COMEBACK

Hammerheads

R10·COMEBACK

Never say die! Hammerheads pull off stunning second-half fightback

It looked over. It wasn't. Hawaii Hammerheads turned a 2-point halftime hole into a 17-16 win that Fiji Kaiviti will struggle to explain. Whatever was said in the Hammerheads sheds at halftime, it worked. The second forty was a different game altogether — momentum, possession, and field position all swung the visitors' way and Fiji Kaiviti were left chasing a contest they had controlled. Hammerheads trailed 0-2 at the break. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad's try in the 42nd minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. Hammerheads crossed three times after the interval. Lance Hohaia stood tallest in a hard-fought contest — 147 running metres, two goals and 2 line breaks. The Fullback finished with 142 fantasy points and walked away with the Player of the Match vote. Ben Murdoch-Masila spent ten minutes in the bin and it changed the complexion of the game. The result leaves Hammerheads where they sit third on the ladder, 6-4 with a points differential of +57, their last five reading WWWWW. Confidence will be high heading into next week's assignment.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

POTM

Knights

R10·POTM

Chanel Harris-Tavita masterclass carries Knights to victory

Every great team has a player who decides the big games. Right now, that man is Chanel Harris-Tavita — and his masterclass carried Knights to 40-10 victory over Taranaki Tortoises. Chanel Harris-Tavita's fingerprints were on everything that mattered — every scoring play, every momentum shift, every game-defining moment. When his side needed something, he produced it. Knights took a 22-0 lead into the sheds. Kieran Foran's try in the 53rd minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. Knights crossed three times after the interval. Best on ground was Chanel Harris-Tavita — a try, 159 running metres, 2 line breaks and 217 kick metres. The Five-eighth finished with 209 fantasy points and walked away with the Player of the Match vote. A completion rate of 88% told the story of a side in total control. The result leaves Knights where they sit eighth on the ladder, 2-8 with a points differential of -142, their last five reading LLLLW. Round 11 now looms as a chance to build on what was a complete performance.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

REPORT

Salamanders

Round 10·REPORT

Kodi Nikorima surges into the selection picture

Kodi Nikorima has forced his way back into the selection picture and shows no sign of letting up.

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM

REPORT

Tortoises

R10·REPORT

Jerry Seuseu forces his way back into the frame

Selectors are watching. Jerry Seuseu has re-opened doors that looked shut a month ago.

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM

REPORT

Dictators

R10·REPORT

Doors reopen for a resurgent Nigel Vagana

The selectors who'd moved on are circling again — he's dragged himself back into the picture through sheer weight of form.

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM

REPORT

Hawks

R10·REPORT

The grind pays off: Quentin Pongia plays his way back

Form built on hard work is the hardest to ignore. Quentin Pongia is back in every conversation that matters at Hawks.

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM

REPORT

Knights

R10·REPORT

Vinnie Anderson forces his way back into the frame

Selectors are watching. Vinnie Anderson has re-opened doors that looked shut a month ago.

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:52 AM

DISCIPLINE

Tortoises

R10·DISCIPLINE

John Simon's sin bin proves costly as Taranaki Tortoises go down 10-40

Preventable. That's the word the coaching staff will use a lot this week after Taranaki Tortoises gifted Las Vegas Knights a 10-40 win through their own indiscipline, headlined by John Simon's ten-minute exile. Las Vegas Knights pounced. Two quick tries while Tortoises were down to 12 turned a contest into a procession, and the home side could never quite drag themselves back into it. Tortoises trailed 0-22 at the break. Lee Oudenryn's try in the 45th minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. John Simon led from the front — a try, a goal and 229 kick metres. The Five-eighth finished with 96 fantasy points. Nine handling errors were the kind of basics that cost points at this level. A count of 46 missed tackles tells you all you need to know about the effort in defence. John Simon spent ten minutes in the bin and it changed the complexion of the game. The result leaves Tortoises where they sit sixth on the ladder, 4-6 with a points differential of -20, their last five reading LLLWL. The bye can't come quick enough — round 11 demands an honest response.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

