July 13, 2025 • 9 mins
A desire for more playing time has seen hooker Ioane Moananu make the difficult decision to end a three-year stint with the Crusaders and sign with the Waratahs for the 2026 Super Rugby season.
The 24-year-old produced several eye-catching performances across 12 appearances during the Crusaders' most recent title-winning run this year, scoring five tries.
Ioane Moananu explained why he wanted to make the move.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Some pretty big news dropping in our own boxes. Firsusly
came by the Crusaders that you're leaving and then subsequently
out of the Waratars that you've signed for the twenty
twenty sixth season. You came down here, Yanni in twenty
twenty three as an injury replacement. You sort of had
to bide your time. You had your own injury issues
last year. But man, you caught the eye this year
(00:22):
with a number of impressive performances. My friend twelve or
your seventeen games coming this year and your last game
coming back in May, which as it turns out, was
against the Waratars over in Sydney, which will be your
new super rugby team. I appreciate you taking the time, mate,
and look, I've interviewed you a few times and what's
always stood out to me as how much you love
(00:43):
the Crusaders, how much you love the people. You've described
it as a as a family. This can't have been
an easy decision. Can you just tell our listeners how
it all came about.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it was definitely like one of the hardest decisions
I've had to make. I had a few tears and
I had to took for a few people that they're
really trusted, and it was like I had an offered
from the crusellers like an injury contract, So it wasn't
(01:17):
fully contracted where I could compete to play, but it
was a contract where I had to wait for an injury.
So and the Warriors as were offered the opportunity to
a contract in the main squad, So it was just
coming back as like a fourth option or go over
to Australia and actually have an opportunity to play without
(01:40):
waiting for an injury. So I thought it was for me,
like I've seen how much my game has improved being
out on the field, and I think if I was
to stay back for another year, it would have no
stop or paused like my my growth and my game.
So I thought it would be good opportunity to go
(02:01):
over to Australia and just keep playing and keep growing
in my game.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Absolutely man. And at the end of the day, you're
twenty four years of age. You know you're entering your
prime years as a rugby player, and ultimately it boils
down to wanting to play right And as I said
at the top, you know you played twelve or seventeen
games this year for me anyway, as someone who covered
the team like you, couldn't have done much more what
(02:30):
you contributed, I mean from that end. And I know
it must be a little bit disappointing then to not
to get the contract situation with the Crusaders, But if
you had to look after your best centrist first, right,
and I imagine that would have been at the center
of your decision.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Obviously I'm being out there this
year playing a lot more minutes and having like a
little bit of a bigger, bigger role in the team,
just seeing how much growth I've got out of it,
and I think it just made me more hungry to
play more. And obviously if I stay back, there's you know,
(03:11):
two quality players you know in front of me, and yeah,
so it's just yeah about playing and continue to grow
in as as a rugby player. I think it was
the best decision for me and my rugby moving forward.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Three seasons here, mate, two titles and a lot of
great memories. You're a big character around the team as well,
and anyone who follows you on on TikTok for example,
you and and and Leo always always bringing the laughs.
I mean, how how will you remember your time here
at the Crusaders.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And that's that's like obviously the winning is as good,
but I think it's just different ships of I've made
and not only with like the players, like you said, Christian,
you know, ye know, you know all these boys, like
you know, like my lifelong friends now, like these are
family to me, and but like also like the people
(04:09):
in Christis as well, man, like the fans and stuff
they've been like some like the Glayal fans that always
come out to open trainings or see all the games
captain around and stuff like you know, the same people
you see there's like it's just it's those moments that
that made my coming crisis a lot more special and
(04:31):
definitely the moments that almost for sure, I.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Just once it became clear you want to as you
sort of mentioned there at the top, that there wasn't
going to be the opportunity you would have hoped for
it the Crusaders going forward, talk us through that how
the Wartorz situation came about, because probably the biggest surprise
for me because was the fact that I, you know,
if you weren't going to get an opportunity to continue
(04:57):
at the Crusaders might up feel personally, was there there
might be another New Zealand Super Rugby team that would
come into the equation where you certainly capable and your
skill set of starting for another New Zealand Super Rugby team.
