{{Short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Aaron Moule |fullname = |image = |caption = |country = |position = {{rlp|CE}} |currentclub = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|06|20|df=y}} |birth_place = Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia |height = 184&nbsp;cm |weight = 93&nbsp;kg |retired = yes |club1 = South Queensland |year1start = 1997 |year1end = |appearances1 = 9 |tries1 = 3 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 12 |club2 = Melbourne Storm |year2start = 1998 |year2end = 03 |appearances2 = 104 |tries2 = 58 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 232 |club3 = Widnes Vikings |year3start = 2004 |year3end = 05 |appearances3 = 29 |tries3 = 12 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 48 |club4 = Salford City Reds |year4start = 2006 |year4end = 07 |appearances4 = 48 |tries4 = 19 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 76 |updated = |source = <ref name=rlp>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Aaron_Moule/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> |new = yes }}

'''Aaron Moule''' (born 20 June 1977) is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played club football for the South Queensland Crushers and Melbourne Storm in Australasia's National Rugby League and Widnes Vikings and Salford City Reds in the Super League.<ref name=rlp/>

==Early life==

Moule grew up in the Redcliffe, Queensland area of Brisbane, playing junior rugby league with Redcliffe Dolphins. He was later captain of the Sunshine Coast schoolboys representative team, leading the team to second place in the state carnival.<ref name="StormInfo02">{{cite book |title=2002 Melbourne Storm Info Guide |publisher=Melbourne Storm |page=54}}</ref>

==Playing career==

Moule made his first grade rugby league debut for South Queensland Crushers in the 1997 ARL season, winning the club's rookie of the year honour, before joining Melbourne Storm for the 1998 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web |title=Storm players (1998) |url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/players/pla_2.htm |website=melbournestorm.com.au |access-date=21 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990128034738fw_/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/players/pla_2.htm |archive-date=28 January 1999}}</ref>

Moule played at {{rlp|ce}} for Melbourne in their 1999 NRL Grand Final victory against the St. George Illawarra Dragons. Having won the 1999 Premiership, Melbourne Storm contested in the 2000 World Club Challenge against Super League Champions St Helens R.F.C., with Moule playing at {{rlp|ce}} and scoring a try in the victory.

A consistent, but combative player, Moule was the leading try scorer for Melbourne Storm in 2001 and 2002.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Whiticker |first1=Alan |last2=Hudson |first2=Glen |title=The Encyclopedia of Rugby League Players |publisher=Gary Allen |location=Smithfield |isbn=1877082023 |page=396}}</ref>

Moule stunned Melbourne by announcing his retirement from the NRL in April 2003, revealing that a succession of injuries had taken away his enjoyment of the game. "At 25, three shoulder reconstructions, knee surgery and a severe case of osteitis pubis head my list of injuries," he said. "Put simply, the passion to play isn't there any more." After sitting out the rest of 2003, in November Moule had agreed to return to rugby league with Widnes Vikings.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Middleton |first1=David |title=Rugby League 2004 |publisher=Harper Sports |location=Sydney |isbn=0734407254 |page=89}}</ref>

Moule retired from the professional game at the end of the 2007 Super League season.

==Career highlights and honours== * ''First Grade Debut:'' ::'''1997''' – Round 11, South Queensland v Western Suburbs Magpies at Campbelltown Stadium, 18 May * ''Rookie of the Year:'' ::'''1997''' – South Queensland Crushers * ''Premierships:'' ::'''1999''' – Melbourne Storm * World Club Challenge Champions ::'''2000''' – Melbourne Storm

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://stats.rugbyleaguerecords.com/playersummary.php?tselect=3066 RLRKC Profile: Aaron Moule] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060928192730/http://www.reds.co.uk/squad/moule.html Salford Squad Profile: Aaron Moule] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20060405015411/http://www.reds.co.uk/homepage.html Salford City Reds Website Homepage] *[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/Aaron_Moule.html Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org]

{{1998 Melbourne}} {{Melbourne Storm squad 1999 NRL premiership}} {{Melbourne Storm - 2000 World Club Challenge winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moule, Aaron}} Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:South Queensland Crushers players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:Widnes Vikings players Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England Category:Salford RLFC players Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league players from Brisbane Category:People from the City of Moreton Bay

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