Kanaloa Consortium, who are bidding to buy Moana Pasifika’s licence in the Super Rugby Pacific competition, are hoping their case can be given its fair hearing, as uncertainty continues to hover over the club’s future.

Kanaloa’s CEO Tracy Atiga confirmed on Monday there is an opening to get some discussions on the issue with current Moana Pasifika owners Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), which has not shown any interest in supporting Kanaloa’s proposal.

“We have had contact from the Pacific Rugby Players (PRP) association, who have been supportive and I hope that we can start discussion with the stakeholders involved,” she told RNZ Pacific.

“We are happy to hear that PRP have had a look at our proposal and are happy with it.”

Atiga said the PRP has “initiated discussions to get everybody in a room and talk about it”.

She said they are working around a tight dealine, with 15 May being the date given to them by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) to send in their proposal to the NZR Board.

Last week, she told RNZ Pacific that PMA chief executive Debbie Sorensen and New Zealand Rugby Players Association’s Rob Nichol were blocking support for the buy-out proposal.

Since then, Sorensen and Nichol have both stated that Kanaloa should send their proposal to NZR.

But Atiga insists they need to get both the organisations’ support as per letter sent to them by NZR, adding they need to look at the books, the financial records of Moana Pasifika, as per any legal business dealings.

In an interview with ABC’s Pacific Beat, Atiga claimed PMA is reluctant to show Kanaloa their books.

“No one’s going to come along and buy a franchise if they don’t have an opportunity to go through the books,” she said.

“I think that’s really what it is. We cannot think of any other reason why they have refused to talk to us.

“We need access to their due diligence process so that we can have a look at these books, have a look at how they have operated for the last five years, so that we can actually say, ‘oh, yeah, okay, your model hasn’t worked this way’.

“We feel we can introduce these different things so we can take this forward, because New Zealand Rugby really want someone to come in and buy the franchise as is now on ‘as is level’, the franchise is not sustainable.

“So we need to be able to see exactly what’s been going wrong before anyone even talks about signing over an agreement.”

Direct talks with NZR

Atiga said if PMA and NZRPA still do not want to engage, then Kanaloa will just work directly with NZR and let them decide whether the licence will be given to them or not.

“If the licence is gone, it goes back to New Zealand Rugby, so, let’s just have a direct conversation with New Zealand Rugby,” she said.

“They have given us to the 15th of this month to get as far down the track with PMA and NZRPA as possible, to get their support and to get their agreement to sign the licence over.

She said that is the path Kanaloa is taking right now.

“And as soon as we have that we will put something in. We will present all the evidence where we have shown – that we have tried very hard to engage with these two parties, and then we will leave it in the hands of New Zealand Rugby to make a decision.

“Now, if New Zealand Rugby make a decision and it does not go our way, we would be demanding a written outline as to why, because we know we have already met the criteria in all other areas.”

‘God willing’

Moana Pasifika halfback Augustine Pulu told the reporters in North Harbour last week that if no deal can be made, livelihoods will be be lost.

“That is what really breaks my heart, seeing the young guys breaking down into tears because these are the opportunities that we are not going to get anywhere else,” Pulu said.

“We have got to provide for our families. God willing, that there is another opportunity to carry on.”

Head coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga said he is frustrated at a lack of transparency coming from the top of the organisation.

“We don’t know the facts, until we get the real facts and see what happens, we’re just trying to worry about what we can control,” he said.

“There must be a reason why those things aren’t going through. Everyone is waiting to hear from someone, we’re at the bottom of it, there’s probably reasons for that.”

If no new funder is found Moana Pasifika will be probably playing their last home game at the North Harbour Stadium on 23 May and their last Super Rugby game on 30 May against the Brumbies in Canberra.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Black Ferns prop Awhina Tangen-Wainohu has announced her retirement from international rugby due to a career-ending neck injury.

Tangen-Wainohu played 10 tests for New Zealand, and was a member of the 2021 World Cup winning squad.

Named in the Black Ferns squad earlier this year, she was ruled out of game one following an aggravation of a previous neck injury.

