{{Short description|New Zealand rugby league player}} {{See also|Morgan Harper Nichols|Morgan Harper (lawyer)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Morgan Harper |fullname = |image = Morgan Harper.jpg |image_size = |position = {{rlp|CE}} |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|8|28|df=y}} |birth_place = Hamilton, New Zealand |height = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}} |weight = {{convert|95|kg|stlb|abbr=on}} |club1 = {{nowrap|Canterbury Bulldogs}} |year1start = 2019 |year1end = 20 |appearances1 = 2 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = {{nowrap|Manly Sea Eagles}} |year2start = 2020 |year2end = 23 |appearances2 = 54 |tries2 = 15 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 60 |club3 = Parramatta Eels |year3start = 2024 |year3end = |appearances3 = 8 |tries3 = 4 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 16 |teamA = Junior Kiwis |yearAstart = 2018 |yearAend = |appearancesA = 1 |triesA = 0 |goalsA = 0 |fieldgoalsA = 0 |pointsA = 0 | teamB = {{nowrap|NSW Residents}} | yearBstart = 2019 | yearBend = | appearancesB = 1 | triesB = 0 | goalsB = 1 | fieldgoalsB = 0 | pointsB = 2 |teamC = Māori All Stars |yearCstart = 2022 |yearCend = 23 |appearancesC = 2 |triesC = 0 |goalsC = 0 |fieldgoalsC = 0 |pointsC = 0 |new = yes |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/morgan-harper/summary.html Rugby League Project]</ref> | updated = 25 May 2024 }}
'''Morgan Harper''' (born 28 August 1998) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who last played as a {{rlp|ce}} for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League.
He previously played in the National Rugby League (NRL) for the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, and Parramatta Eels.
==Background== Harper was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. Harper is of Māori (Ngāti Maniapoto mother and Ngāti Tūwharetoa father) and Irish descent.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seaeagles.com.au/news/2022/02/09/morgan-harper-honoured-to-represent-maori-all-stars/ |title=Morgan Harper honoured to represent Maori All Stars |publisher=SeaEagles.com.au |first=Wayne |last=Cousins |date=9 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macarthuradvertiser.com.au/story/7705606/keary-to-consider-irelands-call/ |title=Keary to consider Ireland's call |publisher=Campbelltown-Macarthur Advertiser |first=George |last=Clarke |date=20 April 2022}}</ref>
He played his junior rugby league for the Ngaruawahia Panthers in the Waikato Rugby League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/how-family-and-footy-have-been-the-making-of-sea-eagles-centre-harper-20210916-p58s9l.html |title=How family and footy have combined for Manly Sea Eagles centre Morgan Harper |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |first=Adrian |last=Proszenko |date=16 September 2021}}</ref>
==Career== Harper made his NRL debut for Canterbury-Bankstown against the Brisbane Broncos in round 25 of the 2019 NRL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/09/03/round-25-nrl-team-announcements/ |title=Round 25 team lists |publisher=NRL.com |date=3 September 2019}}</ref> In round 17 of the 2020 NRL season, Harper scored two tries for Manly-Warringah in a 34–32 defeat against the Wests Tigers at Brookvale Oval.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/league/news/maguire-talks-up-tigers-stars-origin-chances-as-tigers-keep-finals-hopes-alive/g5oa475rorkq1lszdl0me5edo/|title=David Nofoaluma 'definitely' deserves NSW Blues selection says Maguire following Manly miracle|website=www.sportingnews.com}}</ref> In round 19 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick for Manly in their 44–24 victory over the Wests Tigers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-24/nrl-live-souths-warriors-manly-tigers-penrith-broncos-scores/100308594/|title=Penrith beat Brisbane 18-12, South Sydney thrash Warriors 60-22, Manly outclass Tigers 44-24|website=www.abc.net.au}}</ref> Harper played a total of 18 games for Manly in the 2022 NRL season scoring four tries as the club finished 11th on the table and missed out on the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2022-manly-sea-eagles-season-review/s7drlzqcamqqwsoxvyiz8ua3/|title=NRL 2022: Manly Sea Eagles season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|access-date=7 October 2022}}</ref>
=== 2023 === Harper was limited to only nine appearances for Manly in the 2023 NRL season as the club missed the finals. On 16 October 2023, Harper signed a one-year deal to join Parramatta starting in 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2023/10/16/morgan-harper-joins-eels/|title=Morgan Harper joins Eels|website=www.parraeels.com.au}}</ref>
