On Sports Fix with Elliott Smith for 15th April 2026, disappointing news, it was announced this morning that Moana Pasifika would be disbanding at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season barring a lifeline as the current owner has cut ties with the club.
In order to remain in the competition, the franchise will need to find a new owner that is willing to meet the costs to run the club. Lima Sopoaga is a former All Black and Samoan international and he joined Elliott to discuss why they should be saved.
Elliott shares his thoughts on what has led to the downfall of Moana Pasifika.
And Elliott and New Zealand Herald sports journalist Ben Francis discuss what went wrong with Moana Pasifika and Erin Clark resigning with the Warriors.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome to Sports Fix for the fifteenth of April. I'm
Elliott Smith. Coming up on today's episode, Mowana Pacific are
poised to be no more unless there's a rescue option
after the season, their funders PMA pulling out. Can someone
come along and save Mowana PACIFICA or is it time
up for the expansion franchise form All Black and some More.
(00:42):
Player Limosopowanga joins us on Sports Fix to discuss that issue.
Ben France is out of the New Zealand Herald joins
us in the chamber to discuss Danton Aaron Clark's re
signing with the Warriors, and we check out the latest
in the world of sport over the last twenty four hours.
Let's get into another edition.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Of a Sports Fix in other news.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Listen to the latest in world sport over the last
twenty four hours. And the end is nigh for Super
Rugby's Mwana Pacific After five seasons, the Pacifica Medical Association
have an outce There with wrong funding after this campaign,
the chief executive of both organizations, Debbie Sorenson, and forming
staff and officials yesterday, confirmation coming today. Commentator Ken Laban
believes the franchise has been led down by Rugby's power brokers.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
If they were to remain in the competition, they.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Would need the support of New Zealand, Rugby, Super Rugby
and World and I can't believe that between the three
of them they're not able to come up with a
proposition or come up with a deal that would secure them.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
There is hope that they could live to see another
day if someone comes in and saves them. New Zealand's
original w NBA basketball trial Blazer Meeking compaign is celebrating
Charlie Ledier Walker's draft selection to the Connecticut Son campaign
played for the Utah Stars in nineteen ninety seven and
she's welcomed a second Guillie in the American competition.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Does feel like a long time between, but it was
very obvious early on that it was going to be Charlie's.
We all knew it and saw it in her as
a fifteen year old, and probably her mumly and saw
even earlier and.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Auckland FC football manager Steve Corocker claims his A League
send off was a misunderstanding. He'll shine a redcard late
in the signs too will draw with Melbourne victory last weekend.
Corricker claims too clear fowls won't given and he says
the club boss Nick Becker and Director of Football Cherry
mcflinn tried to clear the year with referees Pom's match.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think they admitted they probably should have been a foul,
so you know I was wry and probably shouldn't have
got a red card, and then.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
We're all happy.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Courriker will be at Mount Smart for Sunday's home game
at Central Coast, but he'll be watching from the Stands
assistant Danny Hate in charge from the touch line leading
a VEX.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
We've got just the ticket. It's sports X powered by News.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Talks ivy on sports Flex Now Lemasoppowanga, former All Black
and some international joining us to talk about Mowana Pacifica
disbanding the PMA. The Pacific Medical Association will no longer
fund them after this season, they say, disbanding New Zealand
Rugby keeping a watching brief and hoping that someone might
be able to come in and save this franchise from oblivion.
(03:07):
At the end of this campaign, Lima Supplwanga with us
on sportspexs Lima, thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Hey, no worries. Thanks for having me on today. Mate.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, pretty sad news obviously in the last twenty four
hours or so. What was your initial reaction to Mowana
Pacifica likely not being in Super Rugby next year.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah, it's a damn shame, isn't it. It's sad not
only for fans, but when I look at it, you know,
doesn't only affect the players, the staff. There's coaches, there's partners,
the children or those people who have a job because
of Mawana now potentially don't have a job going forward.
So it's it's indicative of the times that not only
(03:51):
like sport faces, but the world in general. So it's
really really sad to see.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
How do you think we got to this point? Because
when they entered the competition it was a new era
of Super Rugby. There was a lot of hope around them,
but there's been so many things that just haven't quite
clicked for this franchise.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
I think at the start you probably have to look
at how they were welcomed into the comp and whether
or not they were given every resource possible to be successful.
