Kini Naholo set to return with Fehi Fineanganofo on the brink of Super Rugby try record
Saturday, 2 May 2026
Hurricanes try-scoring machine Fehi Fineanganofo may have to wait to chase Super Rugby’s single-season record, with Kini Naholo poised for a long-awaited return against Moana Pasifika.
Fineanganofo crossed for his 15th try in just his 10th outing as the Hurricanes edged the defending champion Crusaders 38-31 in Wellington on Friday night, his 65th-minute effort surviving a TMO check amid doubts over a forward pass.
Naholo, sidelined by an ACL injury last year, has been almost forgotten as former All Blacks Sevens flyer Fineanganofo has thrived in his absence. But after two club outings, he is in line for his first Super Rugby appearance since injuring his knee against the Chiefs on May 3, 2025.
After a brutal stretch against the Blues, Chiefs, Brumbies and Crusaders in successive weeks, next Saturday’s clash with the bottom-place Moana Pasifika shapes as a chance for coach Clark Laidlaw to rotate.
The Hurricanes have already observed both byes and still face Kiwi derbies against the Blues, Highlanders and Crusaders before the playoffs.
Fineanganofo has carried a heavy load, starting all 10 matches. So too have Jordie Barrett and Josh Moorby, while Warner Dearns, Devan Flanders and Cam Roigard have started nine and featured in all 10.
With an extra day to recover before facing Moana at North Harbour Stadium, Laidlaw said the week would be treated as a “mini-bye”, with players given staggered time off. The Hurricanes thumped Moana 52-10 in Wellington in their season opener.
Fineanganofo scored twice that day but passed up a hat-trick, unselfishly setting up Moorby over the line. It’s a decision the Newcastle-bound winger may regret now that he needs just one more to match the single-season record of 16 tries, held by Ben Lam and Joe Roff.
With his team now four points clear at the top of the table, Laidlaw made it clear he won’t let individual records influence his selections as the Hurricanes chase their first championship since 2016.
“I have no interest in records,” he said. “There’s only one thing we’re chasing – and that’s to get to the end of the season and try and make a final.
“We need to trust our squad, which we will over the next two or three weeks. It’s totally unrealistic to think guys can play eight games in a row and peak in the playoffs.
“We’ve got a solid plan and injuries will play a part in that anyway, but we’ve had a couple of Matrix meetings on spreadsheets around who comes in and who goes out.
“If Kini Naholo comes in for Fehi, it’s not a bad swap.”
Starved of opportunities in a kick-dominated contest against the Crusaders, Fineanganfo still made his moment count – releasing, regathering and combining with Isaia Walker-Leawere to put the Hurricanes out of reach with 15 minutes left in the match.
There were suggestions he was ahead of Walker-Leawere when he took the final pass, but referee James Doleman awarded the try after a TMO review.
“Yeah it was a tight call, but there’s those passes every game,” Laidlaw said.
“I just thought that little skill-set that Fehi showed there, the power and the awareness, was exceptional. It was really good to see.
“That’s what sevens teaches you – to get tackled and get back to your feet.”