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Sports correspondent & historian with |
Two full houses at a couple of footy games, some 160km apart, grabbed my attention last Sunday.
Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland was full to overflowing, with the New Zealand Warriors hosting the Newcastle Knights in a vital NRL (National Rugby League) match.
The Warriors’ army of supporters, decked out in their Wahs gear, were stunned when the Knights ran in three early tries to lead 16-0.
However, the Warriors lived up to their name, weathered the early storm and came back to take a paper-thin 22-20 advantage into halftime.
The second half saw the Warriors attack at every opportunity to grab the two vital competition points on offer, courtesy of a hard-fought 46-32 victory.
Defeating the Knights with one round remaining in the regular season gives the Warriors a shot at the two biggest NRL prizes.
The first is on the line this weekend, with the Warriors having a real chance to win the JJ Giltinan Shield, which is awarded to the NRL minor premiers.
The current situation is that the Warriors sit at the top of the points table, a smidgen ahead of the Penrith Panthers. Both teams are locked on 40 points, but the Warriors hold a slender advantage on points differential, 309 to 308.
The equation is simple. The Warriors need to beat the Manly Sea Eagles and finish with a better points differential than the Panthers, who are expected to beat the Wests Tigers.
The sole New Zealand representatives in the NRL locked in a home qualifying final at Go Media Stadium with their win over the Knights. Their opponent will be either the Dolphins or the Sydney Roosters, who have secured the remaining top-four spots.
Can the Wahs win the 2026 NRL title?
If they win the home qualifying final, they progress directly to the 2026 NRL Grand Final. Lose, and they get a second shot at glory in another playoff game.
Some 160km away, at Okara Park in Whangārei, the tension was just as intense, with surprise Ranfurly Shield holders Northland engaged in their first defence of the Log o’ Wood against Tasman.
While Super Rugby has taken much of the attention away from the NPC (National Provincial Championship), the inclusion of the Ranfurly Shield in the competition since its inaugural season in 1976 ensures full houses in provincial centres.
Last Sunday, Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei hosted the biggest crowd at the city’s rugby venue for decades.
Northland fans got behind their team, who had brought the Ranfurly Shield back to the Far North for the first time in 50 years. A 20-10 Taniwha victory ensured big crowds at Northland’s final two home games.
The big question facing Northland right now is this: can they win their remaining two NPC regular-season home games and keep the Ranfurly Shield in the Far North during the summer rugby off-season?
Their biggest challenge is Waikato on September 12, 2026. Waikato are well versed in the requirements needed to win the Log o’ Wood, having lifted the Ranfurly Shield on 13 separate occasions.
Get past the Mooloo Men and Northland would then need to win the final challenge of the season, against Counties Manukau on September 26.
The next few weeks are likely to bring plenty of drama into footy fans’ living rooms courtesy of Sky Television.
Go the Wahs!