 and U16 Waratahs have the bye this week with their final round matches against Western Force on November 6.

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Originally published as Tahs teen Clem Halaholo finds rugby the right fit as cousin Davvy Moale stars in rugby league