And I guess when I look at it, it's a
culmination of things. It's you know, not being able to
get a home stadium, not being able to play in
(04:30):
the Islands. Maybe there's been a little bit of mismanagement
as well from the from higher ups, I'm not too sure.
A lack of funds or you know, lack of money,
lack of lack of players staying within the franchise. You know,
you had Tabatara Nahwai, who was a worldbeader playing for them,
and then he goes to the Highlanders.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It becomes an all black.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So all those little things play into I guess where
we see it now and today as it stands is
from what we read and what I told that Mona
will cease to exist from from after the season.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Do you think that New Zealand Rugby or sans I
need to stand up here and ensure that there is
some way that this team remains in Super Rugby?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I think world yeah, I think all the governing bodies
can do something. There's probably a handful of calls that
these governing bodies could make collectively that could probably save
this franchise from going under, because we don't need another
team to go under, and Super Raby we only we
only have eleven teams. Then you now have a competition
that only has ten and twenty seven and all of
(05:38):
a sudden, and it looks like a Mickey Mouse comp
to me, if I'm being honest. So, yeah, they've got
to find some way to find some backers, or find
some people, or or do something as a collective to
save this franchise.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I think have you spoken to any of the current
players and how are they handling this situation?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Oh? Obviously disappointed, but really disappointed. And you know some
people with upsticks and lived different countries to take up
contracts here, and other people who have moved their lives around,
and it's yeah, it's obviously very uncertain and it's super
difficult for them, but they're still in good spirits. You know,
(06:20):
the people of the Pacific are strong people and they've
faced a lot of hardships in their times. But yeah,
they're still smiling, still cracking jokes. But it's quite sad.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I think you would had maybe just left WASPS just
before maybe about a year before that shut down. Obviously
that was a really sad situation. Are there parallels do
you think between the two, you know, in the way
that sport is going as you touched on at the top,
you know, right around the globe.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, and this isn't just a wonder problem. You know,
all franchises will be feeling the punch and feeling the
heat of less fans coming to the games, less sponsorship.
And you know, in New Zealand's a small country. We're
only a country of five million people. We tend to
compare ourselves to the the big leagues, your NBAS, your NFLS,
(07:11):
your Major League Baseballs. But you're talking about hundreds of
millions of people living in America, you know what I'm saying.
So they have eyes, they have people across the board
who follow those sports religiously. And new You've got you know,
basketball's massive, You've got football that's taken over rugby, you
got the Warriors the league. So there's a lot of
(07:34):
sports out there for kids to play that require money,
that need funding, and where it's best given to or
funded is is a HRDH one. Right, So yeah, it's
an incredibly tough place for rugby to B Right now,
I think weird.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Do you think this would leave Pacific Island Rugby if
there is no Mowana Pacific if it does disband as
is planned and no one comes in and saves saves
the day, we would leave Pacific Island Rugby.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Yeah, well you're you miss out on kids like miracle
Phi Lungy, right, someone who's come from the Islands and
pretty much becomes superstar. And if you don't have these
pathways to play, right, b what sport did they go to? Okay,
in RL is going to have their foothold and and
(08:24):
someone and tong A and places like that. So those
kids get lost to NRL. Oh what else happens? Oh
you know what, these these these big clubs in Europe
are just going to be like, oh yeah, we'll take
this curd and we're going to take him over to
the outside. You know, like if you look at someone
like Theorem McFarland, someone captain who is unbelievable, I'd say
one of the best players I've ever played with. He
(08:45):
got picked up straight from Saracens, a well beaten club
one Europe one won the prem won everything blood plot
from some more straight to straight to the UK and
he applies himself, applies straight there and he's and he
is one of the stand up players in the Premiership.
So that's where that's where it headed. If this team
(09:07):
doesn't get safe.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
This is Sportsfix, You're daily dose of sports news, power
and by News Talks Evy.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
The likely demise of Mwana Pacifica has been death by
a thousand cuts. No one thing has caused their downfall,
but there's been a number of things that have not helped.