So what stage did that the war Atars come into
the equation.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, well in twos away. Like I think it's sort
of similar to to the situation in christ when I
go do negotiations and stuff and just you know, the
back our stuff for Fuddy, Like there wasn't you know,
(05:37):
teams offered me that the fourth role in the team
as a as an injury cover when I went to
go we negotiate for next year and so so it
was the same situation as in the Crusaders where I
had to wait on an injury to play. And so
(06:02):
that was probably like the main reason why I was like,
I don't really want to stay in New Zealand and
if there's no opportunity for me to compete to play,
And it was fortunate enough that the work has had
that opportunity. And then when I met with the with
the workers coaches and the management and just seeing how
(06:24):
they are operating the last couple of weeks as well
with their messaging and give me in contact with me.
Then it's been real good and I think it's it
was a good opportunity. I'm very grateful to the works
as we for giving me this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Absolutely, Mate, you're like you're like Jock and reverse going
to Australia.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Grandfather old grandpa Man happy for man, I've seen her there. Yeah,
how good?
Speaker 1 (06:53):
How good? I guess that it leads into the next question,
mat do you have any do you have any eligibility
to ripples in a store? No?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
No, I've seen a lot of people ask me if
I've got Australian like family member, you know, don't know.
I don't have any.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
One final question, you only what what is it? And
you sort of touched on it there in terms of
your friendships made and seeing those same faces around the
Crusaders and but but on field, is there one one
game or or one moment like I think you try celebration,
you sort of you're sort of black panther risk celebration.
(07:35):
What's what's one moment that on the field always be
in the memory, in the memory box.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
That's a great question, man. When he was probably like
that try in Melbourne. But I think for me, and
it was after the Hurricanes game in Round one, leading
up to that whole game, and I was so nervous,
Like I was confident in myself, but I didn't think
(08:02):
because I didn't have the experience playing in that level
or like that. I think it was just yeah, still
a bit fresh, all a bit new to everything. But
it was when Dan Peering and Rob Penny came to
me after the game and they added the word and
you belong, you belong at this level, like you you
have proved that you're you're good enough to play and
(08:22):
that you're and you belong at this level. And I
think that would be like probably the moment that like
stood up for me the most of this year. It
was just the confidence that because I just gave to
me on that field and just to let me go
an experience myself was probably like one of the moments
that definitely helped me a lot go on confidence and
(08:45):
go and just enjoy myself. So I think I'll definitely
said that moment for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
For more from us, Talk said be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on Ion Radio
Some pretty big news dropping in our own boxes. Firsusly
came by the Crusaders that you're leaving and then subsequently
out of the Waratars that you've signed for the twenty
twenty sixth season. You came down here, Yanni in twenty
twenty three as an injury replacement. You sort of had
to bide your time. You had your own injury issues
last year. But man, you caught the eye this year
(00:22):
with a number of impressive performances. My friend twelve or
your seventeen games coming this year and your last game
coming back in May, which as it turns out, was
against the Waratars over in Sydney, which will be your
new super rugby team. I appreciate you taking the time, mate,
and look, I've interviewed you a few times and what's
always stood out to me as how much you love
(00:43):
the Crusaders, how much you love the people. You've described
it as a as a family. This can't have been
an easy decision. Can you just tell our listeners how
it all came about.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yeah, it was definitely like one of the hardest decisions
I've had to make. I had a few tears and
I had to took for a few people that they're
really trusted, and it was like I had an offered
from the crusellers like an injury contract, So it wasn't
(01:17):
fully contracted where I could compete to play, but it
was a contract where I had to wait for an injury.
So and the Warriors as were offered the opportunity to
a contract in the main squad, So it was just
coming back as like a fourth option or go over
to Australia and actually have an opportunity to play without
(01:40):
waiting for an injury. So I thought it was for me,
like I've seen how much my game has improved being
out on the field, and I think if I was
to stay back for another year, it would have no
stop or paused like my my growth and my game.
So I thought it would be good opportunity to go
(02:01):
over to Australia and just keep playing and keep growing
in my game.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Absolutely man. And at the end of the day, you're
twenty four years of age. You know you're entering your
prime years as a rugby player, and ultimately it boils
down to wanting to play right And as I said
at the top, you know you played twelve or seventeen
games this year for me anyway, as someone who covered
the team like you, couldn't have done much more what
(02:30):
you contributed, I mean from that end. And I know
it must be a little bit disappointing then to not
to get the contract situation with the Crusaders, But if
you had to look after your best centrist first, right,
and I imagine that would have been at the center
of your decision.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Obviously I'm being out there this
year playing a lot more minutes and having like a
little bit of a bigger, bigger role in the team,
just seeing how much growth I've got out of it,
and I think it just made me more hungry to
play more. And obviously if I stay back, there's you know,
(03:11):
two quality players you know in front of me, and yeah,
so it's just yeah about playing and continue to grow
in as as a rugby player. I think it was
the best decision for me and my rugby moving forward.
