Mauger: No self pity for Moana

Aaron Mauger doesn’t want anyone’s sympathy for what’s happening with Moana Pasifika, but perhaps a bit more understanding on what the team is trying to achieve wouldn’t go amiss. Despite a gallant effort, Moana Pasifika lost 38-21 to the Crusaders on Good Friday, remain rock bottom of the points table and still looking for their first win. After the Hurricanes thrashed Moana Pasifika 59-0 at Mt Smart Stadium a couple of weeks ago, Ardie Savea said: ”It’s happy and sad, because I’ve got a lot of love for them.

“I’m happy for us, but I hope Moana bounce back and win next week.”

They didn’t, they lost to the Highlanders 45-17.

While it’s commendable for Savea, who has Samoan heritage, to feel that way, it does highlight an issue Moana Pasifika face.

They need to make themselves as attractive to aspiring players with Pacific Island heritage as the five other New Zealand based Shop N Save Super Rugby teams, or any NRL club.

That’s not easy, but it’s something Moana Pasifika must

do for long-term success. “We want to attract the best aspiring, or established Pasifika players that we can,” Mauger said.

“But we’ve still got a lot of work to do, both on an off the field to get there. It’s still very new, but there is the possibility for us to get there.

“We certainly don’t want sympathy. We appreciate empathy and people understanding the journey and a lot of people probably don’t understand the journey.

“We don’t want anyone feeling sorry for us and we don’t feel

sorry for ourselves.

“We understand where we’re at on the journey and we’ve got to push through the tough times, because we know the good times will follow.”

Although Moana Pasifika centre Levi Aumua played for the All Blacks XV last year, one of the purposes of the team is to be a part of the pathway into the Samoa, Tonga or other Pacific Island national teams.

“It’s really around developing Pacific Island rugby for the benefit of Pacific Island rugby, because otherwise nothing changes,” Mauger said.