Otago secured a victory against Counties Manukau in the Bunnings NPC on 17 September 2026. The fixture at 21:50 saw the visitors collect three points from a contest that ultimately reflected their superior position in the standings. Counties Manukau remain in 13th place with 12 points after eight games, while Otago sit second with 32 points.
The result aligns with what we forecast before kick-off: an away win for Otago, which we backed at 61 per cent confidence. Their recent run of five victories in six matches suggests this wasn't a fluke rather than a narrow edge. Counties Manukau have won just two of eight games and have not known a draw all season.
Counties Manukau's last five results show a pattern of inconsistency. They beat Southland 47-24 and Wellington 46-35 before losing to Waikato 12-45 and Tasman 35-50. The Auckland defeat 33-43 on 12 September was their most recent outing. The scoreboard tells you something about their ability to find consistency against top sides.
Otago's recent form paints a different picture. Five wins from their last six games includes a 55-33 victory over Tasman on 11 September. Their only loss in that period came against Hawke's Bay 24-35. They beat Waikato 43-38, Wellington 61-22 and Manawatu 29-27 in between. That run has kept them in the upper half while Counties have drifted down.
The gap between them in the table now stands at 20 points. Counties Manukau have six defeats to their name and are looking at a difficult finish. Otago's two losses suggest they have room to drop points, but their current trajectory keeps them clear of the mid-table pack.
