After a short sprint, the finish line is in sight for the Farah Palmer Cup season with the Championship and Premiership Finals contested this weekend in Wellington and Christchurch.
Watch the FPC finals preview show here
Catch us if you Canterbury. The FPC Premiership final will be played under the roof in One New Zealand Stadium this weekend with the Auckland Storm standing between the red and blacks and a perfect season. Much in the way the Sydney Roosters dominated the NRLW, Canterbury have been an unstoppable force in this year’s competition, underlining their title credentials with a 57-7 demolition of the Manawatu Cyclones in last Sunday’s semifinal.
Their opponents in the final, the Auckland Storm, are the only side that has got close to them this year, and in truth it wasn’t that close. The two sides faced off in Round One, with Canterbury jumping out to an early lead before closing out the match 36-19. Since then Canterbury has put 67 points on Bay of Plenty, 50 on Manawatu, 46 on Counties-Manukau, 50 on Waikato and a further 57 on the Cyclones in the knock-out.
It has been by turns clinical and sublime from Canterbury this year. Co-captains Terauoriwa Gapper and Grace Brooker (recalled to the Black Ferns on Wednesday) have led the side brilliantly, showcasing years of experience and rugby wisdom to ensure the team is continually playing off the front-foot. Ahead of them, a nuggety and abrasive pack has ground teams down in the close quarters, with their standout openside flanker, English import Maisy Allen, tackling everything that moves and scoring tries (7) for fun.
Canterbury have beaten teams on rugby’s grand old percentages all season, but they are not without their own razzle and dazzle. Outsides Binky Muamua and Winnie Palamo have netted eleven tries between them, while Muamua leads the competition in clean breaks and sits second in metres gained.
Watch the finals live on TVNZ+ on Saturday and Sunday
For the Auckland Storm, the season has been a frustrating one to date. Led by the irrepressible Eloise Blackwell, who this season became just the fifth woman to play 100 provincial games for the single union, and veteran frontrower Aldora Itunu, who is the side’s leading try-scorer, the Storm’s youth has been exposed at times. That said, Presayus Singh, just named in the New Zealand under-21 women’s side, has been one of the most improved players in the FPC, and Taufa Bason, an indestructible openside, has played well beyond her years. She, too, has been included in the under-21 national side, having experienced time with the Black Ferns XV earlier this year.
The Storm somehow have to find the perfect game. They will be battle hardened by an epic semifinal against Waikato (36-31) but chastened by a golden point loss the week before to Manawatu, who claimed the JJ Stewart Trophy on Auckland’s home turf. The Canterbury result in round one at least gives the side a scintilla of hope. They know they can score points, but it’s concession in clumps that has killed the team’s momentum at times this year.
Look for big match performances from the players above, and keep an eye on loose forwards Tafito Lafaele (who leads the team in carries), and Zara Feaunati. Hooker Danny-Elle Fesolai is primed for a big match, while halves Emacyn Ieremia and Gillian Fa’aumu need to find a way to pin Canterbury down inside their own half.
Championship - Wellington Pride v Northland Kauri
In the Championship, the Wellington Pride will be hoping to bring exactly that – pride - to the province after the men’s side finished the NPC season 0-10. Home advantage and the benefit of a big regular season win against their final opponents, Northland Kauri, have the Pride primed for victory, but the Kauri will be no easy beats on Saturday.
The Northlanders won when it mattered against the Pride in last year’s semifinal and have fashioned a formidable bond considering the geographical spread of players requires many trainings to be conducted in local hubs, with the full team runs the exception rather than the rule.
Among the best performers this year has been Lily-Jean Murray-Wihongi, a rangy loose forward with a nose for the try line and more lineout wins than any other player in the competition. In combination with Terai Elia and captain Hikitia Wikaira the Kauri boast one of the most skilful and effective back rows, while up front veteran campaigner Krystal Murray has to be considered the best ball handling prop in the Cup.
What has been clear this year is that Northland have stayed true to their attacking DNA, augmenting their natural athleticism with a more purposeful approach to territory and attacking shape. Claudia Meltzer has looked solid at first five, while Alisha Proctor (with her baby on tour) has expertly governed the midfield alongside Arlia MacCarthy. That midfield has created plenty of opportunity for the outsides. Michella’e Stolz has proved to be an ever-present danger on the left.
Connection has been a catchcry in the North, and that was best illustrated last weekend when wing Tyler Nankivell became the first Kauri player to earn 50 caps. The rousing haka and presentation of taonga certainly showcased how much the team means to those in the Cambridge blue.
If Wellington need a recipe for success, get the ball to Anastasia Kerr. The winger leads the competition in tries and metres run this season and has been the break out star for the Pride. That’s saying something considering the talent on show.
Wellington have dropped just one match all season and came back the following weekend to dust up the Kauri 42-19. They have posted 50+ scores in their last two matches, including a 51-26 semifinal victory over the Tui, the only team to have beaten them in the regular season. This is a proper team and one fully deserving of hosting rights for the big dance.
Among the many outstanding performers, Eva Maora has been a beast at lineout time, claiming the second most takes in the competition. Her locking parter, veteran Jackie Patea-Fereti is a constant breakdown threat and excellent carrier of the ball. Team captain, Valini Vaka has proved to be a compact and aggressive hooker, while her tighthead partner Faythe Finau is a young prop on the rise, as selection in the NZ under-21 squad shows.
Wellington, like Northland, have an appetite to take the game wide, but can also be brutal in the midfield. The return of Merania Paraone at centre has been a massive boost – her triple threat run-kick-pass game has been elite – and there is ability the full length of the spine. Evelyn Tea off the back of the scrum, Arene Landon-Lane’s organisation and kicking from the tee, and Keira Su’a-Smith’s finishing work all deserve special mention.
Given the modern rivalry between these two teams, expect plenty of big contact and a feats of tries in Wellington on Saturday.
The FPC Championship Final LIVE on TVNZ+ 12.05PM Saturday
The FPC Premiership Final LIVE TVNZ+ 4.05PM Sunday
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