Moana Pasifika 2025
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@mikey07 is pukekohe up to scratch for lighting and broadcasting?
I reckon this helps retain and attract talent now too, who isn't gonna wanna play with Ardie? Aren't there rumours of other ex-ABs coming back next year? Maybe they'll head to MP?
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@nzzp said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
@sparky said in Moana Pasifika 2025:
It will give MP more leadership and will attract more interest in their games.
they need a home groudn and a fanbase. They are being treated terribly by NZR - not given a chance to succeed
How have they been treated terribly by NZR?
The issue is their fanbase is in the islands and they can only afford to play a game a season there.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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Anzelo Tuitavuki off to Colomiers in France -
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@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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@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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@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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@Canes4life yeah I'd heard that too, along with big Karl.
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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.
