When a clearing kick in the 43rd minute from Northland first-five Reviz Reihana appeared to be going dead to create a likely scrum for Canterbury deep inside Taniwha territory, it hit the goal-post padding and instead resulted in a net gain of territory for Northland. Ahead 21-10, you thought maybe the fairytale for the visitors was coming true. That’s the kind of fortune you need to tumble you away.

Instead, cold, clinical, more resourced and experienced Canterbury roared home with way too much bench ammunition, 43-24. In reality, that’s the way it should be. Northland were brave, but when influential Sam Nock was yellow-carded in the 49th minute, the wheels were coming loose. Canterbury won the last half an hour of the game 35-3 to capture their 16th NPC title.

Who were the performers of the NPC Final?

George Bell (Canterbury)

Canterbury had the most statistically accurate and prolific scoring lineout in the competition. Earlier in the season, Bell scored three tries from lineout drives in the first half of a 25-24 win over North Harbour. Immediately after Sam Nock was yellow-carded, Bell hit his lineout jumper and rumbled over for a try that cut the score to 21-15.

Bell is a hive of energy and brought an urgency the hosts lacked in the first spell. His second try was textbook hooker play: hard on the ball, low body position, unstoppable. Canterbury won 14 of 16 lineouts while Northland only claimed 69 per cent of their throws.

Isaac Hutchinson (Canterbury)

Backed up his two-try semi-final display with a double in the decider. His tries in the 63rd and 75th minutes ensured the defending champions wouldn’t be passed. Additionally, he delivered a pivotal offload in the lead-up to another Canterbury score.

It’s been a massive year for the former St Bede’s College fullback who ironically debuted for the Chiefs in their 42-22 win against the Fijian Drua in “Super Round” in Christchurch on April 25. Hutchinson was named Canterbury NPC Rooike of the Year in 2024. In 2025, while playing for his club, Marist Albion, he busted his right knee in an injury he said “looked like I’d been in a car crash.” An eye for the gap, speed, versatility, and bravery, Hutchinson is one to watch if he can stay injury-free.

Sam Nock (Northland)

His yellow card, lawdy for not rolling away, changed the game, but before that it was a brilliant 49 minutes from the Taniwha centurion. Varied his options nicely with smart quicks, swift, nifty passes, and his break to put Corey Evans away just before halftime might have had the locals briefly panicking.

Rival halfback Louie Chapman was a brilliant Christchurch Boys’ High School First XV player. He made 40 appearances for Tasman but never really found his feet with the Mako. Back in Canterbury, he’s won 19 of 23 games, scored seven tries and departs for Edinburgh in career-best form.

Provincial New Zealand

Northland’s epic run to the final, in addition to the continued success of Taranaki and strong recent seasons from Hawke’s Bay and Bay of Plenty, shows that rugby can still thrive in the provinces. The best way to engage fans in a small country is through community and tribalism. Northland have shown what’s possible with smart coaching, recruitment, governance and opportunity. But while the NPC unquestionably captures the hearts of provincial New Zealand, except Canterbury, it’s flagging in the cities, especially Wellington.

Despite winning the Premiership in 2022 and 2024, Wellington’s shocking demise, losing every game and conceding more than 50 points in half of them, highlights what rock bottom looks like in The NZ Rugby report titled “Rugby System Programme – Rugby Summit Pre-read.” Multinational accounting firm Deloitte labelled the current expenditure for New Zealand rugby “clearly unsustainable”, with a “structural deficit”.

For years, Wellington has played games in a massive stadium with huge operating costs, while barely anyone turns up. They have overspent on players, staff, competitions, and almost every facet of the game, to the point that they lost $2 million in the last two years. Furthermore, the culture has been so toxic that referees boycotted a round of club and school rugby to stand against sideline and player abuse. Over the last year, Wellington has replaced its entire 12-person board, and the CEO resigned this week.