August 4, 2025 • 7 mins
Big signing for the Chiefs!
Promising winger Kyren Taumoefolau is departing Moana Pasifika and signing with the Waikato-based franchise.
He spoke to Jason Pine on Sportstalk.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seen to meet short again, Tom Athene guard in basship,
Julian Servia left wing corner, Tyrant time Ooi floer crossfield
kick for the left wing drop down to Kien time
Ooi flaire. The scored Mawana Pacifica right running ball, big
bridge passer time boy for now grub us reget us
(00:32):
right way Conner.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Tyra time boy flower one two three tries here. That
was his hat trick against the Blues. The New Zealand
Herald reported this move back in May, with the Mouna
Pacifica outside back switching to the Chiefs and has bid
to become an All Black late next year after completing
his international standdown. Karen Taimoiflower made his Super Rugby debut
(00:55):
in twenty twenty four. He played twenty one times former
onea Pacifica, scoring twelve tries. He's with us now, Karen,
congratulations on the move to the Chiefs. Tell us about
the discussion which led to the announcement which was made
early this morning.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah so just having me, Yeah, probably a little way
through my miner season. Got to got a couple of
phone calls and one being the Chiefs, and it was
lucky enough they got pretty interested in and yeah, just
kind of went from there, sort of an opportunity for
(01:33):
my family and where I want to go in my
rugby career, and yeah, I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Tell us a bit more about the conversations you had
with the coaches and others at the Chiefs that convinced
you that this would be the right move for you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, we'll obviously talking to a coach, talking to some
of the players, Damien McKenzie, a couple of the leadership boys,
and kind of really convinced me that that this is
a this is a really good coop culture here. We've
built they built really good rokey players here and you
see through the prestigious club and there's a lot of
(02:10):
great players that have gone before. And that was when
I was talking to the coaches. We've aligned on where
they see me and and where they bre can grow,
and yeah, the potential where I can where I can
get to.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You mentioned some other phone calls as well, Karri, you
had other offers to consider. I'm sure Mowana would have
been delighted to retain you. How tricky. Was that decision
making process as you tried to work out which offer
would be the best best one for you to take?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, I was. I was really tough decision for me
and yeah, hearing everyone out, but I think just for
me and my family talking, I think that the Chiefs
were really aligned and where I wanted to go, and
they were really really welcoming and just with a club
(03:04):
season in the next two years as well, I was
where I want to be. So yeah, that was good.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
How do you reflect on your time at mo Wana PACIFICAA.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
It's massive, man. I love that club. I love the
people there. It's a great organization. We did some good
things this year. It's got a Yeah, got a lot
of love for the club and the way that we
are the season. You could probably see through the games
as well, the passion that we have for the team
and the way it's been growing year by year. I
(03:37):
think it's just only going to get better.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
All right, let's look forward. Then, Where do you think
the main growth areas are in your game?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Your growth areas of my game? It would be if
I think for myself, it's just the ability to be
a game driver. The doomed voice out there from playing
fullback being another kicking option being the game driver. I
think as the Chiefs here it's a pretty big on
(04:06):
family and having you know, you've got your brains, trust
and you've got players around you who will drive around
the field. And I think that that'll be pretty cool
to work with some of the great hair David McKenzie
guys like that to really work off and you help
me out in that area.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I'm seeing you play in the back three across the
positions full back, also quite a lot on the wing
for more one PACIFICA. But is fifteen where you prefer
to be?
