“The score line’s nice and scoring tries is amazing, but I loved the way we started that game,” Hurricanes captain Du’Plessis Kirifi told Sky Sport.
“We wanted to keep it tight. The rain’s coming down here so we just wanted to do the basics well, as cliche as that sounds.
“We knew that Moana are a big side and that first 20 is their strength so we wanted to meet them at the front door when they wanted to get downhill on us and I’m pleased to say that we did so.”
On a night where left winger Fehi Fineanganofo could have equalled, or bettered, the single-season try-scoring record, it was his teammate on the right, Josh Moorby, who capped off the evening with four tries.
And just in case the Hurricanes didn’t already have enough weapons at their disposal, they welcomed winger Kini Naholo back from a long injury layoff and he came storming into action in 35 minutes off the bench.
He proceeded to be the stuff of nightmares for the Moana Pasifika defenders as he was a handful with ball in hand, bumping off defenders and scoring a couple of tries.
With second five-eighths Jordie Barrett out for the week, Jone Rova was strong in the No 12 jersey. He made his presence felt on both sides of the ball as he made his tackles, challenged the breakdown, distributed well and was rewarded with a late try for his efforts.
It was a strong showing from both Hurricanes midfielders, with centre Billy Proctor putting in another quality performance, which included three try assists.
The Hurricanes had to earn the right to run, however, with Moana Pasifika coming out of the blocks quickly and putting pressure on the visitors. It was a good, physical contest in the opening minutes of the game, with the Hurricanes keeping the ball in tight and looking to play for territory early on.
The Hurricanes began to get on top at around the 10-minute mark and opened the scoring through Moorby out wide.
Another try to Moorby and one to openside flanker Kirifi pushed the score out to a comfortable margin and while Moana Pasifika struck back with a nice try to left wing Tuna Tuitama, the visitors led 19-5 at the break. Kirifi was substituted at halftime after sustaining a knee injury early in the contest.
Another try to Moorby soon after the break began a five-minute period in which the Hurricanes scored three tries – with the other two to Naholo, who scored two in as many minutes.
Moana Pasifika continued to test the Hurricanes’ defences, though, and as the game opened up, they capitalised through right wing Israel Leota.
But a try to Rova and a fourth to Moorby saw the Hurricanes reach 50.
Tuitama scored a second late in the contest, but it was a strong performance from the Hurricanes and a deserved bonus-point win.
Hurricanes 50 (Josh Moorby 4, Kini Naholo 2, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Jone Rova tries; Callum Harkin 5 cons)
Moana Pasifika 17 (Tuna Tuitama 2, Israel Leota tries; Patrick Pellegrini con)
HT: 19-5
