The battle of the South is set for the NPC final this weekend, with Otago taking on Canterbury in what should go down as a historic bout. These two sides have undoubtedly been the cream of the crop when it comes to this season’s edition of the NPC, which is why it’s fitting they’ll be facing each other.
We’ll still have our best bets article as a preview, but what I wanted to dive into here is a look at some of the potential game changers on each side. In other words, who are the players that could potentially swing the result in their team’s favour when it’s all said and done? Both teams have plenty of them, which is why this should be an outstanding end to what has been a superb 2025 season.
Dylan Pledger | Halfback | Otago
The breakout player of the 2025 NPC has been the New Zealand Under 20s and Otago halfback. Since his introduction as the starter, Pledger has turned the season on its head and has been in conversations for an All Blacks call-up, or at the very least a nod for the All Blacks XV. Surprisingly, he was left out of the Northern Tour altogether, and he has this game at his disposal to show why that was the wrong decision.
The idea that he’s too young or too small goes out the window for me, because in sport around the world, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough, so him being 20 shouldn’t hold him back. I digress from that rant and come back to this matchup, where Pledger should once again put his high octane playmaking skills on show in what might be the biggest game of his career.
In his 657 minutes played, Pledger has become the hub of Otago’s attack, scoring 8 tries and providing 15 try assists, which leads the competition among halfbacks. So what will be key for Otago is the forward pack winning the contact zone on attack, which will buy Pledger the opportunity to perform his magic from the base of the ruck against Canterbury.
Tom Christie | Openside | Canterbury
From the new age to one of the stalwarts of New Zealand rugby, Canterbury will be relying heavily on their captain and No. 7, Tom Christie. Throughout his career, Christie has been the prototypical openside flanker from Canterbury and the Crusaders, always tucking into a mountain of work.
Another trait Christie brings is that he’s a winner. This comes from the fact he was a part of that Scott Robertson dynastic run with the Crusaders, where he helped the side win five Super Rugby championships. That experience will be a huge plus for Canterbury, having their leader and arguably best overall player be someone who has consistently been part of big occasions and come out on top.
What I expect from him in this game, outside of just the winning mentality, is the work rate he always brings. Christie this season is not only in the 99th percentile for tackles made with 222, but he is also in the same range when it comes to generating turnovers. So if Christie is able to be his disruptive self and cause issues for Otago around the ruck, I think that will be a huge step in the right direction for the red and black to win this one.
Christian Lio-Willie | No. 8 | Otago
After being selected as the All Blacks starter to begin the season, Lio-Willie will be looking to make a huge splash this weekend against some familiar names. The Otago back rower, since returning to the blue and gold this season, has been a revelation for them.
Starting with his attacking prowess, the 27-year-old has been one of the best forwards with the ball in hand across the entire competition. He sits in the 99th percentile for carries this season, with 150 takes into contact, which has also made him one of the top metre-gainers among forwards with over 450 metres made.
While he has been elite on attack, what people often overlook about Lio-Willie is the defensive work he completes on the other side of the ball. This is shown through his 122 tackles this season, placing him in the 87th percentile for all back rowers.
Otago will need an all-round great performance from their All Black No. 8 in this one if they are to take down the powerhouse of New Zealand, and I like his chances to do so.
Chay Fihaki | Fullback | Canterbury
Moving to Canterbury’s back line, one of their best players all season, and one who has been rewarded with another All Blacks XV call-up, has been the dynamic Chay Fihaki. The 24-year-old has covered both wing and fullback throughout the season; however, this weekend he will be the last line of defence for Canterbury, in what I would argue is his more natural role. At 6’3” and 100 kg, Fihaki has the build of an old-school winger but the modern finesse and skill required to be a secondary playmaker around the park through his kicking and passing game.
While his ability to find touch 10 metres further than anyone else and kick goals from 65 metres out is impressive, what has really become a strength for Fihaki this season is his ability to break tackles and create line breaks. In 2025 alone, Fihaki has forced 21 missed tackles and cleanly broken opposition lines 9 times, averaging just under one every 80 minutes. Add to that the fact he is likely the best defensive back-three player in the competition, leading that group with 56 tackles, 12 of them dominant, shows Canterbury have an all-round superstar in their backline.
Taking all of this into account, if I were Otago, I would make sure that when they kick this weekend, it is with purpose. Feeding the ball to Fihaki to run or kick back at them only increases the chances of the most dangerous player on the park breaking the game open.