New NSW Waratahs hooker Ioane Moananu is out to show what the New Zealand Super Rugby Pacific sides are missing after moving across the Tasman.
Moananu surprised many by moving from the Crusaders to the Waratahs ahead of the 2026 season.
Watch every second of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific live and on demand via Stan Sport.
The 24-year-old was coming off a breakout season for the eventual champions, starting six games in the absence of Codie Taylor.
However, with limited opportunities back home beyond the season, the Counties Manukau's product has taken the chance to build his game at Daceyville.
“I was looking for a contract in New Zealand to stay back at home, but there was nothing there, just a few injury contracts," Moananu told Rugby.com.au last month.
“I still wanted to give Super Rugby a good crack. I played so many games last year with the Crusaders and I thought I did pretty well.
“The only other country that's in Super Rugby is Australia, so I was like ‘let me reach out to all the teams in Australia and see who would take me’ and fortunately enough, we reached out to Dan [McKellar, NSW Waratahs coach] and he was pretty keen on having me, which was pretty cool.”
The snubbing by the other sides has lit the fire under Moananu for the season ahead, eager to learn from fellow new-signing and seasoned Wallaby Folau Fainga'a.
“100%, that’s the chip on my shoulder that I carry with me all the time now," he said.
“I don't think they didn't want me. I think it's just the way the contracting works, but I just use it as motivation now. Every day I turn up, it's just that chip on my shoulder that motivates me to get better.
“When I do play those NZ teams in 2026, it will be fun, man.
“When I was signed, Dave [Porecki] was still here and I thought I was going to be compete and learn off him being a seasoned Wallaby, but then he retired.
"When they signed Folau [Fainga’a], I was like ‘sweet, I have someone that I can trust and learn off as well.' I feel like I’ve got a lot to learn. I’m still young, I’ve got a lot to learn in this game.”
While he didn't play in the finals, Moananu got a first-hand experience of what makes a championship side.
Just weeks into pre-season, the former Crusader likes what he sees in NSW.
"I think we've got the talent, we've got coaches who are real smart and who know their stuff, but the one thing that I believe makes a championship team is the genuine connections and just how close this team is and how everyone knows each other," Moananu believes.
“Not only do we know each other by names and stuff, but on a deeper level, you notice the players here are real close with each other and love spending time with each other. They've got that deep connection, and when it comes to the last five-ten minutes, when it's tough, and you look across, and you see your brother in that jersey, you want to die for them.
“They've really got that connection here, and I can see it in the team, which is pretty cool.”
