Back to Forum

National League and Championship Phase 2026

94 replies · 10,119 views

1 day ago · edited 1 day ago · History

I've got:

1st: Birkenhead United
2nd: Wellington Olympic
3rd: Eastern Suburbs
4th: Cashmere Technical
5th: Napier City Rovers
6th: Auckland City
7th: Auckland FC Reserves
8th: Miramar Rangers
9th: Auckland United
10th: Ferrymead Bays
11th: Wellington Phoenix Reserves

Birko should finish top after the season they've had, but there's no guaranteeing it.

Next five (Olympic, East Subs, Cashmere, Napier, Akl City) could finish in any order I think, although one or two will disappoint. Could be the first time City don't finish 2nd?

Then you have Squires, Akl Utd & Miramar who I think will be a step off the pace. Ferrymead I expect to struggle.

WeeNix are weird, because they've basically spent the season losing to everybody but only by one goal (except against Olympic). In theory they could be competitive, but I expect they'll struggle, particularly if they lose players to the first team.

Permalink

1 day ago

bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

It's really open imo. I understand why Birkenhead and then Auckland City are still favourites. But any of Olympic, Eastern Suburbs, Cashmere Tech and Napier have the form to think they can make a run.

This years CL was not the best for Miramar but they finished 3rd last year and have the quality to challenge anyone. Agree the reserve sides and Ferrymead will struggle.

Permalink

Endorsed by

1 day ago

LT01 wrote:
bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!
It's really open imo. I understand why Birkenhead and then Auckland City are still favourites. But any of Olympic, Eastern Suburbs, Cashmere Tech and Napier have the form to think they can make a run.

This years CL was not the best for Miramar but they finished 3rd last year and have the quality to challenge anyone. Agree the reserve sides and Ferrymead will struggle.

If you look at the results between the three teams who had to actually qualify from CL this year it is interesting reading ...

Miramar have 8 points from 4 matches (two wins vs NCR and two draws vs Olympic), NCR have 6 points from 4 matches (two wins vs Olympic and two losses vs Miramar) while Olympic have only 2 points from 4 matches (two draws vs Miramar and 2 losses vs NCR).

Permalink

Endorsed by

1 day ago

On another note, it's a real shame that Fencibles didn't make it, would have been really interesting.

Played some great football in beating Birko, ACFC and Cashmere in the Chatham Cup, and would've loved to see them compete with the big boys here.

Permalink

Endorsed by

1 day ago

LT01 wrote:
On another note, it's a real shame that Fencibles didn't make it, would have been really interesting.

Played some great football in beating Birko, ACFC and Cashmere in the Chatham Cup, and would've loved to see them compete with the big boys here.

Could very well being playing with the big boys in 2028 if they keep things up

Permalink

1 day ago

bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

Thanks for the heads-up regarding Rovers losing coaches and some players. I'll go down to the Club and see if Bill has cleared out his office.

Don't piss off old people - the older we get, the less "Life in Prison" is a deterrent

Permalink

Endorsed by

BiHe

1 day ago

ol'sole wrote:
bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

Thanks for the heads-up regarding Rovers losing coaches and some players. I'll go down to the Club and see if Bill has cleared out his office.

Dont worry! Bill still being around has factored into my prediction above.

Permalink

1 day ago

Aren’t teams allowed to bring in new players for this league? Any new players turning up at clubs. Might make a difference to positions.

Also…interesting that people rate Olympic high yet they finished behind Napier and only just ahead of Miramar.

Permalink

about 15 hours ago · edited about 15 hours ago · History

Not sure if the rule still applies but teams could bring in two U20 players from other clubs, and are also allowed certain other replacements in event of goalkeeper injury and/or players signing professional deals

Permalink

about 15 hours ago

Looks like the U20 rule no longer applies for new signings, teams can only bring in new players to replace either an injured goalkeeper or current player leaving the team to sign a pro deal.

Permalink

about 14 hours ago

Tyler wrote:
Aren’t teams allowed to bring in new players for this league? Any new players turning up at clubs. Might make a difference to positions.

Also…interesting that people rate Olympic high yet they finished behind Napier and only just ahead of Miramar.

There's a few reasons for that, I think if the CL season was a few games longer Olympic would have pipped Rovers to the title. Their early season slump was basically because they played the 3 best teams in the league aside from themselves and were adjusting to a new head coach.
Olympic also seem to consistently do well when playing teams outside of the Central region. In the last few National League seasons, they have finished 1st (2025), 6th (2024), 1st (2023), 1st (2022), and 2nd (2021).
Miramar are less dominant when it comes to playing teams outside of the region but admittedly did finish 3rd in last years National League.
Rovers have had a mixed bag in the National League and have finished in 4th (2024), 9th (2023), and 8th (2022).

Permalink

Endorsed by

about 9 hours ago · edited about 9 hours ago · History

ol'sole wrote:
bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

Thanks for the heads-up regarding Rovers losing coaches and some players. I'll go down to the Club and see if Bill has cleared out his office.

Hey Fudgey ... sounds like your sources/sauces might by soya and tomato ... wild and unfounded suggestion

Permalink

Endorsed by

about 9 hours ago · edited about 9 hours ago · History

Hearty wrote:
ol'sole wrote:
bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

Thanks for the heads-up regarding Rovers losing coaches and some players. I'll go down to the Club and see if Bill has cleared out his office.
Hey Fudgey ... sounds like your sources/sauces might by soya and tomato ... wild and unfounded suggestion

If you would call information directly from some Rovers players unfounded, then sure. Bill was not the coach I heard was leaving.

Permalink

about 3 hours ago

Olympic did draw with Petone in the second to last week. I think Miramar did stumble and I don’t expect much from them but do expect more from Napier…. Unless players have left as noted somewhere on here

Permalink

about 1 hour ago

bigfudge wrote:
Hearty wrote:
ol'sole wrote:
bigfudge wrote:
Any predictions for the summer NL starting next week? Here's my league prediction for the season, this is probably horrible as I haven't seen many of the teams play in person, but my bold predictions are that Rovers drop off from their Central League form (heard a few rumors of coaches and some players leaving), Birkenhead United continue on their Northern League dominance, and Auckland City win the grand final.

1. Birkenhead United
2. Auckland City
3. Wellington Olympic
4. Eastern Suburbs
5. Auckland United
6. Cashmere Technical
7. Napier City Rovers
8. Auckland FC Reserves
9. Miramar Rangers
10. Ferrymead Bays
11. Nix Reserves

Would love to hear some people's thoughts or insight as we near the final stage of the 2027 NZ season!

Thanks for the heads-up regarding Rovers losing coaches and some players. I'll go down to the Club and see if Bill has cleared out his office.
Hey Fudgey ... sounds like your sources/sauces might by soya and tomato ... wild and unfounded suggestion
If you would call information directly from some Rovers players unfounded, then sure. Bill was not the coach I heard was leaving.

Which players and coaches are leaving?

Permalink

Back to National League / OCL Forum Home Back to top