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Yeah, I think I think I love I love the
wing and fallback. To be honest, I don't mind. I
just want to be I played a lot on the
on the right wing. I think that it's given the
chance to play fullback, it would be pretty cool because
I do enjoy it there, but doesn't know the right place,
to be honest, I'll just take it. Well.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
There is an obvious vacancy, isn't there at full back
with Sean Stevenson having departed the Chiefs and a lot
of people are seeing you as a bit of a
like for like in that regard but are you just
happy to get into the Chiefs camp and let those
above you work out where you are best suited for them.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Yeah? I think for me it's probably it's my job
turn up for the best neck and turn up to
pre season with the hungry mindset of not knowing. So
it's just working controls to be honest, and working controls
more work if they get training and how it goes
about things. And there's the only thing that I leave
the uncontrollables, the coaches. They be of a selection to
(05:29):
where they see me. But I just turn up and
do what I do.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Do you have All Blacks aspirations?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
My ambission right now is played well with the Chiefs
and if any higher on has come, it comes. But
my first priority and only priority is the Chiefs right now.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I guess another way of asking the question is around
your eligibility for the All Blacks because you've played for Tonga,
so you need to stand down for three years from
the last time you did to become eligible for the
All Blacks, and that's not there far away. Are you
happy to do that?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah? Yeah, definitely. I think available October next year, eligibility
knowing for tom in time soon.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
So all right, that's all in the future. You've got
an MPC campaign of course to get through first with Tasman,
a tough start to your season yesterday against the Steamers,
and to longer you still enjoy your games with Tasman
Mark although yeah, I love it.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
It's pasionate clubs get a lot of being at home
with home for me, so no, I love it, bro.
It's an awesome club and it didn't get the result,
but I know that we're going to come back strong
enough against on Saturday. I know you will. I know
you will.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Congratulations on this news, Car, and you've got your future
secure for the next couple of years. I know a
lot of Chiefs fans that we're looking forward to seeing
you turn out in their colors. Congratulations mate, thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Awesome all right, take care.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Now you take care as well, Karen. Thanks indeed, Karen
Toe MOI filout chief for the next two seasons. He
will be a teammate of Leroy Carter.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays. We'll follow the podcast
on radio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seen to meet short again, Tom Athene guard in basship,
Julian Servia left wing corner, Tyrant time Ooi floer crossfield
kick for the left wing drop down to Kien time
Ooi flaire. The scored Mawana Pacifica right running ball, big
bridge passer time boy for now grub us reget us
(00:32):
right way Conner.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
Tyra time boy flower one two three tries here. That
was his hat trick against the Blues. The New Zealand
Herald reported this move back in May, with the Mouna
Pacifica outside back switching to the Chiefs and has bid
to become an All Black late next year after completing
his international standdown. Karen Taimoiflower made his Super Rugby debut
(00:55):
in twenty twenty four. He played twenty one times former
onea Pacifica, scoring twelve tries. He's with us now, Karen,
congratulations on the move to the Chiefs. Tell us about
the discussion which led to the announcement which was made
early this morning.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Yeah so just having me, Yeah, probably a little way
through my miner season. Got to got a couple of
phone calls and one being the Chiefs, and it was
lucky enough they got pretty interested in and yeah, just
kind of went from there, sort of an opportunity for
(01:33):
my family and where I want to go in my
rugby career, and yeah, I'm happy to be here.
Speaker 3 (01:38):
Tell us a bit more about the conversations you had
with the coaches and others at the Chiefs that convinced
you that this would be the right move for you.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Yeah, we'll obviously talking to a coach, talking to some
of the players, Damien McKenzie, a couple of the leadership boys,
and kind of really convinced me that that this is
a this is a really good coop culture here. We've
built they built really good rokey players here and you
see through the prestigious club and there's a lot of
(02:10):
great players that have gone before. And that was when
I was talking to the coaches. We've aligned on where
they see me and and where they bre can grow,
and yeah, the potential where I can where I can
get to.
Speaker 3 (02:26):
You mentioned some other phone calls as well, Karri, you
had other offers to consider. I'm sure Mowana would have
been delighted to retain you. How tricky. Was that decision
making process as you tried to work out which offer
would be the best best one for you to take?
