Du'Plessis Kirifi highlights unseen attributes of Fehi Fineanganofo

The electrifying winger ran in a clinical hat-trick against the Queensland Reds in Wellington on Saturday afternoon, taking his tally of tries to nine for the 2026 season so far.

Fineanganofo has signed a deal with the Newcastle Red Bulls from next season, but he’s in no mood to slow down in a Hurricanes backline that is firing on all cylinders after seven rounds.

The former All Blacks Sevens speedster was there in support on multiple occasions, showcasing that it’s not only his pace that’s earning him the chocolates to start this Super Rugby Pacific season.

Kirifi, who has played alongside Fineanganofo over the past two years, told media in Wellington post-match that people will be quick to talk about all of his nine tries so far this season.

“Everyone sees the on field stuff, obviously scoring tries and his attacking prowess. But he’s a smart, smart footballer,” Kirifi said.

“He learns fast and applies things really well throughout the week. So it’s no surprise that, you know, he makes these plays because he’s done the work.

“He’s an awesome young man. And yeah, that’s obviously the landscape of rugby at the moment, boys feeling like they need to go overseas and take opportunities, but he’s going to be missed, that’s for sure.”

Fineanganofo was seventh for try assists, fourth in meters carried, 10th in defenders beaten so far this season, and has made every post a winner in 2026, taking his chance after struggling to earn a starting place in 2025 under Clark Laidlaw.

The Hurricanes winger is now equal leading try-scorer with the Brumbies’ Charlie Cale, while his five line breaks in the attacking 22m zone are the most in the competition.

Laidlaw, who said he was pleased with the way his side went about their business against the Reds, said that if Fineanganofo comes back from overseas, he could still be in the All Blacks picture.

“No, I don’t think it’s a shame in the slightest, it’s his career, and he’s made a decision that he thinks is right for him and his family.

“And who knows, he may be back, so the world’s a transit place now you can go and come back. He’s only 23, He stays. So I’m never a believer in one decision determines what happens in the future.

“It’s how well he does, when he goes over there, and as I say, who knows, he might end up back here so we’re just loving the way he’s playing.

“And Du’Plessis points out around how smart he is. I’ve seen that for five or six years now, how quickly he can change and adapt his game and grow so he was. I don’t care about next year, he’s here this year, and we’ll make the most of it.”

This isn’t the first time that a Hurricanes captain or coach had highlighted the 23-year-old’s hidden attributes, with Laidlaw explaining that his defensive game is where he’s made the most strides.

“Fehi is obviously a power winger, he breaks tackles often and I think the part that maybe people underestimate will be his defensive game,” Laidlaw told reporters in Wellington after their round two victory against Moana Pasifika.

“Cory Jane and Fehi have done an amazing job of becoming a really strong defender in the 15’s game, so he doesn’t look like it’s his second season.”