Allan Craig: The 'grunt work' behind Moana's Pasifika flair

Among the flamboyance of Moana Pasifika, lock Allan Craig has a simple job.

“Grunt work. I clean rucks, hit mauls and tackle,” Craig told RugbyPass.

“We have some awesome athletes in this team. I wish I could do some of the things they can. I can’t. I’m happy to grind it out and watch the boys express themselves. When they do, it’s incredible.”

In Moana Pasifika’s opening round 40-26 victory over the Fijian Drua at Churchill Park, Lautoka, Craig led the visitors with 15 tackles and secured half of their 14 lineout throws. Moana Pasifika’s lineout was 100 per cent efficient while the Drua lost a third of their throws. Captain Miracle Fai’ilagi led the dominant display by scoring three tries.

“The heat and humidity in Fiji is a punch in the face. Nothing prepares you for it, so to win as we did was awesome,” Craig said.

“We made a hot start, and that helped at the end. Our game plan was to keep possession because when the Drua have the ball with space, they’re hard to stop. When we kicked, we did it well. We didn’t want to waste energy chasing.

“Miracle was massive. Ardie (Savea) is Ardie, everyone knows that. Ardie leads through actions. Those are some of the characteristics Miracle is now showing.”

Craig debuted for Moana Pasifika in a 35-21 defeat to the Highlanders in the first round of 2024. He has since made 26 appearances for his club and played in 10 of their 14 all-time victories.

He was originally part of the Blues’ wider training squad until an early Christmas present in 2023.

“I went back to work on the farm, not expecting anything. In December, Tana Umaga and Tom Coventry called me in to train. When Ofa Tauatevalu got injured, I was on the bench for the Highlanders game, and then Sam Slade tore his pec, so I was thrust in,” Craig recalls.

“We have come on in leaps and bounds since then. We have experienced coaching and confidence in our growing squad.”

In 2025, Moana Pasifika won a record six matches, with Craig featuring in their first-ever wins against the eventual champion Crusaders (45-29) and Blues (27-21). He also played in the 40-31 win against the Hurricanes in March, when Miracle Fai?ilagi scored his first Super Rugby Pacific hat-trick.

Craig was one of six Moana players to make 100 tackles in the season and had the highest average per game. He also ranked in the top three on his team for lineout steals.

Unfortunately, Moana’s promising campaign ended when they were thrashed 64-12 by the Hurricanes in Wellington in the last round of the regular season, denying them any chance at the playoffs.

“We’ve revisited the tape from that game. It wasn’t good enough,” Craig admitted. “What’s annoying is we created some opportunities, didn’t take them, lost confidence, and then it blew out at the end.”

The Hurricanes are the only New Zealand side that Moana Pasifika have toppled twice. In 2022, at Go Media Stadium in Auckland, Hurricanes discard Danny Toala scored a length-of-the-field try in a momentous 24-19 triumph. However, in four visits to Sky Stadium, Moana Pasifika have been outscored 220-68.

Craig is accustomed to defying the odds. Born and raised in Ahipara, a small town in Northland, at the southern end of Ninety Mile Beach, he began playing junior rugby at the Te Rarawa Club. He attended Whangarei Boys’ High School and captained the First XV before making the New Zealand Secondary Schools out of St Kentigern College in Auckland.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

50

22

First try wins

40%

Home team wins

100%

Craig has won two senior club championships with Mid-Northern, which is in Hukerenui, halfway between Whangarei and Paihia. Mid-Northern’s most notable alumni include All Blacks Sid Going and Joe Morgan. Craig’s younger brother Dylan also plays for Mid-Northern, while another brother, Sam, is a pig hunter.

Craig has been a regular part of the Northland NPC team for four seasons.

In 2025, Northland won five matches, something they’ve only done seven times since 1998, and held eventual champions Canterbury to a 19-19 draw, Northland’s best result against Canterbury since 1999. Additionally, a record 43-24 win over Auckland was secured. Craig scored a try in that game and was named man of the match.

“That would be the highlight of my rugby career to date. The bus trip back from Eden Park was epic,” Craig laughed.

“We were disappointed not to make the playoffs. We were pretty banged up at the end with a lot of injuries. Like Moana, I feel like there is a lot of growth with the Taniwha.”

Northland’s coach in 2025 was Ryan Martin, winner of the Major League Coach of the Year award in the USA after leading the New England Free Jacks to their third consecutive title.

“Allan is a phenomenal player. He was the Northland player of the year last year. He sets extremely high standards, has an amazing lineout knowledge and skillset for a big lock,” Martin said.

”Interestingly, he is a good surfer, handy on a long board, and has recently become a father. He is a rock-solid bloke.”