NPC 2026

@Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026:

Hawkes Bay and Southland going for local club which is great to see I suppose from Stephen Bates point of view he needs at minimum a top 8 finish

Southland are stacked full of imports. Some who have been around for a few years. Still a huge number of imports. Two Japanese lads, three from MP, two Australians and even some of their local lads primarily play in Dunedin.

It is all swings and roundabouts. If this Southland team wins. No one will care. Id rhey don't. Plenty will scream about bloody imports.

Auckland have so many tidy footy players. Your guys are just all so young. How do Norrie, Spencer, Vai, Tito-Harris, Simpson all fit into a 23 each week. What a luxury Auckland has. Same with the loosies. Epic talent as always up there.

@bovidae said in NPC 2026:

@ Steven-Harris said in Auckland Rugby 2026 : Hawkes Bay and Southland going for local club which is great to see Both PUs have selected Aust SR players, which although might strengthen their squads, it will be at the expense of local club players.

In its current form NZR should stipulate that the competition is for NZ club players and NZ eligible SR players.

@SouthernMann said in NPC 2026:

It is all swings and roundabouts. If this Southland team wins. No one will care. Id rhey don't. Plenty will scream about bloody imports.

It’s very similar up North there will a lot angst among the locals about imports which is fair because some of the imports that we have bought in over the last decade have been awful, possibly the odd one has worked out but in the main it’s been a poke in the face to some locals have that have done everything asked of them in and around S and C and attending HP and have still missed out
On the other side of it we have missed some players because they wouldn’t commit to S & C and HP
Hence coaches starting looking elsewhere

Rough guess at the top Otago side for the comp. Just with @steven-harris saying that we will be stacked! I think Pledger wil twke some tiles out of the stack. Joel Lam will add some talent at nine though. Better than having to rely on someone like Kiern McLea (even with how well he is playing in club).

1. Lopas

2. Coltman/Bell

3. Ma'u

4. Timani

5. Stodart

6. Haig

7. Casey

8. Lio-Willie

9. Lam

10. Millar/Pellegrini

11. Nareki

12. Te Hiwi

13. Whaanga

14. Broomfield

15. Hurley

16. Coltman/Bell 17. Wingham 18. Takataka 19. Harry Irving 20. ??? 21. McLea 22. Millar/Pellegrini 23. Timu

A bit short in the lineout. Should hold its own again well.

@SouthernMann that’s a solid team I would imagine Holland will need a couple of games to get back to speed
Timani was a sensational pick up last year might have been a better option than the Argie for the landers

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

@SouthernMann said in NPC 2026:

It is all swings and roundabouts. If this Southland team wins. No one will care. Id rhey don't. Plenty will scream about bloody imports.

It’s very similar up North there will a lot angst among the locals about imports which is fair because some of the imports that we have bought in over the last decade have been awful, possibly the odd one has worked out but in the main it’s been a poke in the face to some locals have that have done everything asked of them in and around S and C and attending HP and have still missed out
On the other side of it we have missed some players because they wouldn’t commit to S & C and HP
Hence coaches starting looking elsewhere

I have been reasonably impressed with Southland's imports this year. Vaihu, Denzel Samoa, Haloholo and the Tahs loosehead prop are all very astute additions.

@SouthernMann Vaihu is a superb pick up , I tried to push him up north through a contact at Moana but that’s a chat for another day

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

@SouthernMann that’s a solid team I would imagine Holland will need a couple of games to get back to speed
Timani was a sensational pick up last year might have been a better option than the Argie for the landers

The big thing for mw with the NPC is I want to see guys get an opportunity. It is why I'd prefer Timu sits on the bench instead of having a mortgage on the 13 jersey.

It is the same with your Auckland/Northland guys. Take risks on guys and allow them to show what they have to offer.

@Steven-Harris Holland only available for the Shield game.

I’m guessing the SA Squad must leave at the end of July.

@Steven-Harris said in NPC 2026:

The likes of Ta$man, Taranaki ,Canterbury and Otago I would imagine are gonna be stacked unfortunately there’s lack of trust in and around local club players which is unfortunate but I very much understand from a coaches point of view

I think Taranaki have got the locals/imports (NZ and OS) thing just right
and have done so for a long time
they have a good local core, and dont really get any advantage from their chiefs/hurricanes tie-ins
then all the "foreigners" they bring in seem to be hits
great talent id by them
same with the coaching staff too

@mohikamo said in NPC 2026:

I think Taranaki have got the locals/imports (NZ and OS) thing just right
great talent id by them

Yes. Have a look at their current academy and they have signed players out of school from Counties, BOP, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū and Ta$man.

If previous seasons are any indication Waikato will name their squad at the very last opportunity. I expect the majority of the 2025 squad to be back (minus the known departed players), and my interest will be in which locks and midfield backs will be chosen. With B Sullivan going home, G Wrampling in Japan, and Tupaea and ALB in the ABs, there will have to be a couple of new faces.

I assume there will be some preseason games this Fri and Sat.

@Bovidae And was one of the better flankers at the trials. Was surprised he missed nz selection. Interesting he's switched to hooker now

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

If previous seasons are any indication Waikato will name their squad at the very last opportunity. I expect the majority of the 2025 squad to be back (minus the known departed players), and my interest will be in which locks and midfield backs will be chosen. With B Sullivan going home, G Wrampling in Japan, and Tupaea and ALB in the ABs, there will have to be a couple of new faces.

I assume there will be some preseason games this Fri and Sat.

Might be off by a week but didn't Waikato officially name their full squad after their first match last year?

Southland Tribune has written player profiles for the full Stags playing group.

@Mr-Fish said in NPC 2026:

Might be off by a week but didn't Waikato officially name their full squad after their first match last year?

The squad was announced on July 29. Waikato played Auckland on July 31.

2026 Counties Manukau Steelers Squad

@mikedogz Josh Blame and Rico McQuoid have been playing club in the Waikato all season, so obviously didn't play for the clubs listed.

@Smudge said in NPC 2026:

Will pack the Canterbury quartered shorts to match up with a pair of jandals.

Don't overdress!

Yeah, I knew Balme was at Marist, I hadn't seen McQuoid in Pukekohe's team sheets. Both have family links to the region. It's good to see my prediction that Atu Moli being named came true. I don't know where Keran Van Staden is.