The McNamara Cup coaches are tipping Pukekohe as the pre-season favourites to win the famous trophy this season while everyone is keeping a close watch on Papakura.
Counties Sports Hub spoke to all seven McNamara Cup coaches to gauge their early season predictions as the season gets underway next week.
Four of the seven coaches nominated Pukekohe as the most likely team to win the competition in 2024.
Michael Porter’s side were the front runners throughout the 2023 round robin before bowing out to eventual champions Manurewa in the semi-finals and their rivals are expecting them to go one better in 2024.
Two-time defending champs Manurewa got one vote to complete a rare threepeat while Karaka were also tipped as champions.
Papakura, meanwhile, shape as the clear dark horse of the competition with all bar one coach tipping them to be the potential surprise packets of 2024.
The Jarrod Firth/Mark Thomas coached outfit showed plenty of promise in 2023 but were never really in the playoff picture. Their rivals believe that could very well change this year as they continue to add talent and depth to an already promising squad.
Karaka hosts Manurewa in a replay of last year’s final when the competition gets underway on April 6.
Ardmore Marist travels to Pukekohe while Patumahoe hosts Papakura.
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