@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:
Considering the importance of some of the dudes that have left— this is still a bloody good squad. Embarrassment of riches at 10.
The issue is the Canes want us to play the two on the outside, but the best one is the guy in the middle. It took an injury for us to sort that out last year.
We're also lucky that we're getting a final comp out of some of our leavers too. Flanders the big loss but we still have some talent in the loosies.
2026 NPC Tips
- Canterbury
- Hawke’s Bay
- Otago
- Ta$man
- Bay of Plenty
- Taranaki
- Auckland
- Northland
- Waikato
- Wellington
- Counties Manukau
- Southland
- Manawatu
- Harbour
QFs
Northland beat Canterbury
Hawkes Bay beat Auckland
Otago beat Taranaki
Bay of Plenty beat Ta$man
Hawkes Bay beat Northland
Bay of Plenty beat Otago
Hawkes Bay beat Bay of Plenty
Canterbury rightfully the clubhouse favourites, but can’t help but feel they are going to be built around Mo’unga so how they adjust to playing without him will be key.
Ta$man look good - wonder whether they might be left short in the pack by the time the ABs and injuries get involved
Hawkes Bay have a nice draw and should be settled
Otago might well have the best pack, which will take them reasonably far provided they are not ravaged by injuries
Don’t discount Taranaki… no Barnes may sting them though
Auckland will be much improved I think. They look more settled this year than last
BOP always there or thereabouts, and by the EOYT, they could be left with one of the stronger squads
Can’t really see any of the other sides doing anything other than playing spoiler.
Otago will hold the shield right through… (I have them losing to HB & Counties)
2026 NPC Tips
- Canterbury
- Hawke’s Bay
- Otago
- Ta$man
- Bay of Plenty
- Taranaki
- Auckland
- Northland
- Waikato
- Wellington
- Counties Manukau
- Southland
- Manawatu
- Harbour
QFs
Northland beat Canterbury
Hawkes Bay beat Auckland
Otago beat Taranaki
Bay of Plenty beat Ta$manHawkes Bay beat Northland
Bay of Plenty beat OtagoHawkes Bay beat Bay of Plenty
Canterbury rightfully the clubhouse favourites, but can’t help but feel they are going to be built around Mo’unga so how they adjust to playing without him will be key.
Ta$man look good - wonder whether they might be left short in the pack by the time the ABs and injuries get involved
Hawkes Bay have a nice draw and should be settled
Otago might well have the best pack, which will take them reasonably far provided they are not ravaged by injuries
Don’t discount Taranaki… no Barnes may sting them though
Auckland will be much improved I think. They look more settled this year than last
BOP always there or thereabouts, and by the EOYT, they could be left with one of the stronger squads
Can’t really see any of the other sides doing anything other than playing spoiler.
Otago will hold the shield right through… (I have them losing to HB & Counties)
Not bad tips as Wellington and Waikato will be severely hamstrung by having so many All Blacks unavailable.
I can’t really see Hawkes Bay going that well, they’ve just lost Walker-Leawere, Flanders, Rakete-Stones and a number of others I can’t think of right now. Those three in particular have been essential to the Bay setup for a long time.
I think Ta$man’s success will come down to how many players are picked for the South African tour. If not many are selected then they’ll be massive favourites.
Taranaki should also be higher in my view.
2026 NPC Tips
- Canterbury
- Hawke’s Bay
- Otago
- Ta$man
- Bay of Plenty
- Taranaki
- Auckland
- Northland
- Waikato
- Wellington
- Counties Manukau
- Southland
- Manawatu
- Harbour
QFs
Northland beat Canterbury
Hawkes Bay beat Auckland
Otago beat Taranaki
Bay of Plenty beat Ta$manHawkes Bay beat Northland
Bay of Plenty beat OtagoHawkes Bay beat Bay of Plenty
Canterbury rightfully the clubhouse favourites, but can’t help but feel they are going to be built around Mo’unga so how they adjust to playing without him will be key.
Ta$man look good - wonder whether they might be left short in the pack by the time the ABs and injuries get involved
Hawkes Bay have a nice draw and should be settled
Otago might well have the best pack, which will take them reasonably far provided they are not ravaged by injuries
Don’t discount Taranaki… no Barnes may sting them though
Auckland will be much improved I think. They look more settled this year than last
BOP always there or thereabouts, and by the EOYT, they could be left with one of the stronger squads
Can’t really see any of the other sides doing anything other than playing spoiler.
