Source: Radio New Zealand
Joel Lam made his Moana Pasifika debut last weekend against the Blues. Alan Lee / www.photosport.nz
Former Crusader Joel Lam is expecting plenty of banter as Moana Pasifika get set to meet his old side.
Lam has been handed halfback duties for Moana in Saturday night’s round five clash, his first start in Super Rugby, against the side he earnt his first cap with.
He anticipates a few verbal jabs to be thrown his way on the pitch.
“I’ve got a a lot of mates in the Crusaders team that I went to the academy with straight out of school, so definitely a lot of familiar faces in that line-up, so, there will probably be a bit of chat.”
It’s been a whirlwind few weeks for Lam, who started the year without a Super Rugby contract.
“I got brought in on a player interim contract for the pre-season block and managed to secure myself a few more weeks after the pre-season. Last year was full of challenges and growth, it was actually quite funny the way it played out.”
Lam wasn’t even playing the same code in 2025, before Samoa came out of nowhere to offer him an international debut.
“I got a bit of a taste of playing hooker at league and said, ‘why not?’ So signed up to the Hornby Panthers, played a few club games there, and then moved over to the ditch to Brisbane and played for Souths Logan Magpies. Then got a call from Manu Samoa and I was back on tour.”
Lam scoring a try for Samoa in 2025. Stephen Parker / www.photosport.nz
The 23-year-old made his Samoa debut in a loss against Tonga last year.
He said the reconnecting with his cultural roots had been special.
“Jack, my cousin, skipper of Samoa. He has been a great mentor to me. Being exposed to Samoa has obviously led me down the path of reconnecting with that side of my family.”
Lam comes from rugby royalty, Pat, AJ, Ben and Jack among the famous names in the game.
“There’s a good chunk of us, 350 plus of us, granddad’s a brother of 21. There’s a lot of us in our aiga, which is pretty cool and special to me.”
After making his mark for Samoa, Moana came calling.
“They had always known I was from the Crusaders region, there’d been a few conversations along the way, they said, ‘we’ve seen and heard about you. We’re really keen to get you in.’ And as soon as I stepped in the door, I’ve just felt welcomed. It definitely feels at home here.”
Lam said his time in league helped sure up his defensive skills.
“It definitely gave me some, I don’t know if I can say this, but it gave me some balls. Making tackles off the back fence.”
Back in union, Lam has already spent more time on the field for Moana, having only played ten minutes off the bench for the Crusaders in 2023.
Lam’s rugby journey began in the Canterbury academy. Chris Symes / www.photosport.nz
Despite limited opportunities, he looks back on his time in Christchurch fondly.
“The standards that they hold is something that I still carry to this day and how I go about my professionalism. I’ve taken a lot from what the organisation preaches.”
But after his time in the 13-man code, the nuggety number nine said his game has evolved.
“Moana Pasifika flair suits me more. The aggression, energy, and collisions.”
Lam gets the chance to unleash that new-found aggression on some old team-mates, who he said will be sure to remind him of his Crusader’s roots.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
