Moana Pasifika 2025
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@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
How have they been treated terribly by NZR?
They've been created without a clear purpose, fanbase, player feeder. It's intended well, but I think the end result is what you expect - mediocrity on the field, few marquee players and no clear pathway for people to feed into them.
They should have a home stadium somewhere (although philosophically, throwing a second team into your biggest market that's struggling may not be a good thing), and a fan base that can attend home games.
OK, I exaggerated - but they are an artificial team and I'm totally not convinced they are set up for success. And then they're a cost line, and at risk of getting the chop when times get tight.
@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
They should have a home stadium somewhere (although philosophically, throwing a second team into your biggest market that's struggling may not be a good thing), and a fan base that can attend home games.
The issue is where? Samoa or Tonga are too expensive.
There's an argument to be made perhaps that Western Sydney might be the most realistic option.
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
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@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
They should have a home stadium somewhere (although philosophically, throwing a second team into your biggest market that's struggling may not be a good thing), and a fan base that can attend home games.
The issue is where? Samoa or Tonga are too expensive.
There's an argument to be made perhaps that Western Sydney might be the most realistic option.
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
setting up a team that fails prevents future success.
Western Sydney may well have been a better option - hell, anywhere with a fixed home ground.
And why not Samoa or Tonga? Even start with 1 match each year.
The contrast to me is the Drua. They've got a clear identify, a fan base, a home ground and damned if anyone wnats to go there to play. They're struggling away from home, but playing them in Fiji is really hard, and you can see the pride. Moana Pasifika - the structure isn't there yet.
Anyway, good on Ardie. Would be good to see success for the team, but I fear it'l need more than a few good players and leaders.
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Anzelo Tuitavuki off to Colomiers in France -
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@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
setting up a team that fails prevents future success.
Western Sydney may well have been a better option - hell, anywhere with a fixed home ground.
And why not Samoa or Tonga? Even start with 1 match each year.
The contrast to me is the Drua. They've got a clear identify, a fan base, a home ground and damned if anyone wnats to go there to play. They're struggling away from home, but playing them in Fiji is really hard, and you can see the pride. Moana Pasifika - the structure isn't there yet.
Anyway, good on Ardie. Would be good to see success for the team, but I fear it'l need more than a few good players and leaders.
@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
setting up a team that fails prevents future success.
Western Sydney may well have been a better option - hell, anywhere with a fixed home ground.
And why not Samoa or Tonga? Even start with 1 match each year.
The contrast to me is the Drua. They've got a clear identify, a fan base, a home ground and damned if anyone wnats to go there to play. They're struggling away from home, but playing them in Fiji is really hard, and you can see the pride. Moana Pasifika - the structure isn't there yet.
Anyway, good on Ardie. Would be good to see success for the team, but I fear it'l need more than a few good players and leaders.
It's prohibitively expensive to hold matches in the islands (unless you're happy for them to not be broadcast). It's simply not feasible to play more than a game or two there a year.
MP do have a home stadium, Mount Smart.
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@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
setting up a team that fails prevents future success.
Western Sydney may well have been a better option - hell, anywhere with a fixed home ground.
And why not Samoa or Tonga? Even start with 1 match each year.
The contrast to me is the Drua. They've got a clear identify, a fan base, a home ground and damned if anyone wnats to go there to play. They're struggling away from home, but playing them in Fiji is really hard, and you can see the pride. Moana Pasifika - the structure isn't there yet.
Anyway, good on Ardie. Would be good to see success for the team, but I fear it'l need more than a few good players and leaders.
@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
The contrast to me is the Drua. They've got a clear identify, a fan base, a home ground and damned if anyone wnats to go there to play. They're struggling away from home, but playing them in Fiji is really hard, and you can see the pride. Moana Pasifika - the structure isn't there yet.
Much smoother set up for Drua for sure. They had a team previously in the NRC - mostly home grown squad - more population only across 1 country - more commercial support - more funding (Aus government pacific funding) etc
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@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
They should have a home stadium somewhere (although philosophically, throwing a second team into your biggest market that's struggling may not be a good thing), and a fan base that can attend home games.
The issue is where? Samoa or Tonga are too expensive.
There's an argument to be made perhaps that Western Sydney might be the most realistic option.
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
@KiwiMurph said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
They should have a home stadium somewhere (although philosophically, throwing a second team into your biggest market that's struggling may not be a good thing), and a fan base that can attend home games.
The issue is where? Samoa or Tonga are too expensive.
There's an argument to be made perhaps that Western Sydney might be the most realistic option.
