The new NPC season is officially underway, with round one of the campaign done and dusted. While there is plenty to learn from the first 80 minutes of each team’s season, it is still a long road ahead, and just because you had either a good or bad outing does not always mean it creates the blueprint for the rest of the year.
So, what we are starting off is our own power rankings, where we are going to take in all of the context, from squad depth to performances and results, and each week provide our rankings of the NPC sides from 1-14.
As this is a fluid competition, the rankings are going to follow a similar sentiment, as you will see teams moving up and down as we get more information on them after each weekend of action.
With that said, after so long between drinks of NPC action, I am itching to get into this first edition of the series, so let’s crack into it.
14. Southland | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
The season kicked off with Stag Day down in Southland, and while the party still roared on in the deep south, what was seen on the pitch was not really anything to celebrate. They were dominated from the jump by their biggest rivals in the competition, Otago, in a fixture that showed the difference in class between one of the better sides in the NPC and a side that is still trying to build its foundations.
13. Manawatū | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
For the Turbos, they certainly do not lack top-end talent, with the likes of TK Howden, Brayden Iose and Ngani Laumape, but their first outing of the year was certainly a humbling experience. They travelled up the country to take on Northland, who were by far the better side on the day, handling business rather comfortably.
It was a game that certainly hurt the stock I had in the Turbos before kick-off. However, it is not all doom and gloom for Manawatū fans, as I think, and the key word is think, there is a foundation of talent in the squad to build on for the rest of the season.
12. Counties Manukau | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
Counties were good last year, but after that 80-minute performance, I feel like the loss of Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu is going to put a large cap on the type of ceiling the Steelers could have this season.
While I will admit it could be reactionary, as they were taking on one of the competition’s better sides in Taranaki on Saturday afternoon, it certainly was not the kind of statement fans would have wanted to see.
11. North Harbour | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
It looked as though North Harbour were on track to produce the upset of the round early doors, as they drove Tasman right to the brink at Trafalgar Park and certainly fired off somewhat of a warning shot that they are not just going to be some kind of rollover on other teams’ schedules.
Harbour have essentially overhauled the whole roster, with plenty of new names and debutants getting a look in this past week. Who knows, maybe that was the kind of reset the club needed from a player standpoint, and it could bear some fairly good fruit if they continue playing the fearless brand of footy we saw from them on Friday evening.
10. Wellington | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
The Lions closed out the round against the Magpies at Hnry Stadium in front of some of their legends on Old Timers’ Day. From the kick-off, it looked like they were still in the sheds, as Hawke’s Bay flew out to a huge early lead, capitalising on any minor mistake the home side made.
There was a decent fightback from Wellington in the second half, led by the likes of Callum Harkin, Du’Plessis Kirifi and debutant Divad Palu, which can be taken as a positive heading into round two. However, they did look like a side that had been hit hard by All Blacks selections.
© Mandatory credit: Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
9. Northland | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
For any Northland fans reading this, I could understand why you would feel rather hard done by coming in at ninth on the list after what could only be described as a dominant first showing of the season.
However, the caveat I have for that is I just need to see it again, and against a better-quality side. If the Taniwha can produce another 80 minutes like they did this past weekend, then you can certainly expect a rise up the rankings in the coming weeks.
8. Bay Of Plenty | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
About a week ago, after seeing Bay of Plenty release their squad, I was very high on their side and thought they could be a value play on the futures market. Then, come Wednesday afternoon, when their team was announced, I was stunned at some of the selections made, with some of their best players either on the bench or just not in the 23.
Now, there may be further reasons that I am not aware of for some of those selections, but in the first half, where they were completely dominated by Waikato, it showed they were missing some quality on the paddock. So for now, while I am still a big believer in the Steamers, I just cannot justify them ahead of the other seven sides.
7. Waikato | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
I do not think I quite gauged how talented Waikato were across their squad until I saw their first teamsheet of the season come out, with the likes of Malachi Wrampling, Xavier Roe and Taha Kemara driving their team around.
With that core group of leaders, they were essentially able to nullify anything Bay of Plenty were trying to do for the first 40 minutes and completely took the sting out of the game. The other major positive was the showing of some of their younger names, with the headliner being Nathan Stephens, who looked very potent down the left side in his NPC debut.
6. Tasman | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
Unconvincing would be the word to describe the Mako’s first hit out, as you could say they were the worse side on the night against North Harbour and could count themselves lucky to come away with the win.
They relied on some of their big names, like Kyren Taumoifolau and Johnny Lee, grabbing the game by the scruff and dragging their team to an opening win. However, it does look like the absence of Timoci Tavatavanawai and Ethan Blackadder could be a huge uphill battle for their chances of dominating in the fashion they have in past seasons.
5. Taranaki | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
Now, Sam Clarke did a good job stepping into the big shoes of Josh Jacomb, but there was no doubt that against Counties Manukau, there was a lack of bite in Taranaki’s attack that the newly called-up All Blacks fly-half provides.
They were also missing maybe their most talented player in Kini Naholo this past weekend, and his return would provide a major boost to their chances on any given weekend, but I still have some doubts surrounding this Taranaki side.
4. Hawke’s Bay | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
The Magpies got the job done emphatically in the capital on Sunday afternoon, and that was mainly due to their outstanding attack and ability to break from anywhere.
However, there was no doubt they were getting the rub of the green through that 80 minutes, with everything bouncing their way and getting bailed out by some fairly ordinary execution from the Lions. While it is true you make your own luck, they got plenty of it, and it would be interesting to see, against a better outfit than the Lions, if they would be afforded all those glorious opportunities.
3. Auckland | 0-1 | Previous Ranking: N/A
Going out on a major limb here backing a side that has been very average for the last few seasons, but the talent in this Auckland side is undeniable. They are stacked from top to bottom, and a late winner by Richie Mo’unga was the only thing between them and upsetting the defending champs in front of 18,000 Cantabrian fans.
Who knows, maybe Auckland were just juiced up playing in the biggest New Zealand rivalry and in front of a huge crowd. But if this was not a one-off performance and more of an accurate representation of their level, then I expect them to be a team to beat through the 2026 campaign.
2. Otago | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
It would have been easy for Otago to get stuck in an arm wrestle against Southland on Stag Day in their season opener, but in fairness to last year’s finalists, they approached it like any other game and showed why they are one of the best sides in the competition.
They were clinical from minute one and seemingly have picked up from where they left off last year, with some of their big names leading from the front, such as the dynamic loose forward duo of Lucas Casey and Christian Lio-Willie.
1. Canterbury | 1-0 | Previous Ranking: N/A
After winning what I see at this moment as a top-three matchup, and doing it with Richie Mo’unga running off the pine, it was quite the statement from Canterbury.
Like the last couple of sides mentioned, Canterbury are stacked beyond belief and are in a position to have a serious run at the title, as long as they do not get in their own way.
While I sit here rather comfortably thinking the black and red are indeed the best side in the competition, this time next week we will really be able to solidify that sentiment. Or maybe we could see Otago take that mantle if they are to defend the shield on Sunday afternoon. All I know is I am buzzing for that calibre of clash so early into the season.
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