Morgan Harper
{{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
| club4 = New Zealand Warriors
| year4start = 2025
| year4end = present
| appearances4 = 0
| tries4 = 0
| goals4 = 0
| fieldgoals4 = 0
| points4 = 0
|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 = [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/morgan-harper/summary.html Rugby League Project]
| updated = 25 May 2024
}}
Morgan Harper (born 28 August 1998) is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who plays 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.{{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}}{{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}}
He played his junior rugby league for the Ngaruawahia Panthers in the Waikato Rugby League.{{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}}
Career
Harper made his NRL debut for Canterbury-Bankstown against the Brisbane Broncos in round 25 of the 2019 NRL season.{{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}}
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.{{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}}
In round 19 of the 2021 NRL season, he scored a hat-trick for Manly in their 44–24 victory over the Wests Tigers.{{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}}
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.{{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}}
= 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.{{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}}
= 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.{{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}}
Following a couple of indifferent performances to start the 2024 season, Harper was demoted to reserve grade by Parramatta head coach Brad Arthur.{{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}}
Harper made only eight appearances for Parramatta in the 2024 season as the club finished 15th on the table.{{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}}
On 11 September 2024, it was announced that Harper would be departing the Parramatta club after not being offered a new contract.{{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}} On 17 November, it was announced that Harper signed with NSW Cup side North Sydney Bears for the 2025 season.{{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}}
=2025=
On 25 February, North Sydney announced that Harper would depart the club and sign with the New Zealand Warriors for the 2025 season.{{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}}{{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}} On 26 February, the Warriors confirmed Harper had signed on with the team for the 2025 season to bolster their outside backs..{{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}}
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 | | | |
| |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: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:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:Rugby league players from Hamilton, New Zealand
{{New Zealand Warriors squad|state=collapsed}}