March 07, 2026

#hakinakina: Chiefs overpower Moana Pasifika in high-scoring Super Rugby clash

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 7, 2026

The Chiefs have delivered a dominant attacking performance to defeat Moana Pasifika 57-24 in their Super Rugby Pacific round four clash at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton.

The home side set the tone early, scoring twice in the opening minutes to establish a 14-0 lead before Moana Pasifika responded through powerful forward play and counter-attacking runs. By halftime the Chiefs had built a 31-14 advantage, putting themselves firmly in control of the match.

The Chiefs’ attacking rhythm proved difficult for Moana Pasifika to contain, with the hosts crossing for nine tries during the contest. Stand-out performances came from winger Leroy Carter, who crossed the line twice, while further tries came from players including Emoni Narawa, Lalakai Foketi and Kyle Brown as the Chiefs’ backline repeatedly found space.

Playmaker Damian McKenzie played a central role in the Chiefs’ dominance, directing the attack and adding multiple conversions to extend the scoreboard pressure throughout the night.

Moana Pasifika showed moments of resilience, scoring four tries of their own through players including Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa and Glen Vaihu, but struggled to match the Chiefs’ pace and depth across the full eighty minutes.

Despite the loss, Moana Pasifika continued to demonstrate their ability to create attacking opportunities, with several line breaks and strong carries keeping them competitive in patches of the game.

The result strengthens the Chiefs’ position early in the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, while Moana Pasifika will look to regroup as the competition continues with several tough fixtures still ahead.

For fans of Moana Pasifika and Pacific rugby, the clash again highlighted both the potential and the challenge facing the side as they continue to grow their presence in the competition against some of the strongest teams in the southern hemisphere.