Moana Pasifika 2025
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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.
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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.
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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?
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@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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@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:
Former All Black set to ignore overseas interest to stay in Welsh rugby
Vaea Fifita has been linked with a move away from Wales
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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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@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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@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.
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Moana Pasifika make crucial signing at first five for 2024
Moana Pasifika has secured another critical signing for its Super Rugby Pacific 2025 squad.
Pat Pellegrini, a first five-eighths with the rising Coventry club in England, has been bought out of his last year of contract with the side to join Moana Pasifika. The Sydney-born Tongan 25-year-old played at last year's Rugby World Cup, making his mark with a try against the world champion South Africa side.
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Jackson Garden-Bachop signs with Moana Pasifika for the 2025 season.
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@Canes4life said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
Jackson Garden-Bachop signs with Moana Pasifika for the 2025 season.
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Weird signing considering both Tongan 10s Havili and Pellegrini are there with Afa Moleli waiting in the wings.
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@African-Monkey said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
Weird signing considering both Tongan 10s Havili and Pellegrini are there with Afa Moleli waiting in the wings.
I'm very happy the Canes didn't sign JGB, he's very limited at Super level.
Manu Samoa duo commit to Moana Pasifika – Moana Pasifika