“Sometimes the game you love doesn’t love you back. My neck scans have shown that staying in the game could cost more than the game gives. So I have to hang the boots up, but I am grateful my tinana [body] is still in one piece,” Tangen-Wainohu wrote on social media.

Tangen-Wainohu made a remarkable return to the black jersey in 2025 after stepping away from the game for two years due to her neck.

She quietly returned to the Blues, helping her team win both the Super Rugby Aupiki title and the inaugural Women’s Super Rugby Champions final.

Tangen-Wainohu came off the bench in their 38-12 win over Australia in Newcastle last year, her first international since the World Cup.

A mother to her son Hipirini, he was her biggest motivator in her comeback journey.

She previously played for Chiefs Manawa in Super Rugby Aupiki as well as Waikato and Hawke’s Bay in the Farah Palmer Cup.

Black Ferns Head Coach Whitney Hansen said Awhina will always be part of the team.

“Awhina is a talented front-rower who has consistently shown what’s possible through resilience and determination. She’s been instrumental in helping us shape this new era of Black Ferns. She has approached an incredibly tough decision with mana and optimism; we thank her for everything she has given to this team, and we know she will continue to contribute to the legacy of our people. For that, we are grateful.”

Tangen-Wainohu said she was ‘forever grateful’ to the game.

“Ngā mihi rugby, for a life I never imagined, for everything you gave to my whānau and I. To every team, coach, kaiako, and teammate, you shaped this journey.”

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

A proposed New Zealand T20 League won’t be played until the 2027-28 season at the earliest with the Super Smash to continue for at least one more summer.

In March New Zealand Cricket announced that they would push for a franchise league to replace the current domestic T20 Super Smash competition.

New Zealand Cricket said in a statement that they had since been working with all parties in a hope of starting the league in January 2027.

However more time would be needed as talks with prospective investors continued.

NZC said a key consideration has been the international cricket calendar, with locked-in Test series against Australia and Sri Lanka in January and February significantly reducing the available window.

NZC Chair Diana Puketapu-Lyndon said her board supported the change.

“Our focus is on ensuring the future of domestic T20 cricket in New Zealand is sustainable, competitive and aligned with the global game,” Puketapu-Lyndon said.

“Taking additional time now will help ensure the competition is set up to succeed over the long term.

“In the meantime, NZC will make arrangements to continue its Super Smash competitions for the 2026-27 season, and to host the incoming tours from India and Sri Lanka men, and Bangladesh women.”

NZ20 Establishment Committee Chair Don Mackinnon said the decision reflected a commitment to getting the foundations of the competition right.

“We are determined to ensure NZ20 launches without compromise and is set up for long-term success from day one.

“This revised timeline gives us the best opportunity to build a world-class competition that New Zealanders can be proud of and that fans deserve.”

Mackinnon confirmed that investor interest has been highly encouraging, prompting NZ20 to initiate a formal process.

“Interest from prospective investors has grown since NZ20 was identified as the preferred option for NZC.

“As a result, we will run a competitive process to identify the league’s primary investment partner, as well as the ownership of the respective franchises,” he said.

“This additional time will also allow us to finalise key elements of the competition, including franchise locations, ensuring we build strong regional connections and a compelling national footprint.”

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Shane van Gisbergen has put on another consummate display of road race driving to easily win the latest round of the NASCAR Cup series in New York.

The New Zealand driver celebrated his 37th birthday the day before by defending his title at the Watkins Glen International circuit – grabbing his first victory of the season and seventh all up in NASCAR racing.

Van Gisbergen dominated the weekend, firstly by putting himself on the pole for the fifth time since switching from Australasian Supercars to the US stock car scene three years ago.

He then proceeded to pull clear from the outset of the ‘Go Bowling at the Glen’ race, displaying his superiority on road circuits compared to rivals who are raised on a diet of oval track racing.

Van Gisbergen has won six of NASCAR’s last seven road or street races and was second in the other.

He led for 74 laps of the race’s 100 laps and the only moment of tension came when pitting with 24 laps to go, dropping him back to 26th at that point.

However, on new tires and a refreshed tank of gas, the Trackhouse Racing Chevrolet driver scythed through the field, making up 30 seconds on the leader in the space of just 18 laps.

