Hurricanes pile on points as Josh Moorby opens season with hat-trick

The Hurricanes have opened their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a convincing performance against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium in Wellington.

Clark Laidlaw’s side ran in eight tries during their season opener to claim a bonus-point, 52-10 victory over last weekend’s upset specialists.

Departing Hurricanes winger and former All Blacks Sevens flyer Fehi Fineanganofo starred for the home side, scoring a quick fire first-half double before passing a certain try to Josh Moorby.

Moorby then got his hat-trick early on in the second half, going in under the posts after the break.

Hurricanes import lock and Japan captain Warner Dearns spilled two lineouts in the opening five minutes, where the home side struggled to shake off any first-game rust.

Umaga’s side then gained important territory inside the Hurricanes’ half, before first-five Patrick Pellegrini got his hands on the ball down the left-hand touchline.

It didn’t take long for the Hurricanes to kick into gear after the opener, hitting back almost immediately with a try of their own to left-winger Fehi Fineanganofo.

The Hurricanes forwards set a solid platform in midfield, before a couple of hard carries opened up space down the left side. The swift backline move put Fineanganofo in with a chance at his first try of the season.

The 23-year-old winger showed what NZR will lose at the end of the year when he heads to Newcastle, showcasing his electric pace to score in the corner.

Cameron converted from the sideline, giving the home side a 7-5 lead after thirteen minutes in Wellington.

A Moana Pasifika mistake soon after put themselves under unnecessary pressure inside their own half, where the Hurricanes’ forwards rolled up their sleeves with ball in hand.

Some hard-hitting carries from the home side’s tight-five forced the Moana Pasifika defenders to shut in, before a wide Jordie Barrett cut-out ball to Moorby put the Hurricanes in for their second.

Play was stopped for close to ten minutes for a worrying leg injury to Cameron, who was replaced after 23 minutes by All Black midfielder Billy Proctor.

That stoppage of play allowed the teams to regain their composure, but it was the Hurricanes who burst out of the blocks with another try to Fineanganofo.

The Hurricanes made a solid 10 meters from a rolling maul before a sweeping backline move put Callum Harkin through a gaping hole in Moana Pasifika’s defence.

Harkin then saw the open space down the left where Fineanganofo was, gifting him his second try of the evening.

Minutes later, the Hurricanes left winger was in for all money for his hat-trick, but he unselfishly passed the ball on the inside for Moorby for his second.

HT: 24-5 to the Hurricanes.

The second half in Wellington started just as the first finished, with Moorby looking dangerous with ball in hand.

The 27-year-old versatile back was on the receiving end of a nice offload by Bailyn Sullivan, which put Moorby through a gap and under the posts.

After a period of dominance, Laidlaw’s side managed to find another five-pointer through Brayden Iose, after Barrett launched another pass out wide.

60 minutes after their last try, Moana Pasifika finally got their hands on the ball and could create something deep inside their oppositions 22.

Tuitama got his arms free and put Pellegrini in close to the line, but the first-five still had lots to do. Pellegrini brushed off a couple of last-ditch tackles, scoring the away side’s second of the night.

Just as you thought the Hurricanes may slow the game down, Iose had other ideas. The 27-year-old loose-forward found himself in open space with one defender in front of him, putting on a left-foot step to score his second.

The Hurricanes closed out the game with another exceptional try, this time with Proctor having his say in the 78th minute.

FT: 52-10 to the Hurricanes.