Jonathan Taumateine. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika halfback Jonathan Taumateine had a disastrous 2024 season, missing out on most of the Super Rugby Pacific action because of injury.
He signed with the club for another season in July last year, and has made an impressive comeback since their opening match in February.
Moving forward to the end of the 2025 season, the 27-year-old Manu Samoa scrumhalf has become a key player in the team's campaign so far.
His commanding role in the number 9 jersey is one that head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has recognised.
Jonathan Taumateine of Moana Pasifika during a Super Rugby Pacific match. Photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
So much that JT, as he is known to his team mates, has been named consecutively to start off matches and lead their plays.
"JT brings experience, physicality and agility when he's out there on the field," Umaga said.
"We got a glimpse of that when he was playing for us briefly after returning from injury.
"He's worked very hard throughout his recovery so it's awesome to have him locked in for a full season in 2025."
JT said he has been lucky to have gone through the season unscathed and is eyeing a positive finish with Moana Pasifika.
"It's been good. I mean, obviously, that I'm able to not get injured this year so far, so I'm happy with it," he told RNZ Pacific.
"And just being able to spend more time with the boys on the field. I think it's helped a lot the way I'm performing at the moment."
Moana Pasifika halfback Jonathan Taumateine v Fijian Drua at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland on Saturday 26 April 2025. Photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz
History beckons
JT said 2025 has been an exciting year for the franchise club and the best so far, since they made their Super Rugby debut with the Fijian Drua in 2022.
The team stands at the brink of creating another piece of history, added to their achievements so far this season.
That had included beating the Crusaders in Christchurch, the Highlanders in Dunedin and winning two consecutive matches.
A win against the Blues on Saturday evening in Northland will see them jump into the top six and the chance to play-off for a semi-final spot.
JT said the team has worked hard, coming back from a bye last weekend.
He said self belief is important, if they are to avenge their earlier competition loss to the reigning champions in Eden Park.
''The feeling is good. This is probably our best season by far," he said.
"We're lucky enough that we had the bye week last week. So everyone's on board this week. No injury so far and the boys are excited.
"We have a good plan in place this week. The messaging this week is just for us to have self belief.
"We are all talented players and this group's got some crazy athletes, and they just need to believe that they're good enough to be playing at this level.
And once they get the chance to go out there and do it, just got to believe in yourself and just back yourself."
Jonathan Taumateine scores a try for Manu Samoa v Kale Tahi Tonga during a Test match at the FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand. 17 July 2021 Photo: Jeremy Ward / www.photosport.nz
Drivers the key
Against the Blues, JT believes he and flyhalf Patrick "Patty" Pelegrini will hold the key to how well the team plays.
Playing at the right end of the field at the right time is critical, an area that coach Umaga and captain Ardie Savea have expounded on in the past.
JT said the onus will be on the halfback-flyhalf combination to make sure that the ball is being played as much as it can be in the Blues' half, more so in the opposition's 22 metre zone.
"I think it's pretty important that me and Patty, we just got to make sure we put the ball in front of our boys and they're not going backwards," he stated.
"Especially around scrums and stuff like that. They want to lock up and the ball is in front of us.
"So, it's going to be key for us, just around our game management, that we put the ball in front of our boys this week."
Patrick Pellegrini of Moana Pasifika Jonathan Taumateine and Ardie Savea of Moana Pasifika celebrates winning the Super Rugby Pacific matcvh against the Crusaders at Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch. 29 March 2025. Photo: John Davidson / www.photosport.nz
He said he has also been working on his own game, trying to improve each game, fully understanding the key role he has, as the link between the forwards and the backline.
The challenge and pressure will be huge, he said, playing against the Blues, whose forward pack have proven to be physical and devastating once they are gaining control.
"My job is pretty easy," he said.
"Just got to go out there and just make sure the boys are well connected, and just manage the game well, pretty much.
"And if I'm able to do that, then I know the boys will will know their roles in hopefully we get to win the weekend."
Ardie factor
The inclusion of captain Ardie Savea in the team this season has done marvellous work for the side and JT said they are blessed to have the All Black in their camp.
"Ardie is my guy, man. The leadership that he brings into our group is just great," he said of his fellow Samoan.
"The way he leads. We know what he does on the field, but I think it's off field, the way he connects with the boys that is critical.
"He stays down to earth, and I think that just helps the boys with their confidence and the way they're growing in their game as well. It's so good having him."
Savea will team up again with his loose trio partners in Miracle Failangi and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa.
More aware
Meanwhile, speaking to the media at the team's North Harbour Stadium based on Thursday, Savea said the bye week was great for the players, having played seven consecutive game, and they now look forward to meeting the Blues.
He said they know better than when the first met the champions, and are aware of what they should expect.
"We are way more aware of what we need to do and what we can do well," he said.
"We understand that we didn't play to our potential against the Blues to me it's turning up on game day and actually nail that and that's the great challenge for us this week.
"I feel our game has gone better but it's actually how you deal with the occasion, how you deal with the importance of this game and how the boys can turn up."
Coach Umaga said they are now focused on playing their last home game this weekend.
He understands what the game means to them, with there games to go.
"We probably have had our best season so far in terms of where we are at and we don't want that to end," he said.
"It's exciting and our want our players to understand that, this is exciting times created by them and they just gotta keep working hard, going through what we go through every week, going through our processes and that kind of stuff because that's what gives us the performance we are looking for.
"But we should still got to do the work."
Umaga said he knows the Blues will be "very physical and they gonna come at us".
"We just need to make sure that we get opportunities to play whenever we want."
The match kicks off at 7.05pm, in what will be a packed stadium crowd.
Moana Pasifika said they have sold out tickets for the main grandstand, which packs around 10,000 people.
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