The rugby world is saluting the strides of Moana Pasifika after the competition's relative newcomers enjoyed their best-ever Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
Moana bowed out, somewhat unceremoniously, with a 64-12 loss to the high-flying and powerhouse Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday night.
Watch every game of SMARTECH Super Rugby Pacific live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
After joining the competition in 2022, Moana needed to record an unlikely bonus-point win over the Hurricanes to make the finals for the first time.
But a seventh-placed showing, after two wooden spoons in 2022 and 2023 before last year's 11th-spot, is rightfully being lauded.
"I do want to acknowledge Moana Pasifika and the season that they've had, and the inspiration and the excitement that they brought to our competition," said Hurricanes captain Xavier Numia.
"You can see now the amount of fans and people that are behind them and what that brings to rugby in New Zealand.
"So whether people were here tonight to support us or Moana, it doesn't matter.
"It's good for New Zealand rugby and the brand of rugby that they play and the values that they represent, things that we all have in common.
"So real credit to Moana and the things that they're doing on and off the field. They've been a joy to watch this season. There is no doubt about that."
But inspirational skipper Ardie Savea, the newly crowned Super Rugby Pacific player of the year, maintains the Pasifika are aiming higher.
"The way where you can take the momentum today, what you've done, even just in tonight's game, these moments, what this season has done, where you go from here, we're not satisfied," Savea said.
"Our goal was to win the thing and make top six, but that wasn't meant to be."
