{{short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Junior Moors |fullname = |image = Junior Moors.jpg |imagesize = 290 |caption = |position = {{rlp|SR|LK|PR}} |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|7|30|df=yes}} |birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand |height = {{convert|190|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|117|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.castigers.com/player/551|title=Castleford Tigers 1st Team Junior Moors|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|date=2015|website=Official Castleford Tigers web site|publisher=Castleford Tigers Rugby League Football Club Ltd|access-date=22 June 2015}}</ref> |club1 = Penrith Panthers |year1start = 2007 |year1end = 09 |appearances1 = 24 |tries1 = 1 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 4 |club2 = Wests Tigers |year2start = 2010 |year2end = 12 |appearances2 = 25 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |club3 = Melbourne Storm |year3start = 2013 |year3end = 14 |appearances3 = 21 |tries3 = 0 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 0 |club4 = Castleford Tigers |year4start = 2015 |year4end = 20 |appearances4 = 114 |tries4 = 18 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 72 |club5 = {{nowrap|Featherstone Rovers}} |year5start = 2021 |year5end = 23 |appearances5 = 62 |tries5 = 10 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 40 |teamA = Samoa |yearAstart = 2013 |appearancesA = 3 |triesA = 1 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 4 |source = <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/junior-moors/summary.html|title=Junior Moors - Career Stats & Summary|website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/|title=Players|website=LoveRugbyLeague|access-date=6 January 2023|archive-date=3 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403181023/https://www.loverugbyleague.com/stats/players/|url-status=dead}}</ref> |updated = 8 November 2023 }}
'''Junior Moors''' (born 30 July 1986) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|pr|sr|lf}} for Campbelltown City Kangaroos in the Group 6 Rugby League.
He previously played for the Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers and the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, as well as Castleford Tigers in the Betfred Super League.
==Background== Moors was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and moved to Australia and was educated at Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown.
Moors played his junior football for Cambridge Park RLFC before being signed by the Penrith Panthers. He played for the Panthers' Premier League reserve-grade team in 2006.<ref>[http://www.rleague.com//db/player/m/moors_junior/index.php Player. Moors Junior]rleague.com {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420053946/http://www.rleague.com/db/player/m/moors_junior/index.php |date=20 April 2008 }}</ref>
==Club career==
=== Penrith Panthers === In Round 1 of the 2007 NRL season he made his NRL debut for the Panthers against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
In a 2009 pre-season trial, Moors suffered a broken ankle which stopped him from playing first-grade that season.{{cn|date=January 2023}}
=== Wests Tigers === In September 2009, Moors signed a one-year contract with the Wests Tigers starting in 2010, with the Tigers having an option to extend his contract for a further season.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Daily Telegraph (Australia)|title=Daine Laurie a Panther, Tigers on signing spree|author=Todd Balym|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/daine-laurie-a-panther-tigers-on-signing-spree/story-e6frexnr-1225778823667|access-date=24 September 2009|date=23 September 2009}}</ref>
Moors became a regular interchange player in the second half of 2012, making 14 appearances for the year. He said, "It’s something I have struggled with over the last couple of years, keeping my weight down but it’s been good this year. I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the team now."<ref>{{cite news|author=Nathan Ryan |work=Sports News First |title=Tigers cub stalking new deal |url=http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/08/13/tigers-cub-stalking-new-deal/ |access-date=13 September 2012 |date=13 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817041530/http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2012/08/13/tigers-cub-stalking-new-deal/ |archive-date=17 August 2012 }}</ref> Statistically, Moors was revealed to be one of the most effective tacklers in the NRL in 2012, with a 94.1% success rate in tackles.<ref>{{cite news|work=NRL.com |title=Revealed: the NRL's forward defensive heroes |url=http://www.nrl.com/revealed-the-nrls-forward-defensive-heroes/tabid/11037/newsid/68299/default.aspx |access-date=13 September 2012 |date=28 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028035700/http://www.nrl.com/revealed-the-nrls-forward-defensive-heroes/tabid/11037/newsid/68299/default.aspx |archive-date=28 October 2012 }}</ref> He was also a member of the Balmain Ryde Eastwood Tigers side that lost the NSW Cup grand final.<ref>{{cite web|author=Wayne Cousins |work=weststigers.com.au |title=Tigers go down fighting to Jets in NSW Cup Grand Final |url=http://www.weststigers.com.au/news-display/Tigers%20go%20down%20fighting%20to%20Jets%20in%20NSW%20Cup%20Grand%20Final/64669 |access-date=10 November 2012 |date=30 September 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228214947/http://www.weststigers.com.au/news-display/Tigers%20go%20down%20fighting%20to%20Jets%20in%20NSW%20Cup%20Grand%20Final/64669 |archive-date=28 December 2013 }}</ref>
=== Melbourne Storm === On 13 September 2012, Moors signed a one-year contract with Melbourne Storm starting in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Storm builds strong front|url=http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-builds-strong-front/63919|access-date=2012-09-13|publisher=Melbourne Storm official website|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916104304/http://www.melbournestorm.com.au/news-display/Storm-builds-strong-front/63919|archive-date=2012-09-16}}</ref>
His first game was interchange for Storm's 2013 World Club Challenge win over Leeds.
