Otago

1 Abraham Pole, 2 Henry Bell, 3 Rohan Wingham, 4 Will Tucker, 5 Joseva Tamani, 6 Will Stodart, 7 Lucas Casey, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 9 Dylan Pledger, 10 Cameron Millar, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 13 Josh Timu, 14 Jae Broomfield, 15 Sam Gilbert (C)

Reserves: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Benjamin Lopas, 18 Moana Takataka, 19 Oliver Haig, 20 Harry Taylor, 21 Nathan Hastie, 22 Josh Whaanga, 23 Sam Nemec-Vial

North Harbour

1 Tony Tafa, 2 Bryn Gordon, 3 Sione Mafile'o, 4 Felix Kalapu, 5 Jack Lee, 6 Cam Christie, 7 Karl Ruzich, 8 Jed Melvin, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Cam Howell, 11 Tom Barham, 12 Ben Brownlee, 13 Mark Tele'a, 14 Tima Fainga'anuku, 15 Kade Banks

Reserves: 16 Penaia Cakobau, 17 James Lay, 18 Sam Davies, 19 Tom Savage, 20 Donald Coleman, 21 Siaosi Nginingini, 22 Harlyn Saunoa, 23 Sofai Notoa-Tipo

Pledger

This is a good opportunity to put in a statement performance.

Ick. This is looking niggly.

Tamani been such a good import for this side

Yes Coltman so deserving in his 100th

Big try that going into the half

CLW should be playing 8 later at Eden Park.....

@KiwiMurph said in Otago v North Harbour:

CLW should be playing 8 later at Eden Park.....

Maybe but for this particular game, Harbour haven't won a game yet so presumably almost everyone looked good against them all season.

Pole very unfamiliar with being in the open. Absolutely butchered one there

@brodean said in Otago v North Harbour:

@KiwiMurph said in Otago v North Harbour:

CLW should be playing 8 later at Eden Park.....

Maybe but for this particular game, Harbour haven't won a game yet so presumably almost everyone looked good against them all season.

Harbour is better than a winless season. Stats don't lie. But they can turn it on.

Pledger needs to watch the line balls. They are starting to get read a bit.

That was library fine late from Jona

Nareki stepping up big time today

Nareki on his day is a world class winger.

Cheers Casey

Both local ARs need to go to specsavers. The TMO corrected the mistake in the 1st half.

@Grooter said in Otago v North Harbour:

Cheers Casey

Was crazy he was paying $3.4 to score.

Lovely from Oli Haig

I've got a hot take all that time scotty Hansen wants to invest in Hotham should be for Pledger soon enough

@Grooter said in Otago v North Harbour:

I've got a hot take all that time scotty Hansen wants to invest in Hotham should be for Pledger soon enough

Nareki was asked in an interview if he was quicker than Pledger. He said absolutely not. Pledger is way faster

@handa457 said in Otago v North Harbour:

Nareki on his day is a world class winger.

When you checl out the stars of him v Tito-Harris. While XTH is a brillant finisher. Nareki does so much more work. Experience is a massive bonus.

It’s Narekis composure when under pressure that is so impressive. His clearance kicks are so key, especially having that extra option off left foot. Having his best game of the season.

Right on cue, huge turnover by Nareki

Telea is just so good at this level

Fan boy James Parsons is painful

That is try is just nuts

This was such an entertaining game credit to both sides. Keeping the shield for the summer is a beautiful thing! Next weeks selections will be interesting cause if we become stuck in 2nd by 6pm tomorrow I guess we should give Pledger, Casey and a few others a rest week

Fun game. A couple of future ABs on display to my eye.

@KiwiMurph said in Otago v North Harbour:

Fun game. A couple of future ABs on display to my eye.

Yep that Pledger at 9 look to be close to taking at least 3rd 9 by the '27 WC.

@Grooter said in Otago v North Harbour:

This was such an entertaining game credit to both sides. Keeping the shield for the summer is a beautiful thing! Next weeks selections will be interesting cause if we become stuck in 2nd by 6pm tomorrow I guess we should give Pledger, Casey and a few others a rest week

Canterbury play Taranaki next weekend so even if they win tomorrow it could still be wide open if we beat Auckland next Saturday. Canterbury play Sunday.

Only just watched the game, Millar has had a good few games in a row. Pleasing to see

how did Lucas Casey play?

@jimmyb said in Otago v North Harbour:

Only just watched the game, Millar has had a good few games in a row. Pleasing to see

He's really benefited from not having to be the primary playmaker.

@nostrildamus he was into everything. Full game. One try and did he core jobs well.