Highlanders Across the Provinces: NPC Round 5 Preview

Round 4 Wrap:  

Round 4 delivered another entertaining weekend of NPC rugby, with plenty of free-flowing attack, upsets and big scores across the country.  

Otago recorded the biggest winning margin of the round by beating Wellington 61-22 on Sunday evening in Dunedin.  

Wellington were competitive in the game until around the 25-minute mark, but Otago’s attacking flair looked back in full force as they strung together a consistent flow of tries to put the visitors to rest.  

There were plenty of standout performers. Lucas Casey was once again elusive with ball in hand, and an Otago backline featuring several Highlanders clicked into gear to break open the Wellington defensive line.  

Northland produced one of the upsets of the round on Thursday night, stunning Canterbury 36-12 to claim the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 48 years. A try just before halftime gave the Taniwha momentum, and they never looked back, dominating the second half to secure a famous Shield victory.

On Saturday, the Southland Stags travelled to Nelson to take on the Tasman Makos. Tasman were too strong for the Stags as they dominated with ball in hand to win 46-17. The contest was tight until late in the second half, with Tasman tacking on some late tries to clinch the match. Highlanders' utility back Taine Robinson was able to contribute seven points through a try and a conversion off the bench for Tasman.  

Hawke’s Bay and Folau Fakatava stay undefeated in the NPC as they thrashed Manawatū 59-17. Te Kamaka Howden and the Turbos never really looked a chance at any point in the match.  

Tai Cribb and Auckland went down to cross-city rivals North Harbour. Auckland were a constant step behind North Harbour as they trailed the majority of the match to lose 27-19.  

A tight contest was displayed between Taranaki and Bay of Plenty. The Steamers took off to an early lead at the end of the first half 21-7. It was a game of two halves as Taranaki brought it back to 21-19 with the help of a Steamers yellow card. However, Bay of Plenty were able to hang on to win 28-24. Two Highlanders dotted down in this match, with Nikora Broughton and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens both crossing for tries.

Waikato pumped Counties Manukau 45-12. The struggling Counties team are yet to log a win in the 2026 season, with discipline issues being a major reason for their loss over the weekend.  

Round 4 Results:

• Canterbury 12–36 Northland 

• Hawke’s Bay 59–17 Manawatū 

• Tasman 46–17 Southland 

• North Harbour 27–19 Auckland 

•  Bay of Plenty 28–24 Taranaki 

• Waikato 45–12 Counties Manukau 

• Otago 61–22 Wellington 

Round 5 Fixtures:

Thursday 27 August 

• Southland vs Hawke’s Bay – 7:10pm, Invercargill Rugby Park  

Friday 28 August 

• Auckland vs Bay of Plenty – 7:10pm, Eden Park  

Saturday 29 August 

• Taranaki vs Canterbury – 2:05pm, Stadium Taranaki  

• Otago vs Waikato – 5:05pm, Forsyth Barr Stadium  

• Manawatū vs North Harbour – 7:10pm, Central Energy Trust Arena  

Sunday 30 August 

• Wellington vs Counties Manukau – 2:05pm, Hnry Stadium  

• Northland vs Tasman – 5:05pm, Semenoff Stadium 

What’s Ahead in Round 5: 

In the first match of the weekend, Folau and the Magpies head south to take on the Stags in Invercargill.  Hawke’s Bay will provide a tough test for Sean Withy’s Stags as they remain undefeated in 2026. 

Auckland will take on Bay of Plenty on Friday night at Eden Park, where Auckland will be looking to end their losing streak. Bay of Plenty have shown plenty of promise in the first four rounds. Nikora Broughton has been in fine form, scoring a handful of tries and he will look to keep the momentum going with a crucial win against a somewhat subpar Auckland team.  

Canterbury will take on Taranaki, where Adam Lennox and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will look to avoid their fourth defeat in a row against the reigning champions.  

Otago will play at home again as they take on Waikato in a clash between fourth and fifth. Waikato will serve as a good test for Otago as they come off a strong win against Wellington. The usual suspects for Otago will be ones to look out for again through the likes of Lucas Casey and Jona Nareki who have lit up the competition so far.  

Te Kamaka Howden and Manawatū will take on a strong North Harbour side at home. With just one win from their opening four matches, Manawatū will be desperate to find a way to get their second win of the season.  

On Sunday, Wellington will take on the likes of Ioane Moananu and Tuna Tuitama with Counties Manukau in the bottom-of-the-table clash. Both Wellington and Counties are searching for their first win of the season. 

The final match of Round 5 on Sunday will be an interesting matchup between Northland and Tasman. Northland, who are the new holders of the Ranfurly Shield, will have to put it on the line against a strong Tasman side.  

Players to Watch in Round 5:  

Nikora Broughton - Bay of Plenty 

In the first four rounds of the NPC, Nikora has had a significant impact in each match for Bay of Plenty. He has been strong with ball in hand and brings a balanced game with a high work rate off the ball. This level of performance is quickly becoming the norm for Nikora, so expect him to light up Eden Park against Auckland on Friday night.  

Jona Nareki – Otago  

Nareki, one of the more experienced players in both the Otago and Highlanders squads, has been the go-to man on the wing. He acts as a reliable finisher and defender on the edge of Otago’s thrilling attack. His experience, mixed with the likes of Nemec-Vial and Te Hewi has put together some electrifying tries over the first four rounds, not to mention Jona’s defence, which has brought about multiple try-saving tackles already in the season.  

Will Stodart – Otago 

The versatile Stodart has been a consistent performer over the last few seasons for both Otago and the Highlanders. He holds a strong physical presence and is one of the key leaders in the Otago forward pack. At just 22 years of age, he is one of the Highlanders' most exciting talents. With a strong work rate, he will be one to watch in terms of the number of tackles, carries, and involvement at the breakdown throughout the match. 

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