Gwen’s top of the table

Rugby mastermind of Max George Joiners, Gwen Win, is the 2025 champion of the Marlborough Weekly’s Super Rugby tipping competition.

Gwen has taken out the competition by picking the prevailed by one point over Taylor and Co’s Brad Taylor – the winner of the 2022 NPC competition – by correctly choosing the Crusaders victory over the Chiefs in Christchurch.

Gwen and Brad were battling at the top of the table from the start of the competition and held their nerve through all 19 weeks of tipping.

“I’m really pleased to have won and beaten Phil [who also works at Max George Joiners], but I’m also pleased the table ended with plenty of women up the top too,” says Gwen.

“I quite like doing this tipping because it needs to be in so quickly, so you have to pick with your gut instead of hearing analysis or injuries.

“My husband and I are quite keen fans of rugby and watch many of the games on the TV, while one grandson plays in his first year at the College and the other is playing First XV for Whangarei Boys’ High School.”

An especially pivotal week five choice saw Gwen pick the Brumbies over the Blues, against all but one competitor which kept her nose in front of most fellow tippers for much of the year.

She also was one of the closest to picking the final’s correct score, predicting a Crusaders 19-15 win.

The new tipping trophy, provided generously by Max George Joiners, will not have to go far to sit on Gwen’s desk until the NPC competition is completed later this year.

2024 Super Rugby tipping champion William Woodworth was unavailable for comment out of disappointment.

Contact [email protected] or 2025 Super Rugby wooden spoon winner [email protected] for interest in the Marlborough Weekly NPC tipping competition with Round One starting on July 31 - limited spaces available.