10 Feb 2026Northern Districts have become the first team to qualify for the 2025/26 Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Final, securing their place with two rounds remaining in the regular season.
Jess Watkin’s side confirmed their Finals berth with a pair of wins over the Canterbury Magicians at Hagley Oval over the weekend, booking a place in the Final to be played on 21 February at the Cello Basin Reserve. The remaining finalist will be decided during the final two rounds of the competition.
It will mark just the second time Northern Districts have appeared in a national one-day final. Their previous qualification came in the 2019/20 season, when they topped the table before falling to the Auckland Hearts in a high-scoring final at Seddon Park.
That match proved a formative moment for the programme, but silverware has remained elusive.
In the seasons since, Northern have endured a challenging period, finishing last, second-to-last and last again across the past three campaigns, while narrowly missing Finals qualification in 2022 when they placed third.
This season, however, has represented a clear shift. Northern sit atop the ladder with seven wins from eight matches, including four bonus-point victories, the most of any team, and a strong net run rate. Contributions have come from across the squad, reflecting a sustained and collective effort throughout the campaign.
The qualification also follows Northern’s appearance in the Super Smash Elimination Final earlier this summer, underlining progress across formats and reinforcing the depth developing within the programme.
With two rounds still to play, ladder positions may yet shift, but Northern have already ensured themselves another opportunity to contest the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, and a chance to secure the squad's first one-day title.