===Castleford Tigers=== On 11 June 2014, it was confirmed that Moors had signed a three-year contract to play for the Super League club the Castleford Tigers (Heritage No. 953) from 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-06-11|title=Tigers Sign Samoan International Junior Moors|url=https://castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=3292|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers}}</ref> Castleford head coach Daryl Powell said of the signing: "I think his style is going to be really well-suited to the Super League and he'll be a real threat."<ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-06-11|title=Castleford Tigers sign Melbourne Storm forward Junior Moors|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/27794248|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref>
Moors was given squad number 16 ahead of his first season with the Tigers. Moors made his Super League début against the Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in the first round, on 8 February 2015.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-02-08|title=Super League: Castleford Tigers 22-24 Wakefield Trinity Wildcats|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/31113016|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> He scored his first try for the club against the Warrington Wolves in round 23, on 26 July.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Newsum|first=Matt|date=2015-07-26|title=Super League: Castleford Tigers 6-44 Warrington Wolves|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/33610038|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> He finished the year having made 25 appearances and scored 4 tries.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Junior Moors - Career Stats & Summary|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/junior-moors/summary.html|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Rugby League Project}}</ref>
For 2016, Moors was assigned shirt number 17. He suffered a broken hand in March, missing 8 games, although returned earlier than expected - Daryl Powell described his post-injury form as "outstanding", and called him "a tough character".<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-13|title=Castleford's Junior Moors defied medical advice to inspire big win at Leeds|url=https://www.givemesport.com/775829-castlefords-junior-moors-defied-medical-advice-to-inspire-big-win-at-leeds|access-date=2020-06-05|website=GiveMeSport|language=en-GB}}</ref> His "irrepressible" performance in Castleford's 52–12 victory over West Yorkshire rivals Leeds Rhinos saw him voted as the Fans' Man of the Match.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-05-12|title=Leeds Rhinos 12 Castleford Tigers 52 - Luke Dorn dominates as Cas crush sorry Leeds|work=The Yorkshire Post|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/leeds-rhinos-12-castleford-tigers-52-luke-dorn-dominates-cas-crush-sorry-leeds-1798807#gsc.tab=0|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> His outstanding personal year saw him dominate the club's end-of-season awards, being recognised as the Fans' Player of the Year, Players' Player of the Year, and 1st Place Player of the Year.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2016-09-21|title=Moors scoops hat-trick of player of the year awards|work=Pontefract & Castleford Express|url=https://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/moors-scoops-hat-trick-player-year-awards-2131405#gsc.tab=0|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> In October, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Tigers until the end of 2019.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|date=2016-10-13|title=Junior Moors: Castleford Tigers forward signs new contract|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/37647240|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref> "He had an enormous 2016, being one of the best forwards in Super League," said Daryl Powell.<ref name=":1" />
Moors was utilised as an impact player for the 2017 season, making the vast majority of his appearances as an interchange.<ref name=":0" /> In June, he sustained a knee ligament injury which kept him out for 8 games.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-06-15|title=Injury Update|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5522|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers|language=en}}</ref> He continued his impressive performances, and greatly contributed towards the Tigers 1st-placed finish in Super League. Resultantly, in August he signed a further one-year contract extension, keeping him at Castleford until the end of 2020.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|date=2017-08-10|title=Junior Moors signs Castleford extension|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/50734/junior-moors-signs-castleford-extension|access-date=2020-06-05|website=www.rugby-league.com}}</ref> Daryl Powell said, "Junior Moors is a high-quality player who has continued to get better during his time at the club."<ref name=":2" /> He played in the 2017 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.<ref name="Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2017/oct/07/castleford-v-leeds-grand-final-2017-live-super-league-rugby?page=with:block-59d9128de4b00593b4d67a05#liveblog-navigation|title=Castleford 6-24 Leeds: Grand Final 2017 – as it happened|publisher=Guardian|date=7 October 2017|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/41536394|title=Grand Final 2017: Castleford 6-24 Leeds Rhinos|date=7 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/oct/07/castleford-leeds-super-league-grand-final-match-report|title=Danny McGuire guides Leeds to Grand Final success over Castleford|date=7 October 2017|work=Guardian|access-date=6 November 2019}}</ref>
Following the retirement of Andy Lynch, Moors was given squad number 8 for 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-01-23|title=2018 Squad Numbers|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5773|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers|language=en}}</ref> This, however, didn't reflect any change in his role on the pitch, as he remained a key impact substitute.<ref name=":0" /> He largely avoided any long-term injuries and made 25 appearances this year. He also scored 8 tries, including his first brace against the Huddersfield Giants on 13 September - this made the 2018 season his highest-scoring campaign yet.<ref name=":0" />
