NPC 2025

[Yeetyaah]

@Bovidae nah it was a cotton kinda retro styled on.

[Duluth]

[Kiwidom]

So I think it's just North Harbour and Waikato still yet to announce their squads

[UpTheHarbs]

@Kiwidom I think Harbour’s squad will be announced tomorrow or Friday.

[Duluth]

Waikato play Auckland in the opening game in 7 days

Surely they know who is in their squad by now

[Bovidae]

Of course the squad will be known, and training. It's just that WR are slack in officially announcing the squad. Even more so, when the "B team" has been released first.

[Duluth]

@Bovidae said in NPC 2025:

Of course the squad will be known, and training. It's just that WR are slack in officially announcing the squad.

Yeah I know

It's the same teams every year that screw up the weekl naming too. Waikato and Harbour are generally last every week.

Waikato was really bad at naming a side that was different to the one that actually played too

[Bovidae]

24 h before the game is still the rule I believe.

I'll add that a lot of the squad will be from Marist and Hautapu who play in the club final this Sat. Those teams could look quite different to who played in the SF because the Waikato reps will be withdrawn.

[UpTheHarbs]

Harbour's squad to be announced tomorrow

[frugby]

I’m bravely going to try predict the NPC having failed miserably with Super Rugby

1. Taranaki
2. Canterbury
3. Bay of Plenty
4. Wellington
5. Ta$man
6. Auckland
7. Hawke’s Bay
8. Waikato
9. Northland
10. Otago
11. Harbour
12. Counties
13. Southland
14. Manawatu

[Yeetyaah]

@frugby said in NPC 2025:

I’m bravely going to try predict the NPC

I'll do the same with no bias at all.

1. Waikato
   2-14. Everyone else.

[MacDazzler]

Predicted 2025 Ladder

Ta$man
Taranaki
Canterbury
Bay of Plenty
Hawkes Bay
Wellington
Auckland
Northland

Waikato
North Harbour
Counties
Otago
Southland
Manawatu

[UpTheHarbs]

1. Ta$man
2. Taranaki
3. Canterbury
4. Wellington
5. Bay of Plenty
6. HARBOUR
7. Hawkes Bay
8. Auckland
9. Waikato
10. Counties Manukau
11. Northland
12. Otago
13. Southland
14. Manawatū

[Dan54]

@frugby I so hope you right about who's on top. I admit to not being brave enough to list teams in order on how they will finish, as so often there seem to be 'upset' results. Think another reason to love the comp..
Only thing I usually think at beginning is Manawatu and Southland will be at bottom.

[Canes4life]

I'd love Wellington to make it three championships in four seasons but I feel like they've lost too much experience and firepower to the ABs / to injury. For me, Ta$man are huge favourites having Havili, Blackadder and LF available.

A Ta$man backline of 9. Christie 10. Robinson 11. Fainga'anuku 12. Havili 13. Aumua 14. Taumaoefolau 15. Springer is top quality at this level and will take some stopping.

I'd go:

1. Ta$man
2. Taranaki
3. Wellington
4. Canterbury
5. Bay of Plenty
6. Auckland
7. Harbour
8. Hawkes Bay
9. Waikato
10. Counties Manukau
11. Northland
12. Otago
13. Southland
14. Manawatu

[UpTheHarbs]

@Canes4life Your predictions are very similar to mine!

[Canes4life]

@UpTheHarbs said in NPC 2025:

@Canes4life Your predictions are very similar to mine!

Yep, I agree with most of yours, with a few teams in different places.

[Bovidae]

Waikato will still be able to field a strong team without the ABs. Making the top 8 should be a minimum.

I'll post my starting XV when the squad is announced.

[Dan54]

The Naki clocked up preseason win against Wellington yesterday68-28, down in Wellington.

[Canes4life]

@Dan54 said in NPC 2025:

The Naki clocked up preseason win against Wellington yesterday68-28, down in Wellington.

Wasn’t there a similar result in pre season last year? Would be interested to see who played for Welly.