Farah Palmer Cup Presented by Bunnings Warehouse 2023 season preview

By Adam Julian  

Premiership   

Canterbury has been the undisputed queen of the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC), presented by Bunnings Warehouse, for the last six seasons. They have won the Premiership five times, retained the JJ Stewart trophy since 2017, and have experienced Black Ferns who've never lost in red and black. Chelsea Bremner for example is 41-0. 

The FPC always throws up exciting talent, and with Black Ferns players absent for the first two rounds, squad depth will be tested more than ever.  Past Black Ferns alongside new players will be among the abundance of talent to watch. 

Canterbury 

The Bremner sisters Chelsea and Alana, Grace Brooker, Amy du Plessis, Pip Love, Georgia Ponsonby, Grace Steinmetz, and recent selections Rosie Kelly and Lucy Jenkins are just some of the Black Ferns who will feature for Canterbury this season. Joining from North Harbour, former Black Ferns sevens representative Hayley Hutana was the leading points scorer in FPC 2022 with 64 points.  

Player to watch - Emma Dermody Rookie of the year for Super Rugby Aupiki champions Matatū, Emma Dermody started at Lincoln University on a netball scholarship. When the farmer from Southland found rugby, she quickly developed into one of the best locks in Christchurch. Despite the presence of internationals Chelsea Bremner and Cindy Nelles, she played seven of eight matches (five starts) for Canterbury in their unbeaten 2022 season.  

Auckland 

Auckland will be a formidable and enterprising side with seven current Black Ferns, Maia Roos, Liana Mikaele Tu'u, Ruahei Demant, Sylvia Brunt, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Charmaine McMenamin, and Patricia Maliepo. 

Player to watch - Aldora Itunu The 2017 Black Ferns World Cup winning prop is back after an extended break and in typically damaging form. She helped Ponsonby win the Coleman Shield. Itunu debuted for the Storm in 2012 and has made 49 appearances scoring 15 tries. She played 24 Tests for the Black Ferns between 2015 and 2021.  

Counties Manukau 

Player to watch - Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali - The enigmatic first-five was the best player in the Black Ferns World Cup trial in 2022 but unfortunately missed the FPC for Otago. The 2017 Black Ferns World Cup winner is back with Counties Manukau who she helped win their only FPC title in 2016. Subritzky-Nafatali is dazzling at her best with a huge boot and arguably more attacking trickery than any player in New Zealand. Her combination with Black Ferns halfback Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu could prove telling. 

Wellington 

Player to watch - Drenna Falaniko - The young centre out of St Mary’s College has been one of the most damaging backs in the capital for two seasons. With Marist St Pats she’s been involved in 20 games (16 wins) and scored 22 tries. Her combination with longtime Wellington Pride second-five Monica Tagoai has been most potent. Falaniko is strong on defense, quick on her feet, and capable of goal-kicking. 

Bay of Plenty 

Player to watch - Azalleyah Maaka - The midfielder was a starter for Chiefs Manawa who beat every team in Super Rugby Aupiki. Capable of covering both centre and wing, Maaka is a sturdy defender with lightning feet. A Youth Olympics gold medallist with New Zealand in 2018, Maaka has played 15 games for the Volcanix.  

Olive Watherston is another emerging midfielder in the Bay. She was in the Chiefs squad straight out of college and appeared three times in the FPC last year. There are also high hopes for 113kg prop Te Uru Pounamu McGarvey. The 19-year-old was in the Chiefs and is an improving scrummager with immense carrying power. 

Hawke’s Bay 

Player to watch - Gemma Woods - Woods is something of a legend in Hawke’s Bay. She made her debut for the Tui 2007 as a halfback before moving to flanker and last year prop when the Hawke’s Bay won the championship. After a heavy loss to Otago in their first game, the Tui won five in a row including a 24-20 upset of the Spirit in the final. Woods has played 66 matches for her province, just nine appearances short of the record held by Chanel Atkin with 75. One of Woods most memorable matches was in 2017 when she scored two tries against Otago while paying tribute to close friend Leslie Laing, who passed the week of the game. She played her club rugby this season for Napier Tech who won the local championship.  

Club Finals 

Ponsonby upset unbeaten College Rifles 27-22 to win the Coleman Shield in Auckland for the first time since 2020 and for the tenth time in their history. Ponsonby had lost the 2021 and 2022 deciders. Former Black Ferns Aldora Itunu, Eloise Blackwell, and Charmaine McMenamin featured as victors. Manurewa was the best performed of the Counties clubs making the semis while North Shore and Silverdale represented North Harbour.  

Marist St Pats won the Tia Passi Memorial Cup final for the first time in Wellington, defeating Petone 36-32 in a thrilling final. Georgia Daals won the Erin Rush Medal as the player of the match with two tries. Former Black Ferns Marcelle Parkes and Monica Tagoai also scored tries for the Catholics, who scored more points and tries than any side in the competition. 

University reversed an earlier season defeat to Christchurch to capture their fifth title since 2014 with a 19-14 victory in a tough final away from home. Christchurch had won the last two titles. Promising halfback Kelsyn McCook flourished, and Canadian lock Cindy Nelles carried on her outstanding form after winning Super Rugby Aupki with Matatū. 

Napier Tech Old Boys won the Hawke’s Bay title for the fifth time in six seasons with a 33-17 victory over Clive in the final. Clive was a real prospect of causing an upset when leading 12-7 at halftime. However, the passing and speed of the Tech backs began to dominate, and they scored four of the side’s five tries, with two to centre Michaela Baker and one to captain and first five Krysten Cottrell, who also kicked four conversions. The others went to wing Maia Davis and No 8 Chanel Atkin. 

In Bay of Plenty, Mount Maunganui Rugby Club is celebrating its centenary season and they marked the occasion with a perfect 12-0 season in the senior women’s championship. In the final, the Marlins defeated Rangataua 17-10 in woeful conditions. Natalie Delamere, a Black Ferns hooker in 2023, featured for the Marlins.   

Championship 

Otago went through the entire round-robin of the 2022 FPC Championship undefeated but was upset in the final by Hawke’s Bay. Tasman had a historic season winning two matches, Northland was vibrant, and North Harbour was a semi-finalist. Manawatū will look to repeat their unbeaten 2021 success and reclaim their place in the Premiership.  

Tasman 

Player to watch - Precious Auimatagi - The former Wellington Pride representative can cover hooker or blindside with her mobility and damaging tackles, a real asset. She was rampant for Nelson Marist in their Tasman Cup success this year scoring a long-range try in the final. She only missed a single game for Tasman in 2023.  

Inspiring openside Tamara Silcock returns looking to extend her games record of 34. First-Five Cassie Siataga was player of the year for Tasman in 2022. 

Otago 

Otago should be especially strong in 2023 with no fewer than 23 players returning. Maia Joseph is back from a long-term knee injury and will be a key game driver at halfback or ten.  Eilis Doyle will look to anchor the scrum while seasoned campaigners Paige Church, Tegan Hollows, Zoe Whatarau, and captain Julia Gorinski add plenty of steel.  

Player to watch - Cheyenne Cunningham - The Otago Spirit centre works on a sheep and beef farm near Kurow. She loves the lifestyle, but the commute is horrendous. Two to three times a week she makes a four-and-a-half hour round trip from the backblocks to Dunedin for training and to play. Last year Cunningham was the joint top try scorer in the FPC with nine tries and with 20 tries in 35 appearances is a major threat to any opposition.  

Manawatū  

Player to watch - Kaipo Olsen-Baker - The No.8 burst into first-class rugby in 2020 with her explosive running game, eventually earning selection for the Black Ferns. In her Test debut, she scored a thrilling 20m try against Australia which turned a tight test in the hosts' favour. Unfortunately, injury prevented almost certain selection for the World Cup. Expect Olsen-Baker, in dynamic form during the club season for Fryberg Old Boys, to be like a caged lion. Her sister Te Uarangi Olsen-Baker is also in the Cyclones and has been named as hooker.  

