Willie Poching
Personal information
Nickname	Poach
Born	30 August 1973 (1973-08-30) (age 36)
Height	182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight	103 kg (16 st 3 lb)
Playing information
Position	Second-row
Club
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1995	Auckland Warriors	2	1	0	0	4
1996	North Queensland	16	0	2	0	4
1997	Hunter Mariners	13	3	1	0	14
1998	St George Dragons	4	1	0	0	4
1999–01	Wakefield Trinity	69	20	0	0	80
2002–06	Leeds Rhinos	132	45	0	0	180
	Total	236	70	3	0	286
Representative
Years	Team	Pld	T	G	FG	P
1992–93	Auckland	4
1995–00	Samoa	6	0	2	0	4
2005	New Zealand	1
Coaching information
Representative
Years	Team	Gms	W	D	L	W%
2009	Samoa	1	0	0	1	0
Source: Rugby League Project

Willie Poching is a former rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s who represented both New Zealand and Samoa. He is the current head coach of Samoa side and assistant coach at European Super League side Leeds Rhinos.

[edit] New Zealand

Poching played for the Northcote Tigers, Marist Saints and Mt Albert Lions in the Auckland Rugby League competition.^[1] He made the Junior Kiwis in 1991 and captained the side in 1992. He played in 4 games for Auckland between 1992 and 1993, before signing a junior contract with the Brisbane Broncos for 1994.

He joined the Auckland Warriors in 1995, however he only played two games for the club however and was not re-signed for the 1996 season.

[edit] England

Over his long career Poching played for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and was a huge crowd favorite and was club captain for his final season. He the joined the Leeds Rhinos in the European Super League.

[edit] International career

Poching represented the Junior Kiwis in 1991 and 1992, captaining the side in 1992.

Poching played for Western Samoa at the 1995 World Cup and also captained Samoa during their 2000 World Cup.

He played his single game for New Zealand against England at Halliwell Jones Stadium during the 2005 Tri-Nations campaign.

[edit] Coaching career

Poching was forced to retire due to injury at the completion of 2006 season. He is currently the academy coach at Leeds Rhinos as well as the head coach of Samoa.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Profile at leedsrugby
• Profile at rleague.com
• Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org
• 1999 RUGBY LEAGUE: TEAM-BY-TEAM GUIDE TO SUPER LEAGUE