In the second round of the NPC, three players stood out as the performers of the week. Firstly, Rory Taylor from North Harbour has been a prolific try scorer, earning a blazer for 25 appearances. His performance against Counties Manukau, where he scored a try and gained more metres than any player with four linebreaks, was particularly impressive. Taylor's perseverance and form have been rewarded, and he has helped North Harbour crack a half-century against Counties for the first time since 2008. Secondly, Nikora Broughton from Bay of Plenty has been a vital cog for the simmering Steamers. Against Northland, he charged over for two tries and made the most carries (23) and metres (111) for the hosts. Broughton's performance was all the more impressive given that Northland had the best set-piece in 2025. Lastly, Jamie Hannah from Canterbury captured the Ranfurly Shield for the 18th time with a 19-15 win over Otago. His try in the corner just before halftime and two tries scored by hooker Brodie McAlister in his 50th match came from the lineout. Hannah's performance was all the more remarkable given that Canterbury was reduced to 13 players at one point. These three players have undoubtedly earned their place as the performers of the week in the second round of the NPC.