Speaker 4 (02:41):
Yeah, I was. I was really tough decision for me
and yeah, hearing everyone out, but I think just for
me and my family talking, I think that the Chiefs
were really aligned and where I wanted to go, and
they were really really welcoming and just with a club
(03:04):
season in the next two years as well, I was
where I want to be. So yeah, that was good.
Speaker 3 (03:10):
How do you reflect on your time at mo Wana PACIFICAA.
Speaker 4 (03:15):
It's massive, man. I love that club. I love the
people there. It's a great organization. We did some good
things this year. It's got a Yeah, got a lot
of love for the club and the way that we
are the season. You could probably see through the games
as well, the passion that we have for the team
and the way it's been growing year by year. I
(03:37):
think it's just only going to get better.
Speaker 3 (03:38):
All right, let's look forward. Then, Where do you think
the main growth areas are in your game?
Speaker 4 (03:45):
Your growth areas of my game? It would be if
I think for myself, it's just the ability to be
a game driver. The doomed voice out there from playing
fullback being another kicking option being the game driver. I
think as the Chiefs here it's a pretty big on
(04:06):
family and having you know, you've got your brains, trust
and you've got players around you who will drive around
the field. And I think that that'll be pretty cool
to work with some of the great hair David McKenzie
guys like that to really work off and you help
me out in that area.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
I'm seeing you play in the back three across the
positions full back, also quite a lot on the wing
for more one PACIFICA. But is fifteen where you prefer
to be?
Speaker 4 (04:35):
Yeah, I think I think I love I love the
wing and fallback. To be honest, I don't mind. I
just want to be I played a lot on the
on the right wing. I think that it's given the
chance to play fullback, it would be pretty cool because
I do enjoy it there, but doesn't know the right place,
to be honest, I'll just take it. Well.
Speaker 3 (04:51):
There is an obvious vacancy, isn't there at full back
with Sean Stevenson having departed the Chiefs and a lot
of people are seeing you as a bit of a
like for like in that regard but are you just
happy to get into the Chiefs camp and let those
above you work out where you are best suited for them.
Speaker 4 (05:08):
Yeah? I think for me it's probably it's my job
turn up for the best neck and turn up to
pre season with the hungry mindset of not knowing. So
it's just working controls to be honest, and working controls
more work if they get training and how it goes
about things. And there's the only thing that I leave
the uncontrollables, the coaches. They be of a selection to
(05:29):
where they see me. But I just turn up and
do what I do.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Do you have All Blacks aspirations?
Speaker 4 (05:36):
My ambission right now is played well with the Chiefs
and if any higher on has come, it comes. But
my first priority and only priority is the Chiefs right now.
Speaker 3 (05:45):
I guess another way of asking the question is around
your eligibility for the All Blacks because you've played for Tonga,
so you need to stand down for three years from
the last time you did to become eligible for the
All Blacks, and that's not there far away. Are you
happy to do that?
Speaker 4 (05:59):
Yeah? Yeah, definitely. I think available October next year, eligibility
knowing for tom in time soon.
Speaker 3 (06:08):
So all right, that's all in the future. You've got
an MPC campaign of course to get through first with Tasman,
a tough start to your season yesterday against the Steamers,
and to longer you still enjoy your games with Tasman
Mark although yeah, I love it.
Speaker 4 (06:25):
It's pasionate clubs get a lot of being at home
with home for me, so no, I love it, bro.
It's an awesome club and it didn't get the result,
but I know that we're going to come back strong
enough against on Saturday. I know you will. I know
you will.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Well.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Congratulations on this news, Car, and you've got your future
secure for the next couple of years. I know a
lot of Chiefs fans that we're looking forward to seeing
you turn out in their colors. Congratulations mate, thanks for
joining us.
Speaker 4 (06:49):
Awesome all right, take care.
Speaker 3 (06:50):
Now you take care as well, Karen. Thanks indeed, Karen
Toe MOI filout chief for the next two seasons. He
will be a teammate of Leroy Carter.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays. We'll follow the podcast
on radio
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