After a false start, retirement is now a reality for Shaun Johnson.

He turned on a clinic to wind up his illustrious Test career in the Kiwis’ trouncing of Papua New Guinea in Sydney earlier this month.

The 54-12 win over the Kumuls had his fingerprints all over it as he was credited with no fewer than five try assists while he was prominent in others as well.

His 35^th and final Test saw him extend his New Zealand record Test points tally to 225 with his last scoring act – a conversion.

Johnson finished with 14 tries, 84 goals and a field goal in a career highlighted by victory in the 2014 Four Nations competition and a run of three consecutive wins over the Kangaroos in 2014-2015.

The golden Boot winner in 2014, Johnson’s Kiwi career began with three straight losses to Australia before he went on to be part of 18 Test wins.

 

 

 

SHAUN JOHNSON | TESTS FOR KIWIS

 

1 April 20, 2012             v Australia        Eden Park, Auckland                              LOST     12-20

1 try

2 October 13, 2012       v Australia        Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville         LOST     10-18

0 points

3 April 19, 2013             v Australia        GIO Stadium, Canberra                          LOST     12-32

2 goals

4 October 27, 2013       v Samoa           Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington      WON    42-24

5 goals

5 November 1, 2013      v France            Parc des Sports, Avignon                       WON    48-0

2 tries, 8 goals

6 November 8, 2013      v PNG               Headingley, Leeds                                 WON    56-10

8 goals

7 November 15, 2013    v Scotland         Headingley, Leeds                                 WON    40-4

1 try, 4 goals

8 November 23, 2013    v England          Wembley, London                                 WON    20-18

1 try, 4 goals

9 November 30, 2013    v Australia        Old Trafford, Manchester                       LOST     2-34

1 goal

10 May 2, 2014             v Australia        Allianz Stadium, Sydney                         LOST     18-30

3 goals

11 October 25, 2014     v Australia        Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane                    WON    30-12

 

1 try, 5 goals

12 November 1, 2014    v Samoa           Toll Stadium, Whangarei                        WON    14-12

1 goal

13 November 8, 2014    v England          Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin              WON    16-14

2 goals

14 November 15, 2014  v Australia        Westpac Stadium, Wellington                WON    22-14

1 try, 3 goals

15 May 3, 2015             v Australia        Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane                    WON    26-12

1 try, 5 goals

16 May 6, 2016             v Australia        McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle     LOST     0-16

0 points

17 October 29, 2016     v England          John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield        WON    17-16

1 try, 1 field goal

18 November 5, 2016    v Australia        Ricoh Arena, Coventry                           LOST     8-14

0 points

19 November 11, 2016  v Scotland         Derwent Park, Workington                     DREW   18-18

0 points

20 November 20, 2016  v Australia        Anfield, Liverpool                                  LOST     8-34

0 points

21 May 5, 2017             v Australia        GIO Stadium, Canberra                          LOST     12-30

0 points

22 October 28, 2017     v Samoa           Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland            WON    38-8

1 try, 5 goals

23 November 4, 2017    v Scotland         AMI Stadium, Christchurch                    WON    74-6

1 try, 9 goals

24 November 11, 2017  v Tonga             FMG Waikato Stadium, Hamilton           LOST     22-28

3 goals

25 November 18, 2017  v Fiji                 Westpac Stadium, Wellington                LOST     2-4

1 goal

26 October 13, 2018     v Australia        Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland            WON    26-24

3 goals

27 October 27, 2018     v England          KCOM Stadium, Hull                              LOST     16-18

4 goals

28 November 4, 2018    v England          Anfield, Liverpool                                  LOST     14-20

3 goals

29 November 11, 2018  v England          Elland Road, Leeds                                WON    34-0

4 goals

30 June 22, 2019           v Tonga             Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland            WON    34-14

2 tries

31 October 25, 2019     v Australia        WIN Stadium, Wollongong                     LOST     4-26

0 points

32 November 9, 2019    v Great Britain   Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch      WON    23-8

1 try

33 October 27, 2024     v Australia        Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch    LOST     10-22

0 points

34 November 2, 2024    v Tonga             Go Media Stadium, Auckland                 LOST     24-25

0 points

35 November 10, 2024  v PNG               CommBank Stadium, Sydney                 WON    54-12

1 goal

Tests: 35

Wins: 18

Draws: 1

Losses: 16

Tries: 14

Goals: 84

Field goals: 1

Total: 225 points

 

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Interchange forward Erin Clark has been confirmed as the second player to make his Test debut for the New Zealand Kiwis in today’s Pacific Championships clash against Papua New Guinea at CommBank Stadium in Sydney (6.20pm kick-off local time; 8.20pm NZT).

The 27-year-old comes onto the bench for back rower Marata Niukore to earn his first Test for New Zealand before returning home to rejoin the One New Zealand Warriors after spending the last five seasons with the Gold Coast Titans.

His inclusion follows yesterday’s announcement that 18-year-old Penrith centre Casey McLean would play his maiden Test as a replacement for the injured William Warbrick. McLean and Clark become the sixth and seventh players to debut for the Kiwis during the Pacific Championships after Warbrick, fullback Keano Kini, hooker Phoenix Crossland, prop Naufahu Whyte and second rower Jordan Riki started their Kiwi Test careers against Australia in Christchurch two weeks ago.

Manurewa Marlins junior Clark burst onto the rugby league scene with the Warriors in the now defunct NYC under-20 competition in 2015 before making his NRL debut – and sole appearance – for the Warriors in 2017. The previous season he represented Samoa in two Tests.

After a two-year absence from top-level football in 2018 and 2019 Clark revived his career with Gold Coast in 2020 and went on to amass 94 appearances for the club including all 24 matches this season. He averaged 99 metres and 22 tackles a game.

Penrith rookie Casey McLean is to make his Test debut in the New Zealand Kiwis’ Pacific Championships clash against Papua New Guinea at CommBank Stadium in Sydney tomorrow (6.20pm kick-off local time; 8.20pm NZT).

The 18-year-old has been brought in to replace winger William Warbrick who has been ruled out with a thigh injury he picked up in last Saturday’s 24-25 loss to Tonga at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

McLean will become the third youngest Test debutant in New Zealand rugby league history at the age of 18 years 200 days.

That leaves him behind only Dennis Williams and Thomas Leuluai.

Williams started at standoff against Great Britain in his first Test the day after his 18^th birthday on September 25, 1971, marking it with a dazzling try in the Kiwis’ shock 18-13 win at the Willows in Salford.

Halfback Leuluai had played just 12 NRL games for the One New Zealand Warriors when he started his Test career from the bench at the age of 18 years 118 days in a stunning 30-16 win over the Kangaroos on October 18, 2003.

Sydney-born McLean is even less experienced than Leuluai was with only seven NRL appearances behind him after debuting for the Panthers against North Queensland on June 30 this year.

He was also on the wing that day but his other six matches have all been in his usual position in the centres. He scored three tries and averaged 121 metres a game with two try assists, four line breaks and 17 tackles breaks.

McLean’s New Zealand-born father Wiilie McLean, a Marist Saints junior in Auckland, played for Waitakere City in the now defunct Lion Red Cup and the New Zealand Residents before making first-grade NRL appearances for the North Sydney Bears from 1997-1999. He was selected in the Rest of the World team which played Australia in 1997.

Casey McLean’s 19-year-old brother Jesse made the first of his two appearances for Penrith last year.
Of Māori heritage, the McLean brothers are nephews of former Kiwi Alex Chan and first cousins of Melbourne Storm forward – and 2023 Kiwis A representative – Joe Chan and France international Tiaki Chan.

Rookie Kiwi international Keano Kini is among the list of contenders for the coveted Golden Boot award.

The 20-year-old Aucklander has been a standout since making his Test debut against the Kangaroos in the Kiwis’ opening match of the Pacific Championships in Christchurch last month.

He marked his arrival on the world stage with a game-high 254 metres from 26 runs including five tackle breaks in New Zealand’s 10-22 loss to Australia.

Kini repeated the dose in the agonising 24-25 defeat by Tonga last Saturday when he again led all players with 240 from 25 carries with a line break, a line break assist, seven tackles – the equal best of the game – and his first Test try.

His performances came off the back of a season in which he was named the Gold Coast Titans’ player of the year.

Kini is the only current New Zealand international named in the list of 17 contenders.

Also included are former Kiwis Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Addin Fonua-Blake.

Samoa fullback Tuivasa-Sheck and Tonga captain Fonua-Blake have been outstanding for their teams on opposite sides of the globe over the last three weeks.