The inability to play on the islands on a regular basis,
littlone be based their full time didn't help. Ideally this
team would live out of Apia or Nukwa Loafa and
be co run by the Tonga and someone in rugby unions.
That hasn't happened. They haven't had a home base in
(09:37):
New Zealand on a regular basis. It's been balanced smart
Book Koe North Harbor Rotrure over the Weekkens. You can't
create sports fandom by being nomads. You need to know
where you're going every second week for home games. They
haven't been able to attract enough quality players the Blues
and what them in Auckland. They've often felt like both
before and after Ardie Savier came along, they were making
(09:59):
up the numbers and Super Rugby rather than being a
viable force. The best players have been picked off, not
ideal when they've been given an opportunity and professional sport.
You are in professional sport. A regent or heritage based
team and a high performance arena is always going to struggle.
I'm not sure if I buy the idea that was
set up to fail, but it always seemed like a
hard seal with the barriers in front of them. The
(10:21):
hope remains a savior can come along, but how many
people or organizations have the pockets deep enough in this
economy to make it work where the current owners could not.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
We're jumping into the chamber now I've been Francis joining
us from the New Zealand Herald Sports des Ben. Thanks
for jumping into the chamber as always to discuss the
big issues of the day. Welcome in.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
Thank you alidd the privileged to be here.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, let's talk the big story of the day. In Mawana,
Pacific likely to be no more. They're disbanding. According to
the Midia East barring some sort of savior coming through.
You've been putting together the timeline of how it all
came to an end, but your reaction to the factor
of falling over essentially, Oh, look, it.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
Is sad, obvious. I think that's the first thing you
have to point out. It as sad because when you
the franchise first came about, had all the good intentions.
It was promoted to be this great thing, bringing back
some of the players with Island heritage back, helping out
the young guys coming through all these things, and it
felt like that none of that stuff really eventuated. And
you even look at guys like Tabatava and Iowai Levi R.
(11:24):
Miller and those kind of guys that who were shining
lights and then getting poached by the New Zealand franchises
for whatever reason, and just there was so many things,
and going back through the timeline, it was quite interesting.
I looked back. So their first game in Super Rugby
was meant to be against the Brumbies, that got rescheduled
to be the Blues, and then that got postponed because
Mowana got COVID right, and you kind of look look
(11:46):
at it from that it's like you just put your
hands on the air guine.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It was this is going to be listen to me.
Just never got off on the right foot to exactly.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
And I guess I don't want to say that it
came as a big surprise to me this week because
as you as like you're on the Sundays, you like
to go through the media advisories that are sent out
and I noticed that one wasn't sent for Mauana, and
I thought that was a bit odd, And then kind
of seeing the news last night when Gregapaul put it out,
was like, yeah, so it must must be the caseuse
I thought it was a bit odd that that didn't
come through.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Yeah, it feels like there was a sort of tap
on the shoulder maybe that something was going to come
this week. It came in with a lot of promise
more to Pacifica that they were going to get these
Pacific players and eventually going to be based in the Islands.
That was the real hope of it. None of that happened. Unfortunately,
it didn't become so much a pathway. There were a
few players that it did become, like Miracle Fire, Lungy
(12:35):
and the few others, but unfortunately it sort of became
the reverse and became more of a retirement home for
a lot of players that were coming for one last contract.
And there's always going to be a battle when you're
melding all those players together into a franchise that you
want to be competitive and sell tickets. There's always gonna
be a tough ask.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Well, even just the whole thing about not having a
permanent home really and kind of moving from you know,
Mount Smarts and North Harbor, not really getting that chance
to established that fan base. Last year was amazing what
we saw on the field and the stands, with what
Ardie Savier brought to the team record six wins they
had as well, you know, that was quite good to see.
