Manawatu vs Waikato Predictions - Manawatu can upset the odds against Waikato

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 03 Sep 2025

Simon Lewis 03 Sep 2025

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Manawatu have won both 2025 home games after last year's winless run.
Waikato won 3 times in 2025, each by just 1 point—showing inconsistency.
Tip: Back Manawatu to cover the spread due to home form and Waikato's narrow wins.

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Manawatu have won their last 2 home matches. (Getty Images)

Manawatu vs Waikato Predictions

Manawatu have won both of their home matches this season while Waikato have won their last two on the road. Waikato are favourites but all three of their wins in 2025 have come by one point, so I really don’t see them covering -6.5. My best bet is with the hosts.

Manawatu vs Waikato Predictions
Head to Head
Manawatu Form
Waikato Form

Manawatu have won their last 2 home matches.
Waikato have won their last 2 away matches.
Waikato's 3 wins in 2025 NPC have all come by 1 point.

Head to Head

Waikato have won three of their last five against Manawatu. Their last meeting, however, took place in 2022, a match Waikato won 53-6.

Manawatu Form

Overall Manawatu will be pleased with the opening five rounds of the 2025 NPC. They finished bottom of the table last season without a win. They already have two this season and sit 11th on the table.

The season began with a 38-25 success against North Harbour before losing two in a row to Tasman and Southland, both away from home. They bounced back to beat Wellington at home with a stunning performance.

Last weekend Manawatu was on the wrong end of a hammering, going down 53-14 to the unbeaten Canterbury.

Waikato Form

Waikato are eighth on the table with three wins in five matches. They are still very much in the running for a top four finish which will secure a home quarterfinal.

However, consistency has been lacking from the Waikato performances. All three of their victories against Auckland, Counties Manukau and Taranaki have come by a single point. Their two defeats came in round two against Wellington and round five against Southland.

Last week’s 25-10 home loss to Southland will be a major concern. It would have been a game Waikato targeted for victory, so now they are going to need to find another result.

Verdict

Manawatu v Waikato

I am backing Manawatu to get within the +6.5 handicap with an upset victory quite possible.

Manawatu +6.5

Handicap

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Manawatu Win

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

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