Otago will hold the shield right through… (I have them losing to HB & Counties)
One of the things I like about the NPC, especially these days, is that any team can have a good year. So while I 100% back your predictions 
I wouldn't be surprised if it was 4 completely different teams in the finals.
Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.
@bayimports I see that Palmer has come back to BOP from Otago.
Someone asked about the naming of the Waikato squad on the Mooloo FB page. Next Tuesday (July 21) after the club final this Saturday.
@bayimports Riley Hohepa is a good pick up for the steamers
@WoodysRFC Hastings Boys old boy. Was part of their 2017 Top Four winning side.
@MacDazzler said in NPC 2026:
@WoodysRFC Hastings Boys old boy. Was part of their 2017 Top Four winning side.
Feel like I've seen the name pop up in Southland club rugby too
@WoodysRFC said in NPC 2026:
Where's Udy-Johns from?
Yeah, as @macdazzler says, Hastings Boys, he's bounced around though, played for Southland for a season and a bit over in Oz. This is his first Magpies squad (although should have made it earlier).
@Canes4life A Laumape/Brown midfield partnership doesn't sound that bad either. Brown is quality. It's a shame Brett Cameron is out for the season because they have the makings of a decent side and strong 10 is probably the one thing they're missing.
@bayimports Looks like a decent team, our propping stocks are looking good, all 3 halfbacks are class and even with probably 3 All Blacks out for SA in the Outside Backs, there's some gas out there too. Pretty well balanced all things considered though wouldn't mind more midfield cover.
Looking at the squads announced so far, it seems that the players signed for Japan are less likely to play NPC than those going to Europe.
Is that because the seasons slightly overlap?
No overlap of actual seasons but Japan teams start their pre-season about four months before the competition starts.
@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:
Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.
I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.
The other name that has appeared in the BOP squad is Solomone Tukuafu. I'm not sure how long he has been back from France.
Squad namings are a great demonstration of why the NPC shouldn't pretend to be a professional competition.
@Crazy-Horse said in NPC 2026:
@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:
Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.
I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.
My gut feeling is that Canterbury are just naming all the contracted guys, regardless of injury status, and not asterixing the couple of guys who may not be available. It won't stop me hoping, though.
@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:
@Crazy-Horse said in NPC 2026:
@BellsGeorg said in NPC 2026:
Canterbury squad has been sent out a day early, via email. No real surprises.
I see Williams is named. Hopefully that's a sign his rehab is going well.
My gut feeling is that Canterbury are just naming all the contracted guys, regardless of injury status, and not asterixing the couple of guys who may not be available. It won't stop me hoping, though.
That is correct. He has a contract so is named.
I’ve been told he won’t be playing again this year.
@Steven-Harris i wonder if there is some agreement between NZR and ARU given there feels like more.aussies playing NPC this year? Maybe they subsidise the salary?
I do not like that signing at all.
@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:
@Steven-Harris i wonder if there is some agreement between NZR and ARU given there feels like more.aussies playing NPC this year? Maybe they subsidise the salary?
I do not like that signing at all.
I'm annoyed by our two Aussies as well, even worse one of them is from your Blues, you should have had him.
But I hope the ARU/Blues are subsidising the salary of our two.
yeah the aus SR players are already getting SR money, so they'll be relatively good value for NPC teams
for someone like Ram, i'd say his NPC money would be almost incidental
that he does not play the first 4 games, thinking that's a Force decision
now this is guna be real controversial
but i can see current ABs actually going the other way in sabbatical type deals to Aus SR teams in the future
i think the SR max in NZ is 185 k, and has not changed forever
I think the Aus SR teams will pay a lot more than that for a current AB
remembering they still get their AB money
just depends whether NZR will tick it off
Manawatu lineups to face Wellington today in Feilding. No sign of any information from Wellington Rugby, no 2026 squad announcement and no team announcements for today either.
By the way, that white Turbos jersey looks awesome.
dont think Northland have announced thiers, although @steven-harris did post one which was close to final.
@taniwharugby said in NPC 2026:
dont think Northland have announced thiers, although @steven-harris did post one which was close to final.
Northland have announced 28 of their players already, took that from their Instagram just for reference.
The sight of first-five Reece MacDonald running in open pasture could be a sign of good things to come for Manawatū Turbos this year.
Manawatū beat Wellington 54-35 at Johnston Park in Feilding on Friday in their only pre-season game ahead of their first National Provincial Championship game on August 2.
MacDonald, back from a year away in the United States and Japan, was in exciting form in the first half as Manawatū raced to a 33-7 lead at halftime.