The second of the Parkinson brothers to play for the Hurricanes, Matua joined the side in 2000, a year after his older brother Reuben, on the back of consistent ball foraging form for North Harbour in the 1999 NPC.

A dynamic openside flanker, Parkinson had previously been playing rugby league in Australia for the Canterbury Bulldogs reserve-grade side and for the New Zealand Sevens rugby squad, which he made upon his return to rugby at the end of 1998.

Though Parkinson’s season with the Hurricanes was limited, for the most part selected behind Kupu Vanisi, Filo Tiatia and Campbell Feather, he went on to star for the New Zealand Maori side later that year scoring the match winning try against Scotland.