Other interesting features in the squad include three schoolgirls. Halfback Keira Mete is a product of Cullinane College and joins Maia Davis of Manukura and Feilding High School and loose forward Taufa Bason. Wing Wikitoria Doyle, daughter of late Manawatū and Horowhenua legend Sam Doyle, has been selected. Layla Sae (a contracted Black Ferns flanker) and workhorse Rhiarna Ferris will add real bite. 

Taranaki 

Player to watch - Badinlee Munro-Smith -Munro-Smith has made 23 appearances over the last decade for Taranaki debuting in 2013 and returning when the Whio resurfaced in the FPC in 2018. In 2015 she was a Black Ferns triallist. The experienced midfield back formed a fine combination with Keighley Simpson in 2022 and will be a leader in a young squad that features 11 debutants, including Louise Blyde, the cousin of Black Ferns Sevens star Michaela. The 16-year-old first-five scored seven tries this season.  

Halfback Iritana Hohaia debuted for the Black Ferns against Australia in June and player of the year Ella Johns is back. 

North Harbour 

Player to watch - Holly Williams - The product of Westlake Girls’ High School played basketball, netball, touch, sevens, and rugby while at college making the National Condor Sevens team of the tournament. In her first season of club rugby in 2021 she scored 12 tries in six games for the Albany Barbarians, earning a North Harbour debut with four appearances at centre in 2022.  

Prop Letelemalanuola covers both sides of the scrum and is worth watching.  

Northland

Player to watch - Tyler Nankivell - Tyler has been a mainstay of the Kauri since they returned to the FPC in 2019, featuring in their first win, a 27-21 success against North Harbour. Typically a midfielder or winger, she moved to first-five last season and played with poise and flair. An occasional goal kicker, she has scored 77 points in 25 games for Northland, and once bagged four tries in a game. Her mother Alexis played for Northland from 2000 to 2005 while Māori All Black Alex Nankivell is a distant relative.  

Rana Paraha Trophy winner Te Rarawa is represented by eight players including Black Ferns Krystal Murray and Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate, and three debutants Nora Maaka, Ari Ihaka, and Kalani Walters-Hewson. 

Club Finals 

Kia Toa legend Selica Winiata was sent off in perfect style in the Manawatū by winning the Prue Christie Cup final. Kias beat Old Boys-Marist 27-20 in what was Winiata’s last game of club rugby. The former Black Ferns fullback intends to retire after this year’s provincial campaign where she will play her 100th game for Manawatū. Since she started playing for Kia Toa in 2001 aged 14, Winiata has won 15 titles, in 2001, 2003-05, 2007, 2009-12, 2014, 2017, 2019-21, and 2023. Records of her club caps haven’t been kept. For Kia Toa, Hollyrae Mete and Te-Ana Waihi each scored two tries. 

Alhambra-Union is celebrating its 150th Anniversary in Otago and defeated defending champions Dunedin 29-24 in the final. The ‘Crazy Horses’ were down 0-17 but rallied. Eilis Doyle scored the second of her two tries in the 84th minute. Black Ferns lock Kelsie Thwaites from Bay of Plenty featured throughout the season.  

Marist Nelson defended their Tasman Cup title with a 38-5 win over Kahurangi in the final. Marist scored three tries in each half and led 19-0 at the interval. For Marist, 16-year-old halfback Lucy Mahuika impressed with her passing and clever kicks to turn the Kahurangi defence around. Flanker Tamara Silcock was typically bust and scored a try. 

Southern won the Taranaki premier final at Yarrow Stadium against Clifton 15-12. It was the third title in four years for Southern. Black Ferns halfback Iritana Hohaia changed the course of the match with a second-half try.   

Te Rarawa is the most northern club in Northland with headquarters located in Ahipara, over two hours north of Whangarei. The club was founded by Black Ferns Rawinia Everett, Aroha Savage, and Te Kura Ngata-Aerengamate in 2018 and won their second Rana Paraha Trophy with a 44-36 victory over Old Boys Marist in the final. Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray performed the goal-kicking for Te Rarawa while ironically Savage scored two tries and kicked three conversions for Marist, which she also founded.