Van Gisbergen hit the front six laps from the end and took the chequered flag seven seconds before American runner-up Michael McDowell in another Chevrolet.

Victory lifts the man nicknamed ‘SVG’ to 16th after 12 of 36 rounds, with only two more road or street races to come, both next month in California.

It was also the first win in the number 97 car, after driving number 88 for his first two seasons – a number made famous by former American great Dale Earnhardt Jr.

Van Gisbergen has long favoured 97 – a number used by his father Robert, a former rally driver.

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Incoming All Blacks coach Rennie and his star flanker Ardie Savea have steered Kobe Steelers to the top seeding in Japan Rugby League One’s knockout stage.

The Steelers clinched victory in a key final match of the 18-round regular season, winning 24-19 away to arch rivals the Kubota Spears.

The win leaves Kobe top and the Saitama Wild Knights second, handing them a bye through the first round of the play-offs while the third-ranked Spears must play an elimination final.

The outcome also increases the likelihood of a short preparation time for Rennie when he takes charge of the All Blacks for the first time ahead of their first test of 2026 – a Nations Championship fixture against France in Christchurch on 4 July.

Kobe are guaranteed to be involved in either the Japanese final on 7 June, or the third-place match a day earlier.

The All Blacks will have less than a month with Rennie, along with attack coach Mike Blair, the Scotsman who works under Rennie at Kobe and has been included in the new-look New Zealand coaching staff.

Savea – who is a contender to be named All Blacks captain – will also have little time on the ground before probably being called into Test duty.

Despite missing the Super Rugby Pacific season, Savea and Kobe team-mate Anton Lienert-Brown are both in contention for All Blacks selection under clauses in their Japan sabbatical contracts.

Kobe produced a strong finish to the season to claim top spot, with co-captain Brodie Retallick enjoying a standout campaign.

In a remarkable feat, former All Blacks lock centurion Retallick topped the try-scoring list for all teams with 17 – leaving him one short of the competition season record.

There is a two-week break before the two Japan elimination finals are played.

The first match will pit fourth-placed Tokyo Sungoliath against the fifth ranked Black Rams Tokyo.

The teams’ respective captains are long-time All Blacks team-mates and test centurions Sam Cane and TJ Perenara.

The defending champion Brave Lupus Tokyo – coached by Todd Blackadder and featuring All Blacks first-five Richie Mo’unga – snuck into the knockout stage in sixth.

Their elimination final against the Kubota Spears – a rematch of last year’s final – could be the last in Japan for the 31-year-old Mo’unga, who was New Zealand’s first-choice playmaker at the last two World Cups.

His first two seasons of a three-year contract brought successive titles for the Brave Lupus.

Under New Zealand Rugby stipulations, Mo’unga is ineligible for the All Blacks’ opening Nations Championship tests on home soil, along with the four-test Greatest Rivarly tour of South Africa.

Meanwhile, the season is over for ninth-placed Toyota Verblitz, who have a strong Kiwi connection.

Steve Hansen is the club’s director of rugby while fellow-former All Blacks coach Ian Foster is head coach and former All Blacks Aaron Smith and Mark Tele’a are in their playing ranks.

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It’s a South Island one-two at the midway point of netball’s ANZ Premiership after the Tactix held out the Stars 52-50 in the closest finish of the season after five rounds.

The defending champion Tactix joined the Steel on four wins to lead the standings at the midway point of the reduced competition, although the Steel own top spot courtesy of a superior goal percentage.

It was a strong response from the Christchurch-based Tactix on front of their home fans, having been well beaten the previous week by the third-placed Mystics.

It was a second loss for the fourth-placed Stars but they were never out of the contest, leading after the first quarter before trailing by one goal at halftime and by three going into the final stanza.

The visitors snatched a two-goal lead midway through the final quarter, boosted by key turnovers by defender Kate Burley, and they were still ahead with about three minutes to play.

Tactix coach Donna Wilkins called a timeout and her team responded, snaring a turnover and going on to score the final three goals of the game.

Shooter Hanna Glen, in her first match, shot a solid 34 from 38 attemptsl, forging a good partnership with wing attack Taiana Day who started again in place of injured captain Erikana Pedersen.

