Another in-form Hurricane could make their way into the All Blacks reckoning after coming to the fore during the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
While most of the talk has been about fly-half Ruben Love, wing or full-back Josh Moorby has also started to display some Test-like qualities.
Moorby has scored 13 tries in 12 matches and has duly impressed a number of onlookers this year.
That includes All Blacks legends Jeff Wilson, Mils Muliaina and Christian Cullen with the latter, who represented the Wellington outfit with distinction during his playing career, excited by what he has seen from the 27-year-old in 2026.
“Moorby would look pretty good in a black jersey wouldn’t he? Powerful. Whether as a winger or a full-back, he’s just got an eye for the tryline. His work rate is massive,” Cullen told Sky Sport NZ.
Moorby’s all-round excellence
While Moorby has an impressive try-scoring record, he is not just a poacher and has a good all-round skill set.
“He’s certainly putting his hand up. What he showed, particularly when he came out for counter-attack, was his ability to be able to do that and size up the moment,” Muliaina said on The Breakdown.
“He’s got plenty of speed, Cully talked about his work rate as well. He manipulates that defensive line because he’s roaming around.
“It’s hard not to look past where he can get to. He will have a bit of competition but, on the other side of it, he does bring a little bit of versatility.
“Where does he fit in terms of the others? I think there’s certainly competition in terms of an out-and-out wing and that’s where he could possibly miss out.”
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Moorby could be your classic All Blacks bolter, someone who has not been talked about much recently but has ultimately started to play too well to ignore.
‘Done some special things’
“I said a week ago that someone had an opportunity to play their way into the All Blacks over the next month… and that’s where Josh Moorby sits right now,” Wilson said.
“He’s done some special things this season. I like the versatility, he can play both positions – 15 and on the wing – exceptionally well.
“Someone mentioned that there’s a bit of a Ben Smith about him, the fact that he has high work rate. I don’t know about his top-end speed, but it seems good to me.
“Personally, I think he’s in the conversation.”
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The back three has always been a competitive position in New Zealand rugby, but Wilson believes that the door could have opened for someone like Moorby.
“The whole landscape’s changed with the loss of Caleb Tangitau, I think the out-and-out wing we are looking for and where Will Jordan fits in the picture,” he added.
“He’s picked up another niggle, which I hope is not serious. Does that mean the flexibility that Josh Moorby gives you, does that make the conversation around him?
“Ideally, you would like the opportunity to have a 6-2 bench and that means you would like to have a wing that can play full-back.”
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