A 1st XV of rugby’s finest

Waikato won the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) Premiership for the second time with a gripping 27-25 victory over Canterbury in the final in Hamilton. Manawatū were convincing victors in the championship.
Withdrawing Black Ferns for the entire FPC campaign was ludicrous, but former and aspiring Black Ferns nonetheless made their presence felt. Here’s a top XV from those who wore their province’s colours this year:
15. Jaymie Kolose (Counties Manukau) – The next Selica Winiata? Similar size: similar punch. Breathtaking game against Auckland when the Heat won the JJ Stewart Trophy. She won an Aupiki title with the Blues earlier in the season.
14. Winnie Palamo (Canterbury) –  Her two tries in the last two minutes to sink Counties Manukau in the semifinal alone would be worthy of inclusion: 8 tries across the campaign showed what a clinical finisher Palamo is. She ranked third in metres gained and second in clean breaks.
13. Hollyrae Mete (Manawatū) – Statistically the most dominant attacking player in the competition for championship winners Manawatū. Mete ranked first for clean breaks (21), defenders beaten (64), metres gained (897) and offloads (32) in six appearances. 
12. Chelsea Semple (Waikato) – Waikato’s most experienced player imposed her will on the competition ranking inside the top 10 for carries, clean breaks, defenders beaten, offloads and points. Scored a record haul of 25 points in a 65-17 win over Auckland and even found time to feature as a Sky Sport commentator. 
11. Kataraina Enosa-Taifau (Counties Manukau) – As comfortable at centre as she is on the wing, Enosa-Taifau ranked inside the top 10 for metres gained and clean breaks. Blessed with considerable size and speed, Enosa-Taifau scored four tries in wins against Northland, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay and produced a destructive display in the 35-20 victory over Auckland which prized the JJ Stewart Trophy from the Storm’s grasp.
10. Kaea Nepia (Waikato) – Fautless goal kicking (5/5)  in the final is a reason alone to include Nepia. Scored 24 points in the record 69-12 demolition of Auckland in the semifinal. Has won 10 out of 12 games in a Waikato jersey. 
9. Ffion Penney (Counties Manukau) – The reason why former Black Ferns halfback and captain Arihiana Marino-Tauhinu was playing second five. The maturity and quick distribution of Penney earned the Howick College pupil three consecutive starts after three appearances off the bench. Perhaps Penney’s best performance was in Counties’ 35-20 victory against Auckland to win the JJ Stewart Trophy. 
8. Laura Bayfield (Canterbury) – The top tackler in the FPC (165 in eight games) was heroic for a young Canterbury side that grew enormously through the season. Bayfield is also powerful with the ball in hand, ranking in the top five for most carries, and adept in the air. Bayfield was inspirational in the 36-31 Premiership semifinal win over Counties Manukau and made a staggering 23 tackles in the narrow 10-7 defence of the JJ Stewart Trophy in Round 2 against Waikato – an honourable mention for Manawatū’s Kahurangi Sturmey. Sturmey ranked inside the top 10 for tries (6), carries (142), lineouts won (23) and metres gained (564).
7. Neve Anglesey (Canterbury) – The former Tasman flanker out of Waimea College was a dynamic tackling machine for Canterbury. Huge counts included 16 in the final, 16 against Bay of Plenty, and 19 in the retention of the JJ Stewart Trophy against Waikato on August 18.
6. Elinor-Plum King (Manawatū) – Plays across the back row.  King was especially productive on attack: ranking in the top five for carries (117), defenders beaten (48) and metres gained (637). An honorable mention for Mia Anderson who had a blinder of a final, and campaign in general. 
5. Jade Coates (Waikato) – Has won two Super Rugby titles with Fijana and 14 of 17 matches with Waikato. She secured the second most lineout wins and was diligent and aggressive around the paddock. 
4. Rebbeca Burch (Counties Manukau) – The workhorse lock passed 50 games for the Heat, an essential cog in an impressive Counties side that won the JJ Stewart Trophy for the first time since 2017 and went within a whisker of the final. Burch ranked inside the top 10 for tackles and lineouts.
3. Veisinia Mahutariki-Fakalelu (Waikato) – Statistically, Waikato enjoyed the most dominant scrum in the FPC. Fakalelu added additional value with her explosive carrying which saw her rank inside the top 10 for most defenders beaten. While at Hamilton Girls’ High School, Fakalelu won two National Secondary Schools touch titles.
2. Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Waikato) – The former Black Ferns hooker was a bully scoring a competition-leading 11  tries with her busy and aggressive carries. The Waikato lineout operated with 85% reliability. 
1. Chyann Kaitapu (Waikato) – Featured in all eight games for the Premiership winners becoming more imperious with each outing. Won a senior club title, scoring a try in the final, with Melville too.