The Stars’ Silver Ferns shooting pairing of Amelia Walmsley (35/36) and Martina Salmon (15/17) were accurate but didn’t put up the same number of shots as Glen and Amorangi Malesala (17/20)

Victory was the ninth in a row at home for the Tactix.

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New Zealand three-day eventer Tim Price has recorded his best result at the Badminton Horse Trials, finishing second riding Falco.

Price and Falco climbed through the field at the famed five-star event, having found themselves 10th after dressage phase and fifth after the cross-country.

They jumped clear in the showjumping on Monday morning (NZT) but it wasn’t enough to overhaul British winner Ros Canter on Lordships Graffalo, who accrued just two time penalties.

Canter and her 14-year-old horse became the first combination to win Badminton three times in its 77-year history, finishing on 25.7 penalty points.

Price notched 33.9 points, having edged in front of third-placed Briton Harry Mead (35.1) on the final day.

Price’s previous best Badminton result was a third in 2017.

He was full of praise for his gelding, who was contesting his first Badminton.

‘Falco is a fantastic little horse, all head and heart. If he’s enjoying it and his confidence is there, he gives me everything,” said Price, who rode Falco at last year’s Pau five-star event and to sixth place at the Paris Olympics.

The other best played New Zealanders were Tayla Mason (sixth on Centennial) and Jonelle Price (12th on Chilli’s Midnight Star). It was Mason’s best result at any five-star event.

Former champion Caroline Powell was fifth after the dressage but failed to complete the cross-country phase.

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The White Ferns let victory slip through their grasp in a tense one-wicket loss to England in Durham to kick-start their three-match ODI series.

The hosts crawled to 211 for nine in the 49th over, surviving a key dropped chance late in the chase and just doing enough to overhaul New Zealand’s 210 all out in difficult batting conditions at Chester-le-Street.

Only three players posted scores above 35, including New Zealanders Maddy Green (88) and Melie Kerr (55) who put on 105 for the third wicket before the last eight wickets fell for 63 runs.

England had similar struggles in their chase, losing wickets steadily, with only Maia Bouchier (59) able to defy a methodical New Zealand attack before she was the second victim of captain Kerr (2-54), lobbing a catch to midwicket.

At that stage the home side were 160-7 but their lower order displayed grit, most notably skipper and allrounder Charlie Dean, who finished 31 not out and hit the winning runs with 10 balls to spare.

The match swung in the 47th over when England were nine down and Dean slashed a full toss from Bree Illing straight to Nense Patel in the gully.

The chance came at an awkward height and was spilled, opening the door for the hosts to eke out victory.

Illing was New Zealand’s tightest bowler, taking 1-31 off 9.2 overs while fellow-seamer Rosemary Mair claimed 3-42.

Green was the game’s best batter, striking nine fours in her 107-ball knock, the 33-year-old falling short of a fourth ODI century when she was caught on long-on off the bowling of Tilly Corteen-Coleman.

Kerr said batting proved more difficult than she anticipated.

“The wicket was a bit slow, we thought 250 would be a good score. We were set up to do that but unfortunately lost wickets at the back end,” she said.

“We fought hard with the ball to take it deep. We have to learn and be better but I thought our bowlers were outstanding.”

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The Wellington Phoenix women made history on Sunday when they won a place in the club’s first A-league grand-final; they also won the hearts and minds of a legion of new fans.

In front of record home crowd, the Phoenix women won the second semi-final leg 2-0, to overcome a one-goal first-leg deficit to the Brisbane Roar.

Wellington secured the 3-2 advantage on aggregate in extra-time, sending them through to Saturday’s A-League decider with Melbourne City in Melbourne.

The Wellington women ended the football club’s 19-year grand final drought – the Phoenix men were eliminated in the preliminary final in 2010.

Nearly 6000 fans filled Porirua Park, north of Wellington, hoping to witness history.

Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman said there was a sense running through the team that they were going to win – “there was something in the air.”

Priestman said it was a special day for the club.

“Moments like tonight is why you do it right, I think there’s young kids in that stand today who fell in love with the game and I think in five, 10 years’ time they could be on that pitch right. So I think it’s incredible, a big shift and I’m just so happy to be on that plane to Melbourne,” Priestman said.

