NPC Round 8 Betting Tips - Canterbury to extend perfect NPC campaign
- NPC Round 8 Betting Tips
- Tips include Taranaki vs Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury vs Otago
- Preview, stats & head to head
-17093501.jpg)
Braydon Ennor of Canterbury (Getty Images)
NPC Round 8 Betting Tips
- NPC Round 8 Betting Tips
- Taranaki vs Hawke’s Bay
- Canterbury vs Otago
The race for the playoffs continues in the NPC this weekend, with a range of massive games to come. We have picked out our best bets for the top matches this weekend which features leaders Canterbury hosting second-placed Otago.
Taranaki vs Hawke’s Bay
Taranaki need to find a way to bounce back from a two-game losing run that has seen them slip down the log. Currently sitting in fourth, Taranaki cannot rest on their laurels if they are to secure a top-spot with Manawatu in ninth just five points short of them.
The worry for Taranaki will be that they have been beaten by Bay Of Plenty (43-17) and Otago (28-26), with both sides around them in the standings. If they continue to gift points to those around them, they will continue to slip.
Meanwhile, Hawke’s Bay have been enjoying the sort of late-season run that means they sit in third on the log. Their points tally has been swelled by wins over Wellington and Bay Of Plenty, with Hawke’s Bay now eyeing Otago’s spot in second.
The last six results have been evenly split between the sides, with both winning three. It is worth noting that Taranaki have won the last three, but their poor run of form in games they need to win means I am backing against them this week as Hawke’s Bay notch their third win in their last four away games.
Canterbury vs Otago
Canterbury have been enjoying the kind of season that dreams are made of, with seven consecutive wins seeing the side to the top of the log with a handsome seven-point lead over Otago in second. They can increase their advantage with a win over Otago this weekend as they look to stamp their authority on the competition.
With a +140 points difference and seven wins from seven games, Canterbury have been incredibly tough to stop. A 31-25 win over Tasman in their last match saw them as close to losing as they have come since beating Auckland 19-15 in their second game of the season.
Despite this, I back Canterbury to secure their third consecutive win over Otago as they increase their lead at the summit.
If Otago want to finish at the top in the regular season, their clash with Canterbury in game eight is one they cannot afford to miss their shot in.
Not only would it see them move to within a handful of points of the leaders, it would also end the feeling of invincibility that currently surrounds the leaders. Defeat here would only see the confidence rise for Canterbury heading into the business end of proceedings.
While I back Otago to push their hosts, I do not see them winning a game that will see Canterbury increase their lead at the top.
Verdict
I am backing Canterbury to increase their lead at the summit following a tight win over Otago. I predict that defeat for the latter will see them slip below Hawke’s Bay following their win over Taranaki in the early game.
Hawke’s Bay
Match Winner
@115.00 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.
Canterbury 1-7
Winning Margin
@325.00 - 1 Unit
25 SC no deposit & 250,000 GC
Use promo code NEWBONUS
Get 25 Stake Cash & 250,000 Gold Coins when you sign up with code NEWBONUS at Stake.us. USA only. Excludes certain States including NY,NV,ID, KY,WA. 18+ only. Terms and Conditions apply.
Top Betting Sites
Betting offers
Upcoming Events
19 September 2025
20 September 2025
Load More
NPC Round 8
days
hours
min
