NPC 2026

@Bovidae said in NPC 2026:

@Kiwidom said in NPC 2026:

Not many outside backs there.

Yeah, especially with no TCS, LCF, and with Moorby in the ABs. Sinkinson probably plays at fullback now with Tuivailala on the wing. They might need to add a couple of extra players (e.g., Zac Carr, Kurtis Hana).

Is Mathis considered a flanker or a winger ....or both still ?

Good question. As M Jacobson is the captain Mathis won't be starting at 7, and Brown would play ahead of him too. Loose forward is a position of strength as there are a couple of other quality loosies who can't even make the squad. More likely on the wing then.

Mathis has spoken about putting his wing days behind him, spent this year adding weight for the loose forwards.

@WoodysRFC said in NPC 2026:

Mathis has spoken about putting his wing days behind him, spent this year adding weight for the loose forwards.

I'll be intrigued to see what he looks like now. He looked good when playing 7 previously, but as I say, the captain will be playing in the same position. Maybe a super-sub.

Edit: he does definitely look bigger.

Salabiau and Lewai are both options on the wing.

They could also call up Ollie Guerin from the nz u20s. Fullback Dallas Rata Makene looked good at the under 20s trials also

Im a fan of Andrew Smith,but cant see him getting much game time with such a stacked group of loose forwards named. I think he needs to move provinces

@Kiwidom said in NPC 2026:

They could also call up Ollie Guerin from the nz u20s. Fullback Dallas Rata Makene looked good at the under 20s trials also

Guerin will be in the Waikato U20s, or perhaps the Waikato Development team (Harlequins), but a possibility. Unfortunately when I saw Dallas Rata-Makene at his club game a month or so ago he had a knee brace on. So that suggests a serious injury and would explain why his name disappeared from the NZ U20 standby player list for the JWC.

Razors son Macklan Robertson is on the bench for Canterburys pre season v Ta$man tomorrow,He has had a very good Club season.

Another game live streamed:

That Naki vs Wellington stream is a shocker, keeps bouncing around and then replaying itself. Also keeps lagging.

Otago v Mid-Canterbury stream

@canes4life said in NPC 2026:

That Naki vs Wellington stream is a shocker, keeps bouncing around and then replaying itself. Also keeps lagging.

The location probably doesn't help.

BOP 36 Auckland 31

@george33 said in NPC 2026:

BOP 36 Auckland 31

@duluth I need a dislike button, stat.

Canterbury 31 Ta$man 26

Taranaki 21 - Wellington 14

As posted Harbour 31 Northland 19

Halftime 14-12

Unfortunately could’nt attend as we had a family breavement

Feedback that i got the North̄and forwards in the main dominated the first half in puggy conditions

Rob Rush ,Josh Goodhue and James Mulllen the best of the Taniwha forwards

Nathon Salmon was the outstanding back scoring a good try and constantly breaking tackles

Salmon also impressed under the high ball

My contact caught up with Salmon post match he was asked about the standard of the MLR to which he answered a very rubbish version of the NPC not a surprise to hear this

All 3 hookers used by the taniwha impressed

Northland used all their bench in the 2nd nostly development and academy players

Grady Forbes and Zak Shanks stood out as Wellsford flyer Xavier Tenboom only small but extremely rapid

Henare Pairangi continues to impress as a player with a massive future showing some very sharp touches

Harbour fielded a big pack with Bryn Hall starting at 9 and Cam Howell at 10

Howell guilty of kicking away to much possesion in the first half

Definetly more accurate in the 2nd half some nice tries put together which can be found on the Harbour Facebook site

Good hit for both teams with starting players to return for R1

Counties beat Southland 45-26.

Waikato played Hawke's Bay in Taupō. I haven't seen any team lists or a score.

@bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Counties beat Southland 45-26.

that is a very long-range pre-season trial match up (at Manurewa?)

Waikato v Hawkes Bay score was 52-48 to HB. Majority of Waikato Super players not available.

@yeetyaah Any info on whether Wrampling played?

It's a short gap for Waikato and BOP with a Thu night game to kick off the NPC. What you don't want in pre-season games are injuries.

@mohikamo said in NPC 2026:

@bovidae said in NPC 2026:

Counties beat Southland 45-26.

that is a very long-range pre-season trial match up (at Manurewa?)

Yeah, Southland must have some money to fly up a large number of players/staff. Waikato and HB meet in the middle for their game.