The 24-year-old was immense in the Crusaders' 31-24 victory over the Hurricanes, scoring two tries in a performance that not only lifted his team to the top of the Super Rugby Pacific ladder—but also lifted Fantasy scores around the country. Moananu racked up a monster 92 points, the highest of the round, earning him Fantasy Player of the Week honours.
Selected by just 19.8% of Fantasy managers, Moananu’s output was a major win for those who backed the rising front-rower. He becomes just the second front row player this season to lead the Fantasy standings after Moana Pasifika’s Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou stunned the competition last week with his own try-scoring heroics.
He’s also the second Crusader to top the weekly leaderboard, joining young gun Macca Springer, who exploded in Round 5 with 127 points.
Moananu’s standout outing was followed closely by two 70-point performers: Brumbies hooker Billy Pollard and Highlanders outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. Pollard was at his busy best in the Brumbies' win, while Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens made a strong return from injury, helping spark the Highlanders to a dominant 43-20 win over the Fijian Drua.
The front rowers continue to make waves in 2025 Fantasy. After years of flying under the radar, they’re now becoming game-changers—with Moananu and Sae-Ta’ufo’ou proving that it pays to think big up front.
Weekly leaders:
RD 1: Damian McKenzie, Chiefs (104)
RD 2: Quinn Tupaea, Chiefs (98)
RD 3: Ardie Savea, Moana Pasifika (83)
RD 4: Max Jorgensen, Waratahs (82)
RD 5: Macca Springer, Crusaders (127)
RD 6: Harry Potter, Western Force (102)
RD 7: Kini Naholo, Hurricanes (102)
RD 8: Feleti Sae-Ta’ufo’ou, Moana Pasifika (74)
RD 9: Ioane Moananu, Crusaders (92)
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