Lightning strikes twice as Mooloos milk Mako mistakes to claim ‘crazy’ NPC glory

Mooloos cap crazy centenary year in ultimate style, pipping two-time champions in thrilling finale. Aaron Goile

Waikato have capped their crazy centenary year in the most ultimate style, claiming the NPC Premiership title with victory over Tasman in a breathtaking final in Hamilton last night.

In a Covid-19-hit campaign which forced the Mooloos into six weeks on the road in order to save their season, they triumphed 23-20 in an absolute nailbiter at FMG Stadium Waikato over the two-time defending champions.

It is a third title for the union, on the back of triumphs in 1992 and 2006. Fifteen years ago in that decider first-year Mooloos coach Ross Filipo was playing for Wellington, while Liam Messam mirrored his appearance off the bench, this time in a 99th appearance for the province in his first game since lockdown.

In what was Waikato’s first home game in two months, having had to base themselves briefly in Cambridge then Tauranga, the cowbells were music to the players’ ears, as a crowd restricted to under 6000 burst into raptures when referee Nick Briant called fulltime.

Centre Bailyn Sullivan scored both the home side’s tries, both individual runaways from inside his own half, as the home side produced enough to overcome some untidy handling errors, with their powerful scrum proving a key.

‘‘It hasn’t quite sunken in,’’ an emotional Waikato captain Ayden Johnstone said in his presentation speech.

‘‘Just after the season we’ve had, seven weeks ago we didn’t even know if we were going to be able to play/train, let alone play in the final in front of our home crowd. It’s been a hell of a ride.

‘‘Of course, in our 100th year, in Hamilton, doing it tough in

lockdown. To come out here has been very special.

“I’m so proud of this group. They’ve faced tougher battles off the field than what we faced on it and I think it brought us closer together.”

Down 13-10 at the break, Tasman co-captain Mitchell Hunt levelled things back up from the tee six minutes into the second stanza, but less than two minutes later the hosts were back in front when Sullivan had the second of his stunners.

With Briant just a matter of a few seconds prior having called advantage over for a knock-on, an awful pass fired forward from the hands of Alex Nankivell was swooped on by the Waikato midfielder, who cantered 55 metres after earlier scoring from another Mako passing mistake in the first half. When Hunt soon after missed a sitter the momentum was well and truly with the hosts, and with their rushing defensive line, the Mako weren’t allowed to be their usual slick selves.

But one storming run from hulking reserve midfielder Levi Aumua changed all that, hammering the visitors onto the front foot and seeing co-captain Quinten Strange go over with 14 minutes to play, with Hunt’s conversion tying things up at 20-20.

Waikato had their own bench impact, though, including cocaptain Fletcher Smith, and when the replacement first-five knocked over a 72nd-min penalty, his troops had their noses back in front.

They then thought they’d won it three minutes later when Samipeni Finau stormed through and went over untouched, celebrating before finally putting the ball down, only for Briant to call on TMO Shane McDermott who ruled knock-on and the try being rubbed out. But while Tasman got a last-gasp chance, a stray lineout sunk any miracle.