February 27, 2026 • 7 mins
A tough overseas assignment for the Hurricanes in their second match of the new Super Rugby season.
They meet the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, with challenging conditions expected.
Adam Cooper previewed the match with Hurricanes captain Jordie Barrett.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Twenty six past eight here on the All Sport Breakfast.
Well after a strong season opening went over Minor Pacifica
last weekend. The Hurricanes have two weeks on the road
now in Super Rugby, the drawer in lal Toka this
afternoon and then the Waratahs and Sydney next weekend. Let's
head over to Fiji. Now we're lucky enough to be
joined by Cain's captain, Jordi Barrett's morning to you, Jordan.
Now a trip like this, obviously the travel always comes
(00:22):
into the discussion. The conditions over there in Fiji is
as well? Are a talking pointer? Have you traveled well?
And is the team all settled over there?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes? Obviously they're still great to be back in Fiji.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The people here are amazing and you have a great
big challenge on her hands.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
But yeah, the travel's been good.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
We got a direct from Wellington so certainly no complaints
there and you were able to get a little bit
of a session and the captain's run at the local
school and yeah, just try to acclimatize a little bit,
but also not trying and overdo it as where you
know we've got a big one.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It must feel strange going to a place like that,
only a few hours flight away from from home, but
so different in terms of the weather that the culture
over there as well. Is it always quite special, but
that's strange at the same time.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yea, it is special and it's also very enjoyable and
the people were great, but it's also one hell of
a challenge. The Fijian drawboys do not hold back and
the physical, tough traveling teams have had a tough record
in Lovetoka especially, so we know we've got a massive
challenge on our hands, but it's one we're really looking
forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, it's pretty hard to predict the weather over there
at a particular time frame, but there has been some
talk of some quite severe weather at times during the
game today. What's the latest on the kind of weather
you're expecting come kick off at four thirty five this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, there's meant to be rain already today, but yeah,
typical tropical island weather. It's hot, it's humid, there's meant
to be reign around on the forecast, but the sun's
also out. So look, we're preparing for everything. We've got
plans for both conditions. Look, things are going to go
to plan. Things won't go one go to plan. But look,
(01:59):
that's why you beaked up here. But it's a challenge
that well, I guess it'll test us. We'll test our
game drivers and looking forward to seeing how we navigate that.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
You look back on the last meetings that you guys
have had, particularly the ones over there in Fiji, there
have been some hard fought wins by the Hurricanes. There
was that quite tough loss a few years ago. Now,
I guess a lot of people of the team have
those takeouts from those games. What do you think is
the best strategy to try and fight for a win
and the heat over there.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, we've been faced with all sorts of adversity. Yeah,
both games were met with some yellow cards through our
own it'll just plan other times there are different conditions.
We played in the head afternoon and then the second time,
which we won, it was a night game. So you're
exposed to all sorts of different challenges by the ones
(02:47):
you look forward to as a Rugguie player because you
learn from them, grow and you get better next time.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
So the beauty of that A lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
This group went we're here and played in both those
games We've learned a lot through them, so yeah, we'll
try and use it experience as much as possible and
do our best to win the game.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Great score line to open things last week against Mowana
Pacifica at home, a lot of tries, we saw some
great backline movements. How pleased were you with what the
team was able to do on the first head out
of the year.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, it's pleasing. I mean, you never really know what
to expect.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
You're trying to whole two or three months to prepare
for round one and we're sitting there watching the others
on Telly. So Lock, it was a great game. We
used the ball pretty well, I thought, And look, it
was just a I guess, a step in the right
direction of where I want to get to and be
at the business end the Jones, So Lee, we're relatively
pleased with that performance, but we know we had a
(03:42):
long way to go.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
It was clearly intent to move the ball out wide,
in particular Josh and Feary finding a lot of space.
Was that something you guys sort of set out to
do and play that traditional brand of Hurricanes rugby a
lot of people are used to just was that just
sort of a nature of how things eventuated in the game,
there was plenty of space available.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Oh, bit of both.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I mean, we're lucky to have a forward pack that
be tough, they have a great set piece and lay
a good foundation, but also were backed him to use
your skill sets as well, and yeah, why wouldn't you
try to get those boys the ball at the moment.
They're in some good form and both of them had
some great preseason work, and yeah, it's up to us
(04:23):
to try and continue to make that happen throughout the
season and just give them opportunities.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I know you're a good made of brick camerons. How's
that been sort of being able to stay in touch
with him during the week and have yes, I have
heard from him. Is to how he's doing.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, it's been challenging obviously, really good mates of breat
and living with him at the moment. So like we're
just guarded from yeah, first off where we're still awaiting
some scan results, but yeah, it's a significant injury and
we'll just be helping him through that as much as
possible as a person, So we've.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Guarded for bet.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
He's a great player, has and had great luck with injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And he now st preseason.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Started the game so well against Mowana and yeah, he
was in for a massive season for the Canes and
he's a big loss for us, so we'll be around
him and Jordy.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
When you left the Canes at the end of twenty
twenty four, Callum Harkin was probably still a full time
builder now here he is starting in the ten Jersey.
