[1] He was a chef in the New Zealand Army and has played in the Bartercard Cup for the Central Falcons[1] and represented Waikato.

[4] Royal was signed by the Penrith Panthers which prompted a move to Australia in 2004 to play for the club's NSWRL Premier League team.

His form was good enough however to earn a new two-year deal which eventually led to his first grade debut in 2007.

[5] However he later signed a two-year deal with the New Zealand Warriors that same year to provide injury cover for Evarn Tuimavave.

[1][6] He made his Warriors debut in round 2 of the 2009 NRL season against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, scoring a try with his first touch of the ball.