HEARTBREAK

Kaiviti

R10·HEARTBREAK

Heartbreak for Kaiviti as Hawaii Hammerheads steal it by 1

Heartbreak for Fiji Kaiviti, beaten 16-17 by Hawaii Hammerheads in a 1-point loss that owed everything to the moments they couldn't quite execute and the moments Hawaii Hammerheads did. There were chances — a forced pass on the last that bounced into open arms, a kick into the corner that just shaded out, a try-saving tackle from Hawaii Hammerheads that won't be forgotten in a hurry. Kaiviti had their hands on this one and let it slip. Kaiviti took a 2-0 lead into the sheds. Manu Vatuvei's try in the 50th minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. Tanah Boyd stood up when his side needed it — 375 kick metres. The Halfback finished with 111 fantasy points. A completion rate of 70% that the coaching staff will not be happy with. 13 errors handed the opposition a steady stream of cheap possession. A count of 46 missed tackles tells you all you need to know about the effort in defence. The result leaves Kaiviti where they sit second on the ladder, 7-3 with a points differential of +63, their last five reading WWWWL. Round 11 now becomes a must-respond fixture for Kaiviti.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

BENCH

Dictators

R10·BENCH

Fresh legs turn the tide as Dictators beat Tauranga Devils 26-18

Coaches talk about earning interchange minutes — Louis Anderson and his interchange brothers showed exactly what that means in Pyongyang Dictators' 26-18 win over Tauranga Devils. Their starters set the platform; the rotation drove the dagger in. The starters set the platform but it was the second wave that stretched Tauranga Devils into submission, fresh legs running at tiring middles and gaining the cheap metres that turn into points. Dictators trailed 12-18 at the break. Louis Anderson's try in the 53rd minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. Dictators crossed three times after the interval. Joe Vagana led from the front — 162 running metres. The Prop finished with 108 fantasy points. The result leaves Dictators where they sit fourth on the ladder, 5-5 with a points differential of +18, their last five reading LLLLW. Round 11 now looms as a chance to build on what was a complete performance.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

VALIANT

Hawks

R10·VALIANT

Chatham Island Hawks go down despite Tony Tatupu's best efforts

It was a one-man rescue effort that just wasn't quite enough. Tony Tatupu produced a performance for the highlight reel but Chatham Island Hawks still went down 16-54 to Tohoku Salamanders in a loss that exposed the gap between their stars and the support cast. Hawks need more players to stand up alongside their best. Tohoku Salamanders spread the workload around six or seven match-shapers; Chatham Island Hawks had one, and one is never enough at this level. Hawks trailed 4-22 at the break. Dane Nielsen's try in the 41st minute was the moment the game tilted decisively. Tony Tatupu put in a defensive shift for the ages — 47 tackles. The Second-row finished with 79 fantasy points. They had to do it on the back of just 42% of the ball. A completion rate of 67% that the coaching staff will not be happy with. Ten handling errors were the kind of basics that cost points at this level. A count of 45 missed tackles tells you all you need to know about the effort in defence. The result leaves Hawks where they sit fifth on the ladder, 5-5 with a points differential of -16, their last five reading WWLLL. The bye can't come quick enough — round 11 demands an honest response.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

REPORT

Hawks

R10·REPORT

Inruin concedes — 'we lit a fuse'

Inruin was magnanimous in the post-match. 'We probably gave them the motivation they needed. Credit to Hawks for backing their words up.'

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UT Herald StaffJun 1, 2026 at 12:50 AM

DEFENCE

Devils

R10·DEFENCE

Devils need to fix their tackling after Pyongyang Dictators run through them

It's a brutal stat: 42 missed tackles in a 18-26 loss to Pyongyang Dictators. Tauranga Devils were carved open through the middle, around the ruck, and out wide — there wasn't a part of the park they could call home. Pyongyang Dictators couldn't believe their luck. Easy metres post-contact, half-breaks that became line-breaks, and tries that came almost without resistance. The Devils forwards in particular will be questioned hard about effort and shape this week. Devils took an 18-12 lead into the sheds. Pyongyang Dictators hit back through Louis Anderson in the 53rd minute and the chase was on. Devils scored all their tries in the opening 40. Ricky Stuart led from the front — 456 kick metres. The Halfback finished with 110 fantasy points and walked away with the Player of the Match vote. A completion rate of 69% that the coaching staff will not be happy with. A count of 42 missed tackles tells you all you need to know about the effort in defence. The result leaves Devils where they sit seventh on the ladder, 4-6 with a points differential of -50, their last five reading LLWWL. Round 11 now becomes a must-respond fixture for Devils.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

REPORT

Hawks

R10·REPORT

Hawks in crisis mode

It's been a rough stretch for Cces and the Hawks. 3 losses on the trot has the fan base restless. Something needs to change.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM

REPORT

Knights

R10·REPORT

Chanel Harris-Tavita turning heads

Chanel Harris-Tavita continues to deliver for Knights. Another outstanding performance has the rest of the competition on alert.

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UT Herald StaffMay 27, 2026 at 6:00 PM