The alternative is they didn't get included at all?
I went to the Drua v Moana at Parra Stadium, not many PIs turned up for the match.
Agree with you re: your discussion with @nzzp, not sure what NZR can do which wouldn't break the already tight bank account.
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I read somewhere Vaea Fifita is also close to signing for MP.
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I read somewhere Vaea Fifita is also close to signing for MP.
@Canes4life yeah I'd heard that too, along with big Karl.
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@Canes4life yeah I'd heard that too, along with big Karl.
@taniwharugby said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@Canes4life yeah I'd heard that too, along with big Karl.
Oh wow, if they can get a couple of big locks their pack will be decent. Imagine Fifita as one of their locks and then a loose trio of Miracle Failagi, Ardie Savea and Fine Inisi. With good ball they are going to be entertaining.
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@taniwharugby said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@Canes4life yeah I'd heard that too, along with big Karl.
Oh wow, if they can get a couple of big locks their pack will be decent. Imagine Fifita as one of their locks and then a loose trio of Miracle Failagi, Ardie Savea and Fine Inisi. With good ball they are going to be entertaining.
@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
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@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
@African-Monkey said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
Oh yup Lotu not Fine.
Wasn’t Failagi injured for a big part of their campaign?
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@African-Monkey said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
Oh yup Lotu not Fine.
Wasn’t Failagi injured for a big part of their campaign?
@Canes4life He just got injures in the last game he played, but was left our for a fair bit of it.
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@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
@African-Monkey said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@Canes4life Lotu Inisi. Fine Inisi is the winger.
Failagi also fell ot of favour this year for Jacob Norris which was disappointing and not the point of the side. I would hope to see him get more gametime next year.
I was wondering where Faiilagi is. He hasn't made the Manu Samoa side either. Disappointing. He and Matavao were among the first players from the islands to play for MP.
On the wider issue, the major cost of playing in Samoa and Tonga is the broadcasting facilities (or lack thereof). I'm no expert in the equipment required but apparently the equipment costs are extremely expensive and none of the television stations over there can afford such equipment.
The Italy v Samoa and the Spain v Samoa match was done by the local tv station (TV3 Samoa in this case) but the quality wasn't very good. The commentary team died for about 15mins in the first half and the NZ commentary team for tvnz+ had to take over. While tv channels over there live-stream rugby matches all the time, they can't do live broadcasts. Hence why Sky has to lug all its equipment over there and that costs an arm and a leg.
If there was a way to get broadcasters over there the proper equipment (ie: the government in Samoa funding it - or AusPacificAid), then hosting matches over there wouldn't be so expensive as it doesn't cost much to hire out the grounds and hotel accommodation is reasonable with the exchange rates.
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Vaea Fifita to remain in Wales:
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/former-black-set-ignore-overseas-29585961
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I think Ardie moving to MP is a brilliant move that actually benefits MP and the Canes.
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I think Ardie moving to MP is a brilliant move that actually benefits MP and the Canes.
@antipodean said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
I think Ardie moving to MP is a brilliant move that actually benefits MP and the Canes.
I'm not sure it will benefit Ardie, as he is goig from one of the better set ups (and best facilities) to whatever Tana has and is doing. But I guess he has the experience to bounce up to international, but the last 3 games have proven that might take time
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For a guy like Savea that is likely to have a heavy test load, it must actually be refreshing to not have to worry about the last stages of playoffs. He'll get a nice rest. I can see that being a big plus for him.
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@antipodean said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
I think Ardie moving to MP is a brilliant move that actually benefits MP and the Canes.
I'm not sure it will benefit Ardie, as he is goig from one of the better set ups (and best facilities) to whatever Tana has and is doing. But I guess he has the experience to bounce up to international, but the last 3 games have proven that might take time
@Machpants said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@antipodean said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
I think Ardie moving to MP is a brilliant move that actually benefits MP and the Canes.
I'm not sure it will benefit Ardie, as he is goig from one of the better set ups (and best facilities) to whatever Tana has and is doing. But I guess he has the experience to bounce up to international, but the last 3 games have proven that might take time
He's also factored in another sabbatical in 2026 so I'm a lot happier that he's moving on now. Imagine if he stayed and then our young guys pissed off, and then he took a year off. Would have left the Canes right in the shit.
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It all makes sense now. Remember how emotional he was post-match in the quarter-final the Canes lost (in controversial circumstances) against the Brumbies in Canberra in 2023?
That was actually his last match for the Canes. He probably knew back then that he'd probably played his last match for the Canes.
