The best performances from Canterbury's win over Otago in the NPC final

Canterbury conquered Otago 36-28 in the NPC final to again become New Zealand’s premier rugby province.

Otago, in their first final since 2005 and seeking their first title since 1998, started with plenty of optimism, at one stage, leading 14-5. Soon, however, the contenders became pretenders, run down and overpowered by an efficiently ruthless juggernaut in an all-too-familiar tale of woe.

Who were the standout performers in the NPC final?

Louie, Louie

With some justification, Otago halfback Dylan Pledger has been subject to more hype than any young Kiwi since Idol heartthrob Michael Murphy two decades earlier. On this occasion, though, he was outplayed behind a retreating pack and a nipper former prodigy, Louie Chapman.

All Black coach Scott Robertson and his captain Scott Barrett give their views on the ‘greatest rivalry’ tour of 2026

All Black coach Scott Robertson and his captain Scott Barrett give their views on the ‘greatest rivalry’ tour of 2026

The head prefect of Christchurch Boys’ High School in 2018 won a Crusaders First XV championship that season and was selected for the New Zealand Secondary Schools, having already pocketed two National cricket championships as a member of the all-conquering Blue-Black First XI.

Sought after by both codes, Chapman chose the oval ball and, in his first season of NPC rugby, was a Premiership winner with Tasman.

It all seemed a bit easy, and it was. Four seasons and 39 games later, Chapman only had one Super Rugby appearance in 2023 to show for his promise, albeit for the Crusaders, who won the title that season.

Back home, the diminutive Chapman has grown in stature, playing in 11 of Canterbury’s 13 possible games in 2025.

In the 58th minute of the decider, he scampered away for a try, his fifth of the season, that boosted the Red & Black’s advantage to an insurmountable 29-14.

In addition to his assured attack and astute tactical kicking, he made 13 tackles as Otago often made a beeline for him.

Extraordinary Ennor

Centre Braydon Ennor has busted so many bones he might one day arouse the interest of archaeologists. Agile, robust, relevant —maybe he’s a closet contortionist. In the final, he scored a crucial try, defended stoutly and didn’t put a foot wrong.

It’s worth noting Ennor has won all nine All Blacks Tests he’s played and 64 out of 76 games with the Crusaders, winning seven Super Rugby titles between 2018 and 2025.

Alongside Tom Christie and prop Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ennor is one of three Canterbury players left from the 2017 Canterbury team that beat Tasman in the final, Canterbury’s last champions before Saturday.

Between 2008 and 2017, Canterbury won nine championships in ten years – 102 out of 128 games – outscoring opponents 4,399 to 2,375, and produced 20 new All Blacks.

Casey & Point, Canterbury Forwards Too Tough

When breakout Otago flanker Lucas Casey scored a try in the 19th minute to make it 12-5 to the visitors, he became just the seventh forward to score nine tries in an NPC season.

Zinzan Brooke and John Mitchell share the record for most tries by a forward in an NPC season. Zinny, born on Valentine’s Day 1965 in Waiuku, achieved his most prolific season for NPC champions Auckland in 1987. Mitchell dotted down 11 times for Waikato in 1990. Brooke holds the first-class record for most tries by a forward with 161 in 311 appearances between 1985 and 1997. Tasman’s Tomasi Maka also scored nine tries in 2025.

Alongside prop Rohan Wingham, Casey also topped the tackle count in the final with 27. Veteran Otago hooker Liam Coltman, in his 104th game in Blue & Gold, was exhaustive with 21 tackles as a second-half replacement.

Canterbury lock Jamie Hannah topped the hosts’ tackles statistics with 24. Fellow lock Zach Gallagher made 16 tackles to pass 200 tackles for the season. Canterbury openside Tom Christie topped the NPC season tackle count. Canterbury secured all six lineout throws and pinched a couple from Otago while winning the “collisions” in the second half.

Don’t be Sorry, Marty Bourke

When Canterbury was humiliated 65-19 by North Harbour last year, coach Marty Bourke didn’t cut corners with his analysis. Instead, he issued an apology to fans after the record defeat, describing the outcome as “hugely embarrassing.”

Furthermore, he complained, “I was probably more disappointed that we seemed to give up than stay in the fight, and that’s something the red and black jersey doesn’t do. I think what hurt them the most is when we talked about how we let our families and our clubs and all the people who helped us get to where we are down.”

In 2025, Bourke joins esteemed former bosses like Alex ‘Grizz,’ Wyllie, Robbie Deans, Sir Steve Hansen and Scott ‘Razor Robertson’ as a Canterbury NPC-winning rugby coach.

R.I.P. Apollo Projects Stadium

On its home page, Apollo Projects: Commercial Construction Experts boasts, “With over 20 years of experience overseeing projects across multiple sectors in New Zealand, Apollo Projects has a successful track record of delivering outcomes exceeding client expectations.”

When Lancaster Park was destroyed by the Earthquakes of 2010 and 2011, who would have thought a makeshift rugby fortress even more formidable could replace it?

Apollo Projects Stadium was a forlorn trudge for almost every visitor, even fairweather one-eyed Canterbrians struggled to enjoy. Super Rugby’s gold-standard Crusaders delivered 98 victories in 119 matches at the venue, including wins in all 32 playoff games.

The Canterbury NPC team debuted at the Apollo on August 29, 2012 and fittingly thrashed Auckland 33-11. Tom Taylor (son of 1987 Rugby World Cup-winning All Black Warwick Taylor) kicked 18 points, and fellow All Black Andy Ellis scored two tries. Canterbury won a third of their NPC titles at the Apollo. Victories in Apollo-hosted finals occurred in 2012 (Auckland, 31-18), 2015 (Auckland, 25-23), 2016 (Tasman, 43-27), 2017 (Tasman, 35-13) and 2025 (Otago, 36-28).

In 2026, Canterbury and the Crusaders will relocate to Te Kaha, a brand new $683 million, 30,000-capacity stadium.

One for “Grizz”

Canterbury won the first of their 15 NPC titles in 1983, a year quarts and crates were guzzled to Billy Jean, Sting and Men at Work. The coach was imperious, All Blacks loose forward turned grumpy, incisive, motivator Alex “Grizz” Wyllie.

Following 210 games in Red & Black, “Grizz” coached Canterbury to 76 wins in 92 games over five years, including 25 successive defences of the Ranfurly Shield between 1982 and 1985. Legendary All Blacks Jock Hobbs, Sir Wayne Smith, Warwick Taylor and Craig Green dominated this era. After coaching the All Blacks to 25 Test wins, three losses and a draw between 1988 and 1991, “Grizz” helped revive Argentine rugby from the doldrums and then became an indomitable promoter of household-cleaning product Wet & Forget. Was the “Grizz” a contender for the name of the new stadium? ‘Grizz” passed away in March.