This week’s action was nothing short of scintillating as we saw the return of the NPC, which will be all over the TV guide for the next couple of months. European football preseasons are swinging back into gear, and we even had our first NFL showdown during the week. The sports calendar is really starting to fill up as we head into the final stretch of winter, so it’s nothing short of exciting for avid sports fans.
With that being said, just like we’ve done over the past few weeks here at betcha, we’re diving straight into the best moments we enjoyed over the last seven days. So let’s get stuck right into it.
Waikato Claw Their Way Back To Win
The first game of the 2025 NPC rugby season was set to be an absolute barnburner, with two historically dominant Far North powers, Waikato and Auckland, kicking things off. Auckland, full of youthful exuberance and boasting a star-studded backline, got off to an absolute flyer. Young winger Xavier Tito-Harris dotted down twice, and his fellow NZ 7s teammate Payton Spencer crossed the line midway through the second half to put Auckland up 32 to 12 with 20 minutes to play.
But Waikato never gave up. They chipped away over the next 10 minutes, scoring two tries that gave them a glimmer of hope as the match entered its final stages. That momentum looked to fade when Auckland nailed a penalty to stretch their lead to 11 with just six minutes left on the clock.
Then, in just over 100 seconds, Waikato reignited the comeback. They found another five-pointer to cut the lead to just six, giving themselves one last shot to control the restart and pull off a miracle finish.
All it took was a bit of magic from the most unexpected source. Former All Black Lima Sopoaga made a surprise return to New Zealand rugby, coming off the bench for the Mooloo men. He broke through the Auckland line from 40 meters out and found the chalk, setting up veteran Aaron Cruden with a shot to complete one of the most dramatic comebacks in recent NPC history. Cruden, cool as ever, slotted the conversion and sealed the win as Waikato took home the spoils.
Cleary Extinguishes The Titans Fiery Comeback
The Panthers looked to be cruising toward a vintage performance at halftime against the Titans, leading the boys from the Gold Coast 24-0 heading into the break. But after last weekend’s heroics against the Warriors, it’s hard to count out the young Titans, especially with Jayden Campbell at the helm.
Led by their dynamic half, the Titans clawed their way back. Campbell directed play with confidence, guiding his side around the park and sparking a stunning comeback that saw the underdogs score five straight tries and rack up 26 unanswered points to take the lead with just five minutes to go.
Then came the first moment of controversy. As Campbell lined up a crucial sideline conversion to push the lead out to four, a Panthers trainer appeared to run directly into his line of sight. Many believed it was a deliberate move to distract the young star. Campbell ended up missing the kick, which left the door slightly ajar for the multi-time champs.
That sliver of opportunity was all the Panthers needed. Led by their all-time great halfback, Nathan Cleary, they leaned on experience. Cleary calmly stepped up and slotted a two-point drop goal from 40 meters out, tying the game and sending it into golden point.
And who would have guessed it? After being outplayed for most of the second half, it was the Panthers who struck first in extra time, crossing for the winning try and stealing the competition points in a finish full of controversy and heartbreak.
Mercedes Make a Statement
Since the Canadian Grand Prix, where Mercedes collected a 1st and 3rd finish, it’s been a relatively tough stretch for the F1 team, especially for high-potential star Kimi Antonelli, who has had DNFs and bottom-of-the-grid finishes.
This weekend, on a track with plenty of corners and a strong demand for downforce, it was the perfect opportunity for them to get back on track.
From qualifying, it looked like it might not be the bounce-back they were hoping for. Russell was just outside podium contention, while Antonelli found himself starting all the way down in 15th place, looking destined for another pointless result.
On race day, both drivers made promising progress. Russell made the most of Ferrari botching their race plan for Leclerc, which saw him drop to 4th and allowed Russell to manage his race well and get himself back on the podium.
Meanwhile, Antonelli quietly went about his business in scintillating fashion. He took full advantage of the car’s downforce-focused design and cut through the lower midfield throughout the race. He finished in 10th, picking up his first point in a while.
This race was a big step forward for a struggling Mercedes team. With Russell back on the podium and their future star Antonelli starting to find form again, they’ve set themselves up to stay in the fight for 2nd in the constructors’ standings.