American striker Makala Woods scored for the Phoenix in the first half. Woods eventually slotted the winner in extra time after missing two attempts just before regular time.

“Oh, I wanted to die,” she laughed. “That was really hard, I think I would have taken that very heavily, it’s still probably going to be in my nightmares.

“But I just have a great group of girls around me, every single one of them lifted me up and continued to feed me balls and Bev and the staff …when you have that great of a group of people believing in you, how can you not believe in yourself,” Woods said.

“I feel like I owed it to them to put that ball in the back of the net … so I was really happy I could put it away.”

Woods said the tension in extra-time was palpable.

“I felt like I was going to throw-up on the sideline, I’ve never been so anxious … that’s just how much it means to this group of girls.”

Woods, who only joined mid-season as an injury replacement, said she was most happy for inaugural club player Mackenzie Barry.

“She’s been here since day one, she deserves this more than anyone in this league and she proved why she’s one of the best defenders in the league today.”

Since the Phoenix women entered the A-league five years ago, they had never made the finals. In their first two seasons, the side finished with the wooden spoon and looked out of its depth at times.

Barry, now captain, found it hard to express the joy she felt.

“It means so much to me, it’s hard to feel all the feelings right now, it’s amazing, the club’s worked for year’s for this and the season has been really tough so I think no other club deserves it more than us,” Barry said.

Extra stands were erected to accommodate the fans, triple the number the Phoenix usually play in front of in Porirua.

“Even right from the warm-up it was starting to get packed and I was like ‘wow this is going to be amazing’ so as soon as we walked down the crowd was cheering the whole game,” Barry said.

Woods said they felt buoyed by the fans.

“I’ve never played in front of that many people in my life, it was so amazing …they really showed up and I’m so thankful,” the American said.

Priestman has achieved a lot on the international stage, including an Olympic Gold with Canada at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. But she said helping the Phoenix women get into the grand final ranks highly.

“It’s right up there, I was reflecting on the win today, it’s been a hell of a ride, and I wouldn’t [want] do it with anybody else, these lot are a special bunch,” Priestman said.

The Wellington Phoenix went big when they recruited Priestman, who served a one-year ban for her role in a drone spying scandal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The Phoenix were looking for a coach just as her ban was about to lift.

Still, the Phoenix women have exceeded expectations, given they also lost key players to season-ending injuries.

Now some fans are affectionately crediting Priestman for a ‘Bev-olution’ at the club.

Melbourne City have dominated recent matchups against Wellington Phoenix Women, with 1-0 and 2-1 wins this season, but Priestman insists the Phoenix are not done yet.

“We’ve only ever lost by a goal, we’ve scored some goals, and we’ve worked our arses off and I think when you do that you get your rewards and I think we absolutely can beat Melbourne City, I have got no doubt about it.”

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Wellington Phoenix women have made club history, booking a place in the A-League grand final for the first time in an extra-time thriller.

Wellington won the second leg 2-0, sending them through to next weekend’s A-League decider with Melbourne City, 3-2 on aggregate.

Phoenix striker Makala Woods was the standout at Porirua Park, scoring both goals in the tense, marathon contest.

The home crowd erupted, as Woods burst through the middle to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate in the 42nd minute, after teenage star Pia Vlok brilliantly curled a ball upfield for Woods.

The American striker then sealed the 3-2 advantage with her winning goal in the first 15-minute period of extra-time.

Wellington held Brisbane out for the second period, as the crowd of nearly 6000 reached fever pitch.

Melbourne City earned grand final hosting rights, after finishing top of the league table in the regular season, then overcoming crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory in the semis.

The Wellington women have ended the club’s 19-year grand final drought – the Phoenix men were eliminated the preliminary final in 2010.

The women’s team joined the A-League in the 2021/22 season, with their best finish seventh before this season.

Follow the live action here:

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Follow all the A-League action, as Wellington Phoenix take on Brisbane Roar at Porirua Park for the second leg of their women’s semifinal.

The Phoenix will need to overcome a one-goal deficit, if they hope to progress to the final.

