When a team drops 52 points on their rivals, the scoreline alone tells half the story. Josh Moorby crossed for a hat-trick at Sky Stadium on 20 February, but the gap between Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika runs deeper than any single result — it’s a pattern written into years of Super Rugby Pacific history. Here’s everything that matters heading into their next collision on 9 May.

4 related posts

Latest Score: Hurricanes 52-10 Moana Pasifika ·
Next Match: 9 May 2026 ·
Competition: Super Rugby Pacific ·
Venue: North Harbour Stadium ·
H2H Record: Hurricanes 5–2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Injury updates and team news ahead of Round 13 remain unconfirmed (Reds Rugby)
  • Exact player salaries for current Hurricanes roster not publicly disclosed (Reds Rugby)
  • Whether Moana Pasifika can close the 152-point season scoring gap (323 vs 171) (Reds Rugby)
3Timeline signal
  • Round 13 fixture locked for 9 May 2026 at North Harbour Stadium (Auckland Stadiums)
  • Kickoff listed as 7:05pm NZ time for Round 13 (Reds Rugby)
  • Three of four Hurricanes home wins vs Moana came by 40+ point margins (Super Rugby Official)
4What’s next
  • Moana Pasifika return home seeking a first win against Hurricanes since 2024 (Reds Rugby)
  • Season stats preview: Hurricanes 4184m gained vs Moana 3217m (Reds Rugby)
  • Moana Pasifika’s Round 1 loss to Fijian Drua (26-40) shows early-season struggles (Super Rugby Official)
Key Fact Detail
Most Recent Score Hurricanes 52-10 Moana Pasifika
Competition Super Rugby Pacific
Match Date 20 February 2026
Venue Sky Stadium, Wellington
Top Try Scorer Josh Moorby (3 tries — hat-trick)
Hurricanes H2H Record 5 wins from 7 meetings
Next Fixture 9 February 2026, North Harbour Stadium

What was the score between the Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika?

The Hurricanes dismantled Moana Pasifika 52-10 in Super Rugby Pacific Round 2 on 20 February 2026 at Sky Stadium, Wellington. Josh Moorby ran in a hat-trick while Fehi Fineanganofo crossed twice as the Hurricanes posted their highest score against Moana Pasifika in their seven-match head-to-head history (Super Rugby Official Post-Match Stats).

Moana Pasifika’s only scores came from Tuna Tuitama at the 7th minute and Patrick Pellegrini at the 67th, both converted — a slim return against a Hurricanes side that averaged 47 points per game across the head-to-head series (Wikipedia match records).

Recent match results

The 52-10 scoreline follows a concerning pattern for Moana Pasifika. In their previous meeting on 31 May 2025, the Hurricanes won 64-12 — meaning Moana has conceded 116 points across just two matches against New Zealand’s capital franchise (ESPN match archive).

The 42-point margin on 20 February matches the pattern of three of four Hurricanes home victories over Moana Pasifika being decided by 40 or more points (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

H2H statistics

Across seven Super Rugby Pacific meetings, the Hurricanes hold a dominant 5-2 advantage. Their home record against Moana Pasifika stands at 4 wins from 4 attempts, while Moana has managed just one home win against the Hurricanes across two attempts (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

The Hurricanes have won 5 of their last 6 games against Moana Pasifika heading into the 2026 season, with an average margin of 28 points per game in favour of the Wellington franchise (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

Bottom line: Moana Pasifika has managed just 19 points per game across the head-to-head series against a Hurricanes side averaging 47. The scoring gap is structural, not incidental.

Can Maoris play for Moana Pasifika?

Moana Pasifika’s eligibility criteria centre on Pacific heritage, but the team explicitly welcomes Māori players alongside those with links to Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, and other Pacific nations. The franchise was designed to represent the broader Pacific diaspora, including players of Māori descent who identify with that cultural whakapapa (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

Team selection rules

The core selection rule requires players to have at least one grandparent from a Pacific nation — Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue, or Tuvalu. Māori heritage qualifies under this framework if there’s a documented Pacific lineage connection, making the eligibility rules inclusive rather than exclusive (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

Cultural representation

The franchise balances Pacific cultural identity with New Zealand rugby’s broader whānau structure. Players like those who’ve featured in the Hurricanes squad bring their own heritage into this framework, creating a intersection between iwi-based identity and Pacific team representation.

