On the verge of an historic grand slam, but uncertainty still hangs over Moana Pasifika's Super Rugby future
Whether they make the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs or not, Moana Pasifika have already had their best ever season, and were they to topple championship favourites the Chiefs this weekend, the new kids on the block would complete a grand slam over all five New Zealand teams.
That's the good news; but behind the scenes there are still very real concerns about how the franchise will survive financially, and whether rising stars like their flying winger Kyren Taumoefolau will leave the club in search of a bigger pay day.
But the Super Rugby TV deal will be up for re-negotiation at the end of the year, and those talks could have a big impact on how the Moana model will look in future seasons.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Losena Kaloulia Naisilisili is breaking norms while paving the way for women in Fiji sport media
In Fiji, Losena Kaloulia Naisilisili is known as the "Switch Queen", a nickname given to her from her time working behind the switchboards on live TV broadcasts. From there, Naisilisili went on to become the first woman in Fiji to direct a live outdoor sports broadcast and is now a leader in directing news and television at FBC. In an industry where men have long been in control, her journey has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially making switches as directed by male directors, Naisilisili was diligent and learned quickly, soon moving to directing and making the switches herself. "Overseas, one person commands while another switches. For us here in Fiji, the director both directs and switches — calling and taking the shots at the same time," she said. "In the studio, I handle everything: framing, setting the lights, chroma, giving commands, and switching. There's a set format and sequence we follow every day. "For OB (outside broadcasts), it's different. It's a live game, and you never know what's going to happen. I set the sequence myself, always from a spectator's point of view, while adding surprise elements to keep it interesting." The "Switch Queen" in action. ( Supplied ) The real challenge came when she was asked to lead a team of men who had been in the industry much longer than she had. Many of them saw her as "just a woman" and doubted her ability to handle the demands of the role, like lifting heavy equipment or setting up cameras. But she wanted to overcome the doubters, not just proving herself to them but also proving to herself that she could succeed. "I knew I wanted to direct TV in the studio from the moment I saw how it was done," she said. "I was just waiting for the opportunity to present itself, and once it did, I gladly grabbed it with both hands. With hard work and perseverance, I got to where I am today." When she transitioned to sporting outside broadcasts, she noticed that women were often confined to the studio, where it became predictable and routine. But in sports OB directing, she had to think on her feet, deciding what shots to take and planning the sequence based on the venue. Naisilisili working a live event. ( Supplied ) This fast-paced environment was exactly what she craved, but she admitted the journey hadn't been easy. "I think the main thing is sacrifice. You can't serve two masters at once. You'll need to fail to achieve things; without failure, you won't experience growth," Naisilisili said. "You'll fail several times, but you must keep standing up and never underestimate yourself. If you have the energy and passion, you can achieve anything and go a long way." Naisilisili said she felt proud to have opened doors and inspired young girls to believe they can do the same. Her journey has also changed the perspective of men in an industry which is still very male-dominated. "Being a Fijian woman leading a male-dominated team is both a challenge and an opportunity to show that leadership is not about gender, but about respect and vision," she said. "I hope my journey encourages younger women to believe that we all have a place in this space, no matter who we are." Through her posts on social media documenting her journey, she aims to break norms and inspire her children and grandchildren to follow in her footsteps while honouring other pioneering women who have paved the way for others in the media space. Passionate about empowering the next generation, she actively encourages women in media to pursue TV directing and is always eager to mentor and teach young women interested in stepping into the role.