Moors' 2019 season was severely limited by serious injuries - he sustained a knee injury in April, keeping him out for 2 months, before suffering a season-ending hip fracture in just his second game back.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Harber|first=Tony|date=2019-06-25|title=Castleford Tigers star Junior Moors suffers fractured hip in Salford game|work=Pontefract & Castleford Express|url=https://www.pontefractandcastlefordexpress.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/castleford-tigers-star-junior-moors-suffers-fractured-hip-salford-game-687186#gsc.tab=0|access-date=2020-06-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-24|title=First Team Injury Update|url=https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=6547|access-date=2020-06-05|website=Castleford Tigers|language=en}}</ref> He made 13 appearances and scored 3 tries.<ref name=":0" />{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
In November 2020, Castleford coach Daryl Powell confirmed the departure of Moors.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/castleford-confirm-departure-of-junior-moors/|title=Castleford confirm departure of Junior Moors|website=www.loverugbyleague.com|date=10 November 2020|access-date=14 Dec 2020}}</ref>
===Featherstone Rovers=== On 20 January 2021, it was reported that he had signed for Featherstone in the RFL Championship<ref>{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=20 Jan 2021|access-date=21 Jan 2021|title=Featherstone snap up Junior Moors|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/championship/}}</ref> On 28 May 2022, Moors played for Featherstone in their 2022 RFL 1895 Cup final loss against Leigh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/featherstone-rovers-1895-cup-final-defeat-to-leigh-centurions-gives-brian-mcdermotts-side-signal-of-their-progress-3713313/|title=Featherstone Rovers: 1895 Cup final defeat to Leigh Centurions gives Brian McDermott's side signal of their progress|website=www.yorkshirepost.co.uk|date=29 May 2022 }}</ref> On 8 November 2023, Moors announced his retirement from professional rugby league<ref>{{cite web|website=Love Rugby League|date=8 Nov 2023|title=Former Castleford Tigers, Featherstone Rovers powerhouse retires after 17-year professional career: 'The time has come'|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/former-castleford-tigers-featherstone-rovers-powerhouse-junior-moors-retires-after-17-year-professional-career}}</ref>
==International career== While attending Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown, Moors played for the Australian Schoolboys team in 2004.<ref>{{cite web|title=SportingPulse Homepage for Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League|url=http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424|access-date=2008-10-10|publisher=SportingPulse|archive-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131030043/http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?c=7-2130-0-0-0&sID=26424|url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2013, Junior was selected for the Samoa national rugby league team in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup. He played in 3 of the Samoans 4 tournament games, scoring one try against the French in the group stage.{{cn|date=January 2023}}
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- !Season !Team !style="width:40px;" |{{Tooltip|App|Appearances}} !style="width:40px;" |{{Tooltip|T|Tries}} !style="width:40px;" |{{Tooltip|G|Goals}} !style="width:40px;" |{{Tooltip|FG|Field goals}} !style="width:40px;" |{{Tooltip|Pts|Points}} |- |2007 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |{{Leagueicon|Penrith|16}} Penrith Panthers |15 |1 |0 |0 |4 |- |2008 |9 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2010 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |{{Leagueicon|Wests Tigers|16}} Wests Tigers |11 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2012 |14 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2013 | rowspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |{{Leagueicon|Melbourne|16}} Melbourne Storm |11 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2014 |10 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2015 | rowspan="6" style="text-align:left;" |{{Leagueicon|Castleford|16}} Castleford Tigers |25 |4 |0 |0 |16 |- |2016 |22 |1 |0 |0 |4 |- |2017 |23 |2 |0 |0 |8 |- |2018 |25 |8 |0 |0 |32 |- |2019 |13 |3 |0 |0 |12 |- |2020 |6 |0 |0 |0 |0 |- |2021 | rowspan="3" |{{leagueicon|featherstone|16}} Featherstone |17 |3 | | |12 |- |2022 |31 |5 | | |20 |- |2023 |14 |2 | | |8 |- ! colspan="2" |Totals !246 !29 !0 !0 !116 |}
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} *[https://www.castlefordtigers.com/player.php?id=18 Castleford Tigers profile] *[http://www.castigers.com/player/551 Cas Tigers profile] *[http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/playerstats/playerprofile/tabid/10898/clubid/6/playerid/586/seasonid/42/default.aspx NRL profile] *[http://www.weststigers.com.au/playerprofiledisplay/Wests%20Tigers/Junior%20Moors/1831 <!--2012-->Wests Tigers profile] *[https://www.superleague.co.uk/player/232/junior%3Cbr-%3Emoors SL profile]
{{Melbourne Storm - 2013 World Club Challenge winners}} {{Samoa 2013 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moors, Junior}} Category:1986 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen Category:Balmain Ryde-Eastwood Tigers players Category:Campbelltown City Kangaroos players Category:Castleford Tigers players Category:Featherstone Rovers players Category:Melbourne Storm players Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:New Zealand people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Penrith Panthers players Category:People educated at Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown Category:Rugby league locks Category:Rugby league players from Auckland Category:Rugby league props Category:Rugby league second-rows Category:Samoa national rugby league team players Category:Samoan rugby league players Category:Wests Tigers players Category:Windsor Wolves players