Meanwhile, the Championship final will see Wellington Pride take on Northland Kauri at Hnry Stadium after comprehensive victories for both in the semi finals saw them knock out Hawke’s Bay Tui and Otago Spirit respectively.
Auckland Storm 36 Waikato 31
Auckland Storm ended Waikato's bid for a third consecutive Farah Palmer Cup Premiership title with a 36-21 semi-final victory at Eden Park.
The Storm produced the decisive performance in a closely contested semi-final, overturning the recent form between the sides to secure a place in the final.
Auckland's attack this season has been led by a number of the competition's leading performers, such as Taufa Bason and Presayus Singh who were among Auckland's leading attacking threats.
But it was Waikato who scored first, through Montessa Tairakena, but Ariana Bayler missed the conversion.
Zara Feaunati grabbed the Storm’s opening score in the 20th minute, which was followed quickly by Cilia-Marie Po’e-Tofaeono’s try ten minutes later. Emacyn Ieremia converted the latter, putting Auckland 12-5 up.
Finau Mafi scored for Waikato with a few minutes left in the first half, and Bayler duly added the extras. But after the hooter had sounded, Tafito Lafaele scored to put the home side back in front – Ieremia added the extras.
Waikato responded with their own attacking pressure, with Grace Houpapa-Barrett scoring just two minutes into the second stanza, before Hinemairangi Scott grabbed the Mooloos’ fourth of the match, putting the red, black and yellows back in front.
Auckland’s Mel Reid took it upon herself to put the Storm level when she scored and converted her own try, seeing the scoreline at 26-all with 10 minutes left on the clock.
Then it was centurion Eloise Blackwell who crashed over with five minutes to go who put the Storm in front – Reid converted.
Waikato wasn’t done though. Reese Anderson scored with four minutes on the clock, but the conversion wasn’t made and Reid took the decision to point to the posts when the referee awarded a penalty. She made the kick and the Aucklanders had confirmed their spot in the final against Canterbury.
Wellington Pride 51 Hawke’s Bay Tui 26
Wellington Pride booked their place in the Farah Palmer Cup Championship final with a convincing 51-26 win over Hawke’s Bay at Rugby League Park, running in eight tries to four.
The Pride opened the scoring through teenage winger Ana Kerr, who cut inside on an angled run after Wellington kept the ball alive through broken play.
Hawke’s Bay hit back through Talaivosa Lolohea, who crossed under the posts to level the scores at 7-7.
Wellington then took control before halftime. Melania Paraone and Milly Mackey both crossed after breaks created by Arene Landon-Lane, before Eva Maora and captain Valini Vaka finished consecutive penalty and forward-drive attacks to lead 31-7 at halftime.
Wellington continued their momentum after the break when Fia Laikong ran onto a kick from Litia Buliacakau following another break by Paraone.
The Tui then struck back through Palu, converted by Cottrell, before Vaka grabbed her second for the Pride.
Hawke’s Bay responded with two further tries to reduce the deficit to 48-26, but Lynda Rabeni-Vatuloka scored the final try for the Pride, which Arene Landon-Lane converted, before Landon-Lane added a final penalty kick to see the scoreline blow out to 51-26.
Northland Kauri 54 Otago Spirit 19
Northland Kauri powered into the Farah Palmer Cup Championship final with a 54-19 victory over defending Championship winners Otago Spirit in Whangārei. Northland led 35-0 at halftime before Otago fought back after the break.
The Kauri scored seven tries in the opening stanza, including two for both Hikitia Wikaira and for Lily-Jean Murray-Wihongi.
The other three first half tries were awarded to Terai Elia, Claudia Meltzer and Arlia MacCarthy.
The Spirit fought back in the second half, scoring three tries of their own, to Hannah Norris, Charlotte Va’afusuaga and Greer Muir – Spirit top points scorer Sarah Jones added another four to her season total, with two conversions.
But ultimately, the Kauri were too strong. Murray-Wihongi completed her hattrick early in the second spell, and Meltzer scored two more of her own to see her tally rise to three as well.
Alisha Proctor and Tyler Nankivell grabbed a try each, with Meltzer converting twice to see the final score 54-19 to the Kauri. They will take on Wellington at Hnry Stadium in Saturday’s final.
Canterbury Women 57 Manawatū Cyclones 7
Canterbury Women completed the Premiership semi-final line-up with a dominant 57-7 victory over Manawatū Cyclones at Christchurch Rugby Park. The result sent Canterbury through to meet Auckland in the Premiership final.
Holly Greenway opened the scoring seven minutes in with a try before Maisy Allen and Grace Brooker got in on the action for the home side. The score at half time saw Canterbury 17-0 to the good.
Cyclones’ Kaia Walker-Waitoa completed a breakout season when she scored her side’s only try of the match – Carys Dallinger added the extras.
But the red and black produced another emphatic attacking performance, building on a regular season in which they went undefeated, scored 249 points and 41 tries across six matches.
Winnie Palamo scored five minutes into the second half, before Terauoriwa Gapper grabbed a try too.
Allen scored her second try of the afternoon and replacement Rosie Moffitt scored and converted her own try to see the score balloon out to 43-7.
Nicole Purdom and Palamo grabbed another try each to see the final score tick over 50, ensuring Canterbury will take on Auckland in Sunday’s Premiership grand final.
Canterbury's attack featured several of the competition's most prolific try scorers. Binky Muamua finished the regular season with 11 tries, while Louise Blyde had 10. Both were among the leading scorers in the 2026 edition.