Moana Pasifika 2025
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Ardie confirmed through 2027. Go well Ardz, thanks for being a great Cane.
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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.
