Moana Pasifika #7 - Solomone Funaki or Alamanda Motuga
By Thomas Airey
They’re both first-choice openside flankers for their countries. They both turn 29 this year, before a Rugby World Cup they’re dying to get to.
They have the same playstyle and attributes, adding hard-nosed physicality to the ball jackaling and fitness required of any good number seven.
But only one of them can wear that jersey for Moana Pasifika each week ...
Injury means that Solomone Funaki, from the villages of Fanga-‘o-Pilolevu (Tongatapu) & Pangai (Ha’apai) in Tonga should get the first crack in 2023.
He played in 10 of Moana’s 14 games last year, scoring an equal-team high four tries and receiving the club’s Tangaloa Award for the best defensive player in his debut Super Rugby Pacific season.
“For me personally, I’d say it was a very successful year,” said Funaki, who also played in every 2022 match for ‘Ikale Tahi, starting all but one.
The key to that success? His Samoan uso Alamanda Motuga from Sataoa & Sa’anapu and their co-operative battle to get better every day.
“He's quiet and stuff, but a very competitive person,” Funaki said of his fellow openside.
“Having him competing [with me] for one spot, I think that pushed me to where I could be, where I was last year and then I pushed him too.”
Motuga played eight games for Moana Pasifika in 2022, picking up the Savae La’auli Sir Michael Jones Forward of the Year Cup, Players’ Player award, and Niu Award for Rookie of the Year.
He was set for similar success with Manu Samoa, but badly injured his shoulder in game one of their triumphant Pacific Nations Cup campaign last July.
Motuga left camp to have surgery as the team were preparing for the title decider against Fiji in Lautoka, and said it was hard to depart like that but he was thrilled for the result.
He hasn’t played a game since, with round one of Super Rugby Pacific the targeted return.
“I'm sort of in the process of getting into full contact and just getting the feel of the game,” Motuga said.
In his absence Jordan Taufua played most of the openside minutes for Samoa, but Manu coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has kept in touch with where Motuga needs to be heading into the Rugby World Cup.
“It's in the back of my mind,” he said.
“The big goal to get to is the World Cup. So for that to happen, I guess I have to put my best foot forward for Moana, get good performances and have a really big season with them and hopefully get the nod again to represent Samoa.”
Funaki also has his sights set on the tournament and fulfilling a lifelong dream.
He acknowledged his status as Tonga coach Toutai Kefu’s main man at openside, but isn’t taking anything for granted seven months out:
“I’ve got a couple of very good competitors for the seven jersey so I'm not comfortable. I’ll try my best to still be on top of it.”
Motuga said their similar playstyles and pathways have brought them closer together.
“We kind of learn a lot off each other and push each other at the same time to be our best out there,” he said.
“We’re just like brothers… off the field. But when it's on the field it’s a different story.”
Moana Pasifika have preseason fixtures against the Chiefs and Highlanders over the next fortnight before their opening game against Fijian Drua on February 25 at Mt Smart Stadium.
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#Watch the pre season trial live against the Chiefs in the video below -
Get to know a few more of the boys from Moana Pasifika from their Media Day at Moana Pasifika HQ.
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