They return home to Porirua for Saturday’s return leg, [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/594111/wellington-phoenix-women-fall-behind-brisbane-roar-in-home-and-away-a-league-semis trailing Brisbane Roar 2-1, after their opening encounter across the Tasman.

Kickoff is 2.30pm.

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While Super Rugby Aupiki has evolved significantly from its early three-round amateur format, many players are still balancing the demands of professional rugby with work and family commitments.

With non-Black Fern players earning about $17,000 for the season, tough choices remain part of the reality for many athletes.

For Hurricanes Poua fullback TeRauoriwa Gapper, that balancing act has been part of her life for more than a decade.

A rugby player, teacher and mother of three, Gapper’s experience reflected the challenge faced by many Aupiki players.

“It’s hard work,” she says. “It’s a choice to do what you want to do and you’ve got to know your why.

“My children are the reason why I do what I do.”

Based in Christchurch, Gapper has previously travelled between cities during Aupiki campaigns, but this year will base herself full-time in Wellington.

That decision was made only with the blessing of her children, aged 17, 14 and 8.

“When I spoke to the kids and said, ‘If I have to move full-time, I probably won’t go’, they were like, ‘No Mum, you can’t give up opportunities like that’. That makes me feel a bit better about going, because I know that I’m showing them to follow your dreams.

“I’m glad that the boys are willing to let mom go for a few months and my daughter’s getting there. I was very proud.”

Gapper says the women’s game has changed significantly, since the early days of her career.

“My first season with my daughter, she was 8 months old, when I was playing Farah Palmer Cup, and I had to give up breast-feeding, because I couldn’t pay to take her with me. Now we’re allowed, under a certain age, to bring a child with you, but we just didn’t have the support back then.”

With such allowances, Gapper takes pride in pioneering the progress.

“Now the support around us is massive and it’s pretty exciting that we’ve got mothers that are Black Ferns. We’ve got the right systems in place for people to feel supported, and be able to be a professional athlete and a mother at the same time.”

However, Gapper admits it won’t be easy spending the season away from home.

“I move up on Saturday, which is going to be a bit sad,” she says. “I don’t think the boys will be too worried – I’m going to feel it more than they do – but my daughter’s definitely going to.

“It’s going to be pretty pretty tough to be away.”

She said the whanau had adopted a well-oiled system, allowing Gapper to balance, work, training, matches and family life.

“We’ve got a great Google calendar going on, I’m thankful for my family, for my tribe for helping me out.”

Alongside the demands off the field, Gapper had also dealt with the physical toll of a lengthy rugby career or, as she put it, “been through the ringer a bit”.

“I’ve broken my jaw twice, broken my collar collar bone twice and had quite a few nasty concussions, but I just love rugby so much that I’m willing to put my body on the line.

“There was no thought of stopping because of injury.”

Poua have endured a tough start to Aupiki, finishing last in all but the inaugural season, when they were runners-up with just one win.

“I know it’s been bit rough for us the first few years, hopefully get a few wins on the board this year, if not the biggest win.”

She says the franchise has recruited some top talent.

“There’s so much new blood, really exciting new blood, too. They haven’t tapped into the potential that these girls can reach.

“Having this competition, where they’re playing week-in, week-out rugby, getting to train like a high performance athlete is just going to do wonders for their development.”

After fighting through so much adversity on and off the field, Gapper is simply happy to still be lacing lace up the boots.

“I’m at the point in my career where I want to make the most of every minute, every second. We are wanting to shift the needle, and get fans and the public excited.”

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A quartet of tries to winger Josh Moorby has helped the Hurricanes to a strong 50-17 win over Moana Pasifika at a sodden North Harbour Stadium.

While fellow wing Fehi Fineanganofo has been grabbing the headlines this Super Rugby Pacific season, Moorby has also been potent on the right wing, none more so than this match.

He scored tries in the 11th, 22nd, 52nd and 69th minutes, while Fineanganofo missed out this time. He still needs two tries to set a new Super Rugby record of 17 tries.

The scoreline was tough on Moana Pasifika, who were trying for their second win of the season before their likely departure from the competition.

They gave it their all, restricting the Hurricanes to a halftime score of 19-5, but couldn’t stop the Canes in the second half.

They never stopped trying, with winger Tuna Tuitama providing their highlight with a try double.

