Ricky Riccitelli (Taranaki)
Defending champions Taranaki are properly poised to defend their Premiership title sweeping to 3 wins in storm week to take a seat second on the desk with a spherical to play. On Wednesday in New Plymouth, Taranaki edged North Harbour 31-25 with Ricky Riccitell scoring 4 tries, one higher than fellow hooker Bradley Slater in Taranaki’s 63-19 thrashing of Hawke’s Bay on September 20.
Riccitell has had a stellar dozen months driving the Blues lineout to higher heights of their Tremendous Rugby Pacific triumph and a significant cog within the Bulls’ surge to NPC glory in 2023. He’s rugged, dependable, and should be a contender for the All Blacks Japan /Northern tour in October and November.
Waikato’s Rob Gordon holds the file for many tries by a ahead in an NPC match. The All Blacks free ahead scored 5 tries in a 75-12 win towards Southland in Invercargill in 1990. Zinzan Brooke (Auckland, 1987), John Mitchell (Waikato, 1990), Liam Barry (North Harbour, 1993), Antonio Kiri Kiri (Manawat?, 2016) and Asafo Aumua (Wellington, 2022) have additionally scored 4 tries in an NPC sport.
Three gamers have scored 5 tries in a sport for Taranaki: George Loveridge v Whanganui, 1913, Dave Vesty v Thames Valley, 1971 and Mark Robinson v Southland, 1997.
Participant Tackles Received
1
Sase Va’a
17
2
Josh Lord
15
3
Kaylum Boshier
15
Hoskins Sotutu (Counties Manukau)
Counties Manukau gained the Jonah Lomu Memorial Trophy for the primary time smashing table-topping Wellington 51-12 in a efficiency that appeared to summon the spirit of the large man. The Steelers have been possessed within the collision space and scored some cracking tries as Wellington waned.
It was well timed for Hoskins Sotutu to supply a harmful show with the All Blacks free ahead trio nonetheless not settled forward of the Japan/Nothern tour.
Different standouts have been Adam Brash, Alamanda Motuga, Ian West-Stevens, Kauvaka Kaivelata, Riley Hohepa and Tevita Ofa. Surprisingly, the rating and margin (39 factors) towards Wellington aren’t the worst outcome for the Lions towards Counties Manukau. That horrorshow was precisely ten years to the day earlier than this one. On 27 September 2014, Counties-Manukau beat Wellington 55-7.
Participant Carries
1
Alamanda Motuga
20
2
Josh Grey
16
3
Jeremiah Avei-Collins
16
Moses Leo (North Harbour)
North Harbour stored their playoff hopes alive with a staggering 65-19 thrashing of Canterbury, the biggest defeat Canterbury has suffered. Winger Moses Leo ran rampant with three tries and 238 meters gained.
The previous Westlake Boys’ Excessive Faculty prodigee struggled for a number of seasons with harm. His breakthrough got here on the 2020 Crimson Bull Ignite7s event the place he was a part of the profitable Bolt aspect and was named Gamers’ Participant of the Match. He made his All Blacks Sevens debut in Singapore in 2022 and was a part of the 2022/2023 World Collection profitable staff.
A fast finisher presumably with the majority and ability to play midfield Leo has additionally touched down this season towards Auckland, Northland and Taranaki.
In 2026 he’s set to hitch the Melbourne Storm within the NRL for 2 seasons. On present kind, he’d be worthy of a Tremendous Rugby Pacific contract in 2025.
Christian Lio-Willie (Otago)
Otago grew to become the primary staff to decrease Tasman’s colors in 2024 by scoring 26 unanswered factors within the remaining 17 minutes of a 47-31 victory.
As soon as once more Otago captain Christian Lio-Willie was to the fore with an important strive after Otago had began sluggishly. Lio-Willie is the fifth most frequent provider within the NPC. He additionally contributed 16 tackles within the Tasman triumph.
The Otago pack, usually, was wonderful with locks Will Stodart and Fabin Holland every scoring second-half tries. Stodart ranks fifth for many tackles within the NPC with 115.
