Hurricanes pummel Moana, Jorgensen stars for Waratahs again
FRIDAY WRAP: The Hurricanes have opened their 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign with a convincing performance against Moana Pasifika at Sky Stadium in Wellington.
Clark Laidlaw’s side ran in eight tries during their season opener to claim a bonus-point, 52-10 victory over last weekend’s upset specialists.
Departing Hurricanes winger and former All Blacks Sevens flyer Fehi Fineanganofo starred for the home side, scoring a quick-fire first-half double before passing a certain try to Josh Moorby.
Moorby then got his hat-trick early on in the second half, going in under the posts after the break.
It wasn’t all positive for the Wellington-based franchise, though, with flyhalf Brett Cameron going down with what looked like a leg injury in the first half, adding to their shortage of No.10’s without both Harry Godfrey and Ruben Love.
Jorgensen proves double trouble again
Another breathtaking try to Max Jorgensen has helped the Waratahs continue their unbeaten start to the Super Rugby Pacific season with a 36-13 victory over the Fijian Drua.
As he did last week in a big win over Queensland, Jorgensen lit up Allianz Stadium with a special solo effort that turned the match the Waratahs’ way four minutes before half-time on Friday night.
With nothing on, flyhalf Lawson Creighton fired a triple cut-out pass to Jorgensen and watched the electrifying Wallaby winger do the rest.
With little room to move, the 21-year-old beat his Drua opposite Taniela Rakuro all ends up with a bamboozling sidestep before out-pacing the cover defence of fullback Ilaisa Droasese to touch down in the left corner.
The Waratahs had been trailing 7-10 before Jorgensen’s intervention but were never headed again, leaving Dan McKellar’s side top of the table following two bonus-point wins to open their 2026 campaign.
Jorgensen was controversially denied a second five-pointer three minutes later when the TMO ruled a forward pass in the lead-up to the winger racing 30 metres to seemingly score under the posts on the stroke of half-time.
But officials couldn’t deny Jorgensen a second try from, fittingly, the last play in his latest man-of-the-match performance.
He swooped on a well-placed grubber kick from Jack Debreczeni to dot down in the dying seconds, to the delight of the mostly pro-Waratahs crowd of 13,578.
“It’s pretty hard to beat the home crowd. Such a great, great support crew,” Jorgensen told Stan Sport.
“Look how many people show up here tonight. It’s amazing. The home crowd getting around you really does stuff for you and really pushes you through the full 80 [minutes].”
While Jorgensen again provided the highlights, it was the forwards who paved the way for the victory.
No.8 Pete Samu and lock Clem Halaholo were all power, while replacement hooker Ioane Moananu also bagged a try-scoring double on debut for the Waratahs after defecting from the defending champion Crusaders.
Flanker Charlie Gamble and replacement lock Angus Blyth also crossed for the Tahs.
While NSW are flying early doors, the Drua are now none from two after suffering a rare home loss last week to Moana Pasifika to start the season.
See below for Friday’s scores and scorers!
Hurricanes 52-10 Moana Pasifika
The scorers:
For Hurricanes:
Tries: Fineanganofo 2, Moorby 3, Iose 2, Proctor
Cons: Barrett 5, Cameron
For Moana Pasifika:
Tries: Pellegrini, Tuitama
Teams:
Hurricanes: 15 Callum Harkin, 14 Josh Moorby, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 12 Jordie Barrett (captain), 11 Fehi Fineanganofo, 10 Brett Cameron, 9 Ereatara Enari, 8 Brayden Iose, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Devan Flanders, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Hugo Plummer, 3 Siale Lauaki, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Xavier Numia.
Replacements: 16 Jacob Devery, 17 Pouri Rakete-Stones, 18 Tevita Mafileo, 19 Matolu Petaia, 20 Brad Shields, 21 Arese Poliko, 22 Cam Roigard, 23 Billy Proctor.
Moana Pasifika: 15 Simon Peter Toleafoa, 14 Israel Leota, 13 Glen Vaihu, 12 Faletoi Peni, 11 Tuna Tuitama, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Siaosi Nginingini, 8 Dominic Ropeti, 7 Konrad Toelafoa, 6 Semisi Paea, 5 Alefosio Aho, 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 3 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 2 Samiuela Moli (captain), 1 Abraham Pole.
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Tito Tuipulotu, 18 Lolani Faleiva, 19 Allan Craig, 20 Miracle Faiilagi, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 William Havili, 23 Tevita Ofa.
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper
Waratahs 36-13 Fijian Drua
The scorers:
For Waratahs:
Tries: Gamble, Jorgensen 2, Moananu 2, Blyth
Cons: Creighton 3
For Fijian Drua:
Try: Rakuro
Con: Armstrong-Ravula
Pens: Armstrong-Ravula 2
Teams
Waratahs: 15 James Hendren, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 Clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Ioane Moananu, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jack Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.
Fijian Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Ponipate Loganimasi, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre,12 Isikeli Rabitu, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Motikiai Murray, 6 Joseva Tamani, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Kavaia Tagivetaua, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 22 Inia Tabuavou, 23 Manasa Mataele.
Referee: Nic Berry
Assistant referees: Reuben Keane, Louis Trisley
TMO: Brett Cronan
Photo credit: Brad Roberts
Sources: Henry Lee (RugbyPass) & AAP