But then it's just been the polar opposite this year
and it's just been really sad to see and look,
(13:14):
at the end of the day, you want super Abi
to succeed. You want these close games, and when you
watch Wan are getting pummeled by quite a lot every week,
it is a bit tough.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Well, can super ab survive with ten teams is the
question I suppose, Because next year I think it's probably
too late. They're going to have to run a ten
team competition that won't be getting one off the ground
unless someone comes and saves Mouana and they do live
to see another day. But can it survive as a
long term ten team competition with five New Zealand teams,
the Fiji and Drewer and the four Australian sides. I
(13:43):
feel like that a lot of people would say yes,
I guess. I guess from my perspective, it's going to
be a wait and see. It'll be interesting to see
what does happen with some of these players, because you've seen,
like when the Rebels went for Australia, they kind of
filtered it out in some of those other Aussie teams.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
And you know, even though the New Zealand teams are
still dominant, you are finding some of those Australian teams
to be a bit more competitive. But if I look
at someone to say William Harvey for example, he could
be a very good kind of you know, guide coming
off bench for example, for any of the other five teams,
and you know he would be a real asset miracle
Fi Langy like you touched on as well. But we're
probably going to see lots of these guys end up
going to Europe or even America or some of those
(14:17):
other comps.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
That might be a.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Boost for Major League rugby.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
There because there was going to be that Hawaiian team
that was spoken about too, So I forgot all about
the Mjeepers.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah, that was the interesting old days of Super Rugby
when they were in conversations. Big news today for the
Warriors Aaron Clark resigning through to twenty twenty nine. He
was already on the books for next year, but just
make sure that no one can touch him from November first.
And this is a big signing for the Warriors now.
I'll be honest. When he came back to the Warriors
after playing that one game and then went to the Titans,
I was like, it's a k pack up. It's a
(14:47):
good depth for the team. But he has been incredible
over the last year and a half since he came back.
And this is a big hold for the Warriors because
the clubs would have been circling come November first. I'm
sure of that one hundred percent.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
And when you look at Perth coming and PMG the
following year just kind of everything around that, it was
as a real statement signing considering as he said there
was a lot of fanfare around Aaron Clark coming back,
but then he quickly got chucked in the deepening the
way of Toho Harris retiring just before the season started.
Delan Walker left after three rounds and then you've just
got Aaron Clark is kind of that special specialty lock
(15:21):
and he really stood up last year and kind of
I felt that he faded faded away a little bit
at the back end, but still really impressive. But he's
just continued that form this year as well. He's just
been a real workhorse for the Warriors and a real gem,
and he's almost become one of those first names on
the team sheet. Really, if you look at the season,
you know, you probably have Jackson Ford and probably Aaron
(15:41):
Clark are probably those first two names on the team
sheet now which you would have never thought of.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Well again, Jackson Ford was a player I want to
buy the Dragons, Aaron Clark, you know, the titan They
weren't headline players, you know. James Harris was the headliner
when he came back, big signing, one of the best
in the Warrior's history, and he's been very good for them,
especially this year, I think. But boy, they've hadded some
real depth to their pack, and this is the kind
of pack that you know, you've now got a bit
(16:05):
of full planning. You can look ahead for a few
more seasons and go with these players locked in, which
is only good for the Warriors.
Speaker 6 (16:10):
I think the other important thing with Aaron Clark as well,
you look at the guys that are leaving in the
off season. So we've already had you know, Roger confirmed,
Marata this week confirmed, and Mitch Barnett all going. It's
a lot of leadership going and Aaron Clark brings that
leadership as well. So I think that was really important
lockdown to twenty twenty nine. So now the Warriors, in
terms of that long term picture have Will Warbrook who's
joining next year, Jacob Labin and Lekahala Sima are the
(16:33):
four guys locked in for that long term. And when
you think about like four players locked in for that
kind of period, you think, well, that's that's pretty good.
I quite like the sound of that.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It is pretty tasty from a Warrior's perspective of been Francis,
thanks for joining us in the chamber here on Sports FX.
Appreciate your time. CHERRYO.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Elliott leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's
Sports Fix powered by News Talks Evvy.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Thanks for listening to Sports Fix. We'll be back tomorrow
with another episode, and you can catch Sports Talk week
nights from seven on News Talk ZBB and Weekend Sport
midday Saturday and Sunday till three.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
For more from News Talks EDB. Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks EDB. Follow
this and our wide range of podcast now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks EDB.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Welcome to Sports Fix for the fifteenth of April. I'm
Elliott Smith. Coming up on today's episode, Mowana Pacific are
poised to be no more unless there's a rescue option
after the season, their funders PMA pulling out. Can someone
come along and save Mowana PACIFICA or is it time
up for the expansion franchise form All Black and some More.
