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Hawke's Bay vs North Harbour Predictions - Hawke's Bay to continue their winning streak in a top-of-the-table NPC clash

Nigel Williams

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Last updated: 53 minutes ago

Nigel Williams 53 minutes ago

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Hawke's Bay unbeaten in 6 matches, top of table with 30 points.
North Harbour sits third after a 57-42 victory but trails in head-to-head.
Tip: Hawke's Bay favored to cover -14.5 handicap at home.

Hawke's Bay to continue winning streak (Getty Images)

Hawke's Bay vs North Harbour Predictions

Hawke's Bay enters as the favourite to defeat North Harbour in their top-of-the-table NPC clash at McLean Park. While North Harbour's offence has proven lethal, Hawke's Bay's defensive resilience and home advantage at McLean Park give them the edge in a tightly contested, high-scoring encounter. My best bet is Hawke's Bay to cover the -14.5 handicap at home.

Hawke's Bay vs North Harbour Predictions
Head-to-Head
Hawke's Bay Form
Hawke's Bay Injuries & Team News
North Harbour Form
North Harbour Injuries & Team News

Hawke's Bay have won their last 6 matches.
Hawke's Bay beat Otago 35-24 in their previous match.
Hawke's Bay have won 4 of the last 5 matches against North Harbour.
North Harbour have won 4 of their last 6 matches.
North Harbour beat Northland 57-42 in their previous match.

Head-to-Head

Hawke's Bay has won four of the last five meetings against North Harbour.

Hawke's Bay Form

Hawke's Bay secured a 35-24 comeback victory over Otago at McLean Park, Napier, after trailing 24-14 at halftime, maintaining their unbeaten start to the season.

A 68th-minute yellow card to Otago's Lucas Casey for an early tackle proved to be a major turning point in the match after Otago jumped out to a 24-14 lead at halftime.

Trailing by ten points, Hawke's Bay scored 21 unanswered points in the second half, sealing the win with late tries from centre Bailyn Sullivan and in-form fly-half Harry Godfrey.

Hawke's Bay have been in top form this season, unbeaten in their last six matches. They beat Wellington (52-33), Tasman (50-19), Auckland (44-31), Manawatu (59-17), Southland (36-21), and Otago (35-24).

Hawke's Bay are top of the NPC table with 30 points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

Hawke's Bay Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Hadlee Hay-Horton, 2 Jacob Devery, 3 Joe Apikotoa, 4 Tom Allen, 5 Geoff Cridge, 6 Frank Lochore, 7 Sam Smith, 8 Cooper Flanders, 9 Folau Fakatava, 10 Harry Godfrey, 11 Nic Benn, 12 Lukas Ripley, 13 Bailyn Sullivan, 14 Neria Fomai, 15 Zarn Sullivan.

Replacements: 16 Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17 Clement Castets, 18 Josh Smith, 19 Hunter Morrison, 20 Patrick Mauga, 21 Kade Manuel, 22 Will Cole, 23 Darby Lancaster.

North Harbour Form

North Harbour surged to second on the NPC table after a high-scoring 57-42 statement win against Northland at North Harbour Stadium in Albany.

North Harbour completely out-gunned Northland early, running in seven of their eight tries before the break to establish a stunning 47–14 halftime lead. Northland entered the match boasting the competition's best defensive record, but were completely dismantled by Harbour's fast-paced attack.

North Harbour try-scorers were Leka Tu'ungafasi, Darcy Howell, Tristyn Cook, Rory Taylor, Tom Barham, Kade Banks, Bryn Gordon, and Coby Miln.

North Harbour have had a decent run of form in their 2026 campaign, winning four of their last six matches. They lost to Tasman (31-29), before beating Counties Manukau (59-19), Wellington (47-7), and Auckland (27-19), losing to Manawatu (43-40), and beating Northland (57-42).

North Harbour are third in the NPC table with 24 points after six matches of the 2026 campaign.

North Harbour Injuries & Team News

Starting XV: 1 Oscar Cowley-Andrea, 2 Bryn Gordon, 3 Leka Tu'ungafasi, 4 Tristyn Cook, 5 Jack Lee, 6 Sam Tuitupou Ah-Hing, 7 Jed Melvin, 8 George Reeves, 9 Bryn Hall, 10 Cam Howell, 11 Rory Taylor, 12 Oscar Koller, 13 Tom Barham, 14 Israel Leota, 15 Kade Banks.

Replacements: 16 Moses Hafoka, 17 Toma Laumalili, 18 Riley Tofilau, 19 Gus Farnan, 20 Dane Sawers, 21 Tamatea Winiana, 22 Sofai Notoa-Tipo, 23 Hunter Rice.

Verdict

Hawke's Bay v North Harbour

Hawke's Bay's defensive resilience and home advantage at McLean Park give them the edge in a tightly contested encounter.

Hawke's Bay - 14.5

Handicap

@1,91 - 1 Unit

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