Lights out, lessons clear: Highlanders overpower Moana Pasifika in Albany

The lights went out in Albany and so did Moana Pasifika’s chances.

A technical fault wiped the final 20 minutes from screens, with the score sitting at 39-19 to the Highlanders when the broadcast cut.

The match carried on without TV coverage, and no further points were added, but the damage had already been done.

For fans across the Pacific tuning in, it was a frustrating end to a tough night. The result had long been settled.

Moana Pasifika never found their rhythm in what felt like a must-win game at home.

The Highlanders came ready, sharp and direct, and ran the hosts off the park in the first half.

Caleb Tangitau set the tone early. The winger has been in electric form this season, and his confidence showed again here. Every time he touched the ball, he looked ready to break the line and often did.

Back in his hometown for just the second time in Super Rugby, the 23-year-old struck in the sixth minute. Lurking behind the ruck, he sprinted into space, cut through the defence, and scored untouched.

He could have had another soon after but spilt the ball over the line. It didn’t take long to make amends.

Play continued in Albany despite a late broadcast blackout, with the Highlanders already in control. Photo/Moana Pasifika

In the 27th minute, Tangitau powered straight through William Havili, showing strength as well as speed to grab his second.

The Highlanders kept coming. Jona Nareki went over from close range, then Jack Taylor drove across from a dominant maul. By half-time, it was 27-0, a clear gap that Moana never truly closed.

The numbers, even incomplete due to the outage, tell a hard story. Moana conceded 13 penalties to just two, and made only 79 per cent of their tackles. Discipline and defence both fell short.

Things slipped further after the break when Moana picked up back-to-back yellow cards within five minutes, leaving them exposed. Veveni Lasaqa took full advantage, scoring easily against 13 men.

To their credit, Moana showed some fight late on. Millennium Sanerivi finished a sharp passage of play, and Allan Craig followed with another try just before the broadcast went down.

A simple Instagram livestream from Moana’s media team kept fans connected, drawing more than 1000 viewers in minutes. But the comeback came too late.

Watch Moana Pasifika players after their loss to the Highlanders.

There were bright spots for the Highlanders beyond Tangitau. Debutant halfback Nic Shearer impressed with a calm, smart performance. His passing was crisp, his decision-making measured, and he picked his moments to challenge the defence.

The 22-year-old capped his debut with a try and seven carries, never overplaying his hand. It was a composed start that hints at real depth building in the squad.

This is Moana Pasifika's sixth straight loss and more questions to answer. The effort came in patches, but at this level, slow starts and missed tackles are costly.

For the Highlanders, it’s a step forward and a reminder that even when the lights go out, good teams have already done the work.