The Bay of Plenty Steamers are feeling the immense support from the local community, as they headed away from home base on Friday to the eagerly awaited Bunnings NPC final in Wellington.

“We’re off to Wellington for the big dance,” said Steamers’ head coach Richard Watt. He’s also described it as “off to war”.

Arriving at Tauranga Airport on Friday about an hour ahead of their 12.30pm chartered flight to the nation’s capital, it was time for the players to chill, play some cards, and fuel up the inner “steam machines”.

Bay of Plenty Steamers at Tauranga Airport on Friday before boarding their charter flight to Wellington for the Bunnings NPC final. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

The months of hard work, perseverance, determination and skill development has brought them through the round robin, quarterfinal and semifinal of the Bunnings NPC, with just one more game to win against Wellington Lions on Saturday night.

The team took up three or four tables at the airport with some light banter between teammates as they waited for their departure time.

“Emoni [Narawa] has the sweatiest hands in the whole earth,” Naitoa Ah Kuoi said, going into defence mode to protect his breakfast burger while Narawa attempted to execute a side tackle.

“Naitoa bought the whole table breakfast burgers,” said another team member.

Naitoa Ah Kuoi defending his breakfast burger from being swiped in a side tackle by Emoni Narawa. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

It was clear the sausage roll, lamington, breakfast burger and Sprite fizzy drink supplies at Tauranga Airport were suffering defeat at the quick short work by a team who are at the peak of fitness and strength.  

Meanwhile, team captain Kurt Ekland’s lamington was quickly demolished, swiped from his plate by other players who had their “eye on the ball” or in this case their captain’s lamington, while he reflected on the last week and the game ahead.

The team had come straight from Blake Park that morning after completing their last captain’s run of the season, a bittersweet moment but with a strong sense of accomplishment for securing their first ever grand final.

“Pretty sore legs, grounds are hard,” Ekland said. “We’re getting to the end of the season.

“We’re really looking forward to hopefully doing what only one other Bay of Plenty team has ever done.”

The Bay of Plenty Steamers completing their final captain's run of the season at Blake Park on Friday morning. Photo/Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

Bay of Plenty's journey to the final has been historic, marking their first appearance in the NPC final after winning the inaugural competition in 1976, when it was a straight league format.

Ekland said “the grounds everywhere are hard at the moment”.

“We haven’t had a lot of rain lately in the Bay. But that’s the way we like it,” Ekland said.

His teammates around the table joined him in a rap that started off with “rain doesn’t affect anything, rain hail or shine, we’ll be there on time, and we’ll play mighty fine …” , and ended with something about Wellington.

“We don’t do trash talk, we’re far too polite for that carry-on,” Ekland said, smiling.

There was some associated banter about how Ekland was clearly the man girls' fathers would be proud to call their son-in-law.

Bay of Plenty Steamers at Tauranga Airport on Friday before boarding their charter flight to Wellington for the Bunnings NPC final. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Game plan

Watt, assistant coach John Haynes-Dodd and general manager of performance Rodney Gibbs also accompanied the team on the charter flight.

As soon as the final whistle blew on Saturday against Canterbury, Watt had their seven-day turnaround plan mapped in his mind.

“Monday, we came in and reviewed the game. Then we look at anything new for the next game, but because it’s a final, you don’t change anything up,” Watt said.

“Then we install the game plan for the week. Tuesday we were back on the grass and started the dress rehearsal. Wednesday the boys had a day off. Thursday, we polished off and did final preparation. Friday, we did a captains run – a final dress rehearsal, and then we jump on a plane and off to war.”

The Bay of Plenty Steamers completing their final captain's run of the season at Blake Park on Friday morning. Photo/Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

The Steamers last played Wellington four weeks ago.

“They’re a team that plays with a lot of confidence,” Watt said. “They’ve won a lot of games in the last couple of years.

“They’re a bit like us - they’ve got some pretty good strike players, Riley Higgins and Julian Savea, and guys like Losi Fipilo. They’ve got some pretty dangerous outside backs, and a good hard working forward pack led by Du'plessis Kirif. Brad Shields is a very experienced player. They’re a pretty well-balanced team, they’ve got a good forward pack, good backs, and they’re a pretty good defensive team as well. They make teams work hard for their points.”

“It’s not going to be a blowout either way because the teams are just too good,” Wattie said.

“You’ve got to stay in the moment. Sometimes these things come down to moments. Like the lineout against Hawke’s Bay – that was a big moment.  With Canterbury, it was about three or four minutes into the second half with another big moment. Then we had another opportunity to score again. You’ve just got to nail the big moments. The bigger the game, the more that’s relevant.”

Bay of Plenty Steamers at Tauranga Airport on Friday before boarding their charter flight to Wellington for the Bunnings NPC final. Photo/Rosalie Liddle Crawford.

Watt said last time his team played Wellington the Steamers had “heaps of ball, heaps of territory”.

“We came inside their 22, but we just couldn’t score. And then they went into our 22 and scored straightaway - bang bang. And we were down," Watt said.

"We had all the ball, all the possession, all the territory, it was bizarre, but that’s just the way it rolls sometimes. We need to convert the opportunities we have.”

The Bay of Plenty Steamers completing their final captain's run of the season at Blake Park on Friday morning. Photo/Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

Watt said the Steamers team have enjoyed inspiring the people watching their game.

“You can see it manifest itself - at the start of the year the place [Tauranga Domain] wasn’t even half full, to what it went to. We talk about inspiring the people, and they can feel it. And that’s what’s important. It gives them more inspiration to create something and make history,” Watt said.

“And it’s given that little added motivation knowing how much pleasure they’re bringing people.”

Clean sweep of trophies

The Steamers have been on a remarkable run this season, securing a clean sweep of provincial trophies.

Five of the six trophies that Bay of Plenty Steamers currently hold – the Chief’s Cup, the Macrae Shelford Bay Cup, the Peter Burke Trophy, the Mark Weedon Trophy, and the Nathan Strongman Memorial Trophy. Photo: Supplied.

In addition to the John Drake Boot which they won off Auckland, they hold the Macrae Shelford Bay Cup against Hawke’s Bay. The team have also triumphed in trophy matches against Waikato (the Nathan Strongman Memorial Trophy), North Harbour (the Mark Weedon Trophy) and reigning NPC champions Taranaki (the Peter Burke Trophy).

This year they also won the Chief’s Cup, which is the challenge cup for the Chiefs provinces. A team must win it three times to hold it for the year, and they beat Counties, Waikato, Taranaki. They also won it last year.

The John Drake Boot. Photo: Supplied.

After the Wellington match on Saturday, three of the Steamers - Naitoa Ah Kuoi, Kurt Ekland, and Emoni Narawa are leaving on Sunday to join the All Blacks Fifteen with two games ahead in Europe.

Wasp Rugby Club president Craig Elliott who is heading to Wellington to watch the final says he’s listened a few times to a speech Richard Watt made to the team.

“When he speaks there’s not an eye that's not staring at him. The respect he has from this group, when he speaks, everyone shuts up and stares. He's obviously got a real respect and he's taking the team to the next level. I've never seen a team of Steamers be like this,” Elliott said.

The Bay of Plenty Steamers team to play Wellington Lions in the 2024 Bunnings NPC final on Saturday, October 26. Image/Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.

With the stakes high and pride on the line, the Bunnings NPC final is set to be a memorable showdown in New Zealand rugby history.

Watt said his team know they’re good enough to win the NPC finals.

“If we’re good enough on the day we’ll win it. It’s been a great season. This is the only trophy left to win, for us. If we win that trophy it’s going to be a good night,” Watt said.

In support of the Steamers, and to celebrate their already historic achievement, Tauranga City Council are lighting up the Wharf St lights and the lights of the Pou at Tunks Reserve at the top of Elizabeth St with blue and yellow lights for the weekend.

The Steamers will be boarding their chartered plane after their game against Wellington on Saturday night and flying back to Tauranga with arrival time at Tauranga Airport expected to be 9.15pm.

Keen supporters who couldn’t make it to Wellington but watched it live on Sky Sport, are expected to be waiting at the airport for their return.