(00:42):
Player Limosopowanga joins us on Sports Fix to discuss that issue.
Ben France is out of the New Zealand Herald joins
us in the chamber to discuss Danton Aaron Clark's re
signing with the Warriors, and we check out the latest
in the world of sport over the last twenty four hours.
Let's get into another edition.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Of a Sports Fix in other news.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
Listen to the latest in world sport over the last
twenty four hours. And the end is nigh for Super
Rugby's Mwana Pacific After five seasons, the Pacifica Medical Association
have an outce There with wrong funding after this campaign,
the chief executive of both organizations, Debbie Sorenson, and forming
staff and officials yesterday, confirmation coming today. Commentator Ken Laban
believes the franchise has been led down by Rugby's power brokers.
Speaker 4 (01:25):
If they were to remain in the competition, they.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
Would need the support of New Zealand, Rugby, Super Rugby
and World and I can't believe that between the three
of them they're not able to come up with a
proposition or come up with a deal that would secure them.
Speaker 3 (01:37):
There is hope that they could live to see another
day if someone comes in and saves them. New Zealand's
original w NBA basketball trial Blazer Meeking compaign is celebrating
Charlie Ledier Walker's draft selection to the Connecticut Son campaign
played for the Utah Stars in nineteen ninety seven and
she's welcomed a second Guillie in the American competition.
Speaker 5 (01:56):
Does feel like a long time between, but it was
very obvious early on that it was going to be Charlie's.
We all knew it and saw it in her as
a fifteen year old, and probably her mumly and saw
even earlier and.
Speaker 3 (02:09):
Auckland FC football manager Steve Corocker claims his A League
send off was a misunderstanding. He'll shine a redcard late
in the signs too will draw with Melbourne victory last weekend.
Corricker claims too clear fowls won't given and he says
the club boss Nick Becker and Director of Football Cherry
mcflinn tried to clear the year with referees Pom's match.
Speaker 4 (02:26):
I think they admitted they probably should have been a foul,
so you know I was wry and probably shouldn't have
got a red card, and then.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
We're all happy.
Speaker 3 (02:32):
Courriker will be at Mount Smart for Sunday's home game
at Central Coast, but he'll be watching from the Stands
assistant Danny Hate in charge from the touch line leading
a VEX.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
We've got just the ticket. It's sports X powered by News.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
Talks ivy on sports Flex Now Lemasoppowanga, former All Black
and some international joining us to talk about Mowana Pacifica
disbanding the PMA. The Pacific Medical Association will no longer
fund them after this season, they say, disbanding New Zealand
Rugby keeping a watching brief and hoping that someone might
be able to come in and save this franchise from oblivion.
(03:07):
At the end of this campaign, Lima Supplwanga with us
on sportspexs Lima, thanks so much for your time.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
Hey, no worries. Thanks for having me on today. Mate.
Speaker 3 (03:15):
Well, pretty sad news obviously in the last twenty four
hours or so. What was your initial reaction to Mowana
Pacifica likely not being in Super Rugby next year.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
Yeah, it's a damn shame, isn't it. It's sad not
only for fans, but when I look at it, you know,
doesn't only affect the players, the staff. There's coaches, there's partners,
the children or those people who have a job because
of Mawana now potentially don't have a job going forward.
So it's it's indicative of the times that not only
(03:51):
like sport faces, but the world in general. So it's
really really sad to see.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
How do you think we got to this point? Because
when they entered the competition it was a new era
of Super Rugby. There was a lot of hope around them,
but there's been so many things that just haven't quite
clicked for this franchise.
Speaker 4 (04:08):
I think at the start you probably have to look
at how they were welcomed into the comp and whether
or not they were given every resource possible to be successful.
And I guess when I look at it, it's a
culmination of things. It's you know, not being able to
get a home stadium, not being able to play in
(04:30):
the Islands. Maybe there's been a little bit of mismanagement
as well from the from higher ups, I'm not too sure.
A lack of funds or you know, lack of money,
lack of lack of players staying within the franchise. You know,
you had Tabatara Nahwai, who was a worldbeader playing for them,
and then he goes to the Highlanders.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
It becomes an all black.
