The three performers of the week from Hilux NPC round one

The 50th NPC began as it did in 1976, with Bay of Plenty beaten. Can the Steamers recover to take the title as they did in that inaugural season?

Despite a noteworthy display from No.8 Nikora Broughton, who topped the meters carried count, scored a try, and added 23 tackles, it wasn’t enough to overhaul a hot Waikato start, 38-26. Opposing No.8 Malachi Wrampling-Alec and the electric Ollie Mathis were just as compelling.

Canterbury and Auckland christened Te Kaka/One New Zealand Stadium by producing a classic in Christchurch’s new rugby cathedral. Defending champions Canterbury narrowly prevailed 38-31 with Super Rugby Pacific winners Jamie Hannah, Dominic Gardiner, Corey Kellow and Jone Rova scoring tries and delivering the goods.

Auckland, winners of just five matches in the past two seasons, will take heart from the spark of winger Xavier Tito-Harris, first-five Stephen Perofeta (16 points) and a committed forward effort led by All Black XV lock Josh Beehre, who topped the tackle count with 18 and scored a try.

Otago are top of the table after silencing Southland on “Stags Day” in Invercargill 41-14. Otago Fullback Sam Nemec-Vial twice chased down Stags when they looked likely to score and charged for 195 metres himself. The King’s High School prospect is one to watch.

Northland are second after pulling clear of Manawatu 40-14. All Blacks Sevens winger Brady Rush touched down twice.

The most discussed omission from the All Blacks tour of South Africa is openside Du’Plessis Kirifi. In his first game since leading the Hurricanes to a 60-5 hiding of the Chiefs in the Super Rugby Pacific final, Kirifi had seven tackles, three turnovers, scored a try and set up another but couldn’t prevent Wellington from falling to an embarrassing 52-31 loss to Hawke’s Bay.

But who were the top three individual performers of the week in the first round of the NPC?

Hunter Morrison (Hawke’s Bay)

Hawke’s Bay banked a four-try bonus point within 20 minutes against Wellington, an astonishing effort given their three previous wins at Hnry Stadium since 2000 were by a combined margin of six points.

Rampant lock Hunter Morrison turned heads, almost riotous in the opening quarter. His eighth-minute try, striding 25 meters, might have left a palm print on Wellington first-five Callum Harkin, while a barnstorming bust from the Lions 22 to halfway set up a Magpies third.

Though the visitors cooled with a not-always-perfect lineout and ill discipline, Morrison remained on point. Sixteen tackles, two turnovers and three lineout catches in 56 minutes is the best outing the 23-year-old has produced in his short NPC career, which consists of just two starts in 14 appearances for the Magpies since 2022.

Standing 195cm and 114kg, Morrison isn’t extraordinarily big, but his athleticism is startling. He’s had a chequered journey in top-flight rugby. In 2019 he helped the Whanganui Collegiate First XV, which also included Adam Lennox and Harry Godfery, make their first-ever Taine Randall Cup Central North Island final. However, his behaviour in the classroom was poor and he left to attend Palmerston North Boys’, driving 75km each way just to make class. When he crashed his car, he relocated permanently to Palmerston North, where he was mentored by Logan Love (brother of All Black Ruben Love).

Following a strong season for the Palmy First XV, he was selected for the New Zealand Barbarians Schools, then the New Zealand Under-19s who won all four games in South Africa and the New Zealand Under-20s in 2023.

He’s broken his jaw, suffered a concussion, but has also been a vital cog in the Taradale Premiers who have won three consecutive Maddison Trophies, including a 25-game win streak.

How bad was it for Wellington? In all eight of their losses in the previous 12 games, they have conceded 30 or more points. Wellington have played 143 games at Hnry Stadium with 103 wins. The only other time they conceded a half century was on October 9, 2016, when Taranaki won 54-31. Rookie Stephen Perofeta scored three tries at fullback.

In 2002, when now All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie was Lions coach, they lost 49-35 to Waikato and 47-27 to Auckland. Those two teams contested the final in Hamilton, with Auckland winning 40-28. Waikato had 11 All Blacks for their Wellington rout, with an All Blacks trio of Keith Lowen, Regan King and Bruce Reihana combining for 39 points. Visiting Auckland had 13 All Blacks, including Carlos Spencer, who contributed 19 points, and Doug Howlett, who scored two tries.

Hawke’s Bay’s biggest-ever win against Wellington was a century ago, in 1926. During a great Ranfurly Shield era when they defended the Log o’ Wood 24 times between 1922 and 1927 and produced iconic All Blacks like Maurice Brownlie, George Nepia and Bert Cooke (131 tries in 119 first-class matches), the Magpies destroyed the McLean Park visitors 58-8.

Cooper Roberts (Tasman)

On Friday night, North Harbour fell short of an upset against Tasman, 31-29, in Bryn Hall’s 100th game in Nelson.

With Timoci Tavatavanawai recalled to the All Blacks and Crusaders captain David Havili bound for Japan at the end of the season, there is a hole in the Mako midfield.

Cooper Roberts from the 2025 New Zealand Under-20s looks like a good long-term fix.

Roberts helped Tasman keep ahead of the plucky visitors, playing a hand in three tries. His 40-metre bust when the Mako were hard-pressed near their line triggered a length-of-the-field riposte. He then snatched a 40-metre intercept try to make it 24-15 to Tasman after 47 minutes.

By the 62nd minute North Harbour had closed the deficit to 24-22 when a spillage by the visitors was toed ahead by Roberts, leading to a third try for Kyren Taumoefolau. There have been 12 Mako hat-tricks, with Taumoefolau also securing one in a 55-38 win against Southland in 2025. In Tasman’s first season in 2006, Peter Playford scored four tries twice in wins against Canada A (48-8) and Northland (56-15).

Meanwhile, Roberts is a product of Marlborough Boys College. He scored a famous try in a 20-17 win against Miles Toyota Premiership champions Nelson College in 2021. He started seven games for Tasman last year, and on May 29 debuted in the Crusaders 47-14 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Hurricanes in Christchurch.

Roberts is not especially big, but he runs effective lines, has good distribution and defends strongly.

Lucas Casey (Otago)

“The Kerikeri Kid” has hit the ground running, picking up from where he left off in his 2025 breakthrough with a livewire display against Southland. With 16 carries for 125 metres gained and two tries, the Highlanders Rookie of the Year was everywhere. During his 85-metre intercept try, he outpaced Scott Gregory from the All Blacks Sevens.

Otago’s win was their biggest against Southland since a 61-7 walkover in Dunedin in 2017. It was their largest win at Rugby Park, Invercargill since a 53-20 success in 2001. That day, Brendan Laney scored 28 points; All Blacks No.8 Paul Miller scored three tries.