October 7, 2020

New Zealand Rugby League wishes to congratulate the following selected in the 2020 New Zealand Resident 16s squad who will face the New Zealand Māori Rugby League 17s on the 24^th October at Rotorua International Stadium.

The fixture will be live-streamed on NZMRL and NZRL Facebook pages and will bring a close to Day One of the annual New Zealand Māori Rugby League (NZMRL) Tuakana Tournament.

17 players will be named from the below 19 to take the field on the day, congratulations to the following:

NAME	CLUB	DISTRICT | ZONE
Alesana MAILEI	Linwood	Canterbury/Southern
Ben PENI	Papatoetoe	Counties Manukau
Benaiah IOELU	Mt. Albert	Akarana
Cassius TIA	Marist	Akarana
Demitric SIFAKULA	Otahuhu	Counties Manukau
Dickie TEREPO	Otara	Auckland
Felix FA’ATILI	Hornby	Canterbury/Southern
Francis MANULELEUA	Otahuhu	Counties Manukau
Henry TEUTAU	Marist	Akarana
Jacob LABAN	Randwick	Wellington
Jayden HARRIS	Glenora	Akarana
Jeremiah MATAUTIA	Otara	Counties Manukau
Matthew LOGOPATI	Linwood	Canterbury/Southern
Nathaniel TANGIMATAITI	Mt Albert	Akarana
Salesi FOKETI	Manurewa	Counties Manukau
Tamakaimoana WHAREAORERE	Te Puke	Coastline/Upper Central
Te Hurinui Apanui TWIDLE	Turangawaewae	Waikato/Upper Central
Tre FOTU	Marist	Akarana
Xavi TAELE	Otumoetai	Coastline/Upper Central

Head Coach – Phil Gordon (Akarana) 

Asst Coach – Peter Butler (Mid Central) 

Asst Coach – Alex Parker (Upper Central) 

Manager – Clarissa Percival (Mid Central) 

Head Trainer – Ben Collins (Akarana) 

Asst Trainer – Clayton Amer (Wellington Rugby League)

NZMRL will select an U17s team from their Rangatahi Tournament just been which celebrated its 20^th year over the weekend.

The highly successful NZMRL Rangatahi Tournament has provided a pathway for many young Kiwi players over recent years; 2020 NRL debutants Jordan Riki, Jackson Ferris and Matt Timoko have all previously played in the NZMRL Rangatahi Tournament.

In 2017, now Brisbane Bronco, Jordan Riki, captained the NZMRL U17s against NZ Resident 16s in a close game, where the NZ Resident 16s came away with the win 32 – 28.

John Devonshire, NZMRL Chairman says, “The 2020 season has been a huge challenge for all sectors across our code. To be able to stage a representative game for our elite players is awesome.

“We the NZMRL are happy to accommodate the NZRL in what we see as an exciting match up. We are very proud of our NZ Māori 17’s Rangatahi team and wish them well. It is one thing to play for your country, it is another to play for your people, kia kaha te tima Māori.”