Hoeata largely played for Canterbury B but made one appearance for
Canterbury – "in
Andrew Mehrtens' last game" – a
Ranfurly Shield defence against
Marlborough in 2005. He came off the bench but hasn't been remembered if it was to replace
Thorne on the blindside flank or one of the starting locks. The 2006 season proved to be a turning point for Hoeata, then aged 23. He made the move to
Taranaki. It became clear Hoeata would have to leave
Canterbury just because there were so many All Blacks there. He added another 13 caps in 2007 from a one-match suspension. After making a dangerous charge on
North Harbour fullback
George Pisi. After losing much of 2008 to a serious knee injury Hoeata established himself as a regular starter for
Taranaki in the
2009 Air New Zealand Cup after making 12 starts to earn himself a
Super Rugby contract. Hoeata earned a spot with the
Chiefs for the
2010 Super 14 season, and spent the season as a depth player on the squad, making 5 appearances but not starting a match. But got his chance to make his
Super Rugby debut off the bench against the Bulls. Hoeata's 2010 season with
Taranaki started on a sour note with a drunk-driving arrest but he rebounded with his strongest season for Taranaki in the
2010 ITM Cup, scoring two tries as the province was one of the surprises of the competition. When
Jamie Joseph, who had previously coached Hoeata with the
New Zealand Māori, offered Hoeata a chance to move south to join the
Highlanders for the
2011 Super Rugby season, Hoeata jumped at the chance. While he played mainly at flanker with
Taranaki, Joseph chose to use him as a lock and he developed into one of the form players of the competition, with his strong play keeping
All Black Tom Donnelly on the substitute's bench. In January 2018, Hoeata joined French
Top 14 side
Montpellier Hérault Rugby as a medical joker replacement for the injured
Jacques du Plessis. ==International career==