Wellington and Northland have become familiar opponents in the Farah Palmer Cup - and when they meet tomorrow, there will be more than a trophy at stake.
The two sides have traded important wins over the past two seasons, with Northland coming out on top in the 2025 regular-season meeting before repeating the result in last year's semi-final, edging Wellington 29-24.
This year, though, Wellington turned the tables in emphatic fashion.
The Pride ran out 42-19 winners when the teams met in Wellington in Round 4, handing Northland their only regular-season defeat and putting down an early marker in the Championship competition.
Both sides have continued to build from there. Wellington finished the regular season with four wins from five before overcoming Hawke's Bay 51-26 in their semi-final, while Northland booked their place in the final with a win over Otago.
A rivalry built on big games
The recent record between these teams makes for interesting reading.
Northland won their 2025 regular-season meeting 22-13, then backed it up when it mattered most, beating Wellington 29-24 in the semi-final. Wellington had to wait until this season for their response.
The Pride produced one of their best performances of the regular season against Northland in Round 4, scoring 42 points while holding the Kauri to 19.
That result will give Wellington confidence heading into Saturday, but Northland will know from their own experience that regular-season results don't necessarily tell the whole story.
Two teams, plenty of attacking firepower
The statistics suggest this will be an entertaining final. Wellington lead the Championship for tries scored with 40, with Northland close behind on 38.
Both sides are also among the competition's most effective teams when it comes to breaking the defensive line. Northland lead the Championship for carries, clean breaks and metres gained, while Wellington sit second for clean breaks and lead the competition for defenders beaten.
Northland have also been particularly effective at keeping the ball alive. Their 112 offloads are not only the most in the Championship, but the most by any team across both the Championship and Premiership divisions.
Wellington have their own point of difference, however, leading the entire FPC for tackle completion at 88.9 percent.
Players to watch
Lily Murray-Wihongi – Northland
Murray-Wihongi has been one of Northland's most influential players throughout the 2026 campaign.
She is joint-top of the Championship try-scoring charts with seven tries and has also been a major presence in the Kauri's forward pack.
Her ability to carry strongly and contribute at lineout time gives Northland another avenue of attack, while her nose for the try line makes her particularly dangerous when the Kauri get close to the line.
She'll be one of the players Wellington will need to contain if they are to prevent Northland from building momentum.
Anastasia Kerr – Wellington
Kerr has been one of the breakout players of Wellington's season and heads into the final as one of the competition's biggest attacking threats. She is joint-top of the Championship try-scoring charts with seven tries, but it's her ability to beat defenders and find space that really stands out.
Kerr leads the Championship for clean breaks with 16 and defenders beaten with 40 — both figures that underline just how difficult she has been to contain.
Northland will need to limit her opportunities out wide if they are to keep Wellington's attack in check.
Arene Landon-Lane – Wellington
Fresh from her time with the Black Ferns in the Northern Hemisphere, Landon-Lane is an important contributor to Wellington's success, particularly when it comes to putting points on the board.
She sits second among Championship players for points scored with 39 and provides Wellington with a reliable option from the tee.
In a final that could be decided by small margins, her ability to turn pressure into points could prove significant.
Krystal Murray – Northland
Experience will be important for the Kauri, and Murray brings plenty of it.
The veteran prop has been an important part of a Northland pack that has developed a reputation for keeping the ball moving, with the Kauri leading the Championship — and the entire FPC — for offloads.
Her ability to carry, handle the ball and keep Northland's attack moving gives the Kauri another way to challenge Wellington's defence.
Can Northland turn possession into points?
Northland's attacking numbers are impressive. They lead the Championship for carries, clean breaks, metres gained and offloads, showing a side that is comfortable taking the game to opponents and keeping the ball alive.
But against a Wellington defence completing almost 89 percent of its tackles, they will need to make those opportunities count.
Can Wellington contain the Kauri's ball movement?
Northland's 112 offloads are a competition-leading number and a major part of their attacking identity.
Wellington will need to make their tackles count and prevent Northland from turning half-chances into second-phase opportunities.
If the Pride can stop the Kauri from getting the ball moving through multiple phases, they can put pressure on Northland to find another way through.
Another big chapter
There is very little between these teams in the attacking numbers, and their recent history suggests this rivalry has a habit of producing games that matter.
Northland have the memory of last year's semi-final win. Wellington have the memory of their 42-19 victory earlier this season.
Now neither result matters quite as much as what happens on Saturday.
The Pride will be looking to finish a strong season with silverware on home soil, while the Kauri will be aiming to once again find a way past their Wellington rivals when the stakes are highest.
Farah Palmer Cup Championship Final
Wellington Pride v Northland Kauri
Saturday 10 October, Hnry Stadium – kick off 12.05pm
Watch LIVE on Sky and TVNZ+ | Buy tickets here
Wellington Pride
1. Keiana Roffey
2. Amiria Ranapia
3. Faythe Finau
4. Eva Maora
5. Jackie Patea-Fereti (captain)
6. Lourdes Faifua
7. Paige Lilo
8. Evelyn Tea
9. Milly Mackey
10. Arene Landon-Lane (vice-captain)
11. Anastasia Kerr
12. Nia Sutherland
13. Merania Paraone
14. Fia Laikong
15. Litia Bulicakau
16. Paige Misky
17. Emelei La’ai
18. Giavanna Leo
19. Jessica Jackson
20. Sinead Ryder
21. Lynda Rabeni-Vatuloka
22. Sophia Ropeti
23. Baylee Meroiti
Northland Kauri
1. Krystal Murray
2. Trisha Vaka
3. Kredence Brown
4. Lyla-Blue Paparoa
5. Tu-Ira Stowers
6. Lily-Jean Murray-Wihongi
7. Terai Elia
8. Hikitia Wikaira (captain)
9. Holli O’Sullivan
10. Claudia Meltzer
11. Michella’e Stolz
12. Alisha Proctor
13. Arlia MacCarthy
14. Tyler Nankivell
15. Renae Nona
16. Hinewai Pomare
17. Justice Karena
18. Te Ruawai Herbert-Brown
19. Tūī McGeorge
20. Elina Moeakiola
21. Jocelyn Henry-Salu
22. Hazel Stolz
23. Bailee Nankivell