Leota attended De La Salle College and played rugby union until he was 20.
[3] Leota was an Otahuhu Leopards junior, in the Auckland Rugby League competition.
[3] He was an Auckland representative and played in three Test matches for the New Zealand national rugby league team between 1989 and 1990.
[5] Leota played for the Sheffield Eagles between 1989 and 1991 and also represented the Salford City Reds in England.
[6] In 1993 Leota won the Rothville Trophy for Otahuhu, which is awarded to the ARL's player of the year.