The victory sees the Hurricanes maintain their competition lead, with nine wins in 11 matches.

The bonus point win takes them to 45 points, five ahead of the Chiefs, who also have nine from 11, while there are two points back to the Blues.

The Hurricanes play the third-placed Blues next weekend, while Moana have a bye.

See how the game unfolded here.

Moana Pasifika: 1. Malakai Hala-Ngatai, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Atu Moli, 4. Allan Craig, 5. Veikoso Poloniati, 6. Miracle Faiilagi (c), 7. Semisi Paea, 8. Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 9. Augustine Pulu, 10. William Havili, 11. Tuna Tuitama, 12. Faletoi Peni, 13. Solomon Alaimalo, 14. Israel Leota, 15. Glen Vaihu.

Bench: Mamoru Harada, Abraham Pole, Lolani Faleva, Jimmy Tupou, Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing, Siaosi Nginingini, Jackson Garden-Bachop, Tevita Latu.

Hurricanes: 1. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. Vernon Bason, 3. Pasilio Tosi, 4. Caleb Delany, 5. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 6. Brad Shields, 7. Du’Plessis Kirifi (c), 8. Brayden Iose, 9. Ereatara Enari, 10. Lucas Cashmore, 11. Fehi Fineanganofo, 12. Jone Rova, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Josh Moorby, 15. Callum Harkin.

Bench: Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia, Siale Lauaki, Hugo Plummer, Devan Flanders, Jordi Viljoen, Bailyn Sullivan, Kini Naholo.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

Adelaide United has a few things Auckland FC don’t have but would like, including an A-League championship and a football-first stadium.

Both of those things will be front of mind when Auckland travel to Coopers Stadium for the second leg of the A-League semifinals on Friday.

Unable to get an advantage over Adelaide in the first leg at home in Penrose, with a 1-1 draw on Saturday, Auckland now must win at the home of football in South Australia to progress to the A-League grand final for the first time.

“It’s going to be hostile, but who cares?,” Auckland coach Steve Corica said of the 16,500 capacity Coopers Stadium that has football as the main tenant.

“The players want to play in front of good crowds, that’s a good crowd. It’s a good field.

“We’ve been there before, we’ve played there, we’ve done well there. We haven’t beaten them there, but they haven’t beaten us either.”

Auckland’s leading goal scorer, Sam Cosgrove, was not intimidated by what is known to be one of the most consistent supporters groups in the competition.

“It’s going to be a rife atmosphere, it’s going to be a good crowd, but that can spur us on just as much.

“We’ve been arguably better away from home, so we’ve got loads of confidence going into next week and we think we can beat [them].”

Saturday’s draw was the fifth time Auckland had ended with a stalemate at home, at the stadium they share with the Warriors NRL side.

On the road, Auckland have won three times as often as they lost this season.

Two sides of a draw

Adelaide United coach Airton Androli did not classify a draw as a successful result from the trip to Auckland and he did not believe Adelaide would be favourites now that the deciding match would be played in front of a sell-out home crowd at Coopers Stadium.

His side are unbeaten in 11 consecutive A-League games and he has plans on extending that out to 13 games with Adelaide’s first Championship title win in a decade.

“Our main intention was coming here and win the game, and that’s what we wanted to do,” he said straight after Saturday’s match.

“But obviously, a draw is not a bad result. But nothing is decided.

“The only thing that we’re really happy about now is that we know that the game is going to be decided next week. We’re playing at home in front of our supporters, and that’s not an easy place to come to.

“Nothing falls onto your lap. We need to work hard because we’re close to where we want to be, but we’re not there yet.

Adelaide were on a different trajectory to Auckland over the second half of the A-League season. While Auckland were stumbling in January, Adelaide were setting a foundation that would see them finish second after the regular season.

Momentum was on Adelaide’s side heading into finals but Androli did not see that as an advantage.

“I don’t believe in favourites, I don’t believe in underdogs. It’s an equal game of football.

“We’re just going to do what we do, go with the belief that we have, the confidence that we’ve been building in order to win the game [on Friday].

Corica was upbeat with the draw in what was likely the team’s last home game of the season.

