Moana Pasifika 2023
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Aaron Mauger has resigned as Moana Pasifika head coach, the Herald understands.
Mauger is expected to remain in charge for Moana Pasifika’s final regular season matches against the Drua in Fiji and Waratahs in Sydney but he is believed to have informed the team last Friday he will not see out the final year of his contract next season.
Amid Moana’s 12-match winless campaign rumours of unrest surfaced in recent weeks, with suggestions players were refusing to re-sign beyond this year.
High performance consultant Eddie Kohlhase, the Black Sox great who New Zealand Rugby hired to sit on the appointment panel that anointed Scott Robertson as All Blacks coach from next year, is believed to have conducted a review of Moana where player feedback is said to be grim.
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Here's the stuff article, which is not hidden behind a pay-wall:
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Didn't Mauger have problems with players at the Highlanders too?
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I'll give him the benefit of doubt that negative player feedback probably stems from frustration more than anything. A few senior players have experienced top coaches and can compare. Mauger isn't that good a coach, never has been.
He seemed to make a lot of effort to absorb into the cultural aspect but poor results and a lack of growth will create ructions and frustration among players that aren't seeing personal growth.
Is Tiatia an option to step up? -
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A paywalled article in the herald mentions Pasifika are investigating playing fewer games at Mt Smart. The cost of hiring the venue is high and they've had tiny crowds
Next year their may only be two games at Mt Smart. Other home game possibilities were the islands, Henderson & Whangarei. Napier was mentioned but sounded less likely
Just base the team in the islands. It's the only chance of success
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@Bovidae I found this comment interesting: "I would like to think that the combination of Moana Pasifika, plus Fijian Drua, is bringing in fresh elements to rugby, that it's enabling us to provide a better product," he said.
Good to see Pacific Islanders finally getting interested in the game.
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@Pepe said in Moana Pasifika 2023:
I'm sure Northland rugby supporters would find it ironic that the next long-awaited Super game they host could be MP versus the Blues...
It will be against rebels or force or something, blues will be one of the few at Mt smart