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Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Sides eager to knock Wellington off perch
The NPC gets under way tonight when Auckland host Waikato. Adrian Seconi takes a look at the teams. WELLINGTON Last year: Champions. The oil: The Lions set the benchmark with eight wins from 10 in the regular season. They were pushed hard in the semifinals by Waikato (29-24) and in the final by Bay of Plenty (23-20). But they held their composure and have most of the same crew back for 2025. Midfielder Riley Higgins and loose forward Peter Lakai had standout seasons and shape as threats again. Halfback Kyle Preston is another key figure. BAY OF PLENTY Last year: Runners-up. The oil: Steamers loose forward Joe Johnston (184) and Nikora Broughton (183) led the tackle count last year, and first five Kaleb Trask kept them in the right part of the park. Naitoa Ah Kuoi was a key figure in the lineout, while former Taieri fullback Taine Craig-Ranga made two appearances for the Steamers in 2024 and has made the squad again. CANTERBURY Last year: Beaten semifinalists. The oil: Unrivalled depth if they could get their All Blacks on the paddock. Even without them, Canterbury still have some game-breakers, particularly in the backs, where Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod and Chay Fihaki will loiter waiting for opportunities. They will be fielding relatively fresh combinations at first five and halfback that could take some time to establish. WAIKATO Last year: Beaten semifinalists. The oil: The Mooloos have a settled look and will lean on Aaron Cruden to get them one game further this season. They have also secured the services of former All Black Lima Sopoaga. Young loose forward Oli Mathis was one of the most exciting players to emerge last season and he showed astonishing versatility. Waikato were so ravaged by injury that he stepped up and played the last three games on the wing. TARANAKI Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: The 2023 champions had a strong campaign but were narrowly tipped out in the quarterfinals by Waikato. They have the Ranfurly Shield, though, and a team list chock-full of talent again. Hooker Ricky Riccitelli is one of the more effective players for the Bulls and nabbed a team-high eight tries. And watch out for Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. TASMAN Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: Blockbusting outside back Leicester Fainga'anuku is returning for the Mako and he will make their backline infinitely more dangerous. They have also signed promising first five Harry Inch, powerful Australian utility forward Lopeti Faifua and Moana Pasifika hooker Tomasi Maka. Canterbury halfback Mitchell Drummond has made the move as well. HAWKE'S BAY Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: Moana Pasifika blindside Miracle Fai'ilagi and Māori All Black utility back Zarn Sullivan will play for the Magpies. Sullivan is on loan from Auckland and Fai'ilagi's bruising game will be a welcome addition. The Magpies were edged 19-17 in the quarterfinals by rival Bay of Plenty. COUNTIES-MANUKAU Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: No-one wanted to play the Steelers towards the end of the season. They started with four consecutive losses but charged up the ladder and into the playoffs, where they were beaten 29-14 by the eventual champions. Powerhouse No8 Hoskins Sotutu shapes as a key figure again. OTAGO Last year: Ninth. The oil: Missed the playoffs by a couple of bonus points. But it was the costly 45-17 loss to Counties-Manukau that sank their prospects. Looked good in a warm-up game against Southland. Winger Jona Nareki has recovered from a knee injury but Oliver Haig will miss the first month of the competition, and exciting fullback Finn Hurley is out for up to two months. Halfback Dylan Pledger is a very promising player. NORTH HARBOUR Last year: 10th. The oil: Former Steelers coach Jimmy Maher has taken over the reins and his first job is to sort out their lineout troubles and defensive leaks. They can score, though. Winger Mark Tele'a appears set for a full campaign unless he gets a call back from the All Blacks. Outside back Kade Banks was the competition's leading try-scorer, bagging 10. All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi might pop up late in the season if he is fully fit. AUCKLAND Last year: 11th. The oil: Auckland started with four consecutive losses and rounded out their campaign with three more losses. There was not much to celebrate. They have signed former Otago halfback James Arscott, Stephen Perofeta has transferred from Taranaki, and former New Zealand under-20 player Leo Gordon and Highlanders back-up lock Tai Cribb have joined the squad. SOUTHLAND Last year: 12th. The oil: Former Canterbury halfback Nic Shearer has made the move south and the Stags will be captained by Sean Withy again. Burly No 8 Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa is a strong ball-carrier. The Stags will struggle to make the playoffs. But as long as they beat Otago in round one, all will be well in Invercargill. Look out for development player Mika Muliaina. The Southlander has impressed in Dunedin club rugby this season and the young first five has all the skills to take his game to the next level. NORTHLAND Last year: 13th. The oil: They challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield in the opening round and they have not held it aloft since 1978. The Taniwha have a light splattering of talent, but the playoffs seem unlikely. That makes game one all or nothing. First five Rivez Reihana will lead the team around. MANAWATŪ Last year: Last. The oil: The Turbos have the silliest nickname in the competition. They are also based in Palmerston North. That's two strikes. Loose forwards TK Howden and Brayden Iose will give the pack some go-forward and Brett Cameron is an experienced first five. Highlanders fill-in Taniela Filimone is a strong runner.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRL veteran Kurt Capewell backs Warriors defensive partner Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on right edge
Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff 8pm Friday, 1 August Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NRL veteran Kurt Capewell has pledged his undying support to under-siege Warriors teammate Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, as the pair try to mend the team's leaky right-edge defence. "I know, when my back's against the wall and I need anyone beside me, I'd pick Dallin," says the stand-in captain, as he prepares to lead an injury-depleted side against the Dolphins on Friday. The centre-wing combination has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, as opposition teams seem to target their side of the defensive line, with Watene-Zelezniak often scrambling to cover his counterparts. In their 24-16 loss to Gold Coast Titans last weekend , the Warriors flyer was twice left floundering by long passes that gave Titans winger Phillip Sami ample space to score in the corner. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak remains one of the most exciting tryscorers in the NRL. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ "I wouldn't say it's particularly just the right edge," Capewell insisted. "It's more of a team defensive thing - it usually takes two or three things to go wrong for a try. "It's a team outlook, not just the right edge." Sami's first try put Gold Coast ahead late in the first half and began with a lead runner that froze two interior defenders. From that stage, the Warriors struggled to number up along the backline, not helped when Capewell was caught between fullback AJ Brimson and centre Brian Kelly, and slipped, ultimately covering neither. Watene-Zelezniak came in from his wing trying to cover Kelly and Brimson found Sami out wide with a delightful pass. The second featured two runners close to the ruck that slowed the Warriors middles, then a third that arguably impeded second-rower Marata Niukore, before Titans half Kieran Foran floated the ball over Watene-Zelezniak, again hunting infield, to put Sami away. "It can be difficult at times," Capewell acknowledged. "Obviously, there's lead runners, and there's setplays to create and take advantage of an overlap or a one-on-one. "Unfortunately, that's been happening too often on our right edge. "I know it can be frustrating for all the fans at home, but stick with it. We're working hard at training." Coach Andrew Webster insisted three common things went wrong in the lead-up to a try. "Play-the-ball could be too fast, which means someone else hasn't done their job," he said. "Spacing's too tight and that creates an overlap - that's two things. "Three, we don't find a way to stop it on the edge. Everyone's got a role to play." Ironically, with the spotlight on missed tackles, Watene-Zelezniak landed in hot water against Gold Coast for one he made, taking Kelly off the ball and earning a trip to the sin bin for a professional foul. From the subsequent set, the Titans exploited the shorthanded defence to send centre JoJo Fifita over for his second try of the night, finally putting the contest beyond the Warriors' reach. Kurt Capewell, Jacob Laban ande Jackson Ford tackle Phillip Sami against Gold Coast. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ "I think Dallin's going well," Capewell said. "I'm not too heavily into the comments section on social media, but he's been in the game a long time and probably dealt with it before. "We have full confidence in Dallin - he's a tremendous player. When he came back on the weekend… the way he runs that ball, as a teammate, it gets me fired up." Webster confirmed defence across the park had been a focus at training. "Confidence comes from good reps at training," he said. "That's the best way to get it back. "You just can't wait or hope it will come back. We have to make it work and make it happen ourselves. "The boys bounce back well, they learn well and I'm confident they will work at it this week. Always got faith in these boys." Capewell starred as a second-rower in Queensland's State of Origin series win, but has been posted to the Warriors midfield, as injuries sideline specialists Rocco Berry (shoulder) and Ali Leiataua (calf). While Webster has named him in the No.4 jersey against the Dolphins, that may not be where he lines up. "Not too sure yet," Capewell admitted. "Trained today at both back row and centre, had a few reps at both, but we've got a few injuries, so not sure what the team will look like this week." Fullback/winger Taine Tuaupiki lurks on the interchange, so the most obvious replacements at centre would be Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who has played there for the Kiwis, or Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who played there almost exclusively last season. "We don't know ourselves yet," Webster said. "We'll know in the next 24 hours." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Sports Chat for 8.30 31 July 2025
An update on what's happening in the sports world with Nathan Rarere. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