=== 2024 === In round 1 of the 2024 NRL season, Harper made his club debut for Parramatta and scored a try as they defeated arch-rivals Canterbury 26-8.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2024-parramatta-eels-vs-canterbury-bulldogs-scores-updates-live-blog-replays-stephen-crichton-mitch-moses-cameron-ciraldo/news-story/0aefa4d6f143032275f8a1186326e209/|title=Dogs’ Foxx fear compounds rough night; Eels may have finally solved big issue: What we learned|website=www.foxsports.com.au}}</ref> Following a couple of indifferent performances to start the 2024 season, Harper was demoted to reserve grade by Parramatta head coach Brad Arthur.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2024/04/02/nrl-team-lists-round-5/|title=NRL Round 5 Team Lists 2024|website=www.nrl.com}}</ref>
Harper made only eight appearances for Parramatta in the 2024 season as the club finished 15th on the table.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/nrl/news-2024-the-mole-exclusive-parramatta-eels-season-review-reagan-campbell-gillard-future-20240907-p5k8qj.html/|title=The Mole's end of season review: What went wrong at the Parramatta Eels?|website=www.nine.com.au}}</ref> On 11 September 2024, it was announced that Harper would be departing the Parramatta club after not being offered a new contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2024/09/11/eels-farewell-departing-players/|title=Eels farewell departing players|website=www.parraeels.com.au}}</ref> On 17 November, it was announced that Harper signed with NSW Cup side North Sydney Bears for the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pryde |first=Scott |date=2024-11-17 |title=Former Junior Kiwi lands new home for 2025 |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/former-junior-kiwi-lands-new-home-for-2025-217181/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref>
===2025=== On 25 February, North Sydney announced that Harper would depart the club and sign with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2025 season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2025-02-25 |title=Morgan Harper signs with NRL team for 2025 |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/morgan-harper-signs-with-nrl-team-for-2025-219263/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |first=Bears |date=2025-02-25 |title=Morgan Harper Release |url=https://www.northsydneybears.com.au/morgan-harper-release/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=North Sydney Bears |language=en-AU}}</ref> On 26 February, the Warriors confirmed Harper had signed on with the team for the 2025 season to bolster their outside backs.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-26 |title=Harper signed for 2025 season |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2025/02/26/harper-signed-for-2025-season/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Warriors |language=en}}</ref> On 10 December 2025, after his exit from the Warriors, the Newtown Jets announced the signing of Harper.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chalk |first=Ethan Lee |date=2025-12-09 |title=Morgan Harper returns to Australia, signs with new club after Warriors exit |url=https://www.zerotackle.com/morgan-harper-returns-to-australia-signs-with-new-club-after-warriors-exit-229509/ |access-date=2025-12-10 |website=Zero Tackle |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Statistics == {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |- |2019 | rowspan="2" align=left|{{Leagueicon|Canterbury|16}} Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | align=right|1 | align=right|0 | align=right|0 |- |2020 | align=right|1 | align=right|0 | align=right|0 |- |2020 | rowspan="4" align=left|{{Leagueicon|Manly|16}} Manly Warringah Sea Eagles | align=right|4 | align=right|3 | align=right|12 |- |2021 | align=right|23 | align=right|8 | align=right|32 |- |2022 | align=right|18 | align=right|4 | align=right|16 |- |2023 | align=right|9 | align=right|0 | align=right|0 |- |2024 | rowspan="1" align=left |{{Leagueicon|parramatta|16}} Parramatta Eels | align=right|8 | align=right|4 | align=right|16 |- |2025 |{{Leagueicon|Auckland}} Warriors |0 | | |- | |Totals | align=right|'''64''' | align=right|'''19''' | align=right|'''76''' |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.parraeels.com.au/teams/nrl-premiership/parramatta-eels/morgan-harper/ Parramatta Eels profile] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20230123131004/https://www.seaeagles.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/manly-warringah-sea-eagles/morgan-harper/ Sea Eagles profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harper, Morgan}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players Category:Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players Category:Parramatta Eels players Category:New South Wales Residents rugby league team players Category:New Zealand people of Irish descent Category:Sportspeople of Irish descent Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players Category:New Zealand rugby league players Category:Rugby league centres Category:Rugby league players from Hamilton, New Zealand Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen