BNZ Northern Kāhu
If you THINK the Kāhu are the team to beat this season THEN they will need to clean a few things up after suffering three losses from their last four games. The pressure is on this packed roster, especially when their star-studded trio of Tahlia Tupaea, Iimar'I Thomas and Penina Davidson aren't all firing at the same time. Expect a locked and loaded team heading back down to Dunedin in R9 as they look to hit top gear ahead of the Final 4.
The Northern Group Tauranga Whai
If you THINK the Whai needed a confidence boost to help their charge towards the Final 4 THEN it couldn't have been come at a better time than with a first ever win against the Kāhu. Down by 9 points after one quarter, the Whai blasted the Kāhu through the middle quarters (50-27), showcasing scintillating speed in transition and some of their best defense this season to topple the top team. Have the Whai finally found their mojo?
ANZCO Tokomanawa Queens
If you THINK the Queens are searching for answers after two straight losses at home THEN they need to start by looking at what opposition guards are doing to them. McKenzie Forbes (39 points and 26 points), Paige Bradley (28 points), Tahlia Tupaea (24 points and 27 points), Ashley Joens (32 points and 27 points) and Ahlise Hurst (19 points and 18 points) have all shot above their season average against the Queens. It's a growing trend.
Southern Hoiho
If you THINK the Hoiho can make the Final 4 THEN they can't afford any more slip ups, and they must find the one thing they have been searching for all season - consistency! The gap between the Hoiho we saw in R7 against the Queens and the Hoiho we saw against the Kāhu in R8 was as wide as the Cook Straight.
