Former Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore really feels his age in the dressing room when young teammates start talking about getting ready for the night’s latest 21st birthday party or heading out to a nightclub.
Moore used to do exactly the same thing but a lifetime ago. Like in 2003 and 2004 before iPhones were invented and Australian Idol’s Shannon Noll was soaring to the top of the charts with his version of “What About Me.”
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Moore’s astonishing club comeback at 38 was never tipped for the charts.
Moore is now three games into it and enjoying his super-sub role at hooker for the University of Queensland, the Premier Rugby leaders with a flying 11-0 start in Brisbane.
No one saw this coming. Not his wife Courtney. Not former Wallabies flanker David Croft, a morning fitness mate. Not even Moore himself.
When first-choice hooker Josh Nasser went down with a season-ending foot ligament injury, the club was suddenly skinny for depth behind Cam Flavell.
“I thought the first text was a joke but Mick is very persistent and it just went from there,” Moore said of UQ president Mick Zaicek asking about his availability.
“I was definitely passing the ball more than I ever did when I first came back. I’ve had to get used to scrums again because I hadn’t packed one since I walked off Murrayfield in 2017.
“The No.16 jersey is a bit tight if I’m being honest but, yes, I’m enjoying it.”
Zaicek? Yes, this is the same go-getter who applied to be Wallabies coach in 2008, with zero experience, because he just felt the job could be done better.
The WhatsApp messages worked. Head coach Mick Heenan chimed in and team manager Frank McLoughlin asked Moore to register before he’d even had time to sleep on the crazy idea.
“When Stephen didn’t give an unequivocal ‘no’ straight away, we kept at him,” Heenan said with a smile.
“He’s been really good. He’s that calming influence/mentor for our young props and leaders and he’s enjoying it because I even saw him passing on advice to the opposition Brothers hooker (Matt Faessler), who he rated.”
Moore had been out of the game for more than three-and-half-years since calling time on his decorated career after his 129th Test against Scotland at Murrayfield in November 2017.
He has made a successful transition into life after rugby and is a principal in the local government area for Queensland Treasury Corporation, the financing authority.
He’s on the UQ Rugby Club committee. He mentors on leadership and team building and how sporting values like sacrifice and discipline translate to corporate life.
He’s a busy father-of-three for Theodore, 8, Darcy, 6, and Lawrence, 3.
One thing hasn’t changed since he last played club rugby for UQ a decade ago.
“The dressing rooms are snug, you sing the team song and have a beer...whether it’s a Test match or a club game I’ve always enjoyed that part of rugby straight after a game,” Moore said.
“I notice the age thing in the dressing room. Guys are talking about going to a 21st or heading to Friday’s (nightclub) or the Regatta (Hotel).
“I used to do the same thing but back in 2003-04 when I first got into the grades.
“No one has invited out as yet so maybe I’m too old to be around in a nightclub.”
The UQ dressing room has been adorned with photos of famous club players from a different age like Mark Loane, Michael Lynagh and Nathan Sharpe.
There’s a photo of Moore too, all hair and youthful ambition, from 16 years ago.
“I think one of my teammates was in Grade Six at the time and I think I was playing Colts at Uni (2001-02) before (flanker) Will Roach was born,” Moore said with a laugh.
Ben Mowen’s comeback for a 2020 premiership with Easts, at 35, was about as perfect a last hurrah as you could script.
Moore isn’t playing copycat but agrees the Mowen sign-off was “a fairytale, wasn’t it?”
Moore has never won a club premiership. The closest he got was a losing grand final with a baby-faced Drew Mitchell in 2004.
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He’s not overt about chasing one but “plugging along to help out my club” may well lead him there.
Moore remains a staunch supporter of the Wallabies and is excited about what they can achieve in the three Tests of the eToro French Series.
The Wallabies will be facing the French for the first time since 2016 in the opening Test at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 7.
That mere fact alone is significant.
“It’s good to play the French when they will be one of the benchmark teams at the 2023 Rugby World Cup,” Moore said.
“They are that bit unorthodox and unpredictable which means those guys who have never played them before will be learning.”
Of Australia’s three squad hookers, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Feleti Kaitu’u and Lachy Lonergan, he had particular observations on the 21-year-old youngster.
“I like the look of Lonergan. He's part of a good program at the Brumbies, he’s very effective around the field and he’ll keep working on having that very reliable set piece,” Moore said.
“He reminds me of former All Black Keven Mealamu in that he also plays quite low to the ground and has a dynamism about him.”
The education against the French will likely be greatest at scrum time.
“There’s a lot more upper body and wrestling against French front-rows as well as more lateral movement with their steps left and right,” Moore added.
“It’s going to be a really interesting, competitive series.”
