Though the franchise may disappear, the movement created by Moana Pasifika will not.
By Jonty Dine of RNZ
Coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga delivered that message earlier this week during an emotional final media session at Albany.
With staff members shedding tears as the franchise packed up from North Harbour Stadium, Umaga said the mark Moana have left will remain.
"In terms of any movement, it's more around the people that remember and what we've been able to create in terms of our youth with players that look like them, speak like them, and through our own culture see that you can excel if you chase that dream hard enough. You can be yourself and understand your uniqueness to this world and be proud of that."
Umaga said whether or not Moana survives until next season, the statement made by the team endures.
"I don't think that'll die or be lost because Pacific is everywhere. And as long as you be true to yourself and stand up and acknowledge that, you'll go a long way."
It's been a horror year for Moana, losing every game, and this week entering liquidation following last month's announcement the club would disband at the end of the season.
"It's obviously, disappointing the way it's finished, more so in terms of the movement that we've had going for a while now and the amount of effort people have put in and continue to put in until our last game."
Despite the situation, Moana are looking to go out and express themselves against the Brumbies in Canberra on Saturday afternoon.
"We've got nothing to lose, so you never know what you might see out there. We don't know what we're going to see out there with the way the players are coming up with ideas all over the place, it makes it enjoyable for us to turn up to work each day in a tough time."
Umaga said the reality was many of his players who had committed their future to rugby, would be forced to find alternative employment.
"Today's our last day that we'll all be together. Then there's going to be a group that goes away to Canberra and the possibility that we might not see each other again, That's a sad thing, but that's footy.
"Every year you'll never have that same group together because of changes and decisions that people make. And it's no different for us today and going into this weekend. But we're not going over there just to make up some numbers. We want to go over there and get a good result for ourselves."
So if this is their final dance, what legacy does Moana leave?
"The legacy is what we've left behind. You've seen the support of our Pacific people. We have a good vibe and I think that's encouraging.
"We'll always have our supporters that support us through our family and our culture.
"Everything that we did through our club and what we tried to portray was we were unapologetically Pacific and some people really resonated with that and enjoyed that. And that's just us being us."
SHARE ME