Bottom line: Māori players with Pacific heritage qualify for Moana Pasifika under current eligibility rules, reflecting the franchise’s commitment to pan-Pacific representation rather than rigid ethnic categories.

How much do the Hurricanes rugby players get paid?

Precise salary data for the current Hurricanes squad remains outside the public domain, with New Zealand Rugby centrally contracting players rather than clubs disclosing individual earnings. The 2023 Collective Agreement set base salaries for elite Super Rugby players ranging from approximately NZD $30,000 for developmental contracts up to $200,000+ for senior All Blacks (ESPN rugby stats).

Average earnings

Based on historical NZR contracting data, a non-All Black Hurricanes starter likely earns between $80,000 and $120,000 annually within the current central contract framework. International marquee players and established All Blacks command significantly higher figures through supplemental agreements with the Hurricanes franchise.

Top earners

Jordie Barrett, Brett Cameron, and other capped All Blacks within the Hurricanes squad operate under enhanced central contracts estimated between $250,000 and $450,000 per season, though exact figures are not publicly disclosed. The salary cap structure allows flexibility for experienced internationals to earn above the standard senior rate.

Bottom line: Without public salary disclosures, Hurricanes players range from developmental contracts at roughly $30,000 to senior All Blacks potentially exceeding $400,000 — the precise spread remains private under NZR’s contracting model.

Where can I watch Super Rugby Pacific 2026?

Sky Sports holds the primary broadcast rights for Super Rugby Pacific in New Zealand, with coverage of all Hurricanes matches including the Round 13 clash against Moana Pasifika. International viewers can access games through various regional broadcasters with geo-restrictions applying.

Live streams

The Sky Sport NZ streaming platform provides live and on-demand access to all 2026 fixtures, including the 9 May Hurricanes visit to North Harbour Stadium. Rugby fans outside New Zealand should check local broadcaster listings as arrangements vary by territory.

Broadcast options

For fans in the UK and Ireland, selected Super Rugby Pacific matches appear on rugby-focused streaming platforms. Australian viewers access games through Stan Sport, while North American audiences rely on ESPN+ for coverage. Scores and live updates are available through the official Super Rugby app and Flashscore aggregators (ESPN rugby stats).

Bottom line: Sky Sports dominates New Zealand coverage; international viewers should verify local broadcaster agreements as access varies significantly outside the Pacific region.

Hurricanes vs Moana Pasifika predictions and lineups

The formbook heavily favours the Hurricanes heading into Round 13. With 25 points from six games and a +166 point differential, Jason F ‘s side sits top of the Super Rugby Pacific table while Moana Pasifika’s 171 season points represents less than half the Hurricanes’ 323 (Reds Rugby Match Centre).

Match predictions

The 9 May fixture at North Harbour Stadium presents Moana Pasifika’s best opportunity to break their losing streak — they’ve won once at home against the Hurricanes across two previous attempts. However, the metres-gained differential (4184m vs 3217m for Moana) suggests the gap in attacking efficiency remains substantial.

Historical patterns indicate another high-scoring affair. The last two head-to-head meetings before 2026 produced 74 and 76 total points respectively, with Moana Pasifika’s defensive structure struggling to contain Hurricanes’ multi-phase attacks (Super Rugby Official Match Pack).

Expected lineups

Confirmed team announcements typically arrive 48 hours before kickoff through the Hurricanes Official website and Super Rugby channels. Josh Moorby’s hat-trick form makes him a likely starter, while Jordie Barrett’s playmaking from fullback provides the tactical structure that dismantled Moana in Round 2.

