---
title: "Manawatu vs North Harbour NPC preview: Confirmed lineups"
canonical: "https://readrugbyunion.com/2026/08/28/manawatu-north-harbour-2026/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Jonny Black"
section: "News"
published: "2026-08-28T22:05:36Z"
modified: "2026-08-28T22:05:42Z"
---

# Manawatu vs North Harbour NPC preview: Confirmed lineups

| Home team | Manawatu |
| --- | --- |
| Away team | North Harbour |
| Venue | Central Energy Trust Arena |
| Competition | NPC |
| Kick-off time | 8:10 am (UK) 7:10 pm (NZ) |
| Watch Live in the UK | NPC Youtube Channel |

Manawatu vs North Harbour preview as the sides meet at the Central Energy Trust Arena in round five of the NPC. The teams have opposite record with North Harbour winning three of their four games, while Manawatu have won one. North Harbour could push as high as second with a strong win.

Read more match previews for all your rugby action [here](https://readrugbyunion.com/matchpreviews/)

## Manawatu vs North Harbour confirmed lineups

- **Manawatu** · **North Harbour**
- **Forwards**
- Hala-Ngatai · **1** · Tafa
- Dolokoto · **2** · Gordon
- Wallace · **3** · L Tu’ungafasi
- Harley · **4** · Farnan
- Roiri · **5** · Lee
- Howden · **6** · Cook
- Bason · **7** · Melvin
- Iose · **8** · Reeves
- **Backs**
- Viljoen · **9** · Muriwai
- Worboys · **10** · Miln
- Tapueluelu · **11** · Taylor
- Tofa · **12** · Koller
- Brown · **13** · Barham
- Filimone · **14** · Leota
- MacDonald · **15** · Banks
- **Replacements**
- Fakava · **16** · Hafoka
- Sae-Ta’ufo’ou · **17** · Cowley-Andrea
- Gavigan · **18** · Tofilau
- Woods · **19** · Olaaiga
- Johnson · **20** · Ah-Hing
- Philipson · **21** · Hall
- Wild · **22** · Namoce
- Laumape · **23** · Pulini

## Recent Form:

**Manawatu (Home team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Loss | 21st August 2026 | NPC | Hawkes Bay | 59-17 |
| Loss | 15th August 2026 | NPC | Otago | 27-29 |
| Won | 9th August 2026 | NPC | Southland | 36-35 |
| Loss | 2nd August 2026 | NPC | Northland | 40-14 |
| Loss | 4th October 2025 | NPC | Hawke’s Bay | 10-38 |

Manawatu were hit with a heavy defeat by Hawkes Bay in the last round of the NPC. They got off to a great start and were leading 12-7 after 20 minutes. Manawatu then conceded seven tries in a row, were able to score one more and then conceded another to finish the game behind by 42 points.

**North Harbour (Away team):**

| **Result** | **Date** | **Competition** | **Opponent** | **Score** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Won | 22nd August 2026 | NPC | Auckland | 27-19 |
| Won | 13th August 2026 | NPC | Wellington | 7-47 |
| Won | 6th August 2026 | NPC | Counties Manukau | 59-19 |
| Loss | 31st July 2026 | NPC | Tasman Makos | 31-29 |
| Won | 3rd October 2025 | NPC | Southland | 15-14 |

North Harbour have now on three games in a row to push up the table in the NPC after a narrow defeat in week one. In the last round they picked up a 27-19 win over local rivals Auckland. They scored four tries in the first half to take a 24-14 lead into the break. A penalty late in the game, having conceded a try early in the second half to win by eight points.

## Manawatu vs North Harbour head-to-head record (last five matches):

| Date | Competition | Winner | Score |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1st August 2025 | NPC | Manawatu | 38-25 |
| 14th September 2024 | NPC | North Harbour | 58-19 |
| 10th September 2023 | NPC | North Harbour | 29-48 |
| 14th August 2022 | NPC | North Harbour | 64-14 |
| 29th September 2019 | NPC | North Harbour | 16-29 |

Manawatu won the meeting between these sides last year with North Harbour having won five in a row before this.