BNZ Northern Kāhu
If you THINK the Kāhu love being ruthless on the court THEN they brought every bit of that ruthlessness on Halloween and dropped a horror show upon the Whai. The 81-48 win was the biggest loss (33 points) the Whai have ever suffered, and it was their 10th straight loss to the Kāhu - a team they are yet to ever beat.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai
If you THINK the Whai needed to make a change after a 33-point loss to the Kāhu THEN it just had to be (finally) moving McKenna Dale into the starting line-up. After five consecutive defeats the Whai desperately needed a shake-up and with Dale starting alongside Cowling, Snyder, McSpadden and Joens, the Whai looked like a different unit against the Hohoi. The result? An emphatic win.
ProBuild ITM Mainland Pouākai
If you THINK the Pouākai thought their Sunday afternoon was done when the Queens led by 19 points with under 12 minutes to play THEN you didn't count on a massive 33-14 last quarter by Paul Flynn's team. Across the court it was a Pouākai tsunami as every player sensed an opportunity - and they took it. Arguably one of the Pouākai's best ever Tauihi wins.
Southern Hoiho
If you THINK the Hoiho could rub a Genie's lamp this week THEN their first wish would be for Ahlise Hurst to find her shooting stroke. Season 2024 has been wildly inconsistent for the shooting specialist and a scoreless return (0/6 shooting) in over 27 minutes against the Whai is not what the doctor ordered. She'll look to bounce back this week against the Queens.
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
If you THINK the Queens will be bitter after losing to the Pouākai THEN they have nobody to blame but themselves. Overrun 14-33 in the last quarter, the Queens went to sleep in a complacent 10 minutes that showed the danger of under-estimating any opponent.
