Otago celebrate their historic NPC victory at Carisbrook. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.co.nz
Otago's 1998 NPC campaign remains one of the most electrifying seasons in New Zealand provincial rugby history - with All Blacks across the park, an inspirational leader, a fearless style, and fanatical supporters, Otago set the competition on fire.
Brendon Laney enjoyed one of the greatest individual seasons a player could have, Tony Brown thrust his name into All Black conversation, and Tony Gilbert unleashed his attacking genius on the country.
It has since been a lean run for the Razorbacks. However, after decades of languishing in the championship and seldom seeing play off footy in the premiership, Otago have come from nowhere in 2025 to book a berth in the big dance against their great Canterbury rivals.
As the blue and gold's look to end a 27-year drought, RNZ looks back at their sensational last run to a title.
Otago 1998 NPC championship squad
Kees Meeuws, Joe McDonnell, Carl Hoeft, Anton Oliver, Eugene Morgan, John Blaikie, Brendon Timmins, Duncan Blaikie, Isitolo Maka, Kelvin Middleton, Josh Kronfeld, Simon Maling, Taine Randell (c), Byron Kelleher, Donovan Hill, Tony Brown, Eddie Hekenui, John Leslie, Reuben Parkinson, Romi Ropati, Matt Carrington, Jeff Wilson, Brendon Laney.
Round One- Away vs Canterbury
The '98 season kicked off with a blockbuster southern derby against Canterbury, the reigning NPC champions. The teams traded penalties on a chilly Christchurch night before some slick hands along the Otago backline send Romi Ropati away on the left flank for the first try of the 1998 season.
Taking a 19-9 lead at half-time, shortly after the break, Brendon 'chainsaw' Laney sliced his way through two tacklers for Otago's second and the first of his season tally of 15. With Nathan Mauger and Daryl Gibson both crossing to bring Canterbury back into it, A chip and chase by Kelleher which bounced kindly for Leslie sealed the impressive round one win, setting the stage for a fairytale season.
Win Otago 41 - Canterbury 23
Round Two- Away vs Taranaki
It was an ugly opening try for Otago, as Brown chipped ahead and a scramble ensued in the 22, the ball eventually landing on Otago's side as Kelleher switched left and send Middleton away in the corner.
Parkinson went under the bar for a second just before half-time to give his team a 15-8 lead at the break, but Jason Holland's try and two penalties soon put the home side ahead 21-15. Otago reclaimed the ascendancy with a training run try, Laney cutting blind from a scrum and feeding Carrington who sauntered over in the corner.
With just a point in it and two minutes to play, another searching Laney run saw him split Taranaki wide open, allowing Leslie to set Carrington away for the match winner.
Win Otago 27 - Taranaki 21
A bit of biff was always possible in the 90's. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Round Three- Home vs Waikato
The first appearance at Carisbrook, and a preview of what would be the 1998 decider. However, it was a forgettable outing for Otago, who could muster just four Tony Brown penalties.
The Waikato pack proved far too powerful for the hosts, number eight Dion Muir bagging a hat-trick while prop Michael Collins and hooker Greg Smith made it five Waikato tries to nil.
Loss Waikato 36 - Otago 12
Round Four- Home vs Counties Manukau
The 1997 finalists were without their two superstar wingers in Jonah Lomu and Joeli Vidiri, and the Otago backs ran riot over their Auckland opponents.
Ropati kicked things off with some individual brilliance as took a Brown offload, chipped over fullback Paul Tom and took the perfect bounce before unleashing his trademark swan dive. More magic followed as Wilson cut capers in the Counties defence, turning five defenders inside out on a stunning 60 metre surge before he was brought down just short of the line, Leslie finishing things off.
Slick hands sent Carrington away for the third before Ropati went in for his second to secure the bonus point and a third win of the season.
Win Otago 47 - 25 Counties Manukau
Round Five- Away vs Auckland
A monumental task for Randall's men at Eden Park against an All Black-laden Auckland, featuring the likes of Carlos Spencer, Robin Brooke, Craig Dowd, and a 20-year-old Doug Howlett. Just a solitary try to Romi Ropati and four penalties for Brown were not nearly enough as Adrian Cashmore outscored the visitors by himself, bagging 21 points while Brian Lima crossed for a double.
