 He played for Canterbury against Australia as an 18-year-old in 1965.Noonan played in seven games (one Test) on the New Zealand national rugby league team 1967 tour of Australia and in two home Test matches against Australia in 1969.He also represented the South Island, Southern Zone and various age group sides before he was signed by the Bulldogs from the New Zealand Rugby League for a $6,000 transfer fee in 1970.