Moana Pasifika end Lautoka curse to win 'Battle of the Pacific'

The graveyard is no more.

At Churchill Park in Lautoka, Moana Pasifika produced one of their most complete displays to beat Fijian Drua 40-26 and snap the hosts’ long unbeaten run at home on Saturday.

In round one of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, they were sharp, brave and ruthless.

This competition has opened with pace and points, and this clash was another example.

With the new rules again rewarding ambition, especially through quick restarts and the 50/22, both sides looked to move the ball.

But only one side did it with control.

Ofa Tauatevalu scored the decisive late try, finishing off a clinical Moana move after a costly Drua error inside their own 22. Photo/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga/file

Moana mean business

Moana Pasifika flew out of the blocks. Their forwards laid the platform and their backs finished with confidence.

Captain Miracle Fai’ilagi led from the front with two first-half tries, powering through traffic and setting the tone early.

Playmaker Patrick Pellegrini steered the ship smartly. He kicked his goals, found territory when it mattered and punished Drua errors.

Two well-judged 50/22 kicks turned pressure into prime attacking ball and underlined how well Moana have adapted to the competition’s tweaks.

By half-time, they led 28-14. It felt deserved. They were accurate in attack, patient near the line and far more disciplined than their hosts.

Where Moana built phases and waited for space, the Drua forced passes that were not on. Where Moana kicked with purpose, the Drua chased moments that never came.

Churchill Park: The “Graveyard of the Pacific” was rocking in the Lautoka heat but Moana Pasifika tore up the script in round one of Super Rugby Pacific 2026. Photo/Supplied

Drua off their game

The Fijians will be bitterly disappointed. Lautoka has been a fortress in recent seasons, but there was little sign of that edge.

At times, it felt like a pre-season run-out. Silly penalties, loose offloads and poor decisions handed momentum to the visitors.

Kemu Valetini tried to give the side direction and kicked reasonably well. Ponipate Loganimasi was lively out wide and carried hard, picking up where he left off last year. But across the park, it was not good enough.

Still they showed fight. Early in the second half, they struck back with purpose, tightening the score to within seven points and lifting the crowd.

For a spell, the scoreboard flattered the hosts. Moana had to defend, and greater tests will come later in the season, but they held firm when it mattered.

Patrick Pellegrini’s pinpoint 50/22 underlined Moana’s control, as the new-season rules again proved a major factor in a high-scoring Pacific clash.

Calm heads close it out

With the Drua chasing the game late on, a costly error inside their own 22 proved fatal.

Moana pounced, worked the ball wide and replacement Ofa Tauatevalu dived over to seal it. Pellegrini added the extras from the touchline to stretch the final score to 40-26.

In the closing moments, Moana calmly claimed the restart and ran down the clock. No panic. No rush. Just control.

It is a huge statement to start the year, away from home, in heavy heat, against proud Pacific rivals. Moana were very good. The Drua were well below their best.

Next up, the Drua travel to face the NSW Waratahs in Sydney next Friday, needing a sharp response.

William Havili had much to celebrate on Saturday following his side's win over the Fijian Drua. The Tongan international capped his 50th game for the Moana, the first for the franchise. Photo/Facebook/Moana Pasifika

Moana, meanwhile, have smashed the Lautoka curse and shown they are ready to shape this new Super Rugby Pacific season in their own image.

They head to Wellington to take on the Hurricanes next Friday. Earlier in round one, the Highlanders defeated defending champions Crusaders in Dunedin 25-23 while the Waratahs won the local derby beating the Queensland Reds 36-12 in Sydney.

In other games played on Saturday: the Chiefs pipped the Blues 19-15 in Auckland while the Brumbies proved too strong for the Force, 56-24 in Perth to complete round one.

For more on Super Rugby Pacific 2026, click here.

Watch Moana Pasifika captain Miracle Fai'ilagi score one of his hattrick tries against the Fijian Drua at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.

Moana Pasifika 40 (Tries: Faiilagi 3, Tupou Ta’eiloa, Ofa, Tauatevalu; Cons: Pellegrini 5) def Fijian Drua 26 (Tries: Samusamuvodre, Mayanavanua, Salawa, Droasese; Cons: Valetini 3)

Fiji Drua: 15 Ilaisa Droasese, 14 Manasa Mataele, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Virimi Vakatawa, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Kemu Valetini, 9 Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua (co-captain), 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Zuriel Togiatama, 1 Haereiti Hetet.
Replacements: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Joseva Tamani, 20 Isoa Tuwai, 21 Frank Lomani (co-captain), 22 Isikeli Rabitu, 23 Epeli Momo

Moana Pasifika: 15 William Havili, 14 Tevita Ofa, 13 Lalomilo Lalomila,12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Jonathan Taumateine, 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa, 7 Semisi Paea, 6 Miracle Faiilagi (captain), 5 Allan Craig, 4 Tom Savage, 3 Chris Apoua, 2 Millennium Sanerivi, 1 Tito Tuipulotu.
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Abraham Pole, 18 Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, 19 Ofa Tauatevalu, 20 Dominic Ropeti, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Denzel Samoa, 23 Glen Vaihu

Referee: Marcus Playle
Assistant Referees: Fraser Hannon, Dan Moore
TMO: Glenn Newman

The Miss Pacific Islands 2026 contestants, led by reigning queen Litara Ieremia-Allan, joined the action at the Moana Pasifika-Fijian Drua Super Rugby Pacific 2026 round one match at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday.

This story has been updated to include results from matches played after the Moana-Drua game.