Moana Pasifika’s season ended in Wellington with a heavy 64-12 defeat to the Hurricanes on Saturday night, but the Pacific island franchise leaves Super Rugby Pacific buoyed by its best-ever campaign and growing influence on the competition.
The newcomers, who joined the competition in 2022, needed an unlikely bonus-point win over the high-flying Hurricanes to reach the finals for the first time but fell short. Despite the one-sided finale, Moana Pasifika finished seventh — a marked rise after back-to-back wooden spoons in 2022 and 2023 and an 11th-place finish a year ago. That steady climb has drawn praise from rivals and supporters across New Zealand and the Pacific.
Hurricanes captain Xavier Numia singled out Moana Pasifika’s contribution to the competition, applauding the excitement and inspiration the team has brought. “I do want to acknowledge Moana Pasifika and the season that they’ve had, and the inspiration and the excitement that they brought to our competition,” Numia said. He noted the clear growth in fan numbers and the value of the Pasifika brand and style, saying the team’s presence is “good for New Zealand rugby and the brand of rugby that they play and the values that they represent.”
The Hurricanes’ emphatic win underscored the gulf on the night between the ladder-leading home side and a Moana team that had punched above expectations across the season. Still, the broader reaction from opponents framed the result as part of a longer-term upward trajectory rather than a final judgment on Moana’s progress.
Ardie Savea, captain of the Hurricanes and the newly crowned Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, acknowledged Moana’s rise while stressing that the Pasifika side will be aiming higher. “The way where you can take the momentum today, what you’ve done, even just in tonight’s game, these moments, what this season has done, where you go from here, we’re not satisfied,” Savea said. “Our goal was to win the thing and make top six, but that wasn’t meant to be.”
Moana Pasifika’s fan base and profile have become talking points throughout the season as the club has drawn large followings to matches and given Pasifika players a stronger platform on a big stage. That visibility — combined with an improved results curve — is being viewed by rivals as a positive for the competition’s diversity and appeal.
While the Hurricanes celebrated a convincing home victory and a strong season, Moana Pasifika will return to the off-season with clear momentum and heightened expectations. The challenge now is to convert this step up into sustained top-six contention. For many observers, the club’s evolution from wooden spooners to genuine contenders is the season’s most significant takeaway for Pacific rugby.