New Moana Pasifika stars shine to outgun Hurricanes

After the Fijian Drua upset the Chiefs in Lautoka, Moana Pasifika remained as the final winless team in Super Rugby Pacific 2025. They hosted the Hurricanes in round four.

Moana Pasifika would be winless no more by the night’s end, with a starring display by new recruit Patrick Pellegrini providing superb game management and a historic hat-trick by Miracle Faiilagi pushing the scoreboard out of reach of the visitors. A 40-31 win was registered despite hamstring tightness sidelining Ardie Savea early.

Three handling errors by the Hurricanes in the opening four minutes ended any positive momentum the team could generate. Patrick Pellegrini’s clearances were powerful and accurate to get play back into the Hurricanes’ half.

Ruben Love’s first touch of 2025 featured rapid acceleration and no signs of any caution over his ankle injury.

Moana Pasifika absorbed plenty of early pressure from the visitors, and while their discipline was lacking, they were able to win a turnover with their backs against their own tryline.

While some early tactical kicks from the Hurricanes didn’t find their mark, Harry Godfrey was able to find space in the 12th minute and pinned Moana Pasifika in their own 22. Caleb Delany stole the following lineout, and a minute later, Brayden Iose provided the power off the back of a scrum to score from close range.

The Hurricanes then received a string of penalties that allowed Moana Pasifika to get into attacking territory, and Miracle Faiilagi was far too powerful to be denied after peeling away from the rolling maul.

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It was Tevita Mafileo who broke the Moana line and found Delany in support to ignite the next Hurricanes attack. One phase later, an offload from Brad Shields hit Ruben Love’s knee and the fullback recollected the ball to score an unusual try in the corner.

The magical boot of Pellegrini landed a 50/22 soon after play resumed and Moana were back on attack. Some sly gamesmanship by Allan Craig around the ruck won his side another penalty and Moana pressed closer to the Hurricanes’ line.

For the finishing touch, Super Rugby Pacific’s leading ball-carrier, Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, twisted and pushed his way over the line beside the ruck.

Moana Pasifika persisted through some X-factor play by the likes of Kini Naholo and Harry Godfrey, benefitting from another one of many handling errors in the first half before Iose was handed a yellow card for an illegal contest at the breakdown.

Another lineout steal saved the Hurricanes from conceding when their backs were against the line. Moana Pasifika kept the pressure on, but couldn’t build on their 14-12 lead by the time halftime rolled around.

Ardie Savea was replaced at the break, but that didn’t stop Moana from putting on a show. Superb consecutive tactical kicks from Pelligrini set his attack alight, the second kick was weighted masterfully as Kyren Taumoefolau won the race to score in the corner. Pellegrini converted.

Taumoefolau and Pellegrini starred again moments later with another linebreak in which six defenders were beaten. Again, it was Miracle Faiilagi who powered over the line.

Iose re-entered the contest along with a slew of impact players like Cam Roigard, Pasilio Tosi, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Xavier Numia. Soon after, Tom Savage was handed a yellow card for head-on-head contact.

There was great intent from the Hurricanes’ reserves to lift the tempo, but he accuracy let them down. Isaia Walker-Leawere then received a yellow card for a no-arms tackle that led to Danny Toala being helped from the field.

Less than a minute after Walker-Leawere was sin-binned, Mills Sanerivi touched down off the back of a lineout drive. The try and conversion pushed the Moana lead to 35-12.

As much as the hosts resisted, the Hurricanes remained determined to play with pace, and Peter Lakai had the power to score from close range.

Restored to their full complement, Moana Pasifika were handed a golden attacking opportunity when Peter Umaga-Jensen fumbled the kickoff. Just a minute later, the power of Faiilagi saw the young star claim his third try of the night. History was made as it was the first hat-trick in Moana Pasifika history.

Some Ngatungane Punivai magic was next to open the game up, with a linebreak and chip and chase resulting in William Havili being tackled after taking the ball into the in-goal area. After a couple of scrums, it was Punivai who found the line to score under the posts.

There were just eight minutes left, and the Hurricanes trailed by 14. Debutant Jone Rova did his best to get his team back in the fight with a linebreak. While that opportunity went ary with a Kini Naholo knock-on, Du’Plessis Kirifi made another break following the ensuing lineout, and it was Rova who was rewarded with the try out wide. Harry Godfrey needed to convert the try to keep the Hurricanes’ dreams alive, but the ball went wide right.

Godfrey and Hohepa linked up a minute later to break into Moana’s half,  but a knock-on was spied, and the chance at a comeback looked to have slipped away from the visitors.

Strong scummaging and desperate defence saw Moana close out the game for a 40-31 victory.