Hooker burgles old Chiefs mates

After being rejected by the Blues, Auckland hooker Keven Mealamu picked up a Super 12 contract with the Chiefs this season - and some inside knowledge about their lineout calls.

He found out how useful that could be on Saturday, as he helped Auckland burgle two vital Waikato lineouts for two of their six tries in their 40-28 NPC rugby final win over Waikato in Hamilton.

"I tried my very hardest at the Chiefs, but I'm blue and white at heart," Mealamu said after the win.

He admitted he "might have known" what the familiar-sounding lineout calls meant, while his opposite, Greg Smith, said Waikato had failed to realise the cost of using the Chiefs' calls.

Waikato lost not only the game on Saturday night, but also their inspirational leader, Deon Muir, who is taking up a lucrative contract with Sanix in Japan.

Muir said he had been getting mixed messages about his chances of making John Mitchell's All Black team, to be named today, but eventually decided - with the help of some fatherly advice - to go to Japan.

Muir, who reached his century of games in Waikato's NPC semifinal win over Otago, reckoned it could not get any better so he would go to Japan.

Auckland coach Wayne Pivac paid tribute to his young squad after the win, but also had special words for veteran prop Kees Meeuws, hopeful of an All Blacks call-up today.

"When we signed Kees some time ago it was the most positive thing we've done in Auckland rugby," said Pivac. "He's an Auckland boy who has come home and in my view he is pretty close to the best in the country in his position."

It was not only heartache for Waikato at the weekend.

For the second year running, Hawkes Bay failed to beat Bay of Plenty, losing 37-21 in the first division promotion-relegation match.

But there was triumph in Oamaru as North Otago beat Horowhenua-Kapiti to become third division champions and win promotion to the second division for the first time.

North Otago captain Barry Fox said the victory "was worth waiting for, definitely".