He's got you on one side, he's got cam royguard
on the other side. He's spoken during the week just
about the support you've given him to sort of adapt
to a big task for him. How do you try
and help out integrating young players into big roles like this,
(05:33):
especially not just from the first five role, but as
captain as well.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think it's just it's been great development for Callum.
I think a lot of kids come out of school
and they're in a rush and they think they're ready,
but through I guess circumstances where he picked up a
couple of injuries, He's spent three or four years playing
club rugby and that's not a bad thing for young kids,
particularly nines and tens, and just playing rugby, learning the game,
(06:00):
getting to use their skill sets every week and he's
ready now, which is great. We've got him a couple
of years later and then he probably would have liked
but like he'll just he's a confident player and he
trust his own abilities.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So yeah, he's just got to do what he's I guess.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Has to do by the team, and that's just get
us around the park and nothing extra that he needs
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But we've got a lot of confidence in him.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And there's a few guys we're still waiting to see
for the first time, and I know a lot of
people are coming back into the squad from injuries over
the next couple of weeks as well, So some real
depth building. Just from what you saw last week, what
the buzz is like in camp, do you get the
sense there's some real potential from the Canes this year.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yeah, for sure, Like we've got a lot of confidence
and what we can do, but.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Look, so does everyone every other team in this competition,
and we've just got to go and earn that right
every single week.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
He had.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
The competition isn't one in February March, so we're going
to make sure that we continue to grow every single week,
challenge each other, and bring the right stuff at the
business end of the season.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
So yeah, it's an.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Opportunity we're really looking forward to. But yeah, we certainly
feel if we yeah, bring our best version of ourselves
will be there or thereabouts.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, certainly got an exciting feeling about it. Jordy, thanks
for your time as always here on News Talks. They'd
be mate, go well this afternoon and safe travels on
to Sydney next week as well.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Thank you very much. Cheers Adam, Cheers Johny.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Barrett, Hurricanes captain from loud Toka. For more from News Talks,
they'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
Twenty six past eight here on the All Sport Breakfast.
Well after a strong season opening went over Minor Pacifica
last weekend. The Hurricanes have two weeks on the road
now in Super Rugby, the drawer in lal Toka this
afternoon and then the Waratahs and Sydney next weekend. Let's
head over to Fiji. Now we're lucky enough to be
joined by Cain's captain, Jordi Barrett's morning to you, Jordan.
Now a trip like this, obviously the travel always comes
(00:22):
into the discussion. The conditions over there in Fiji is
as well? Are a talking pointer? Have you traveled well?
And is the team all settled over there?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Yes? Obviously they're still great to be back in Fiji.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
The people here are amazing and you have a great
big challenge on her hands.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
But yeah, the travel's been good.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
We got a direct from Wellington so certainly no complaints
there and you were able to get a little bit
of a session and the captain's run at the local
school and yeah, just try to acclimatize a little bit,
but also not trying and overdo it as where you
know we've got a big one.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
It must feel strange going to a place like that,
only a few hours flight away from from home, but
so different in terms of the weather that the culture
over there as well. Is it always quite special, but
that's strange at the same time.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yea, it is special and it's also very enjoyable and
the people were great, but it's also one hell of
a challenge. The Fijian drawboys do not hold back and
the physical, tough traveling teams have had a tough record
in Lovetoka especially, so we know we've got a massive
challenge on our hands, but it's one we're really looking
forward to.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
Well, it's pretty hard to predict the weather over there
at a particular time frame, but there has been some
talk of some quite severe weather at times during the
game today. What's the latest on the kind of weather
you're expecting come kick off at four thirty five this afternoon.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Yeah, there's meant to be rain already today, but yeah,
typical tropical island weather. It's hot, it's humid, there's meant
to be reign around on the forecast, but the sun's
also out. So look, we're preparing for everything. We've got
plans for both conditions. Look, things are going to go
to plan. Things won't go one go to plan. But look,
(01:59):
that's why you beaked up here. But it's a challenge
that well, I guess it'll test us. We'll test our
game drivers and looking forward to seeing how we navigate that.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
You look back on the last meetings that you guys
have had, particularly the ones over there in Fiji, there
have been some hard fought wins by the Hurricanes. There
was that quite tough loss a few years ago. Now,
I guess a lot of people of the team have
those takeouts from those games. What do you think is
the best strategy to try and fight for a win
and the heat over there.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
Yeah, we've been faced with all sorts of adversity. Yeah,
both games were met with some yellow cards through our
own it'll just plan other times there are different conditions.
