Bay of Plenty’s long wait: When the 2024 semi-finalists last won the NPC

It’s been a long time between drinks for Bay of Plenty. The Steamers won the first-ever National Provincial Championship title 48 years ago, but they haven’t won the national competition since while Auckland and Canterbury have dominated.

The Bay won its only crown in 1976, which was the same year that Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak launched Apple’s first-generation desktop computer. That same year, Jimmy Carter became the United States of America’s 39^th President.

While a lot has happened in the almost 50 years since, Bay of Plenty taking another NPC trophy back to Tauranga isn’t one of them. Counties Manukau and Manawatu have also only won the top-flight competition once, in 1979 and 1980 respectively.

 

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Otago, Tasman and 2023 champions Taranaki have tasted championship glory on two occasions each, and then there’s Waikato who claimed their third title in 2021. Wellington have achieved ‘champions’ status on five occasions and they’re gunning for a sixth this season.

Then, of course, there’s Auckland and Canterbury. From 2008 to 2017, Canterbury won every final except one – an era of dominance that may never be replicated. But don’t forget about the Aucklanders, who have won the grand prize on a record 17 occasions.

In 2024, Bay of Plenty will host Canterbury in the first semi-final on Saturday afternoon. Later that day, minor premiers Wellington will look to book their place in the big dance when the take on Waikato in the nation’s capital.

History will be made.

Bay of Plenty booked their ticket to the semi-finals with a last-minute try against Hawke’s Bay on Saturday. Replacement Taine Kolose crashed over for the dramatic score which sent the passionate fanbase at the Tauranga Domain into a frenzy.

In an all-time classic Battle of the Bays, the hosts won 19-17. It had been a nail-biting contest all the way through, but if you’re a neutral, you’ll agree it was an epic end to a quarter-final blockbuster that always had the makings of a thriller.

“I wasn’t ready for that,” captain Kurt Eklund said on Sky Sports’ post-game coverage. “Mate, down to the wire. Pretty ugly but we’ll learn a lot from that and hopefully we get a couple more weeks out of it.

“That’s sometimes all it takes is that one opportunity and it’s pretty windy out there, hard for us hookers.”

Last week, All Blacks XV coach revealed that those selected to play for the representative side will likely be available to play in the NPC Final, should their province make it that far. The ABs XV are scheduled to play Munter and Georgia up north in November.

It’s been reported that the team will fly out on October 26, which is the same day as the NPC decider. With Eklund, Wellington’s Du’Plessis Kirifi, Quinn Tupaea from Waikato and Canterbury’s Dallas McLeod among those in the mix for the Final, that could’ve been a problem.

But, have no fear. Coach McMillan explained the situation on SENZ.

“There is every intent to try to keep those that are still playing in the finals selected in the All Blacks XV to continue playing for their teams,” McMillan told SENZ’s The Run Home last week.

“I guess the only caveat is if any of them are required to go away with the All Blacks, that might be a different case.

“But I’m pretty sure from our discussions that there is certainly an appetite to make sure that we protect the integrity of the NPC by anyone in the AB XV that is still playing in the finals, being able to play in finals.

“It’s an exciting young group,” he also mentioned during the interview. “A couple of old dogs in there just to give us good balance.

“There’s some really tough games up in the north so a lot to get excited about.”