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The Counties Manukau Steelers produced a performance for the ages as they celebrated the Union’s 70th anniversary in appropriate fashion with a record 49-28 win over Auckland at Navigation Homes Stadium.
On a day where former players and fans turned up to reminisce about 70 years of memorable moments, Reon Graham’s 2025 Steelers thrust a modern day performance to the forefront of minds with a truly special showing.
Inspired by a huge local crowd, the Steelers played an enterprising style of rugby that they have been famous for over the years, and it did not disappoint as they raced out to bank a four-try bonus point inside the first half hour.
Auckland didn’t go away – they had a slight advantage in possession and territory in the opening 40 minutes, and they threw plenty at the home side in the second half, but it was always Counties Manukau’s day.
The win is their second biggest winning margin against Auckland – only a 41-18 win in 2014 was bigger – while the 49 points scored was the most ever by a Counties Manukau side against Auckland.
“To say I’m proud of that performance would be an understatement,” said a delighted Graham after the game.
“We had a good week preparing for a tough game. We were wanting to make all our past players proud of a good performance on our 70th anniversary celebrations and to do it in style was very pleasing.
“Our defence in the last couple of weeks has laid a good platform to attack and we are keen to keep that rolling.”
The Steelers will get a chance to move into the top eight when they face Manawatu back at Navigation Homes Stadium next Sunday in their final home game of the campaign.
They improve to 10th place with the win and sit a couple of points outside of the playoff spots with two games remaining.