Speaker 4 (04:51):
So all those little things play into I guess where
we see it now and today as it stands is
from what we read and what I told that Mona
will cease to exist from from after the season.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Do you think that New Zealand Rugby or sans I
need to stand up here and ensure that there is
some way that this team remains in Super Rugby?
Speaker 4 (05:15):
I think world yeah, I think all the governing bodies
can do something. There's probably a handful of calls that
these governing bodies could make collectively that could probably save
this franchise from going under, because we don't need another
team to go under, and Super Raby we only we
only have eleven teams. Then you now have a competition
that only has ten and twenty seven and all of
(05:38):
a sudden, and it looks like a Mickey Mouse comp
to me, if I'm being honest. So, yeah, they've got
to find some way to find some backers, or find
some people, or or do something as a collective to
save this franchise.
Speaker 3 (05:51):
I think have you spoken to any of the current
players and how are they handling this situation?
Speaker 4 (05:57):
Oh? Obviously disappointed, but really disappointed. And you know some
people with upsticks and lived different countries to take up
contracts here, and other people who have moved their lives around,
and it's yeah, it's obviously very uncertain and it's super
difficult for them, but they're still in good spirits. You know,
(06:20):
the people of the Pacific are strong people and they've
faced a lot of hardships in their times. But yeah,
they're still smiling, still cracking jokes. But it's quite sad.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
I think you would had maybe just left WASPS just
before maybe about a year before that shut down. Obviously
that was a really sad situation. Are there parallels do
you think between the two, you know, in the way
that sport is going as you touched on at the top,
you know, right around the globe.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Yeah, and this isn't just a wonder problem. You know,
all franchises will be feeling the punch and feeling the
heat of less fans coming to the games, less sponsorship.
And you know, in New Zealand's a small country. We're
only a country of five million people. We tend to
compare ourselves to the the big leagues, your NBAS, your NFLS,
(07:11):
your Major League Baseballs. But you're talking about hundreds of
millions of people living in America, you know what I'm saying.
So they have eyes, they have people across the board
who follow those sports religiously. And new You've got you know,
basketball's massive, You've got football that's taken over rugby, you
got the Warriors the league. So there's a lot of
(07:34):
sports out there for kids to play that require money,
that need funding, and where it's best given to or
funded is is a HRDH one. Right, So yeah, it's
an incredibly tough place for rugby to B Right now,
I think weird.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
Do you think this would leave Pacific Island Rugby if
there is no Mowana Pacific if it does disband as
is planned and no one comes in and saves saves
the day, we would leave Pacific Island Rugby.
Speaker 4 (08:04):
Yeah, well you're you miss out on kids like miracle
Phi Lungy, right, someone who's come from the Islands and
pretty much becomes superstar. And if you don't have these
pathways to play, right, b what sport did they go to? Okay,
in RL is going to have their foothold and and
(08:24):
someone and tong A and places like that. So those
kids get lost to NRL. Oh what else happens? Oh
you know what, these these these big clubs in Europe
are just going to be like, oh yeah, we'll take
this curd and we're going to take him over to
the outside. You know, like if you look at someone
like Theorem McFarland, someone captain who is unbelievable, I'd say
one of the best players I've ever played with. He
(08:45):
got picked up straight from Saracens, a well beaten club
one Europe one won the prem won everything blood plot
from some more straight to straight to the UK and
he applies himself, applies straight there and he's and he
is one of the stand up players in the Premiership.
So that's where that's where it headed. If this team
(09:07):
doesn't get safe.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
This is Sportsfix, You're daily dose of sports news, power
and by News Talks Evy.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
The likely demise of Mwana Pacifica has been death by
a thousand cuts. No one thing has caused their downfall,
but there's been a number of things that have not helped.
The inability to play on the islands on a regular basis,
littlone be based their full time didn't help. Ideally this
team would live out of Apia or Nukwa Loafa and
be co run by the Tonga and someone in rugby unions.
