Super Rugby team of the week: All Black Jordie Barrett ignites Hurricanes from midfield

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Hurricanes No 12 Jordie Barrett is stopped by Moana Pasifika debutant Konrad Toleafoa.

ANALYSIS: The Hurricanes looked slick on attack against Moana Pasifika on Friday, especially whenever Jordie Barrett touched the ball.

The big man’s best position is again a talking point due to the All Blacks aerial woes last year - is he a No 12 or No 15? - but perhaps the Hurricanes know best after all.

Coach Clark Laidlaw picked him in the midfield to start the season and his mix of creative touches in that role paid immediate dividends.

Interestingly, when luckless No 10 Brett Cameron was injured in the first half Laidlaw resisted the temptation to move Barrett back to fullback.

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Instead, Josh Moorby went to the back, Bailyn Sullivan went to the right wing and Billy Proctor came on at centre.

At Super Rugby level Barrett is used more of a facilitator than a battering ram, and that approach suits him down to the ground.

The timing and quality of his passes that set up Moorby’s first two tries - directly and then indirectly - was elite.

With Ruben Love set to start the season at No 10 before his untimely injury, the Hurricanes clearly saw huge value in Barrett’s playmaking quality outside Love as the latter continues his transition from fullback to first-five.

Barrett can run hard and tackle hard, of course, but the 29-year-old does bring a wider range of skills to the No 12 jersey than Quinn Tupaea or Timoci Tavatavanawai.

Here is The Post’s team of the week.

15 Josh Moorby (Hurricanes): Slotted in well at fullback after Cameron’s early injury.

14 Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders): Turned on the afterburners twice against the Chiefs and is making all the early running for the All Blacks’ No 14 jersey.

13 Billy Proctor (Hurricanes): Called off the bench in the first half and immediately produced the running game that was absent at test level last year.

12 Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes): The fulcrum of the Hurricanes backline - don’t expect a positional switch any time soon.

11 Fehi Fineanganofo (Hurricanes): Had acres of space to work in but will definitely be a loss to New Zealand rugby when he heads north to Newcastle later this year.

10 Callum Harkin (Hurricanes): Set for a run of games in the No 10 jersey and showed good signs on Friday. Slim pickings elsewhere among Kiwi teams.

9 Finlay Christie (Blues): Much-maligned halfback can still be very influential when the Blues get their big forwards rolling forward.

8 Brayden Iose (Hurricanes): Close to 100 metres with ball in hand as the Hurricanes started their season with purpose.

7 Dalton Papali’i (Blues): His carry and offload for Zarn Sullivan’s try was the catalyst for the Blues’ second-half dominance against the Force.

6 Simon Parker (Chiefs): Very good off the bench for the Chiefs, especially with some of his hard carries.

**5 *Josh Lord (Chiefs):*** Gets the nod for his game-turning dash upfield in the second half against the Highlanders.

4 Josh Beehre (Blues): Proved too big and too strong for Force when the Blues went route one in Perth.

3 Siale Lauaki (Hurricanes): The youngster was busy around the paddock and the Hurricanes were powerful at scrum time.

2 Samisoni Taukei’aho (Chiefs): The Chiefs aren’t at their best, but they had enough of a power game in key moments to get past the Highlanders.

1 Ethan de Groot (Highlanders): Ten from 10 tackles and some strong scrum work against the Chiefs across a 58-minute shift.