Primarily a prop, he played for the Hull Kingston Rovers and Celtic Crusaders in the Super League.

Born on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Tangata-Toa played junior rugby league for the Burleigh Bears and attended Palm Beach Currumbin State High School.

A lower grader with the St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks, Tangata-Toa moved to England in 2005, joining the Hull Kingston Rovers in the National League One.

In 2008, Tangata-Toa joined the Celtic Crusaders, scoring a try in their National League One Grand Final loss to the Salford City Reds.

In Round 7, Tangata-Toa replaced Garth Brennan, who moved up to the club's NSW Cup side, as the head coach.