Ross Karl can breathe easy - he is officially the inaugural Newshub Super Rugby Tipping Competition winner.
With a 20 point lead, and our punters all thinking along the same lines this week, the Newshub rugby editor cannot be caught with two weeks to play.
It's a historic moment for Karl, easily his greatest achievement in a decorated, near two-decade career, as a sports journalist.
"It's certainly a much bigger moment for me than the time I tore my pants interviewing Piri Weepu," Karl told Newshub on Friday.
Fellow punter Ollie Ritchie weighed in: "Given I was deep inside his head midway through the comp, it was an impressive run from Ross."
Current second place tipster Kristina Eddy added: "None of us gave him a chance at the start of the season, given his tactical approach, but I guess boring does pay off sometimes."
Despite Karl's impending victory, the battle is still heating up for the wooden spoon.
Two points separate Ritchie and Andrew Gourdie at the bottom of the table, with Gourdie desperate to remove himself from any sense of mediocrity.
"There has been clear tension between myself and Andrew this week," Ritchie told Newshub.
"I've been trying to psyche him out a bit, but he's been stone cold quiet.
"Clearly the pressure has me living rent-free in his head."
Newshub has attempted to contact Gourdie for a response.
Meanwhile, Eddy and John Day are locked in an intense battle for the silver medal.
The two Crusaders fans experienced early season struggles, but a mid-season surge had them in contention for the top prize.
Bragging rights are very much on the line this week, although Eddy is dealing with the extra pressure and expectations of her adoring and proud father.
"He questions my picks every weekend," she told Newshub.
In a unique occurrence, all five of our punters have tipped the same four winners this weekend, although there is a slight discrepancy in score margins.
The rules are simple:
Pick the winner and margin of any Super Rugby game involving a New Zealand franchise, with points awarded in the following manner:
Pick the winner and margin (13-plus or 12-under) = three points.
Pick the winner only = one point.
Pick all results correctly including margin: five bonus points.
Super Rugby Quarter-finals
Crusaders v Highlanders, Jaguares v Chiefs, Hurricanes v Bulls, Brumbies v Sharks.
*Margin is based on the classic 12-under or 13-plus format.
Newshub.
