Iritana Hohaia: Hurricanes Poua halfback on their first Super Rugby Aupiki win since 2024, upcoming clash against the Blues

The Hurricanes Poua finally broke the duck last weekend – winning their first Super Rugby Aupiki match since 2024. 

This weekend they’re set to take on the Blues, and are eager to keep the momentum rolling and pick up another win. 

Iritana Hohaia, halfback for the side, joined Adam Cooper to discuss their win and preview the upcoming clash. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Dancy
Waldegrave from News talk.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB talking Super Rugby, open Y Now and for the
Hurricanes Polo historic moment last weekend, after twelve games, eight
hundred and forty days, they finally had a win again.
It was their first win over the Chiefs last week
since March of twenty twenty four for the Hurricanes power,
so a special moment for the team. They're back home
as part of round four of the competition this afternoon

(00:33):
in Upper Huts. They're hosting the two time raining champion
Blues Anytime. The whole hire starts at nine for the
Polar today and she becomes the joint most capped Hurricanes
pole player in the process. Eddie, good morning to you.
Thanks for your time. Firstly, just let us know how
special was that for the team to finally get that
win you'd been chasing for for so long last weekend.

Speaker 3 (00:55):
I think it meant everything to our squad. We've been
building something very special for a long time, and I
think in the weeking just been everything seemed to go
our way and we're just really proud of the effort
and the performance that we were able to put out
there on the weekend, and I think it just showed
on the display of rugby from I guess both sides
of the team, but overall, we were stoked at a

(01:17):
club and it's just awesome to reinstall that belief into
our team moving into this week.

Speaker 2 (01:23):
And you sort of overcame a few bits and pieces,
didn't your players being sent off, you know, changes of
momentum through the games, but you're pulled through That must
have made it extra satisfying.

Speaker 3 (01:34):
Yeah, definitely. Obviously we had a few yellow cards and
then that got upgraded to a red card, but we
knew all along that we had our team and it
was just about believing and trusting our processes because at
the end of the day, that's sort of come down
to there's one percenters that got us through the line.
So yeah, I know.

Speaker 2 (01:50):
There was a lot of excitement. You know, after that
that preseason hit out against the Blues, did you feel
a result like this was coming at some point over
those first few weeks of the competition.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, I think. So we've definitely got the caliber of
players and our squad to you know, our performance like
last weekend. So once again, it's just about belief and
we've got the talent in that squad, it's just at
the end of the day, executing it out in the day.

Speaker 2 (02:16):
And no one could talk about the journey better than you.
Given this weekend, you become the equal most capped Hurricanes
power player. So for you especially, a pretty special sort
of end to that journey of getting to getting on
that winner's circle and you know, being a force this yere.

Speaker 3 (02:32):
Right, Yeah, definitely. I mean the last few years haven't
been easy for our team. We've gone through a lot
together as a team. But I think this year the
new year, and it's all about changing the narrative for
our squads. So I think we're on the right path
for doing that. And yeah, who knows what the season
could bring. But yeah, you.

Speaker 2 (02:51):
Mentioned changing players where there's obviously you know, some high
profile players are in the team this year, obviously a
new coaching sort of set up as well. Is there
anything you can pinpoint that's got the team to be
in this position now?

Speaker 3 (03:04):
I think we strip it right back to our team culture.
I think the Hurricanes have always been on to have
a good team culture, but it translates out onto the field,
and I think this year we're definitely saying the balance
of that, and it's a reflection of the performance that
we've been able to put out on the field. And
like you said, we've got a good group of experienced players.
We've got young ones coming through. I think we've had

(03:24):
twenty deputants this year. But if I brings something different
and somehow we've been able to collect that all to
get together to yeah, keep keep on their rugby and
keep getting bit each year. And yeah, I guess, yeah, amazing.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
Now you've played a bit of fifteen, but you've also
played at nine. Linking up in the halves was Renee Holmes.
That must be special bringing you know, a black fans
combo to to the part of this year. How's that?
How's that been for you?

Speaker 3 (03:55):
I mean it's been good. I think Rene's on my
business mate, so it's just awesome. Been able to, you know,
lean on her experience. She's got their international experience behind game,
and I think a lot of the young girls have
been able to thrive off there and five off her experience,
and yeah, she brings something different and it's awesome to
see that. The performance that she's putting out on ten

(04:17):
has been awesome. So yeah, it's been cool. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (04:20):
Great.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
Do you enjoy the variety of having a crack at
the different positions so far through the first few weeks.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
Yeah, definitely. I think no matter what, I'll always do
what's best for the team, whether that's in the backfield
or at nine. So I'm definitely enduring this year and
I was stuck to get a you know, a few
games at fifteen, but yeah, what hen was best for
the team is what I'm happy doing, and if that's
playing nine or fifteen.

Speaker 2 (04:43):
Yeah, Blues this weekend Maidstone Park back at your new
home turf for twenty twenty six. Now the Blues, jeez,
they put up a good flight against the March to
two last weekend, didn't they. What are you expecting from
them as they come down to Wellington for a big
game this afternoon.

Speaker 3 (04:59):
Yeah. We know that they're a quality side. They're definitely
physical team, so we know that they'll be looking to
us forward and get around the park to t stuff.
But I know I back my team every day of
the weekend. I know it'll be a physical match at
the end of the day.

Speaker 2 (05:15):
So yeah, was there a good energy in camp this week?
You know how much does a win like that change
how you then go and prepare for the next game.

Speaker 3 (05:24):
Yes, obviously we've had the wind coming off next week,
but we're always looking to get better and we knew
we took things out of our game from last week
to bring into this weekend. I think it's a new
week so but we're excited for the challenge. We're excited
to host Blues at our home home ground and Maidstone,
so we're really looking forward to the challenge. And yeah,
it's been a good build up this week. Girls have

(05:44):
dug in deefin Yeah.

Speaker 2 (05:46):
Well and he congratulations on the wind last weekend and
of course the season so far, and yeah, all the
best for that continuing this weekend against the Blues. Thanks
so much for chatting and go well.

Speaker 3 (05:56):
Thank you have a good withshoo there.

Speaker 1 (05:58):
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