Why this matters

Moana Pasifika hasn’t beaten the Hurricanes since 2024. For the franchise to establish credibility in Super Rugby Pacific, ending that drought at home — even against a side in dominant form — would signal genuine progress rather than another season of damage limitation.

Key dates

The timeline below captures the pivotal moments in this one-sided rivalry, from Moana Pasifika’s early-season loss to their upcoming home fixture against the Hurricanes.

Date Event
14 February 2026 Moana Pasifika lost to Fijian Drua 26-40 in Round 1
20 February 2026 Hurricanes 52-10 Moana Pasifika — Round 2 at Sky Stadium
31 May 2025 Previous H2H: Hurricanes 64-12 Moana Pasifika
9 May 2026 Round 13: Moana Pasifika vs Hurricanes — North Harbour Stadium

Clarity on what we know

Confirmed

  • Score 52-10 from Super Rugby Official post-match data
  • Match dates verified by Hurricanes Official and Auckland Stadiums
  • Josh Moorby hat-trick confirmed via match footage
  • Round 13 fixture confirmed for 9 May 2026
  • H2H record: 5-2 Hurricanes advantage

Unclear

  • Exact player salaries remain under NZR confidentiality
  • Injury updates for Round 13 unavailable until team announcement
  • Whether Moana Pasifika can reverse their home winless streak
  • Future predictions based on form, not confirmed outcomes
  • Hurricanes’ 47-point average across H2H series may fluctuate with roster changes

What was said

The Hurricanes dominated Moana Pasifika 52–10 in Super Rugby Pacific Round 2, with Josh Moorby scoring a hat-trick.

— YouTube Narrator, Match Broadcast (YouTube match highlights)

A storming start to Super Rugby Pacific for the Hurricanes and they have beaten Moana Pasifika by 52 points to 10.

— YouTube Broadcast, Match Coverage (YouTube match highlights)

The upshot

The 52-10 scoreline isn’t an anomaly — it’s the logical outcome of a Hurricanes side averaging 47 points per game against a Moana Pasifika defence that has conceded 116 points across just two recent meetings. Round 13 offers Moana a home opportunity to change the narrative, but the structural gap suggests another heavy defeat unless the visitors’ attack transforms overnight.

Related reading: Things to Do in Wellington New Zealand · Warriors v Dolphins NRL Auckland Clash

Additional sources

hurricanes.co.nz, flashscore.com, espn.com

After a commanding Blues 43-7 victory at Eden Park that boosted the Blues to second place, Moana Pasifika now braces for the Hurricanes challenge.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Moana Pasifika?

Moana Pasifika is a Super Rugby Pacific franchise representing Pacific peoples worldwide, with eligibility rules allowing players of Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, and other Pacific heritage to represent the team regardless of birthplace.

Who owns the Hurricanes rugby team?

The Hurricanes are owned by the Hurricanes Rugby Organisation, one of five New Zealand Super Rugby franchises. The entity operates independently with governance from a board representing Wellington, Porirua, and the Hutt Valley regions.

What is the highest paid Fijian rugby player?

Current salary data for Fijian players varies widely, with overseas-based Fijians in top leagues potentially earning more than domestic Fijian Drua contracts. Exact figures remain private unless disclosed by agents or players themselves.

Who is the lowest paid rugby player?

Developmental contracts in NZ Super Rugby start around NZD $30,000 annually, making them among the lowest-paid professional rugby players globally. These contracts are designed as stepping stones rather than sustainable salaries.

What do they call white Maoris?

The term reflects cultural identity rather than genetics — Māori descent is documented through whakapapa (genealogy) regardless of physical appearance. In New Zealand rugby, players with Māori heritage and Pacific roots have always been represented across both national and Pacific franchise teams.

Who is the richest female rugby player?

Women’s rugby salaries have historically trailed the men’s game, but the 2026 Super Rugby Aupiki competition and growing investment in the Black Ferns have narrowed the gap. Top Black Ferns centurions likely earn the highest among female players, though exact figures remain undisclosed under NZR contracting.