That hasn't happened. They haven't had a home base in
(09:37):
New Zealand on a regular basis. It's been balanced smart
Book Koe North Harbor Rotrure over the Weekkens. You can't
create sports fandom by being nomads. You need to know
where you're going every second week for home games. They
haven't been able to attract enough quality players the Blues
and what them in Auckland. They've often felt like both
before and after Ardie Savier came along, they were making
(09:59):
up the numbers and Super Rugby rather than being a
viable force. The best players have been picked off, not
ideal when they've been given an opportunity and professional sport.
You are in professional sport. A regent or heritage based
team and a high performance arena is always going to struggle.
I'm not sure if I buy the idea that was
set up to fail, but it always seemed like a
hard seal with the barriers in front of them. The
(10:21):
hope remains a savior can come along, but how many
people or organizations have the pockets deep enough in this
economy to make it work where the current owners could not.
Speaker 2 (10:31):
The Chamber is now in session on Sportsfex.
Speaker 3 (10:35):
We're jumping into the chamber now I've been Francis joining
us from the New Zealand Herald Sports des Ben. Thanks
for jumping into the chamber as always to discuss the
big issues of the day. Welcome in.
Speaker 6 (10:43):
Thank you alidd the privileged to be here.
Speaker 3 (10:44):
Well, let's talk the big story of the day. In Mawana,
Pacific likely to be no more. They're disbanding. According to
the Midia East barring some sort of savior coming through.
You've been putting together the timeline of how it all
came to an end, but your reaction to the factor
of falling over essentially, Oh, look, it.
Speaker 6 (11:02):
Is sad, obvious. I think that's the first thing you
have to point out. It as sad because when you
the franchise first came about, had all the good intentions.
It was promoted to be this great thing, bringing back
some of the players with Island heritage back, helping out
the young guys coming through all these things, and it
felt like that none of that stuff really eventuated. And
you even look at guys like Tabatava and Iowai Levi R.
(11:24):
Miller and those kind of guys that who were shining
lights and then getting poached by the New Zealand franchises
for whatever reason, and just there was so many things,
and going back through the timeline, it was quite interesting.
I looked back. So their first game in Super Rugby
was meant to be against the Brumbies, that got rescheduled
to be the Blues, and then that got postponed because
Mowana got COVID right, and you kind of look look
(11:46):
at it from that it's like you just put your
hands on the air guine.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
It was this is going to be listen to me.
Just never got off on the right foot to exactly.
Speaker 6 (11:54):
And I guess I don't want to say that it
came as a big surprise to me this week because
as you as like you're on the Sundays, you like
to go through the media advisories that are sent out
and I noticed that one wasn't sent for Mauana, and
I thought that was a bit odd, And then kind
of seeing the news last night when Gregapaul put it out,
was like, yeah, so it must must be the caseuse
I thought it was a bit odd that that didn't
come through.
Speaker 3 (12:14):
Yeah, it feels like there was a sort of tap
on the shoulder maybe that something was going to come
this week. It came in with a lot of promise
more to Pacifica that they were going to get these
Pacific players and eventually going to be based in the Islands.
That was the real hope of it. None of that happened. Unfortunately,
it didn't become so much a pathway. There were a
few players that it did become, like Miracle Fire, Lungy
(12:35):
and the few others, but unfortunately it sort of became
the reverse and became more of a retirement home for
a lot of players that were coming for one last contract.
And there's always going to be a battle when you're
melding all those players together into a franchise that you
want to be competitive and sell tickets. There's always gonna
be a tough ask.
Speaker 6 (12:53):
Well, even just the whole thing about not having a
permanent home really and kind of moving from you know,
Mount Smarts and North Harbor, not really getting that chance
to established that fan base. Last year was amazing what
we saw on the field and the stands, with what
Ardie Savier brought to the team record six wins they
had as well, you know, that was quite good to see.
But then it's just been the polar opposite this year
and it's just been really sad to see and look,
(13:14):
at the end of the day, you want super Abi
to succeed. You want these close games, and when you
watch Wan are getting pummeled by quite a lot every week,
it is a bit tough.