Loss Auckland 41 - Otago 19
Round Six- Home vs Northland
Following their disappointing trip north, Otago bounced back in emphatic fashion against the Taniwha and it would be the catalyst for a stories charge toward the final.
The Otago backs were in irresistible form under cloud cover at Carisbrook. Ropati struck first after Laney broke through the middle of the Northland defence. Laney went in himself just two minutes later, before the forwards got in on the action, Oliver cashing in off a surging driving maul.
Leslie bagged the bonus point off a short ball from Brown, before Wilson waltzed in after a poor Northland clearance, as Brown capped off the try scoring in the first with Otago's sixth. Parkinson brought up the half century and was in again moments later on the back of a break by Kelleher.
A Leslie intercept sent Laney away for his second, before Wilson hammered the final nail in, skinning Tony Monaghan on a kick chase to put the icing on a dominant win.
Win Otago 84 - 10
Otago clicked into gear towards the back end of the season. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Round Seven- Home vs Wellington
An unbelievable scoreline against a Wellington team featuring Christian Cullen, Tana Umaga, Jon Preston, and Alama Iremia.
Once again, it was the Otago backline inflicting the damage, all but Parkinson crossing the chalk while Laney registered another treble.
Brown set the tone after five minutes, charging down his opposite for the first five pointer, followed by Laney's first as he darted over from the base of a ruck under the bar. The next was a real statement, as Leslie crashed it up in midfield, and was driven over the line by his teammates as three Lions tried to hold him up. Laney's second came courtesy of some Ropati improv, as he danced across the field before sending an audacious kick across to his winger for a 34-4 lead at oranges.
The floodgates opened in the second, kicked off by Kronfeld after 30 seconds, then Kelleher after throwing an outrageous dummy at the ruck. Wilson waltzed over to notch the fifty, as Brown then bashed his way over for his double. A lovely chip assist from Wilson set Ropati away again, before Maka scored the tenth, assisted by Wilson.
After copping an earlier late high shot by the All Black fullback, Ropati got his revenge as he crashed through Cullen to get his second. The rout was appropriately completed by Laney, dotting down for his hat-trick in the 80th.
Win Otago 82 - Wellington 10
Round Eight- Home vs Southland
After conceding the opening try, Otago were ruthless against their South Island neighbours, Kronfeld rumbling over from a maul to kick things off for the hosts.
The inevitable Laney try followed as the Otago winger cut inside several Southlanders for his seventh try of the campaign. A powerful Leslie run saw him celebrate his century appearance in style. Another copybook maul put Oliver over, before Leslie sliced through Southland and streaked fourty metres to score his second.
Laney went back to back to score his second hat-trick of the season, first exploding onto a short ball form Kelleher before he scorched two Southland forwards on the outside. Wilson drove the final knife in his old side in simple fashion, darting blind from a scrum and cruising over to bring up sixty points.
Win Otago 60 - 10
Round Nine- Away vs North Harbour
In a tight race with Waikato and Canterbury for top spot, Otago headed to a blustery Albany for their final regular season match against North Harbour who were already out of the playoff race.
Kelleher struck from the base for the opener after a huge Meeuws surge. Glen David hit back for Harbour, but he could then only watch in vain as Otago replied through Wilson who was far too quick for his opposite. Brown's fifth penalty goal on the stroke of half-time gave Otago a 27-5 half-time lead.
The result was assured after Leslie again sliced Harbour's midfield wide open, and found Ropati on his outside. Leslie then capped off a brilliant performance, as he nudged one ahead for WIlson to again blitz the Harbour outsides and easily win the race to the ball.
Semi-final spot booked.
Win Otago 39 - Noth Harbour 8
Semi Final- Home vs Taranaki
The fans were out in droves to celebrate 'Chainsaw's' 50th and cheer their side into a final.
It wasn't a star-studded Taranaki side, but they boasted a battle hardened pack with Kevin Barrett, Gordon Slater, Paul Tito, Campbell Feather, and a young Greg Feek in the ranks.
The home side struck after just two minutes in spectacular fashion, Kelleher shooting short side from a scrum in the 22 and finding Laney who went on a 70 metre surge up field, shrugged off two cover tacklers before firing it back inside to his halfback to score a scorcher.
It was all Laney early, after slotting a drop-goal, the right winger scooped up a loose pass and out-sprinted several 'Naki players on the outside for his side's second try. After the visitors pulled one back, some counter-attacking brilliance by Otago saw Laney in again, before Ropati smashed his way over the line togo 22 points ahead. A scything Wilson run put the exclamation of a one sided first half, Otago taking a 37-5 lead.
Laney continued his untouchable form, claiming another hat-trick with maybe his best of the year. After taking a Brown cross-kick on the bounce, Laney stood up the first line, then sent one over the fullback, and beat the ball before it ran dead. The crackers kept coming as Kelleher took an offload on halfway, ran past two would be tacklers, before carrying three over the line with him.
The 50 came courtesy of Laney's fourth, with Wilson closing the show following some scintillating Otago interplay. The 'Naki were nullified and a date with Waikato awaited.
Win Otago 61 - 12 Taranaki
Final- Home vs Waikato
The House of Pain was an absolute picture as Carisbrook played host to its first ever NPC final.
Waikato had booked their spot after an impressive 32-13 win over Canterbury in Hamilton. Bagpipes bellowed out across the ground as Randall's men ran out to a rapturous ovation. Despite home-ground advantage, Otago were wary of the hiding the Ranfurly Shield holders dished out to them on the same ground earlier in the season. Meeuws and Maka were back after missing the semi, while Leslie was set for his final match in green and gold.
The sides traded penalties and it took over half an hour for someone's line to be breached. With so much success built on their electric backline, it was Otago's pack which broke the shackles, Timmins crashing over right by the sticks. Up 10-6 at half-time, Otago had Waikato under all sorts soon after the break, Brown enveloping his opposite Glen Jackson and forcing a turnover. Leslie took full advantage, using his trademark footwork to dance his way past the Waikato defence.
With a 14-point buffer, Otago rammed home their advantage when Parkinson exploded through a hole and popped it up to a flying Ropati to score. With Waikato looking to spark something form their own line, Scott McLeod had the ball stolen from him, with Laney making them pay as he went in for Otago's fourth. The enigmatic winger then dribbled a poor Brown pass, expertly controlling it in goal to score his 15th of the season.
The gate then well and truly shut on the Moo-loos when Kelleher and Oliver crossed to bring curtains on an phenomenal 49-20 win, and an iconic season for the southerners.
The party at Tony Brown's house was well underway.
Wilson celebrates with Maka after winning the 1998 NPC. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport.co.nz
Win Otago 49-20 Waikato
1998 NPC final lineups:
Otago
1. Carl Hoeft 2. Anton Oliver 3. Kees Meeuws 4. Brendon Timmins 5. John Blaikie 6. Taine Randell 7. Josh Kronfeld 8. Isitolo Maka 9. Byron Kelleher 10. Tony Brown 11. Romi Ropati 12. John Leslie 13. Reuben Parkinson 14. Brendan Laney 15. Jeff Wilson
Bench: 16. Eugene Morgan 17. Joe McDonnell 18. Simon Maling 19. Kelvin Middleton 20. Donovan Hall 21. Eddie Hekenui 22. Matthew Carrington
Coach: Tony Gilbert
Waikato
1. Paul Martin 2. Greg Smith 3. Michael Collins 4. Richard Coventry 5. Mark Cooksley 6. Nick Holten 7. Aaron Hopa 8. Deon Muir 9. Rhys Duggan
10. Ian Foster 11. Bruce Reihana 12. Matthew Cooper 13. Scott McLeod 14. Keith Lowen 15. Damian Karauna
Bench: 16. Nick Mantell 17. David Briggs 18. Tony Petero 19. Ryan Wheeler 20. Jason Spice 21. Glen Jackson
Coach: Warren Gatland
The ultimate entertainers, Otago finished the year with 598 points, still a record for an NPC season.
This was Otago's first NPC final victory after being beaten in 1992, 1993 and 1995. Regarded as one of the finest NPC sides in history with a lethal combination of flair and grit.
While never wanted by the All Blacks, John Leslie was electric all season for Otago, and bowed out a champion before taking his talents to Scotland where he was selected for the test side.
Laney ended the season as the top try scorer with 15, which included two hat-tricks and an invaluable double in the decider.
Tony Brown ended the season top of the charts with 205 points, and made his All Blacks debut the following year as did his halves partner Byron Kelleher, while coach Tony Gilbert was also promoted to assist Wayne Smith for New Zealand from 2000-2001.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