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Independence remembered: Samoa's story
This Week on Radio Australia — we're turning up the volume on independence and the voices shaping the Pacific, from music and arts to sport and politics. On Nesia Daily, hosts Jacob McQuire and Michael Chow reconnect with one of the very first voices they featured nearly two years ago — marking Samoa's Independence Day on June 1st with a powerful reflection on identity and progress. On Politok, journalist Scott Waide dives deep into PNG's energy crisis. He unpacks how decades of power cuts are putting lives at risk — and why the system still hasn't been fixed. And on Nesian Footy, Sam Wykes and Tinirau Arona sit down with Oneata Schwalger. She's gone from playing both codes to chasing a new dream — coaching at the top level. Relax into your Sunday morning with two hours of the best stories from across the Pacific. Host, Kuntamari crofts, will take you on a Pacific Sundays journey, bringing you stories that will inspire, entertain and inform you.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
History beckons after Brumbies book Super Rugby semi
The ACT Brumbies have booked a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final berth with a gutsy 35-28 playoffs win over the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium. The home side's forward pack were prolific, with hooker Billy Pollard scoring a double, in the Brumbies' five-tries-to-four victory over the Wellingtonians on Saturday night. The Brumbies will now need to make history by beating the ladder-topping Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend to avoid a fourth straight semi-final exit against a New Zealand club. No Australian side has won a knock-out game in New Zealand in the almost 30-year history of the competition. "The process this year has been about going one better than last year, so there's a big challenge in front of us against the Chiefs in Hamilton," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. "We've been in this situation multiple times. "Very happy that we've won the game, but we know that there's a lot of work to do." The Brumbies were lethal when given a sniff in the opposing 22, but Larkham said it would be a completely different story with the Chiefs next week. "I thought our scrum was outstanding. Our lineout let us down a little bit and put us under the pump a little bit with turnover ball," he said. "But obviously those two opportunities there from the maul put 14 points on the board for us." The tried-and-tested methods of rolling mauls and pick-and-drives from lineouts, which the Brumbies had relied on all season, paid dividends. After the Hurricanes opened the scoring through fullback Ruben Love, a Brumbies maul from a lineout in opposition territory slowly but surely rolled over the tryline, with Pollard the man to dot down through a sea of bodies. Fatafehi Fineanganofo hit back for the visitors before Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa burrowed over after a succession of pick-and-drives on the Hurricanes' line. With three minutes left in the first half, the Brumbies opted not to take a penalty goal from right in front, instead chancing their arms again with another lineout. Their gamble paid off with Pollard managing to break off the blindside of another maul and dive onto the tryline to give the Brumbies a seven-point lead at the break. The sides traded seven-pointers in the second half, with a try to Brumbies fullback Tom Wright after fast handiwork from Rob Valetini cancelled out by one from Bailyn Sullivan. Veteran Brumbies prop James Slipper scored with another pick-and-drive before Hurricanes substitute Pasilio Tosi narrowed the gap to one try to ramp up the tension in the dying minutes. The Hurricanes burst into the Brumbies half through a Callum Harkin linebreak in the final minute but Luke Reimer stepped up for the home side to steal back possession and settle the victory. The defending champion Blues' last-gasp win over the Chiefs earlier in the night heaped the pressure on the third-placed Brumbies, who knew a loss would consign them to bowing out before the semi-finals for the first time since 2018. Instead it was the fourth-placed Hurricanes who reached the end of the road in their season. Coach Clark Laidlaw has been dealt a tough hand this season, with a rash of injuries ruling out key players for extended periods. But it's meant the Scotsman has been able to develop the squad's depth, having had to field 40-odd players over the course of the competition. "We've just got to suck it up, I guess, and take our disappointment and lick our wounds and move into the off-season," he said. If the Brumbies win in Hamilton next weekend and the Blues upset the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Canberrans will host a home grand final for the first time since 2004 (excluding Super Rugby AU). The ACT Brumbies have booked a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final berth with a gutsy 35-28 playoffs win over the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium. The home side's forward pack were prolific, with hooker Billy Pollard scoring a double, in the Brumbies' five-tries-to-four victory over the Wellingtonians on Saturday night. The Brumbies will now need to make history by beating the ladder-topping Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend to avoid a fourth straight semi-final exit against a New Zealand club. No Australian side has won a knock-out game in New Zealand in the almost 30-year history of the competition. "The process this year has been about going one better than last year, so there's a big challenge in front of us against the Chiefs in Hamilton," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. "We've been in this situation multiple times. "Very happy that we've won the game, but we know that there's a lot of work to do." The Brumbies were lethal when given a sniff in the opposing 22, but Larkham said it would be a completely different story with the Chiefs next week. "I thought our scrum was outstanding. Our lineout let us down a little bit and put us under the pump a little bit with