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Well, can super ab survive with ten teams is the
question I suppose, Because next year I think it's probably
too late. They're going to have to run a ten
team competition that won't be getting one off the ground
unless someone comes and saves Mouana and they do live
to see another day. But can it survive as a
long term ten team competition with five New Zealand teams,
the Fiji and Drewer and the four Australian sides. I
(13:43):
feel like that a lot of people would say yes,
I guess. I guess from my perspective, it's going to
be a wait and see. It'll be interesting to see
what does happen with some of these players, because you've seen,
like when the Rebels went for Australia, they kind of
filtered it out in some of those other Aussie teams.
Speaker 6 (13:56):
And you know, even though the New Zealand teams are
still dominant, you are finding some of those Australian teams
to be a bit more competitive. But if I look
at someone to say William Harvey for example, he could
be a very good kind of you know, guide coming
off bench for example, for any of the other five teams,
and you know he would be a real asset miracle
Fi Langy like you touched on as well. But we're
probably going to see lots of these guys end up
going to Europe or even America or some of those
(14:17):
other comps.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
That might be a.
Speaker 3 (14:18):
Boost for Major League rugby.
Speaker 6 (14:20):
There because there was going to be that Hawaiian team
that was spoken about too, So I forgot all about
the Mjeepers.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Yeah, that was the interesting old days of Super Rugby
when they were in conversations. Big news today for the
Warriors Aaron Clark resigning through to twenty twenty nine. He
was already on the books for next year, but just
make sure that no one can touch him from November first.
And this is a big signing for the Warriors now.
I'll be honest. When he came back to the Warriors
after playing that one game and then went to the Titans,
I was like, it's a k pack up. It's a
(14:47):
good depth for the team. But he has been incredible
over the last year and a half since he came back.
And this is a big hold for the Warriors because
the clubs would have been circling come November first. I'm
sure of that one hundred percent.
Speaker 6 (14:59):
And when you look at Perth coming and PMG the
following year just kind of everything around that, it was
as a real statement signing considering as he said there
was a lot of fanfare around Aaron Clark coming back,
but then he quickly got chucked in the deepening the
way of Toho Harris retiring just before the season started.
Delan Walker left after three rounds and then you've just
got Aaron Clark is kind of that special specialty lock
(15:21):
and he really stood up last year and kind of
I felt that he faded faded away a little bit
at the back end, but still really impressive. But he's
just continued that form this year as well. He's just
been a real workhorse for the Warriors and a real gem,
and he's almost become one of those first names on
the team sheet. Really, if you look at the season,
you know, you probably have Jackson Ford and probably Aaron
(15:41):
Clark are probably those first two names on the team
sheet now which you would have never thought of.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Well again, Jackson Ford was a player I want to
buy the Dragons, Aaron Clark, you know, the titan They
weren't headline players, you know. James Harris was the headliner
when he came back, big signing, one of the best
in the Warrior's history, and he's been very good for them,
especially this year, I think. But boy, they've hadded some
real depth to their pack, and this is the kind
of pack that you know, you've now got a bit
(16:05):
of full planning. You can look ahead for a few
more seasons and go with these players locked in, which
is only good for the Warriors.
Speaker 6 (16:10):
I think the other important thing with Aaron Clark as well,
you look at the guys that are leaving in the
off season. So we've already had you know, Roger confirmed,
Marata this week confirmed, and Mitch Barnett all going. It's
a lot of leadership going and Aaron Clark brings that
leadership as well. So I think that was really important
lockdown to twenty twenty nine. So now the Warriors, in
terms of that long term picture have Will Warbrook who's
joining next year, Jacob Labin and Lekahala Sima are the
(16:33):
four guys locked in for that long term. And when
you think about like four players locked in for that
kind of period, you think, well, that's that's pretty good.
I quite like the sound of that.
Speaker 3 (16:41):
It is pretty tasty from a Warrior's perspective of been Francis,
thanks for joining us in the chamber here on Sports FX.
Appreciate your time. CHERRYO.
Speaker 2 (16:47):
Elliott leading a vix. We've got just the ticket. It's
Sports Fix powered by News Talks Evvy.
Speaker 3 (16:53):
Thanks for listening to Sports Fix. We'll be back tomorrow
with another episode, and you can catch Sports Talk week
nights from seven on News Talk ZBB and Weekend Sport
midday Saturday and Sunday till three.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
For more from News Talks EDB. Listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
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