Moana Pasifika kicked off the scoring at the Sky Stadium against the Hurricanes but could not keep the momentum up as the hosts ran away to win 52-10 in their Super Rugby Pacific round two clash.
By Iliesa Tora of RNZ
It took the North Harbour-based franchise just seven minutes to put the first points on the board, with winger Tuna Tuitama running around from the corner to score his try.
While Patrick Pellegrini missed the conversion, the five points was enough to give the side the lead.
But then the Hurricanes, who were playing their first game this season, launched into action, with winger and former New Zealand sevens rep Fehi Fineanganofo and Josh Moorby scoring a double each in the first half.
The Hurricanes led 24-5 at halftime and scored eight tries in the whole match, against Moana Pasifika's two.
Hurricanes captain Jordie Barett, playing his first game back after his 2025 sabbatical, said they worked hard throughout the week.
"Good hit-out for us," he told Sky Sport.
Moana Pasifika captain Miracle Failangi said it was a game with mixed outcomes for them.
"Frustrating but we will get back next week," he said post-match.
"It was great to have our debutants today, good for them, they were able to taste Super Rugby experience.
"Certainly, a lot of learnings we will take to into our game next week.
"We need to be aggressive both on attack and in defence."
Moana Pasifika had seven debutants taking to the field, in a move head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga said was important for the team in their 2026 campaign.
Failangi, who was earlier named to start off the bench, was on the field leading his side against the Hurricanes and showed his worth leading upfront.
Broncos convert Israel Leota did well with good carries and big hits but he had to leave the field after 15 minutes with a suspected knee injury.
It was an impressive first outing from the Hurricanes in the end, as they ran rampant to secure a bonus-point win.
Moana started the game capitalising on Hurricanes errors to starve them of the ball, building plenty of possession and eventually scoring the opener through some brilliant work from Tuna Tuitama. That was about where the highlights stopped though, as the Hurricanes settled into the game, and proceeded to produce a magnificent display of attacking rugby.
Hurricanes winger Fineanganofo did a lot of damage out wide, scoring twice in the first 40 and giving up a third to gift his wing partner Josh Moorby another.
Moorby ended up with a hat-trick himself, and was denied a fourth by the TMO, while Brayden Iose also added a second half double as the rout kicked into overdrive in the second half.
Moana struggled after falling behind, with their defensive performance in particular costly, but they battled hard with Faletoi Peni one of their standouts.
Flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini scored Moana Pasifika's second try towards the end.
Fullback William Havili joined Leota in the injury list.
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