Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay Predictions - Hawkes Bay to take a step closer to home playoff in NPC

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 18 Sep 2025

Share

Simon Lewis 18 Sep 2025

Share this article

Taranaki are slight favorites but have won only 1 of their last 4 matches.
Hawkes Bay are in strong form with 2 recent wins and sit third on the table.
Prediction: Hawkes Bay expected to cover the 4.5-point handicap and could win away.

Expired

Taranaki have won their last 3 matches against Hawkes Bay. (Getty Images)

Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay Predictions

Taranaki are favourites with the handicap set at 4.5 points. I am backing Hawkes Bay in the handicap market and perhaps to win and take a step closer to the NPC playoffs.

Taranaki vs Hawkes Bay Predictions
Head to Head
Taranaki Form
Taranaki Team News
Hawkes Bay Form
Hawkes Bay Team News

Taranaki have lost 3 of their last 4 matches.
Taranaki have won their last 3 matches against Hawkes Bay.
Hawkes Bay have won their last 2 matches.

Head to Head

Taranaki have won their last three matches against Hawkes Bay. In the 2024 NPC, Hawkes Bay were crushed 63-19 at home by Taranaki.

Taranaki Form

After the opening seven rounds, Taranaki are well placed in fourth position on the NPC table. They have won four and lost three of their fixtures to date.

Just two points above them are Hawkes Bay, their opponents for this game. Victory will see Taranaki jump at least one place and possibly two, however, defeat could see them drop as far down as seventh, if other results go against them.

Last weekend, Taranaki narrowly lost out in Dunedin against Otago, losing the match 28-26. That result means that Taranaki have won just one of their last four NPC matches.

Taranaki Team News

Taranaki are sure to go all in this Friday to secure a home win and get into third place, hopefully second, depending on whether Otago win or lose.

Hawkes Bay Form

Hawkes Bay are in third place on the NPC table with five wins and two defeats. They have 24 points, just two behind Otago in second.

The first three rounds of the 2025 NPC saw Hawkes Bay win all three games before losing to Canterbury at home and Northland away on successive weekends.

However, Hawkes Bay bounced back to win their last two matches. At the start of September, they thrashed Wellington 45-19 and last week defeated Bay of Plenty 24-21 away from home.