1st October
The NZRL Men’s National Premiership finals take place today 2:00 pm at Pukekohe’s Navigation Homes Stadium, between the Auckland Vulcans and Counties Manukau Stingrays.
The Auckland Vulcans enter the final, contending to claim their first National Premiership title, having earned promotion after winning the 2022 Men’s Championship. Counties Manukau will play in their first Premiership final since 2020, when they narrowly lost to the Akarana Falcons. Both teams enter the final unbeaten and will feature National Championship and Premiership veterans, alongside young talent in their debut men’s representative seasons.
Most notably for the Vulcans, prominent former Junior Warriors Dylan Tavita and Francis Leger will steer the side as they have skillfully done throughout the team’s campaign. Young Warriors SG Ball and NSW Cup players Sefanaia Cowley-Lupo and Makaia Tafua have had stellar performances for the Vulcans thus far and are ones to keep an eye out for.
For the opposing Singrays outfit, their formidable forward pack is bolstered by hardy ball-runners, including brothers Manu and Robert-Alan Fatialofa. The former Cook Island International Reece Joyce will take his position at halfback, while young up-and-comer, Warriors SG Ball player Phranklyn Mano-le-Mamea also laces up for the Counties side.
The Premiership final will be hotly contested as Counties secured their spot in the match-up by beating out the 2022 champions the Akarana Falcons last week. They will look to take that momentum into this contest against an experienced and talented Vulcans side.
The Canterbury Bulls and Waikato men will also play at Navigation Homes Stadium at 12:00 pm in a relegation match to determine who will move into the National Championship for 2024.
Head down to Navigation Homes Stadium Pukekohe, or catch all the action live on Sky Sport!
CANTERBURY BULLS v WAIKATO – 12:00 pm
PREMIERSHIP FINAL
AUCKLAND VULCANS v COUNTIES MANUKAU STINGRAYS – 2:00 pm
