When freed from thoughts, Fehi Fineanganofo is a handful. The barnstorming winger scored two tries for the Hurricanes of their 31-27 win in opposition to the Reds in spherical 15 that secured the Hurricanes a Super Rugby Pacific playoff berth for the sixteenth time.
The Hurricanes haven’t misplaced to an Australian aspect in 2025, with Fineanganofo scoring two tries in a 17-17 draw in opposition to the Western Force in Perth.
For the fifth match in a row, a Hurricanes ahead failed to attain a strive. Earlier than spherical 16’s blowout win over Moana Pasifika, Peter Lakai was the final ahead to assert a five-pointer, doing so in opposition to the Crusaders at Wellington in Spherical 9. Between that try to the ninth minute of the Moana Pasifika contest, there have been 21 tries scored, all by the backs.
The Hurricanes’ success in Brisbane was their a centesimal win in 213 matches at away venues. The Hurricanes have crushed the Reds ten consecutive occasions. The Hurricanes’ finest is in opposition to the Rebels: 12 matches in a row between 2012 and 2024.
“I bought my tries in entrance of Mum and Dad. That was a surreal second,” Fineanganofo informed RugbyPass.
“My mother and father are in Brisbane to help my youthful brother John, who’s within the NRL with the Dolphins. Dad mentioned to at all times help the ball service. I assume that recommendation paid off.”
Four years ago, Fineanganofo needed support to walk. Playing for College Rifles in a Gallaher Shield match, he suffered a serious knee injury which almost compelled him to quit sport.
“I heard my knee pop. I ran to the physio, a good sign. When pain continued, I went and saw four physios, and on my fourth visit, they told me I’d done my ACL, MCL, RCL, everything. It shattered me. I was jogging, but then I couldn’t run for two years,” Fineanganofo recalled.
A trim 105kg today, Fineanganofo ballooned to 125kg while sidelined and miserable. It was a far cry from the form that saw him flourish in the Auckland Grammar Faculty First XV.
Born and raised in Onehunga, Fineanganofo is the center of 4 siblings. He conceded “issues had been restricted” in his upbringing, however his mother and father taught him to “avoid bother” and be “grateful for what we have now.”
His older brother, Melino Fineanganofo, was drawn from the poll to attend Auckland Grammar. In 2015, the halfback made a reputation for himself when he scored the successful strive within the Cooper-Greenbank Cup match in opposition to King’s School on Sky Sport.
Fehi adopted Melino into Auckland Grammar Faculty and dominated 19-15 and 34-32 wins over King’s in 2019 and 2020 as highlights of his time at Mountain Highway.
“Dave Askew and Ben Skeen had been the primary ones to offer me rugby suggestions, quite a lot of reviewing, and studying to get higher. I used to be at all times in midfield till Bay of Plenty chucked me on the wing,” Fineanganofo mirrored.
“Rising up, I performed rugby league for the Mount Albert Lions. My entire household was league. My cousin, Robert Toia, performed State of Origin for Queensland on Wednesday evening. I by no means thought my future was in rugby till I made a few rep sides.”
In 2020, Fineanganofo was invited to attend a Barbarians Underneath 18 Improvement Camp, on the finish of which he was named within the New Zealand Secondary Faculties workforce. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this was solely a paper workforce, and it didn’t play any video games.
Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw noticed Fehi for the primary time shortly afterwards on the World Faculties Sevens. Between 2017 and 2023, Laidlaw coached the All Blacks Sevens in 61 tournaments. They received 15 Cup titles and 275 out of 354 matches.
“Within the Covid interval, we had an inside match in Wellington. I made a decision to take a punt on Fehi and Caleb Tangitau. I used to be satisfied that with the fitting conditioning and steering, they may provide quite a bit,” Laidlaw mirrored.
“Tempo and energy are a singular package deal, the proper mix for Sevens. Rehab from harm was powerful for Fehi. The Sevens’ medical employees did an incredible job whereas Fehi needed to work laborious on his physique and himself. He performed his first match for us in Los Angeles in 2023. We received that title, and he was excellent proper by to the Paris Olympics, which I wasn’t concerned with.”
Fineanganofo mentioned: “Clarky performed an enormous position in my comeback. He noticed potential in me, and along with his assist and a little bit of laborious work, I dropped the load, bought again in form and earned my spot.”
Fineanganofo debuted for Bay of A lot within the 2023 NPC and scored tries in victories in opposition to Hawkes Bay (38-35), Northland (32-26) and Southland (25-23). After the Olympics, in 2024, he scored 4 tries in 9 appearances because the Steamers had been runners-up to Wellington.
Fineanganofo scored his first strive for the Hurricanes in a 38-34 win in opposition to Fijian Drua on February 22. Within the final month, he’s caught hearth like most of his teammates.
“Ruben Love, Brett Cameron, Callum Harkin. We’ve just a few extra gamers again to drive the workforce,” Fineanganofo mentioned.
“For me, what’s essential is to maintain listening to the coaches and to take my alternatives. I’m bettering each week. We be ok with the remainder of the season.”
