Highlanders Across the Provinces: NPC Round 6 Preview

Round 5 Wrap:

Round 5 marked the halfway point of the regular season for the NPC.  

The round kicked off on Thursday, with Hawke’s Bay taking on the Southland Stags in windy Invercargill. Folau Fakatava and the Magpies played with the wind in the first half, helping them race out to a 31-0 lead, with Folau showcasing his running game with two tries and a barrage of box kicks which the Southland outside backs struggled to contain.  

In the second half it was Southland’s turn to play with the wind, and the Stags came storming back, but the unbeaten Magpies were able to hold on to win 36-21. Mika Muliana was immaculate off the tee to give Southland a chance, and Highlanders loose forward Sean Withy was able to sneak a try with a quick tap from 5 meters out.  

Elsewhere in the Highlanders region, Otago took on Waikato at home, which turned out to be a high-scoring thriller under the roof. In this match, several Highlanders squad members showed their quality throughout the match. The likes of Stodart, Lopas and Bell were instrumental in the forward pack, with both Bell and Lopas dotting down.  

In the backline, Te Hiwi, Nareki and Patrick Pellegrini were all significant contributors in an Otago backline that produced some excellent tries.  

A special mention goes to Lucas Casey, who has now scored in his last seven NPC matches, one shy of Otago legend John Timu’s record of scoring in eight consecutive matches. Casey has continued his form from the previous NPC season, where he exploded onto the scene and earned his spot in the Highlanders' wider training squad.   

In the clash at Eden Park, Bay of Plenty were able to get a win away from home. The diligent duo of Nikora Broughton and Vaveni Lasaqa were the key cogs in what was an emphatic comeback for the Steamers. They got through a mountain of work, combining a high number of tackles and carries.  

Taranaki stunned Canterbury at home to take a 40-26 win over the reigning champions. The likes of Jacob Ratumaitaivuki- Kneepkins and Meihana Grindlay in the Taranaki backline were able to break open the Canterbury defence from all areas of the field with multiple tries from well outside the 22.  

Another shock win came from Manawatū, who pipped the in-form North Harbour. The Turbos were able to edge a three-point win as they held onto the lead for the entire game.  Highlanders loose forward and the Manawatū captain, Te Kamaka Howden, will be pleased with his team’s perseverance throughout the match.

A bottom-of-the-table clash was played out between Counties Manukau and Wellington at Hnry Stadium. With both teams searching for their first win of the 2026 campaign, it was Ioane Moananu and Counties who were able to come out on top. The only Highlanders player currently aligned with the Wellington side is exciting young outside back Stanley Solomon, who has been nursing a hamstring injury at the beginning of the NPC season. Stanley will be looking to turn things around for Wellington once he is back.  

Northland hosted Tasman in their first Ranfurly Shield defence since winning it off Canterbury last week. They were able to hold Tasman to just 10 points and come away with 20 points of their own. The match was played in front of a large Whangārei crowd who were delighted to see their home side defend the Shield for the first time since 1979.  

Round 5 Results: 

• Southland 21–36 Hawke’s Bay 
• Auckland 19–22 Bay of Plenty 
• Taranaki 40–26 Canterbury 
• Otago 43–38 Waikato 
• Manawatū 43–40 North Harbour 
• Wellington 35–46 Counties Manukau 
• Northland 20–10 Tasman 

Looking ahead to Round 6:  

Leading the Round 6 preview is a top-of-the-table clash. Otago will take on Hawke’s Bay at McLean Park on Friday night. This shapes the biggest test of the season so far for both teams. Folau will come up against a significant number of his Highlanders teammates. Expect a tight contest between two of the competition's form teams. 

Southland will head north to Counties Manukau in what is a game they will be eyeing to win. Counties, who picked up their first win of the season against bottom-of-the-table Wellington, will have some confidence when they take on the Stags. Southland has proved competitive against almost every team they have faced this season. However, Sean Withy will be desperate to see his team notch another win for the season.  

Northland will breathe a sigh of relief as they play away from home, meaning the Shield is safe for at least another week as they take on North Harbour. Northland will look to keep the momentum going against a Harbour side that suffered a disappointing loss against Manawatu.  

Taranaki have another home game, this time against Auckland, with both teams nearing the bottom of the table, Friday night could be a tight contest if that is anything to go by. The Bulls side will have some newfound confidence after beating Canterbury, so expect them to come out firing.  

Nikora Broughton and the Steamers take on Manawatu in Tauranga on Saturday. Bay of Plenty carry some momentum into this matchup with a two-win streak, but Manawatu has shown promise throughout this campaign with some gutsy wins and some close losses in what should be an exciting showdown.  

Tasman will take on Wellington at home in Blenheim. The Lions are still searching for their first win of the season, in which Tasman will not be an easy task.  

Waikato will take Canterbury on Saturday at home, both sides are coming off losses in round 5. Both teams will be desperate to notch a win and stay in the playoff picture. Canterbury have now had two losses in a row following their hot start to the season which could be attributed to some key players such as Jamie Hannah and Richie Moanga leaving the side to join the All Blacks tour in South Africa. They will be desperate to show that the depth of their squad can still produce the results.  

Round 6 Fixtures: 

Thursday 3 September

• Taranaki vs Auckland – 7:10pm – Stadium Taranaki

Friday 4 September

• Hawke’s Bay vs Otago – 7:10pm – McLean Park

Saturday 5 September

• Bay of Plenty vs Manawatū – 2:05pm – Tauranga Domain
• Tasman vs Wellington – 5:05pm – Lansdowne Park
• Waikato vs Canterbury – 7:10pm – FMG Stadium Waikato

Sunday 6 September

• Counties Manukau vs Southland – 2:05pm – Navigation Homes Stadium
• North Harbour vs Northland – 5:05pm – North Harbour Stadium

Players to Watch in Round 6:  

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens – Taranaki  

JRK has been the anchor for the Taranaki backline for some time now since his debut for the side in 2020. A mainstay in the Highlanders back three, he played a vital part in their win against Canterbury in Round 5. Known for his electric pace, some confidence coming from last weekend could see Jacob do what he does best and break open the Auckland backline. Despite only scoring one try this season so far, he is one of the top try creators in the competition as well as notching some serious post-contact meters so far. Now, at 25, he is well established in the professional arena, he will look to lead his Taranaki side deep into the playoffs.  

Folau Fakatava – Hawke's Bay 

It would be difficult not to acknowledge Folau as he dismantled the Southland defensive line on Thursday. He scored two tries and put the Stags back three under immense pressure with his precision box-kicking. His performances throughout the competition have sparked plenty of discussion around whether his NPC form warranted higher honours. Playing against Otago, another top team in the competition, Hawke’s Bay will need another stellar performance from Folau if they are to keep their unbeaten streak alive.   

Sean Withy – Southland 

The Stags skipper leads the NPC in tackles made. Withy leads from the front and lets his game do the talking. Southland takes on Counties Manukau on Sunday, and Withy will be one to watch as he will do everything he can to take his team a step closer to playoff contention. Relentless is perhaps the best word to describe Sean’s work rate. The loose forward has churned through his fair share of tackles and carries for the Southland side, expect nothing less on Sunday.