We played in the head afternoon and then the second time,
which we won, it was a night game. So you're
exposed to all sorts of different challenges by the ones
(02:47):
you look forward to as a Rugguie player because you
learn from them, grow and you get better next time.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
So the beauty of that A lot of.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
This group went we're here and played in both those
games We've learned a lot through them, so yeah, we'll
try and use it experience as much as possible and
do our best to win the game.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
Great score line to open things last week against Mowana
Pacifica at home, a lot of tries, we saw some
great backline movements. How pleased were you with what the
team was able to do on the first head out
of the year.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Yeah, it's pleasing. I mean, you never really know what
to expect.
Speaker 3 (03:21):
You're trying to whole two or three months to prepare
for round one and we're sitting there watching the others
on Telly. So Lock, it was a great game. We
used the ball pretty well, I thought, And look, it
was just a I guess, a step in the right
direction of where I want to get to and be
at the business end the Jones, So Lee, we're relatively
pleased with that performance, but we know we had a
(03:42):
long way to go.
Speaker 1 (03:43):
It was clearly intent to move the ball out wide,
in particular Josh and Feary finding a lot of space.
Was that something you guys sort of set out to
do and play that traditional brand of Hurricanes rugby a
lot of people are used to just was that just
sort of a nature of how things eventuated in the game,
there was plenty of space available.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
Oh, bit of both.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
I mean, we're lucky to have a forward pack that
be tough, they have a great set piece and lay
a good foundation, but also were backed him to use
your skill sets as well, and yeah, why wouldn't you
try to get those boys the ball at the moment.
They're in some good form and both of them had
some great preseason work, and yeah, it's up to us
(04:23):
to try and continue to make that happen throughout the
season and just give them opportunities.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
I know you're a good made of brick camerons. How's
that been sort of being able to stay in touch
with him during the week and have yes, I have
heard from him. Is to how he's doing.
Speaker 3 (04:36):
Yeah, it's been challenging obviously, really good mates of breat
and living with him at the moment. So like we're
just guarded from yeah, first off where we're still awaiting
some scan results, but yeah, it's a significant injury and
we'll just be helping him through that as much as
possible as a person, So we've.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Guarded for bet.
Speaker 3 (04:55):
He's a great player, has and had great luck with injuries.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And he now st preseason.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
Started the game so well against Mowana and yeah, he
was in for a massive season for the Canes and
he's a big loss for us, so we'll be around
him and Jordy.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
When you left the Canes at the end of twenty
twenty four, Callum Harkin was probably still a full time
builder now here he is starting in the ten Jersey.
He's got you on one side, he's got cam royguard
on the other side. He's spoken during the week just
about the support you've given him to sort of adapt
to a big task for him. How do you try
and help out integrating young players into big roles like this,
(05:33):
especially not just from the first five role, but as
captain as well.
Speaker 3 (05:37):
I think it's just it's been great development for Callum.
I think a lot of kids come out of school
and they're in a rush and they think they're ready,
but through I guess circumstances where he picked up a
couple of injuries, He's spent three or four years playing
club rugby and that's not a bad thing for young kids,
particularly nines and tens, and just playing rugby, learning the game,
(06:00):
getting to use their skill sets every week and he's
ready now, which is great. We've got him a couple
of years later and then he probably would have liked
but like he'll just he's a confident player and he
trust his own abilities.
Speaker 2 (06:13):
So yeah, he's just got to do what he's I guess.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Has to do by the team, and that's just get
us around the park and nothing extra that he needs
to do.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
But we've got a lot of confidence in him.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
And there's a few guys we're still waiting to see
for the first time, and I know a lot of
people are coming back into the squad from injuries over
the next couple of weeks as well, So some real
depth building. Just from what you saw last week, what
the buzz is like in camp, do you get the
sense there's some real potential from the Canes this year.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yeah, for sure, Like we've got a lot of confidence
and what we can do, but.
Speaker 3 (06:47):
Look, so does everyone every other team in this competition,
and we've just got to go and earn that right
every single week.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
He had.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
The competition isn't one in February March, so we're going
to make sure that we continue to grow every single week,
challenge each other, and bring the right stuff at the
business end of the season.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
So yeah, it's an.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Opportunity we're really looking forward to. But yeah, we certainly
feel if we yeah, bring our best version of ourselves
will be there or thereabouts.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Yeah, certainly got an exciting feeling about it. Jordy, thanks
for your time as always here on News Talks. They'd
be mate, go well this afternoon and safe travels on
to Sydney next week as well.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
Thank you very much. Cheers Adam, Cheers Johny.
Speaker 1 (07:27):
Barrett, Hurricanes captain from loud Toka. For more from News Talks,
they'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio.
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