Waikato vs North Harbour Predictions - Waikato backed for comfortable home NPC win

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 10 Sep 2025

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Simon Lewis 10 Sep 2025

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North Harbour have lost all 6 NPC matches this season, 5 by 12+ points.
Waikato has 3 wins, all by 1 point, but lost last 2 matches.
Prediction favors Waikato to win by 12+ points, despite recent H2H losses.

Expired

Waikato have won 3 of their last 6 NPC matches. (Getty Images)

Waikato vs North Harbour Predictions

North Harbour have won their last two against Waikato but have lost all six NPC games this season, five of which were by 12+ points. Waikato on the other hand have three wins this season, all of which were by one point, so this is a tough game to call.

Waikato vs North Harbour Predictions
Head to Head
Waikato Form
Waikato Team News
North Harbour Form
North Harbour Team News

However, it is tough to back a side with six losses on the bounce, so I am leaning towards Waikato by 12+ points.

Waikato have won 3 of their last 6 NPC matches.
Waikato have lost their last 2 matches.
North Harbour have lost all 6 NPC matches this season.
North Harbour have lost by 12+ points in 5 of their last 6 matches.

Head to Head

North Harbour have won three of their last five matches against Waikato, including the last two. In 2024, North Harbour won 43-29 at home.

Waikato Form

Waikato are eighth on the NPC table with 15 points after six matches. They have won three and lost three thus far.

The table is very congested between seventh and 11th with just three points separating all sides. So, Waikato will need to get some positive results, particularly at home otherwise they could find themselves without a playoff.

Waikato began the season with one-point wins in three of their opening four matches. While it was exciting, their luck was bound to run low. They have lost their last two matches, first at home to Southland and last week away to Manwatu.

Waikato Team News

After two defeats, I suspect Waikato will be looking to make some changes this weekend.

North Harbour Form

North Harbour only have two points after six matches and currently find themselves at the bottom of the table. They have lost all six matches thus far and have a negative points difference of 88.

The worrying aspect for North Harbour is that they have not really challenged many sides in the opening six rounds. Last week’s 22-19 loss at Counties Manukau was the closest they have come to victory.

Prior to that, through the first five rounds, North Harbour lost by 12 or more points in every game.

North Harbour Team News

Changes can once again be expected from North Harbour. They are changing a lot in search of some results, but those results are seemingly not coming.

Verdict

Waikato v North Harbour

I am backing Waikato to win by 12+ points against North Harbour.

Waikato -11.5

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