Speaker 1 (03:27):
Three seasons here, mate, two titles and a lot of
great memories. You're a big character around the team as well,
and anyone who follows you on on TikTok for example,
you and and and Leo always always bringing the laughs.
I mean, how how will you remember your time here
at the Crusaders.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
And that's that's like obviously the winning is as good,
but I think it's just different ships of I've made
and not only with like the players, like you said, Christian,
you know, ye know, you know all these boys, like
you know, like my lifelong friends now, like these are
family to me, and but like also like the people
(04:09):
in Christis as well, man, like the fans and stuff
they've been like some like the Glayal fans that always
come out to open trainings or see all the games
captain around and stuff like you know, the same people
you see there's like it's just it's those moments that
that made my coming crisis a lot more special and
(04:31):
definitely the moments that almost for sure, I.
Speaker 1 (04:35):
Just once it became clear you want to as you
sort of mentioned there at the top, that there wasn't
going to be the opportunity you would have hoped for
it the Crusaders going forward, talk us through that how
the Wartorz situation came about, because probably the biggest surprise
for me because was the fact that I, you know,
if you weren't going to get an opportunity to continue
(04:57):
at the Crusaders might up feel personally, was there there
might be another New Zealand Super Rugby team that would
come into the equation where you certainly capable and your
skill set of starting for another New Zealand Super Rugby team.
So what stage did that the war Atars come into
the equation.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
Yeah, well in twos away. Like I think it's sort
of similar to to the situation in christ when I
go do negotiations and stuff and just you know, the
back our stuff for Fuddy, Like there wasn't you know,
(05:37):
teams offered me that the fourth role in the team
as a as an injury cover when I went to
go we negotiate for next year and so so it
was the same situation as in the Crusaders where I
had to wait on an injury to play. And so
(06:02):
that was probably like the main reason why I was like,
I don't really want to stay in New Zealand and
if there's no opportunity for me to compete to play,
And it was fortunate enough that the work has had
that opportunity. And then when I met with the with
the workers coaches and the management and just seeing how
(06:24):
they are operating the last couple of weeks as well
with their messaging and give me in contact with me.
Then it's been real good and I think it's it
was a good opportunity. I'm very grateful to the works
as we for giving me this opportunity.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Absolutely, Mate, you're like you're like Jock and reverse going
to Australia.
Speaker 2 (06:45):
Grandfather old grandpa Man happy for man, I've seen her there. Yeah,
how good?
Speaker 1 (06:53):
How good? I guess that it leads into the next question,
mat do you have any do you have any eligibility
to ripples in a store? No?
Speaker 2 (07:03):
No, I've seen a lot of people ask me if
I've got Australian like family member, you know, don't know.
I don't have any.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
One final question, you only what what is it? And
you sort of touched on it there in terms of
your friendships made and seeing those same faces around the
Crusaders and but but on field, is there one one
game or or one moment like I think you try celebration,
you sort of you're sort of black panther risk celebration.
(07:35):
What's what's one moment that on the field always be
in the memory, in the memory box.
Speaker 2 (07:41):
That's a great question, man. When he was probably like
that try in Melbourne. But I think for me, and
it was after the Hurricanes game in Round one, leading
up to that whole game, and I was so nervous,
Like I was confident in myself, but I didn't think
(08:02):
because I didn't have the experience playing in that level
or like that. I think it was just yeah, still
a bit fresh, all a bit new to everything. But
it was when Dan Peering and Rob Penny came to
me after the game and they added the word and
you belong, you belong at this level, like you you
have proved that you're you're good enough to play and
(08:22):
that you're and you belong at this level. And I
think that would be like probably the moment that like
stood up for me the most of this year. It
was just the confidence that because I just gave to
me on that field and just to let me go
an experience myself was probably like one of the moments
that definitely helped me a lot go on confidence and
(08:45):
go and just enjoy myself. So I think I'll definitely
said that moment for sure.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
For more from us, Talk said be listen live on
air or online and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcast on Ion Radio
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.