turnover ball," he said. "But obviously those two opportunities there from the maul put 14 points on the board for us." The tried-and-tested methods of rolling mauls and pick-and-drives from lineouts, which the Brumbies had relied on all season, paid dividends. After the Hurricanes opened the scoring through fullback Ruben Love, a Brumbies maul from a lineout in opposition territory slowly but surely rolled over the tryline, with Pollard the man to dot down through a sea of bodies. Fatafehi Fineanganofo hit back for the visitors before Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa burrowed over after a succession of pick-and-drives on the Hurricanes' line. With three minutes left in the first half, the Brumbies opted not to take a penalty goal from right in front, instead chancing their arms again with another lineout. Their gamble paid off with Pollard managing to break off the blindside of another maul and dive onto the tryline to give the Brumbies a seven-point lead at the break. The sides traded seven-pointers in the second half, with a try to Brumbies fullback Tom Wright after fast handiwork from Rob Valetini cancelled out by one from Bailyn Sullivan. Veteran Brumbies prop James Slipper scored with another pick-and-drive before Hurricanes substitute Pasilio Tosi narrowed the gap to one try to ramp up the tension in the dying minutes. The Hurricanes burst into the Brumbies half through a Callum Harkin linebreak in the final minute but Luke Reimer stepped up for the home side to steal back possession and settle the victory. The defending champion Blues' last-gasp win over the Chiefs earlier in the night heaped the pressure on the third-placed Brumbies, who knew a loss would consign them to bowing out before the semi-finals for the first time since 2018. Instead it was the fourth-placed Hurricanes who reached the end of the road in their season. Coach Clark Laidlaw has been dealt a tough hand this season, with a rash of injuries ruling out key players for extended periods. But it's meant the Scotsman has been able to develop the squad's depth, having had to field 40-odd players over the course of the competition. "We've just got to suck it up, I guess, and take our disappointment and lick our wounds and move into the off-season," he said. If the Brumbies win in Hamilton next weekend and the Blues upset the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Canberrans will host a home grand final for the first time since 2004 (excluding Super Rugby AU). The ACT Brumbies have booked a Super Rugby Pacific semi-final berth with a gutsy 35-28 playoffs win over the Hurricanes at GIO Stadium. The home side's forward pack were prolific, with hooker Billy Pollard scoring a double, in the Brumbies' five-tries-to-four victory over the Wellingtonians on Saturday night. The Brumbies will now need to make history by beating the ladder-topping Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend to avoid a fourth straight semi-final exit against a New Zealand club. No Australian side has won a knock-out game in New Zealand in the almost 30-year history of the competition. "The process this year has been about going one better than last year, so there's a big challenge in front of us against the Chiefs in Hamilton," said Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham. "We've been in this situation multiple times. "Very happy that we've won the game, but we know that there's a lot of work to do." The Brumbies were lethal when given a sniff in the opposing 22, but Larkham said it would be a completely different story with the Chiefs next week. "I thought our scrum was outstanding. Our lineout let us down a little bit and put us under the pump a little bit with turnover ball," he said. "But obviously those two opportunities there from the maul put 14 points on the board for us." The tried-and-tested methods of rolling mauls and pick-and-drives from lineouts, which the Brumbies had relied on all season, paid dividends. After the Hurricanes opened the scoring through fullback Ruben Love, a Brumbies maul from a lineout in opposition territory slowly but surely rolled over the tryline, with Pollard the man to dot down through a sea of bodies. Fatafehi Fineanganofo hit back for the visitors before Brumbies captain Allan Alaalatoa burrowed over after a succession of pick-and-drives on the Hurricanes' line. With three minutes left in the first half, the Brumbies opted not to take a penalty goal from right in front, instead chancing their arms again with another lineout. Their gamble paid off with Pollard managing to break off the blindside of another maul and dive onto the tryline to give the Brumbies a seven-point lead at the break. The sides traded seven-pointers in the second half, with a try to Brumbies fullback Tom Wright after fast handiwork from Rob Valetini cancelled out by one from Bailyn Sullivan. Veteran Brumbies prop James Slipper scored with another pick-and-drive before Hurricanes substitute Pasilio Tosi narrowed the gap to one try to ramp up the tension in the dying minutes. The Hurricanes burst into the Brumbies half through a Callum Harkin linebreak in the final minute but Luke Reimer stepped up for the home side to steal back possession and settle the victory. The defending champion Blues' last-gasp win over the Chiefs earlier in the night heaped the pressure on the third-placed Brumbies, who knew a loss would consign them to bowing out before the semi-finals for the first time since 2018. Instead it was the fourth-placed Hurricanes who reached the end of the road in their season. Coach Clark Laidlaw has been dealt a tough hand this season, with a rash of injuries ruling out key players for extended periods. But it's meant the Scotsman has been able to develop the squad's depth, having had to field 40-odd players over the course of the competition. "We've just got to suck it up, I guess, and take our disappointment and lick our wounds and move into the off-season," he said. If the Brumbies win in Hamilton next weekend and the Blues upset the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Canberrans will host a home grand final for the first time since 2004 (excluding Super Rugby AU).