“Pretty positive result for us in the end, I think,” Corica said.

“We slipped up once, they scored. We just can’t afford to do that in the next leg.

“Other than that, I thought the boys played really well.

“We’ve got a good away record, I’m looking forward to it.”

Corica tried to point to the positives, on numerous occasions, as he summed up the first leg.

He may have felt he had some convincing to do when he told the journalists they were “a little bit negative, I think you need to be a little bit more positive”.

Corica did admit the players “lost maybe a little bit of concentration” when two Auckland players went down with injures that required them to leave the field within the first 10 minutes of the second half and there was a delay in play.

“It’s just the way it is sometimes with football, you’ve got to deal with these moments in games.

“Like I said, they had their one opportunity, they scored from it. I think we had 18 shots to their 12, it was very positive from our players.

“It’s about just trying to remain focused, concentrate. We know they’re good with the ball, but we showed today that we can defend well against them.

“We’ve done it before in the past and we’ll do it again on Friday.”

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The Mystics have held off a desperate Pulse in Porirua, beating the home side 55-47, to record their first back-to-back wins of the ANZ Premiership season.

The Pulse have been a consistent ANZ Premiership contender, having only missed the play-offs once in nine years of the competition.

But the Pulse came into the game with just one win after four rounds, knowing a loss to the Mystics could just about end their play-off hopes.

The highly fancied Mystics had a slow start to the season but were coming off a 52-43 win over the table-topping Tactix, and now sit second on the ladder.

The Mystics got off to a fast start. Pulse import shooter Ine-Marí Venter managed just two goals, before she was subbed off after seven minutes in favour of Khiarna Williams.

The Pulse managed to steady the ship, to trail by three after the first quarter.

Pulse wing defence Ainsleyana Puleiata played with conviction throughout, picking intercepts off Peta Toeava, who copped a warning for not pulling out of a contest in the second quarter.

The Pulse won the second quarter, to trail by just one goal at half-time.

Mystics coach Tia Winikerei continued to tinker with her line-up throughout.

The Mystics had the better of the third quarter to lead 42-38 heading into the final period.

In the final quarter the Mystics’ defenders, led by Catherine Hall, started turning over the ball more regularly.

Hall had to come off the court with a few minutes left with what looked like a sore ankle, having collided with the post.

Pulse co-captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio had her best game of the season, sinking 26 goals from goal attack, but the former Silver Ferns captain needed more support.

Young Mystics goal shoot Sophia Lafaiali’i did a good job anchoring the shooting end in her 45 minutes on court to put up 34 shots.

Mystics stalwart Tayla Earle brought up her 100th ANZ Premiership match.

Steel continue to build momentum

Earlier, the Southern Steel won their fourth ANZ Premiership game in a row, beating the winless Magic 61-48 in Tauranga.

The Steel have not won the domestic title since 2018 and have not featured in the play-offs since 2021, but are looking strong at the half-way mark of the season.

The southerners have not dropped a game since losing their season opener and now sit at the top of the ladder.

Steel shooter Aliyah Dunn showed no signs of a calf injury that saw her leave the court in the dying minutes of their previous game.

The shooting partnership between Georgia Heffernan and Dunn has gone up another level this year. At goal attack Heffernan contributed with a handy 15 goals.

In 53 minutes on court, Dunn top-scored with 40 goals, missing just one shot.

In contrast, the Magic were without their most experienced shooter Saviour Tui for a second week, due to injury.

Magic coach Mary-Jane Araroa started with Kate Taylor and Sarah Guiney in the shooting circle. The 2025 Youth World Cup team-mates more than held their own in the first quarter and the scores were tied 14-all at the first break.

But in what felt like an inevitable shift, the Steel started playing more clinical netball and the Magic found it hard to slow them down.

The Steel led 31-23 at half-time, and won the next two quarters.

Having only played a few minutes so far in her first year of the ANZ Premiership, Guiney showed a lot of promise in nearly a full game at goal attack.

Guiney nailed back-to-back super shots near the end of the third quarter, but the Steel held a healthy 49-38 lead going into the final spell.

Taylor, playing a full game at goal shoot was solid, scoring 34 goals at 92 percent accuracy.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand