Moana Pasifika were defeated by the Hurricanes 52-10 in Wellington on Friday night. Despite the loss, they showed courage and heart right till the very end, as eight rising players got their first taste of Super Rugby Pacific.
The team got off to a flying start, scoring early with Tuna Tuitama getting his first try of the season. Tuitama impressed as he caught his own chip kick and crossed the line to score the first points of the match.
Moana continued to put pressure in the Hurricanes 22 but the home team responded quickly with Hurricanes’ winger Fehi Fineanganofo showing off his pace to score.
The Hurricanes found their rhythm and continued to apply pressure, causing chaos on attack. By halftime they were leading 24-5.
Moana Pasifika couldn’t keep up as Hurricanes winger Josh Moorby scored a hat-trick to help the Hurricanes solidify a dominant performance.
While it wasn’t the result Moana wanted, it gave the young players coming through the experience they needed. The debutants showed great promise throughout the match. Faletoi Peni’s silky skills and playmaking ability was on full display. He almost scored a try with three Hurricanes defenders scrambling to stop him.
Patrick Pellegrini fought his way to the try line late in the game, finding space and scoring late to show the team’s fighting spirit.
Learn More About Our Eight Debutants Below
Alefosio Aho
Nationality: Tongan
Villages: Pelehake, Moʻungaʻone (Ha’apai)
Date of Birth: 15/02/2003
Position: Lock
Alefosio Aho attended Saint Kentigern College and went throught the Auckland Academy, representing the New Zealand Under 19 team in 2022. He moved to Dunedin in 2023 to join the Otago academy and represented the University side at club level. Aho then moved to Australia and played for West Harbour. He was named in the Waratahs squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season. He has played for both Otago and Southland in NPC. Aho is known for his power, mobility as a lock and determination.
Faletoi Peni
Nationality: Samoan
Villages: Satupaitea, Sili
Date of Birth: 6/04/2000
Position: Midfield / First Five
Faletoi Peni hails from Mangere, South Auckland. He is a proven winner with four consecutive championships at club level. He is a great playmaker with tremendous strength and composure under pressure. Peni was an Auckland Club Rugby Player of the Year for two years in a row. He was also part of the Counties Manukau Under 19s team in 2019, then joined the Southland Stags before the start of the 2024 NPC season on a shortterm trial contract. Peni stayed on and was named Southland’s Rookie of the Year.
He was an integral part of the Manukau Rovers team that won back-to-back championships in 2022 and 2023. Before that he also helped Karaka’s premier side win their first championship and also won the championship with Ponsonby in 2024. He has also played for the Junior Manu Samoa Under 20s team and signed with the New England Free Jacks in Major League Rugby for the 2025 season. Other accolades include being named the Supporter’s Most Promising Player of the Year for Southland and winning the Golden Boot Award with the Manukau Rovers.
Israel Leota
Nationality: Samoan
Villages: Fasito’o Uta, Iva & Sala’ilua
Date of Birth: 2/01/2005
Position: Outside Back
Israel Leota was born in Porirua, Wellington. He moved to Australia with his family at an early age and attended Ipswich Grammar, switching between rugby league and union before committing to the former at the age of 16. He was a member of the Brisbane Broncos’ top 30 squad and represented the Queensland Under-19 State of Origin side in 2023 and 2024.
He signed with Moana Pasifika for the 2026 and 2027 Super Rugby Pacific seasons to chase a dream in rugby union. In 2025 Leota played for the Karmichael Hunt-coached Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup. The winger ended the regular season in second place on the competition ladder for tries scored and linebreaks made.
Konrad Toleafoa
Nationality: Samoan
Date of Birth: 29/10/2003
Position: Loose Forward
Toleafoa is a rising loose forward who hails from Auckland. He was Head Boy of St Peter’s College in 2021 and received the Sporting Excellence award in rugby in the same year. He also captained the school’s First XV.
On the field, Toleafoa is known for his agility and being a fierce ball-carrier. His father Kalolo is a former Manu Samoa loose forward who was part of the 1999 Rugby World Cup team.
Toleafoa made his provincial debut for Otago against Hawke’s Bay during the 2025 season.
Lolani Faleiva
Nationality: Samoan
Villages: Vaitele Uta, Ti’avea Tai
Date of Birth: 18/02/1999
Position: Prop
Faleiva is a powerful ball runner who brings great overseas experience to Moana Pasifika. The prop played for the Toronto Arrows in Major League Rugby and also in the Netherlands.
He has represented the Hawke’s Bay Magpies since 2020 and is an old boy of Napier Boys’ High School. Faleiva made his debut for Manu Samoa during the 2024 July Series.
Mamoru Harada
Nationality: Japanese
Prefecture: Hyogo
Date of Birth: 15/04/1999
Position: Hooker
In 2019 Harada played for the Japan Under 20s and in 2020 he signed with the Sunwolves for the Super Rugby season but did not make an appearance for the team. Harada joined Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo in 2022 where he excelled. In 2024 and 2025, he won back-to-back championships with the team. They became the first side in the competition to defend their title. Harada was also part of the winning team, playing alongside All Blacks stars Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell.
He made a total of 55 appearances for the Toshiba Brave from 2022-2025. Harada made his debut for the the Japanese national team, the Brave Blossoms against England in June of 2024. At the end of 2025, Harada signed with Moana Pasifika on a one-year sabbatical, for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing
Nationality: Tongan
Date of Birth: 24/02/2005
Position: Loose Forward
Tuitupou is a promising forward who was part of the Blues Under 20s squad in 2025. He was also selected to the Blues Under 18 Development Squad in 2023.
He is the son of former All Black midfielder Sam Tuitupou. Like his father, he attended Kelston Boys and was captain of the First XV. He led the team to an undefeated 1A title. He has also played for the North Harbour Development team.
Simon Peter Toleafoa
Nationality: Samoan & Tongan
Villages: Lepea, Fasito’o Tai (Samoa) & Kolomotu’a, Mu’a (Tonga)
Date of Birth: 26/10/1998
Position: Outside Back
Toleafoa hails from Mangere, South Auckland and attended De La Salle College. He is an attacking threat with the ability to play at fullback, wing or first five. Along with Moana Pasifika’s new recruit Faletoi Peni, Toleafoa won back to back championships with the Manukau Rovers in 2022 and 2023.
He had a standout 2024 season with Counties Manukau where he was in the top 5% of all players for ball carries, defenders beaten and linebreaks. He was signed to the New England Free Jacks for the 2025 Major League Rugby season.
Toleafoa is of Samoan and Tongan descent and has represented the Manu Samoa Under 20s team. He is guided by his strong faith in God on and off the field.
ENDS
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