Building on his NRL form, departing prop Fonua-Blake has helped Tonga into the Pacific Championships final against Australia at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday while Tuivasa-Sheck was impressive in a beaten Samoa team in its two-Test series against England.

After making 134 metres from 17 runs and 19 tackles without a miss in Tonga’s 0-18 first-up loss to the Kangaroos, Fonua-Blake was exceptional in last Saturday’s 25-24 win over the Kiwis.

Rampant with the ball in hand, he scored a stunning first half try as he made 224 metres from 19 runs with seven tackles breaks backing it up with 20 tackles.

In Samoa’s 18-34 first Test loss to England, Tuivasa-Sheck made 205 metres from 22 runs with two tackle breaks and three off loads. In the 16-34 second Test defeat he finished with 193 metres from 26 carries with a line break, a line break assist, a try assist, five tackle breaks and five off loads.

Tuivasa-Sheck won the Golden Boot in 2019 while playing for the Kiwis.

A third ex-Kiwi included is Esan Marsters who was used at halfback and fullback by the Cook Islands Aitu in their matches against Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

Players have been nominated from all six nations involved in the Pacific Championships – Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands – as well as England and Samoa, who last weekend completed their two Test series.

Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), James Graham (England) and Petero Civoniceva (Australia/Fiji), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals, will choose the men’s IRL Golden Boot winner. There isn’t a former Kiwi on the panel.

Short lists for the men’s, women’s 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced after the Pacific Championships quadruple header in Sydney on Sunday, November 10.

Nominations for the wheelchair 2024 IRL Golden Boot will be announced after the second international between France and England on Saturday, November 23.

The winners of the 2024 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.

2024 Golden Boot | Men’s nominees

Herbie Farnworth (England)

Addin Fonua-Blake (Tonga)

Harry Grant (Australia)

Lachlan Lam (Papua New Guinea)

Zac Lomax (Australia)

Jarome Luai (Samoa)

Keano Kini (New Zealand)

Nene Macdonald (Papua New Guinea)

Esan Marsters (Cook Islands)

Taane Milne (Fiji)

Haumole Olakau’atu (Tonga)

Harry Smith (England)

Jason Taumalolo (Tonga)

Tom Trbojevic (Australia)

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Samoa)

George Williams (England)

Isaah Yeo (Australia)

An unchanged lineup has been named for the New Zealand Kiwis’ Pacific Championships encounter with Papua New Guinea at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Sunday (6.20pm kick-off local time; 8.20pm NZT).

Following their 24-25 loss to Tonga in their Pacific Cup contest in Auckland, the Kiwis finished third on the table to set up a promotion-relegation clash against the Kumuls, the winners of the Pacific Bowl competition.

Tonga takes on the Kangaroos in the Pacific Cup final at 4.05pm local time which is preceded by the women’s Pacific Cup final between the titleholders the Kiwi Ferns and the Australian Jillaroos (1.50pm local time). The day’s programme begins with a women’s promotion-relegation encounter between the Papua New Guinea Orchids and Fetu Samoa.

While the New Zealanders lost to the Kangaroos and Tonga, the Kumuls beat Fiji Bati 22-10 in Suva and the Cook Islands Aitu 42-20 in Port Moresby on Sunday.

The Kiwis are coming off a devastating loss to Tonga which saw them climb back from a 0-24 halftime deficit to level the match up at 24-24 with 14 minutes to play only to lose by one one point in a controversial end to a dramatic match.

After conceding 24 points in the opening 32 minutes, the Kiwis responded with 24 points in 31 minutes starting with an Isaiah Papali’i try five minutes before the halftime break before Keano Kini (49^th minute), Phoenix Crossland (58^th minutes) and Joseph Tapine (66^th minute) followed suit.

Head coach Stacey Jones has today listed the same side which staged the valiant second half comeback.

Captain James Fisher-Harris and second rower Isaiah Papali’i will be making their 12^th consecutive Test appearances for the Kiwis, having featured in every international in the last three years.

The Kiwis will meet Papua New Guinea for the first time in 11 years since a 56-10 win in Leeds en route to the 2013 Rugby League World Cup final at Old Trafford.

It will be the 19^th international between the two countries since the first in 1978 with New Zealand winning 18. Their sole loss was in Port Moresby in 1986.

 

NEW ZEALAND v PAPUA NEW GUINEA

 

CommBank Stadium

Auckland

6.20pm, Sunday, November 10, 2024

 

No	NAME	HERITAGE #
1	KEANO KINI	836
2	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	808
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	832
4	PETA HIKU	781
5	WILLIAM WARBRICK	837
6	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	820
7	SHAUN JOHNSON	774
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c)	801
9	PHOENIX CROSSLAND	838
10	JOSEPH TAPINE	800
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	817
12	SCOTT SORENSEN	831
13	NAUFAHU WHYTE	839
14	KODI NIKORIMA	793
15	GRIFFIN NEAME	834
16	MARATA NIUKORE	825
17	LEO THOMPSON	833
18	ERIN CLARK	Debutant
19	JORDAN RIKI	840
20	CASEY McLEAN	Debutant
21	TRENT TOELAU	Debutant

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Newcastle front rower Leo Thompson returns to the international stage in the only change to the New Zealand Kiwis’ side for Saturday’s must-win Pacific Championships encounter with Tonga at Go Media Stadium (8.05pm kick-off).

The 24-year-old Gisborne-born Thompson, outstanding off the bench in all three Tests in last year’s title-winning campaign, is named on the interchange.

He was forced to watch on from the sideline on Sunday as he served a one-match ban for a careless high tackle charge in the Knights’ final game of the NRL season.

Thompson comes into the lineup for Brisbane Broncos second rower Jordan Riki, who became Kiwi #840 when he debuted in the Kiwis’ 10-22 loss to the Kangaroos in his Christchurch home town.

The starting pack shows a positional swap with Sydney Roosters prop Naufahu Whyte this week listed to run on at loose forward and Canberra’s Joseph Tapine named in the front row after being selected in jersey #13 against Australia.

The imposing Auckland-born Whyte was impressive on his Test debut last week. After being included on the bench, he was switched to start at prop where he had a 32-minute opening shift and another 10 minutes late in the match, finishing with 147 metres from 15 runs, 65 post-contact metres – the best of any forward on the field – five tackle breaks, three off loads and 29 tackles with no misses and no ineffective tackles.

Tapine played 52 minutes in total making 148 metres from 16 runs and 36 tackles while captain James Fisher-Harris was used for 67 minutes finishing with 121 metres from 16 runs and a perfect defensive effort (38 tackles, no misses).

Debutant hooker Phoenix Crossland and second rower Scott Sorensen had heavy defensive workloads with 48 tackles and 45 tackles while interchange prop Griffin Neame and second rower Isaiah Papali’i both made 31 tackles.

Of the backs fullback Keano Kini excelled in his first Test with a game-high 254 metres from 26 runs while winger Will Warbrick (182), centre Matt Timoko (173), winger Jamayne Isaako (121) and halfback Shaun Johnson (107) all topped 100 metres.

While the Kangaroos came into the match with a game behind them, the Kiwis had no such benefit but were still ahead in most key measures with a better completion rate (86%-79%), more metres (1814-1707), post-contact metres 597-463), tackle breaks (36-32) and more average metres per set plus fewer missed tackles and errors.

Now they must beat Tonga to reach the Pacific Championships final in Sydney after the Tongans went down 0-18 to Australia in the first round. In seven previous clashes, the Kiwis have beaten Tonga six times and lost once taking out the last two at Go Media Stadium (34-14 in 2019 and 26-6 in 2022).

 

NEW ZEALAND v TONGA

 

Go Media Stadium

Auckland

8.05pm, Saturday, November 2, 2024

 

No	NAME	HERITAGE #
1	KEANO KINI	836
2	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	808
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	832
4	PETA HIKU	781
5	WILLIAM WARBRICK	837
6	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	820
7	SHAUN JOHNSON	774
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c)	801
9	PHOENIX CROSSLAND	838
10	JOSEPH TAPINE	800
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	817
12	SCOTT SORENSEN	831
13	NAUFAHU WHYTE	839
14	KODI NIKORIMA	793
15	GRIFFIN NEAME	834
16	MARATA NIUKORE	825
17	LEO THOMPSON	833
18	ERIN CLARK	Debutant
19	JORDAN RIKI	840
20	CASEY McLEAN	Debutant
21	TRENT TOELAU	Debutant

ONE CHANGE FOR KIWIS’ CLASH AGAINST TONGA

The Kiwis fought hard but fell short 22-10 against the Kangaroos in a spirited battle at Christchurch’s Apollo Projects Stadium on Sunday. Despite the loss, the home crowd was treated to some thrilling moments, including a brilliant debut from fullback Keano Kini and a relentless display from Shaun Johnson, who looked sharp in his return to the Test arena. The Kiwis will look to regroup ahead of next week’s crucial clash against Tonga, with hopes of earning a rematch against the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships final on November 10.

After an early try from Angus Crichton was disallowed, the Kiwis had a golden opportunity to strike first, following a kick out on the full by Kangaroos halfback Mitch Moses. But a mistimed set saw the chance slip away.

It was Australia who opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Lindsay Collins crashed over despite brave efforts from Keano Kini and Phoenix Crossland to halt him. But the Kiwis responded with flair and precision 10 minutes later, thanks to some brilliant ball movement. Johnson found Isaiah Papali’i, whose offload allowed Kini to send Peta Hiku down the sideline. Hiku then flicked a perfect pass to Jamayne Isaako, who dived over in the corner. Isaako’s sideline conversion tied it up 6-6, lifting the crowd’s spirits.

Just before halftime, the Kangaroos struck again through Tom Trbojevic, who burst into space and linked with Zac Lomax. Despite Kini’s best efforts, Lomax muscled his way over, giving Australia a 12-6 lead at the break.

The Kiwis started the second half with intent, pinning Australia deep with Johnson’s precise short kicks. But the Kangaroos held firm, denying Isaako thanks to desperate defense from Xavier Coates and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

Momentum swung in Australia’s favor with 20 minutes to play when Harry Grant’s flick pass put Lomax over in the corner for his second try, stretching the lead to 16-6. However, the Kiwis refused to go quietly, responding through Test debutant Will Warbrick, who leapt high to collect a cross-field kick from Johnson and twisted past Lomax to score. Isaako’s conversion attempt drifted wide, leaving the score at 16-10 with 13 minutes to play.

The Kangaroos sealed the win when Moses broke through and backed up Dylan Edwards to score under the posts, with Lomax’s conversion bringing the final score to 22-10. Despite the result, the Kiwis’ grit and flair kept the match competitive and gave fans hope for what’s to come.

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Match: Kiwis vs Kangaroos
Date: Sunday, October 27
Venue: Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch

Score:

• Kiwis: 10
• Kangaroos: 22

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Match Highlights:

• Keano Kini dazzled on debut, running for 220 metres with five tackle breaks in an inspiring performance.
• Shaun Johnson returned to the Test side with a masterclass in kicking, racking up 683 metres from 24 kicks.
• The Kiwis completed 94% of their first-half sets, finishing with an impressive 86% completion rate overall.
• Will Warbrick marked his first Test with a try, leaping high to outplay Zac Lomax for the score.
• James Fisher-Harris was a workhorse in the middle, playing the first 48 minutes straight with 12 runs and 25 tackles.
• The Kiwi forward pack, led by Fisher-Harris, gave the Kangaroos a fierce challenge, with several bone-crunching hits and determined runs.
• Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was placed on report late in the match, adding to the Kiwis’ frustration on a challenging day.

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Although the Kiwis came up short, their resilience and moments of brilliance will give fans hope heading into next week’s showdown with Tonga. With a chance to earn a rematch against the Kangaroos in the final, the team knows the job is far from over. Kiwis supporters will rally behind them, confident that the best is yet to come.

2024 Pacific Championships | Meet the Kiwis

 

ERIN CLARK

(Gold Coast Titans)

Born: September 6, 1997

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Junior clubs: Manurewa Marlins, Point Chevalier Pirates (Auckland)

Position: Utility

Height: 180cm

Weight: 98kg

Clubs: One New Zealand Warriors (2017), Gold Coast Titans (2020-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 95 (2017 & 2020-2024)

NRL points: 20 (5 tries)

 

PHOENIX CROSSLAND     

(Newcastle Knights)

Born: July 7, 2000

Birthplace: Wellington, NZ

Position: Hooker/halfback

Height: 183cm

Weight: 86kg

Junior club: Erina Eagles (NSW)

Club: Newcastle Knights (2019-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 84 (2019-2024)

NRL points: 42 (10 tries, 1 goal)

 

JAMES FISHER-HARRIS

(Penrith Panthers)

Born: January 5, 1996

Birthplace: Rawene, NZ

Position: Prop

Height: 187cm

Weight: 103kg

Junior club: Marist Brothers (Whangarei)

Club: Penrith Panthers (2016-2024)

Kiwi number: 801

Kiwi Test debut: v Scotland, Workington, 2016

Tests: 15 for Kiwis (2016-2023)

Test points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL games: 203 (2016-2024)

NRL points: 64 (16 tries)

 

PETA HIKU

(Hull Kingston Rovers)

Born: December 4, 1992

Birthplace: Gisborne, NZ

Position: Centre

Height: 181cm

Weight: 94kg

Junior club: Manurewa Marlins (Auckland)

Clubs: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (2013-2015), Penrith Panthers (2016-2017), Warrington Wolves (2017), One New Zealand Warriors (2018-2021), North Queensland Cowboys (2022-2023), Hull Kingston Rovers (2024)

Kiwi number: 781

Kiwi Test debut: v Australia, Sydney, 2014

Tests: 17 for Kiwis (2014-2022)

Test points: 28 (7 tries)

NRL games: 201 (2013-2023)

NRL points: 246 (60 tries, 3 goals)

Super League games: 38 games (2017 & 2024)

Super League points: 140 (35 tries)

 

JAMAYNE ISAAKO

(Dolphins)

Born: June 6, 1996

Birthplace: Christchurch, NZ

Position: Wing

Height: 180cm

Weight: 95kg

Junior club: Aranui Eagles (Christchurch)

Clubs: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (2014-2015), Brisbane Broncos (2016-2002), Gold Coast Titans (2022), Dolphins (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: 808

Kiwi Test debut: v England, Denver, 2018

Tests: 9 for Kiwis (2018-2019 & 2023), 1 for Toa Samoa (2019)

Test points: 89 (7 tries, 30 goals, 1 field goal)

NRL games: 136 (2017-2024)

NRL points: 1039 (63 tries, 391 goals, 5 field goals)

 

SHAUN JOHNSON

(One New Zealand Warriors)

Born: September 9, 1990

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Halfback

Height: 179cm

Weight: 91kg

Junior clubs: Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Northcote Tigers (Auckland)

Clubs: One New Zealand Warriors (2011-2018), Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (2019-2021), One New Zealand Warriors (2022-2024)

Kiwi number: 774

Kiwi Test debut: v Australia, Auckland, 2012

Tests: 32 for Kiwis (2012-2019)

Test points: 223 (14 tries, 83 goals, 1 field goal)

NRL games: 268 (2011-2024)

NRL points: 1476 (85 tries, 559 goals, 18 field goals)

 

KEANO KINI

(Gold Coast Titans)

Born: April 14. 2004

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Fullback

Height: 177cm

Weight: 83kg

Junior club: Northcote Tigers (Auckland)

Club: Gold Coast Titans (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 22 (2023-2024)

NRL points: 32 (6 tries, 4 goals)

 

CASEY McLEAN

(Penrith Panthers)

Born: April 24, 2006

Birthplace: Blacktown, NSW

Position: Centre

Height: 187cm

Weight: 95kg

Junior club: Blacktown City Bears (Sydney)

Club: Penrith Panthers (2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 7 (2023)

NRL points: 12 (3 tries)

 

GRIFFIN NEAME

(North Queensland Cowboys)

Born: March 1, 2001

Birthplace: Greymouth, NZ

Position: Prop

Height: 193cm

Weight: 106kg

Junior clubs: Suburbs (Greymouth), Halswell Hornets (Christchurch)

Club: North Queensland Cowboys 2021-2024)

Kiwi number: 834

Kiwi Test debut: v Toa Samoa, Auckland, 2023

Tests: 3 for Kiwis (2023)

Test points: 4 (1 try)

NRL games: 69 (2021-2024)

NRL points: 24 (6 tries)

 

CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD

(One New Zealand Warriors)

Born: August 2, 1995

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Fullback

Height: 182cm

Weight: 96kg

Junior clubs: City Newton Dragons (Auckland), Altona Roosters (Melbourne)

Club: One New Zealand Warriors (2017-2018), Canberra Raiders (2019-2022), One New Zealand Warriors (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: 820

Kiwi Test debut: v Australia, Wollongong, 2019

Tests: 10 for Kiwis (2019 & 2022-2023), 3 for Cook Islands (2015-2017)

Test points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL games: 113 (2017-2024)

NRL points: 172 (43 goals)

 

KODI NIKORIMA

(Dolphins)

Born: April 3, 1994

Birthplace: Palmerston North, NZ

Position: Halfback

Height: 174cm

Weight: 82kg

Junior clubs: Burnham Chevaliers, Hornby Panthers, Halswell Hornets, Linwood Keas (Christchurch); Aspley Devils (Brisbane)

Club: Brisbane Broncos (2015-2019), One New Zealand Warriors (2019-2022), South Sydney Rabbitohs (2022), Dolphins (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: 793

Kiwi Test debut: v England, Hull, 2015

Tests: 15 for Kiwis (2015-2019)

Test points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL games: 202 (2015-2024)

NRL points: 303 (40 tries, 71 goals, 1 field goal)

 

MARATA NIUKORE

(One New Zealand Warriors)

Born: July 29, 1996

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Second row

Height: 188cm

Weight: 106kg

Junior club: Mangere East Hawks (Auckland)

Clubs: Parramatta Eels (2018-2022), One New Zealand Warriors (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: 825

Kiwi Test debut: v Tonga, Auckland, 2022

Tests: 3 Tests for Kiwis (2022), 3 for Cook Islands (2017-2019)

Test points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL games: 132 (2018-2024)

NRL points: 56 (14 tries)

 

ISAIAH PAPALI’I

(Wests Tigers)

Born: September 20, 1998

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Second row

Height: 182cm

Weight: 111kg

Junior clubs: Te Atatu Roosters, Richmond Rovers (Auckland)

Clubs: One New Zealand Warriors (2017-2020), Parramatta Eels (2021-2022), Wests Tigers (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: 817

Kiwi Test debut: v England, Leeds, 2018

Tests: 10 for Kiwis (2018-2024), 1 for Toa Samoa (2018)

Test points: 10 (2 tries, 1 goal)

NRL games: 155 (2017-2024)

NRL points: 124 (31 tries)

 

JORDAN RIKI

(Brisbane Broncos)

Born: January 18, 2000

Birthplace: Adelaide, South Australia

Position: Second row

Height: 190cm

Weight: 105kg

Junior clubs: Riccarton Knights, Hornby Panthers (Christchurch)

Club: Brisbane Broncos (2020-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 89 (2020-2024)

NRL points: 72 (18 tries)

 

SCOTT SORENSEN

(Penrith Panthers)

Born: March 16, 1993

Birthplace: Sydney, Australia

Position: Second row

Height: 183cm

Weight: 100kg

Junior club: Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks (Sydney)

Clubs: Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (2014), Canberra Raiders (2017), Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (2018-2020), Penrith Panthers (2021-2024)

Kiwi number: 831

Kiwi Test debut: v Jamaica, Hull, 2022

Tests: 1 for Kiwis (2022)

Test points: 0

NRL games: 121 (2014-2024)

NRL points: 44 (11 tries)

 

JOSEPH TAPINE

(Canberra Raiders)

Born: May 4, 1994

Birthplace: Wellington, NZ

Position: Prop, loose forward

Height: 189cm

Weight: 106kg

Junior club: Harbour City Eagles (Wellington)

Clubs: Newcastle Knights (2014-2015), Canberra Raiders (2016-2024)

Kiwi number: 800

Kiwi Test debut: v Scotland, Workington, 2016

Tests: 19 for Kiwis (2016-2024)

Test points: 8 (2 tries)

NRL games: 213 (2014-2024)

NRL points: 100 (25 tries)

 

LEO THOMPSON

(Newcastle Knights)

Born: May 28, 2000

Birthplace: Gisborne, NZ

Position: Prop

Height: 186cm

Weight: 107kg

Junior club: Napier Marist rugby union (Hawke’s Bay)

Club: Newcastle Knights (2022-2024)

Kiwi number: 833

Kiwi Test debut: v Toa Samoa, Auckland

Tests: 3 for Kiwis (2023)

Test points: 0

NRL games: 64 (2022-2024)

NRL points: 8 (2 tries)

 

MATT TIMOKO

(Canberra Raiders)

Born: January 18, 2000

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Centre

Height: 183cm

Weight: 96kg

Junior club: Ellerslie Eagles (Auckland)

Club: Canberra Raiders (2020-2024)

Kiwi number: 832

Kiwi Test debut: v Toa Samoa, Auckland, 2023

Tests: 3 for Kiwis (2023)

Test points: 4 (1 try)

NRL games: 86 (2020-2024)

NRL points: 96 (24 tries)

 

TRENT TOELAU

(Penrith Panthers)

Born: November 12, 1999

Birthplace: Melbourne, Victoria

Position: Hooker

Height:180cm

Weight: 87KG

Junior club: Doveton Steelers (Melbourne)

Club: Penrith Panthers (2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 9 (2024)

NRL points: 4 (1 try)

 

WILLIAM WARBRICK

(Melbourne Storm)

Born: March 6, 1998

Birthplace: Whakatane, NZ

Position: Wing

Height: 193cm

Weight: 105kg

Junior club: Ngongotaha Chiefs (Bay of Plenty)

Club: Melbourne Storm (2023-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 49 (2023-2024)

NRL points: 128 (32 tries)

 

NAUFAHU WHYTE

(Sydney Roosters)

Born: April 4, 2002

Birthplace: Auckland, NZ

Position: Prop

Height: 192cm

Weight: 106kg

Junior club: Bay Roskill Vikings (Auckland)

Club: Sydney Roosters (2021-2024)

Kiwi number: Yet to make debut

Kiwi Test debut: Yet to make debut

Tests: 0

Test points: 0

NRL games: 34 (2021-2024)

NRL points: 4 (1 try)

Victories for the Kiwis over old foe Australia have traditionally been hard to come by but none have been sweeter than the 30-0 triumph in last year’s Pacific Championships final in Hamilton.

The win came three matches after the Kiwis’ 26-24 success in Auckland in 2018 and signalled what many believe to be a changing of the guard at the top of the international game.

Under new head coach Stacey Jones, the New Zealanders have a chance to show their Pacific Championships conquest was no flash in the pan when they host a Kangaroos outfit coming off a clunky 18-0 win over Tonga in the opening game of this year’s tournament.

With the mercurial Shaun Johnson coming out of retirement to answer an SOS from coach Stacey Jones, the jam-packed crowd at Apollo Projects Stadium will be at fever pitch and the Kangaroos will be hit with a tidal wave of parochial Kiwi support.

Up front the Kiwis have the hugely respected James Fisher-Harris leading the way and his influence during the week and on game day will be enormous. He has proven performers around him in the pack including Joey Tapine, Isaiah Papali’i and Penrith’s four-time premiership winner Scott Sorensen plus the seasoned Marata Niukore on the bench.

In the backline Johnson, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Super League-based Peta Hiku and winger Jamayne Isaako will have big roles to play alongside second-year Kiwi centre Matt Timoko and debutants Keano Kini and Will Warbrick.

 

Team News

Kiwis: The Kiwis are fielding five Test debutants in fullback Kini, winger Warbrick, hooker Phoenix Crossland and bench players Naufahu Whyte and Jordan Riki. With Jahrome Hughes, Kieran Foran and Te Maire Martin injured, favourite son Johnson comes out of retirement to play halfback alongside Nicoll-Klokstad, who shifts to No 6 in the absence of Dylan Brown (knee) and Joey Manu (rugby union). Centre Peta Hiku plays his first Test since the 2022 World Cup semi-final while Kodi Nikorima makes his first appearance since 2019. Knights prop Leo Thompson is serving a one-match ban for a careless high tackle in week one of the NRL finals and will be available for selection against Tonga. Erin Clark is 18th man.

Kangaroos: Coach Mal Meninga sticks with the same 17 that got the job done against Tonga. Matt Burton retains the No.14 jersey and will hope to get more game time than the nine minutes he played in Brisbane while Hudson Young (12 minutes) is also looking to play more of a role. Halves Mitch Moses and Tom Dearden will be better for the run after combining for the first time last week. Ben Hunt is again the 18th man.

Stat Attack

• The Kiwis have won their past three Tests against the Kangaroos on New Zealand soil dating back to the 2014 Four Nations final.
• Australia hasn’t beaten the Kiwis in New Zealand since 2012.
• The Kiwis have won their last nine Tests on home soil.
• The Kangaroos play their first Test in Christchurch since 1989.
• Kiwi winger Jamayne Isaako has scored 46 points in his past three Tests.

 

Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.

Christchurch, New Zealand, October 22, 2024 – Five players have been named to make their Test debuts in the New Zealand Kiwis’ sold-out Pacific Championships clash against the Kangaroos at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off).

The match is the second leg of a Trans-Tasman Labour Day Weekend doubleheader following the Kiwi Ferns’ encounter with the Australian Jillaroos (3.35pm kick-off).

In his debut as Kiwi head coach, Stacey Jones has handed maiden Tests to Gold Coast fullback Keano Kini, Melbourne winger William Warbrick, Newcastle hooker Phoenix Crossland, Brisbane second rower Jordan Riki and Sydney Roosters forward Naufahu Whyte.

While Crossland is in a New Zealand camp for the first time, Kini and Whyte were non-playing members of the Kiwis’ title-winning Pacific Championships squad last year, Riki was in New Zealand’s mid-year Test squad in 2022 and Warbrick played for the Kiwis A team against Tonga A last season.

The 26-year-old Warbrick becomes a triple international after impressing with 32 tries in 49 matches in his first two seasons in the NRL.

He was first a New Zealand representative in Australian Rules football before becoming a rugby union international with the All Blacks Sevens, winning a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

With Titans player of the year Kini starting at fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been selected at standoff, a role he filled when the One New Zealand Warriors stunned premier Penrith 22-20 during the NRL’s Magic Round in May.

Nicoll-Klokstad teams up in the halves with his 34-year-old clubmate Shaun Johnson who has made a return to the international arena for his 33^rd Test just weeks after he announced his retirement.

Hull Kingston Rovers centre Peta Hiku, who arrived back in New Zealand on Sunday, becomes the first Super League-based player to line up for the Kiwis since Thomas Leuluai was brought back home from Wigan for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

The starting pack features two of Penrith’s four-time premiership-winning forwards in captain and prop James Fisher-Harris and second rower Scott Sorensen.

Christchurch-raised Riki, named on the bench for his debut, is one of five players with South Island connections.

A Riccarton Knights and Hornby Panthers junior, he is joined by Christchurch-born and raised winger Jamayne Isaako (an Aranui Eagles junior) while Greymouth-born forward Griffin Neame played for the Halswell Hornets as a junior and Crossland’s family on his mother’s side are from the West Coast. Nikorima lived in Christchurch as a youngster playing for the Burnham Chevaliers, Hornby Panthers, Halswell Hornets and Linwood Keas.

Apart from Johnson, the Kiwis’ most experienced Test players are Joseph Tapine (19 Tests), Hiku (17 Tests) and Fisher-Harris and Nikorima (15 Tests each).

Seven players were in the New Zealand side which beat Australia 30-0 in last year’s Pacific Championships final – Isaako, centre Matt Timoko, Nicoll-Klokstad, Fisher-Harris, Tapine, Isaiah Papali’I and Griffin Neame while an eighth player in prop Leo Thompson was ruled out as he serves a one-match suspension picked up in his last outing of the NRL season.

After facing Australia, the Kiwis take on Tonga at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Saturday, November 2. Buy tickets HERE.

The Kangaroos arrive in Christchurch later tonight after opening their campaign with an 18-0 win over Tonga in Brisbane last Friday night.

The Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns, Kangaroos and Jillaroos will all assemble at Wainoni Park in Aranui for a pōwhiri at 3.30pm tomorrow followed by a fan day.

 

NEW ZEALAND v AUSTRALIA

 

Apollo Projects Stadium

Christchurch

6.05pm, Sunday, October 27, 2024

 

No	NAME	HERITAGE #
1	KEANO KINI	Debutant
2	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	808
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	832
4	PETA HIKU	781
5	WILLIAM WARBRICK	Debutant
6	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	820
7	SHAUN JOHNSON	774
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c)	801
9	PHOENIX CROSSLAND	Debutant
10	GRIFFIN NEAME	834
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	817
12	SCOTT SORENSEN	831
13	JOSEPH TAPINE	800
14	KODI NIKORIMA	793
15	NAUFAHU WHYTE	Debutant
16	MARATA NIUKORE	825
17	JORDAN RIKI	Debutant
18	ERIN CLARK	Debutant
19	TRENT TOELAU	Debutant
20	CASEY MCLEAN	Debutant

 

The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns trans-Tasman battles have sold out Apollo Projects Stadium in Ōtautahi Christchurch two weeks out from the Labour weekend matches.

The Pacific Championships doubleheader against Australia’s respective sides has proven popular with locals who have embraced the return of test level rugby league to the region. It has been many years since the last Test with the Kiwi’s prior game in Christchurch played in 2019 and the Kiwi Ferns over 25 years ago in 1998.

NZRL CEO Greg Peters said: “We are so grateful for the community’s support and are excited to be bringing rugby league Tests back to the South Island after many years. A packed stadium of rugby league fans is like no other and it will create an electric atmosphere for our teams.

“A massive thanks goes to Venues Ōtautahi and Canterbury Rugby League for their assistance in making these games possible.”

The teams will assemble in Christchurch next week with Kiwis and Kiwi Fern trainings open to the public on Tuesday 22 October from 10am at Ngā Puna Wai. There will also be a Fan Day which will offer supporters a chance to connect with the Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns, Kangaroos and Jillaroos ahead of game day. Fan Day will begin at 4.30pm on Wednesday 23 October at Wainoni Park, Christchurch.

Tickets are still available for the Kiwis v Tonga match at Go Media Stadium on 2 November. Tickets from Ticketek.

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25 July 2024

The New Zealand Kiwis Head Coach Stacey Jones has finalised his coaching and team staff ahead of the 2024 Pacific Championships, featuring six former Kiwis.

Jones’ selected Assistant Coaches for 2024 are Steve Price, Nathan Cayless, and Adam Blair.

Price returns for his third year as Kiwis Assistant Coach having been with the team since the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. Jones’ former Kiwis teammate Cayless also returns to the staff after serving as Kiwis Assistant Coach and Kiwis A Head Coach last year. 

Jones shared, “Steve Price brings his defensive mindset. That was a big part of the group last year, having a strong defensive game plan and he brought that. Nathan Cayless has a strong connection with our middle forwards and brings both attacking and defensive knowledge.”

50-Test Kiwi Adam Blair enters his maiden season as Kiwis Assistant Coach off the back of his involvement with both Kiwis and Kiwis A teams last year. 

Blair shared, “The Kiwis has always given me a place of purpose… to be able to represent my country and my family was always an honour. 

“Now being given an opportunity to be involved as an Assistant Coach, it is a privilege to help shape the next generation of Kiwi players. I am a competitor and want the Kiwis to be the best team in the world.” 

Jones said, “It is very important to keep familiar people around the team. I expressed to a few senior players when I got the job that I wanted to keep things as familiar as possible, knowing that the people involved were quality coaches.” 

The team’s wider staff is bolstered by Stephen Kearney, the 2008 World Cup-winning Kiwis Head Coach & former Kiwi who steps into the role of Culture & Leadership Advisor. 

“I saw what Steve did in the campaign last year, the connection he created by giving the group a good understanding of what playing for the Kiwis means. Steve’s got a strong insight into that.” 

Daryl Halligan (Kicking Coach) and David Solomona (Wellbeing Manager) round out the cohort of six former Kiwis in Jones’ team staff. 

“It’s important having past players around so that the present playing group has a good understanding of what the past has brought to the jersey.”

The New Zealand Kiwis will play in the Pacific Championships international Test series later this year, with a full schedule to be released.

 

New Zealand Kiwis Team Staff 2024

Stacey Jones	Head Coach | NZ Warriors Assistant Coach & former Kiwi
Steve Price	Assistant Coach | Cronulla Sharks Assistant Coach
Nathan Cayless	Assistant Coach | Parramatta Eels NRL Assistant Coach/NSW Cup Head Coach & former Kiwi
Adam Blair	Assistant Coach | 50 Tests for Kiwis
Daryl Halligan	Kicking Coach | Former Kiwi
Stephen Kearney	Culture & Leadership Advisor | 2008 World Cup-winning Kiwis Head Coach & former Kiwi
Leigh Richardson	Analyst | South Sydney Rabbitohs & NSW Blues
Matty Jay	Head of Strength & Conditioning | Newcastle Knights
Donny Singe	Trainer | Two-time NRL winner with Manly Sea Eagles
Daniel Miladinski	Head Physiotherapist | Newcastle Knights
Jed Smethurst	Physiotherapist | NZ Warriors
Greg Macleod	Team Doctor | Canberra Raiders
David Solomona	Wellbeing Manager | Former Kiwi
Nadene Conlon	Team Manager | NZ Warriors Female Programme Manager & former Kiwi Fern
Phil Roache	Logistics Manager
Richard Becht	Media Manager
Craig Priest	Content Manager
Eddy Vaeau	Videographer | Redcliffe Dolphins
Motu Tony	NZRL GM Football & High Performance

8 July 2024

On Sunday Kiwi #755 Rotorua native Jared Waerea-Hargreaves became the Sydney Roosters most capped player of all time with 307 games, coming up with 143 run metres, six stitches in his head and a sin binning as the Roosters climbed to third on the ladder.

The Roosters ensured favourite son Waerea-Hargreaves celebrated his milestone game in style by downing the Dragons 42-12 at Allianz Stadium.

Fittingly it was Waerea-Hargreaves laying the platform the opening try with a storming run that finished just short of the tryline before Sam Walker grubbered expertly for Victor Radley to follow through and score.

Come the 17th minute and the Roosters went down to 12 men when milestone man Waerea-Hargreaves was sin binned for a dangerous tackle but the Dragons were unable to capitalise despite having a number of tackles inside the red zone.

Post-win he shared, “It’s a really proud moment for myself, my team, and my family.

“I’m really proud and honoured to be part of something special and to be part of this proud club.”

2024 has proven to be a momentous year in Waerea-Hargreaves’ career as he celebrated playing his 300th NRL game earlier in March.

Waerea-Hargreaves will venture to the UK following this NRL season after signing a one-year deal with Hull KR for the 2025 Betfred Super League season.

25 June 2024

As seen on nrl.com

The NRL has today announced the nominees for this year’s Ken Stephen Medal – Man of the Year, which recognises the efforts of an NRL player who has not only achieved on the field, but has committed time off the field to community projects.

The nominees for the Ken Stephen Medal form the annual NRL Community Team of the Year with players nominated by their NRL clubs for going above and beyond in their charity work, youth development or community support.

Established in 2007, the NRL Community Awards have become the most significant opportunity for our game’s unsung heroes to receive the recognition and thanks they deserve for the tireless work they do in the community. It also provides an opportunity for the NRL to acknowledge and celebrate the contribution that clubs, state leagues and both NRL and NRLW players make year on year.

This year will be the 36th instance that the Ken Stephen Medal will be awarded, with a host of worthy recipients receiving this prestigious award since Wayne Pearce won the most prestigious community award in 1988. The last Kiwi to have won the Medal was Ruben Wiki in 2007 with the Warriors’ Tohu Harris being the only Kiwi nominated this year.

Tohu’s commitment to community service across Aotearoa is exemplary, balancing his demanding schedule with the Warriors. He actively engages in school visits, community events, and recently leading the Warriors’ playing group in welcoming youth ambassadors – ensuring impactful experiences for each student.

The Warriors are wholeheartedly behind Tohu’s initiatives, recognising his positive impact on community, player development, and team morale.

His involvement in community inspires his fellow players, fostering a culture of community engagement within the team. Tohu collaborates closely with the community team to prioritise meaningful engagement with activities ranging from supporting youth and inspiring school children to promoting rugby league initiatives.

His seamless integration of charity work into club commitments sets a high standard of sportsmanship and service, motivating his peers to participate. Tohu’s efforts have significantly boosted community activation participation and raised substantial funds for charity.

He actively supports hospital visits, literacy programs, and various community projects, demonstrating a steadfast commitment to youth development and community well-being.

Through initiatives like the League in Libraries creative writing competition and his mentoring roles, Tohu continues to cultivate a culture of giving back, leaving a lasting impact on communities and inspiring positive change.

Click here to cast your vote!

15 May 2024

As seen on smh.com.au

Sydney Roosters fans should be thanking Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for helping deliver Joey Manu to Bondi Junction.

Two of the nicest Kiwis you will ever meet were set to go head-to-head on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium, completing the circle on a remarkable rugby league story, but RTS has succumbed to a hamstring injury and Manu is out after suffering a head knock.

19 April 2024

As seen on nrl.com

Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona has dismissed reports of a rift with coach Craig Bellamy after making a successful return from injury in Thursday night’s win over the Roosters.

The 115-kilogram behemoth injured his hamstring early in the pre-season and battled multiple setbacks in the recovery process throughout a frustrating summer.

The injury struggles came as speculation mounted over his future in Melbourne, with reports suggesting the New Zealand international had fallen out with Bellamy.

Asofa-Solomona, however, has put the speculation to bed and declared his desire to see out his current contract through to its conclusion in 2027.

“I put in a lot of work in the off-season so to have rumours thrown around like that and to have my name get thrown through the mud was just wrong,” Asofa-Solomona said.

“I wanted to correct it but the people close to me knew the truth. They said don’t worry about it, don’t listen to the noise.

“I just control what I can control. I can’t control what people say on the outside, what I can do is play good footy and let my footy do the talking.”

Asofa-Solomona ran for 70 metres and made 17 tackles in 32 minutes on Thursday night in his return to the NRL.

The Storm ultimately prevailed 18-12 in a tense clash in which both sides struggled to find their groove.

Asofa-Solomona’s performance came after two appearances in reserve grade for the North Sydney Bears.

While there was no rift, Bellamy did challenge him to be better during the off-season and was pleased with the forward’s outing.

“I thought he did a good job,” Bellamy said after Thursday’s game.

“There’s a little bit around his defence that we were a little bit concerned about but he knew what that was. He made a conscious effort tonight to improve that and he did.

“He carried the ball real strong for us. They [did] a pretty good job to handle him like they did. The real improvement was in a couple of those defensive actions that we need from him to be more consistent.

“He did it tonight and hopefully as we go on he’ll get more and more game time and be a real benefit for us.”

Asofa-Solomona knows he has a long way to go before he returns to the form that made him among the most damaging forwards in the game.

He’s confident, however, he’s on the right track and views Thursday’s match as a stepping stone.

Emotions will be high next week when the Storm host the Rabbitohs on Anzac Day, with Asofa-Solomona eager to lead his team to their third-straight victory.

“I had a good talk with the coaches [in the off-season],” he said. “It’s about applying the energy in the right place for the team. I feel like last year I let my team down being too aggressive, making silly errors of judgement, trying to get into scuffles.

“It’s not part of the game and it’s not part of my game anymore. I’m trying to rub it out, trying to do what’s right for the team.”

As seen on nrl.com

19 April 2024

As seen on nrl.com

Jesse Bromwich is proof that we don’t always get it right when it comes to defining what makes a marquee player in sport.

That term is derived from the Hollywood-style names that used to adorn cinemas and theatres to grab people’s attention and lure them inside. It’s the type of stuff a no-nonsense prop from south Auckland has little hope of ever living up to.

But what he lacks in ability to draw a crowd – or in most cases even be noticed in one – Jesse makes up for with his knack for attracting people that do have star power.

In that way he has been the marquee player for a Dolphins club who have been accused of failing to sign one so far.

“We will be indebted to Jesse forever,” Dolphins CEO Terry Reader tells NRL.com.

“The first thing Wayne [Bennett] said to me and Peter O’Sullivan when we hung up from talking to Jesse when we were recruiting him was ‘there’s our captain, boys’.

That legacy continues to grow now in season 15, which Jesse says will definitely be his last, and as of this Friday night it’ll include achieving something nobody in the game’s 116-year history has ever done before – starting 300 games at prop.

Through the opening 12 games of his NRL career, all of which began from the bench, Jesse used to watch players like Brett White, Adam Blair and Jeff Lima excel in the aggression and energy of the opening exchanges.

He was happy just to be playing, but being a passenger for the first 20 minutes didn’t feel right.

“I used to burn up so much energy sitting there. Up and pacing around, just wanting to get out there, and I always thought ‘man, it’d be good to start, just to get out there and straight into it’,” Jesse says.

Since then he’s managed to do it more than any other front-rower in the history game, with Friday night’s encounter against the Eels at TIO Stadium in Darwin marking his 300th starting appearance at prop in the NRL.

While the hunger was always there, Jesse credits the nine weeks he spent in camp with the Kiwis back at the 2013 World Cup – in a forward group that included players like Simon Mannering – for making him embrace what it was to lead from the front from the very first minute every week.

In the 238 club games he’s played since that tournament, he’s failed to start just twice.

Having watched the now 34-year-old all the way through his career, former Storm assistant and long-time Kiwis coach Michael Maguire says what makes him such a great starting prop is simple.

“You always know what you’ll get from Jesse and that he can handle all the intensities from the start,” Maguire says.

“You know that the first 20 minutes, especially in a Test match, will be flat out and intense and you know Jesse can handle those moments.”

Growing up Jesse got used to being knocked back by Auckland rep selectors, who with the exception of his final year at high school, knocked him back for every age-group team.

On one particular occasion when Jesse was 16, his dad Mike decided enough was enough and took matters into his own hands.

“They had four different games at this trial day and they wouldn’t even give him a run. He was pretty disheartened,” Mike says.

“Straight after that I signed him up at the gym. I’d get him up at 5.30 in the morning, every day I’d drag him and Kenny out of bed, no mucking around.

“The next year Jesse went back and he was killing it, it made all the difference.”

With nothing much happening in rugby league at home, Jesse headed to Orange, New South Wales after high school seeking better work opportunities and to play in the Group 10 competition.

A move to Melbourne to join the rest of his family, who had relocated for Mike’s work, ended up putting him in front of Storm selectors, thanks to a request from Kenny, who already been signed at this stage, to let his brother come and train.

In a somewhat cruel twist of fate at the time Jesse ended up taking the U-20 spot Melbourne had reserved for his younger brother in 2009, and while it delayed Kenny’s advancement by another 12 months, it also marked the emergence of Jesse as an NRL prospect and he never looked back.

At every step since he’s approached rugby league in a way that reflects his working-class roots.

Growing up in south Auckland, both he and Kenny saw their parents work hard – Mike laying drains and later working in an aluminum factory and Alex making a living at a local food distribution plant.

The family unit was and still is incredibly tight, evidenced by both boys insisting on playing together throughout their career and the decision of their parents, along with sister Paula, to relocate to Brisbane from Melbourne in order to be closer to them in recent times.

Cowboys prop Jordan McLean, who spent five seasons playing alongside Jesse and Kenny at the Storm, says those factors helped create dream teammates who have no ego, and he believes it’s a big reason why Jesse has become such a sought-after leader.

“The way he got into an NRL system is not the normal way of getting into a team, so he’s always been very humble in his approach to it,” McLean says.

“If something needs to be done he puts his hand up.

“He’s from humble beginnings and comes from a hard-working family, he’s been brought up well by his old boy and old girl.”

“In a way I’m a bit happy that he’s finishing,” Mike tells NRL.com when asked about his oldest boys’ looming retirement.

“It’s been a real long journey, we’ve been through so much, and I think Jesse is ready to finish.

There will be plenty of special occasions to mark over the next five months or so before the boots are hung up, including a Round 25 return to Melbourne.

But at the top of that list will be the final game on New Zealand soil for the Bromwich brothers together, which barring a finals match-up against the Warriors on that side of the Tasman, will come in Round 12.

It has always been a special trip for the proud Kiwis and a chance to celebrate with their whānau (family) still living in New Zealand.

19 April 2024

As seen on cowboys.com

The 10 Test match Kiwi David Faiumu will join Kiwi Ferns head coach Ricky Henry as an assistant coach for the 2024 NRLW season. Faiumu spent the previous two years working under Henry as an assistant coach for the Kiwi Ferns, including for their historic 12-6 victory over Australia in last year’s Pacific Championships.

An International in his own right, Faiumu made 10 appearances for the Kiwis, including the 2005 Tri-Nations grand final triumph over Australia.

David Faiumu appeared in the first grand final in North Queensland Toyota Cowboys history as a player in 2005, he’ll now be attempting to guide the Cowboys to premiership glory as a coach.

Faiumu, Cowboys NRL player No.162, appeared in 76 NRL games for the Cowboys between 2004-2008 before relocating to England where he compiled a glittering 162-game stint with Huddersfield in the UK Super League.

Following his playing retirement in 2014, Faiumu moved into a development role with Huddersfield before returning to Australia. He has had a long association with the CQ Capras based in Rockhampton, including three seasons as Queensland Cup Head Coach and stints in operational roles within the football department.

Aside from his role with the Cowboys, Faiumu will also join the staff at Kirwan State High School, working as a programs coordinator and in youth wellbeing.

Faiumu will be one of two assistant coaches working under Henry, joining Alicia-Kate Hawke.

“It’s fantastic to be able to bring back an ex-Cowboy, who contributed so much to the club as a player, to be part of our NRLW coaching staff,” Head of NRLW and Women’s Elite Pathways Anita Creenaune said.

“David’s experience as a player, coaching resume and importantly, knowledge of our club and what we stand for, made him a clear top candidate to complete our coaching staff.

“All our coaching staff, including David, have made enormous sacrifices, uprooting their lives and in some cases leaving their family behind to be a part of our club and help guide our NRLW players. We believe we have assembled a staff who will give us the best opportunity to perform on the field and also to guide our players in their off-field lives.”

Read more on cowboys.com

17 April 2024

As seen on warriors.kiwi

Kiwi captain and powerhouse Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris has signed a four-year deal to join the One New Zealand Warriors from next season.

The 28-year-old Northlander has reached agreement with Penrith to be released from the last two seasons of his contract on compassionate grounds so he can move back to New Zealand to be closer to his family.

A 183-game NRL veteran, Fisher-Harris has been at the forefront of Penrith’s run of three consecutive premiership wins in 2021, 2022 and 2023 while he also played in the 2020 grand final.

He led the Kiwis to a record 30-0 win over the Kangaroos in the Pacific Championships final last year culminating in him winning the Golden Boot player of the year award along with the New Zealand Rugby League’s player of the year accolade.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be able to sign James,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.

“It’s a huge signing for us, undoubtedly one of the biggest in our club’s history.

“To be able to add a player of his calibre and standing to our squad is a tremendous boost for 2025 and beyond. He’s such a highly-respected player and leader.”

One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster and Fisher-Harris will be reunited after working together when Webster was an assistant coach at Penrith for the grand final-winning seasons in 2021 and 2022.

“It’s going to be fantastic having James with us. He’s one of the game’s elite players, a super tough forward who sets and demands the highest standards,” said Webster.

“I loved working with him at the Panthers and we really look forward to bringing him into our system from next season. He’ll add terrific value to our roster, to the club overall and he’ll also be invaluable as a mentor for our young players coming through.”

Fisher-Harris, born in Kohukohu in the Far North, made his NRL debut with Penrith in 2016 followed by his Kiwi Test debut later the same year. Rising to become Kiwi captain last year, he has played a total of 15 Tests. He has also captained the Māori All Stars.

“James has such standing in the game. He’s a player with real mana who commands respect on and off the field,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.

George said the One New Zealand Warriors won’t be making further comment about signing Fisher-Harris out of respect to the commitment he has to Penrith for the rest of this season.

Read more on warriors.kiwi

5 April 2024

As seen on nrl.com

His career didn’t start there, and for a long time recently didn’t look like finishing there either, but it feels right that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will be wearing a Warriors jersey as he celebrates 200 NRL games this Saturday.

Players like ‘RTS’ – who when it’s all said and done will probably be regarded as the best Kiwi talent of his generation – don’t become available too often, and when they do it sets off a feeding frenzy between clubs, with plenty having tried in vain to lure him to their shores over the past decade-or-so.

So how is it that where so many others failed, the Warriors succeeded not once, but on two separate occasions, in signing the rugby league virtuoso?

Back in 2016 when they first achieved it they were effectively righting a wrong which had long irked their fanbase, signing the then 21-year-old superstar they had let the Roosters steal from under their nose as a teenager.

A second raid last year to bring Tuivasa-Sheck back after he’d left for rugby union in mid-2021 – following a successful six-season stint at Go Media Stadium – was even more audacious and saw the Warriors beat out a host of NRL and global rugby union clubs to secure his signature.

Home again now, on a three-year deal that almost certainly means it’s for good this time, there’s a sense of relief and pride across the board in Auckland that the fullback-turned-centre will be celebrating his latest career milestone as a Warrior.

“There’s a lot of satisfaction in bringing Roger back,” Andrew McFadden, the Warriors recruitment boss who helped secure Tuivasa-Sheck’s signature for both his stints at the club, tells NRL.com.

“But it’s terrific that he’s back in our team. We’re certainly glad that he’s here and that we can celebrate that 200 with him.

“From those 200 games, 199 of them will have been first-class games. He rarely has a bad game.”

This week Tuivasa-Sheck’s teammates Tohu Harris and Jazz Tevaga each recounted meetings with their friend prior to him signing back with the Warriors, which began to sow the seeds for a return that only months earlier had seemed highly unlikely.

In the background the Warriors had been persistently knocking at the door, staying in regular contact with Tuivasa-Sheck’s management team about a potential return, despite being met with various versions of ‘thanks, but no thanks’.

Eventually they got the sit down they’d been after though and just minutes into it McFadden realised their dream was a real chance of becoming a reality.

“I was at the original meeting when we met and Roger’s body language – he got very excited very quickly,” McFadden said.

“It was after that meeting that I went ‘oh, we’re a chance here’.

“It’s funny with Roger, I know he’s very ambitious and wanted to be an All Black, and he achieved that, but I always thought that his game didn’t suit union.

“His game is built on effort over time and I’m not sure that union sort of allows that with the stoppages. When fatigue comes in, that’s when Roger really comes into his own. His power, his strength, his endurance.

“That’s why I always had it in my mind that he might return, and I knew that with Andrew Webster here he’d be able to put something together that would really excite Roger.”

The Warriors acknowledged Tuivasa-Sheck with a presentation on Wednesday that included a screening of what Tevaga described as a “20-minute-long highlight reel”, featuring some of the best moments from his 11 seasons in the NRL so far.

Afterwards Webster said it was clear how much it meant to the 30-year-old to be reaching the milestone as a Warrior.

“He wanted to come back to his hometown team… Roger was like ‘yeah, I want to come here, I like the vision, I like where the place is going. If I’m going to play rugby league I want to play at the Warriors’,” Webster said.

“He’s had a great journey with lots of life experiences.

“To put an All Blacks jersey on, Kiwis jersey, Warriors jersey, be at the Roosters and win a grand final; he’s had a great career.

Read more on nrl.com

As seen on nrl.com

Well-travelled hooker Danny Levi’s early-season renaissance has been a microcosm of Canberra’s gritty, expectations-defying start to 2024.

Unfancied by many pundits heading into the season despite back-to-back finals appearances, the Raiders followed up a Round 1 upset in Newcastle and a convincing home win over Wests Tigers with arguably their best performance so far in a gutsy 18-10 loss to the Warriors.

As seen on nrl.com

Launched by the Rugby League Players Association in March, the Mana Group is a player advisory body aimed to represent the over 45 per cent of Māori and Pasifika players and leaders within the game.

As seen on nrl.com

Merely hearing Rocco Berry’s name draws out an involuntary smile and chuckle from the Warriors’ coaching staff and his teammates, reflecting the centre tyro’s popularity in the squad for indefinable off-field qualities as much as his more clear-cut attributes.

In a promising yet patchy start to 2024 for a team whose premiership window is wide open, Berry has been among the club’s most consistent players across the opening three rounds.

“I think he’s been excellent, Rocco,” said coach Andrew Webster after the Warriors’ tough 18-10 win over Canberra, before briefly interrupting his footy-focused answer as skipper Tohu Harris grinned like there was an inside joke we’re not in on.

“We love him, yeah, the mention of his name puts a smile on everyone’s face, for different reasons.

“There’s some flashy plays there, but there’s more hard work than anything.”

Likewise, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s face beams with happiness when asked about his right-edge partner’s rapid improvement and rousing start to the season.

“I’m loving playing outside Rocco, I’ve got the best seat in the house to see what he really does,” the winger said while clutching a fan-made poster of Berry snaffled from the Christchurch crowd to take home to his kids.

“We see what he’s doing and he’s getting better and better each week.

“He’s a good kid, eh, he’s young and he was the baby for quite a while … straight out of school and straight from rugby (union).

“He’s keen on learning, he’s a humble kid and he’s really liked by the group.”

One of the more unheralded members of the Warriors’ line-up, Berry’s high-level contribution to their first win of the season was hard to miss.

In a tense encounter with the Raiders – only his 34th in the NRL – the 22-year-old hit his mark in a series of big moments on both sides of the ball, including an early try-saver on Hudson Young to force an error, a superb in-goal take of a dangerous bomb and a slick touch in the lead-up to Luke Metcalf’s pivotal second-half try.

He was similarly impressive in tight losses to Cronulla and Melbourne – and absorbing individual battles with Siosifa Talakai and Reimis Smith, respectively – cementing his position in a well-stocked backline.

“I feel like our edge is building well, we’re starting to put together full performances and I’m just trying to get on the back of players like ‘Shauny’ (Johnson), do my job and be consistent with that each week,” Berry said.

Amid a cavalcade of career-best campaigns from established representative players, Berry was the breakout apprentice of the Warriors’ incredible 2023 resurgence.

But as the club was enjoying runaway-train momentum, he was initially left at the station, recovering from a foot complaint before an injury to Ed Kosi provided his first opportunity of season in Round 11.

By the end of the year, he had more than doubled his first-grade appearances tally and featured prominently in the Warriors’ drive to their first preliminary final in over a decade.

“I hadn’t played a consistent amount of games in my first few years at the Warriors and obviously being able to do that [last season], I got a lot of confidence heading into this season and getting a good, full pre-season in,” Berry added.

“I was playing with great players and I knew I had to be on my game each week to keep up with them. I just believed in everything ‘Webby’ was putting in front of us, the advice he was giving me and the belief he had in me.”

Playing his part in a compelling Warriors title bid is Berry’s sole focus for now, but maintaining his current form will surely see him come into calculations for Stacey Jones’ inaugural Kiwis team later in the year, particularly if Roosters ace Joey Manu opts to leave the game at the end of 2024.

Read more on nrl.com

As seen on nrl.com

Congratulations to Kiwi #755 Rotorua native Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who celebrated the huge milestone of his 300th NRL game over the weekend. The 33-Test match Kiwi debuted in 2009 and is now his fifteenth season as the Roosters forward pack’s leader and enforcer.

Sydney Roosters team-mates were describing how they planned to honour Jared Waerea-Hargreaves just before running out for his 300th match when the dressing room doors opened, and he saw daughters Zahli and Harper waiting for him.

“I sort of knew what was happening, but just to see them physically, right there, that sort of made me feel a little bit emotional,” Waerea-Hargreaves told NRL.com after Friday night’s 48-6 triumph against arch-rivals South Sydney.

By Will Evans

The New Zealand Rugby League is mourning the loss of champion goalkicking forward John Bond, a seven-Test Kiwi of the 1950s whose club career spanned an incredible 22 years.

Bond, 92, passed away on Sunday, March 10.

A highly respected prop or second-rower for Papanui, Marist, Kaiapoi, Canterbury, South Island and New Zealand, ‘Bondy’ became Kiwi #351 during a memorable era for the national team.

Bond’s rugby league journey began as a 15-year-old. Struggling to get a game of union at Belfast, Bond’s father – Roy, a speedy former Marist winger who represented Canterbury and South Island in 1930 – told him he was playing the wrong game and encouraged him to sign up with Papanui.

That was 1947, and he survived a baptism of fire in the rugged senior club competition – including copping a headbutt from the revered Pat Smith. Just four years later Bond earned his provincial spurs for Canterbury and in 1953 he received a maiden Kiwis call-up.

Bond, just 21, was drafted into the New Zealand line-up at prop for fellow Cantabrian Lory Blanchard, who broke a collarbone playing for Linwood, for the series-opening Test against Australia in Christchurch.

The hosts romped to a 25-5 win over an Australian side boasting such luminaries as Brian Carlson, Harry Wells, Keith Holman, Roy Bull, Ken Kearney, Brian Davies and captain-coach Clive Churchill – though future Immortal Churchill was the only player Bond had heard of. The tyro gave an excellent account of himself in the front-row and displayed his goalkicking talents with a goal from the sideline in the latter stages.

“During the match I remember (captain) Jimmy Haig saying to me, ‘I’ll boot your arse you lazy bugger’, and I thought I was slogging my guts out!” Bond recounted for The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League.

“Then after the game Jimmy came up and said, ‘You went a good one, young Jack’. He rewarded me by giving me that shot at goal, even if it was right from the sideline.”

Bond reveals he could easily have debuted for his country on the tour of Australia a year earlier after trialling strongly…but his penchant for a good time during his younger days delayed his progression.

In a classic ‘boys will be boys’ yarn, Bond and some Papanui teammates went to a dance in Stillwater while on an away trip to the West Coast with the Canterbury side. Bond arrived back at the team accommodation at 6am and met long-serving Canterbury coach Jim Amos on the stairs. Amos, who took over as coach of the Kiwis in 1952, was on his way to church.

“That was the reason I didn’t get chosen in ’52 – he didn’t tell me that until ’54 when we went to the World Cup,” Bond recalled in 2018 without a hint of hard feelings. “He said, ‘I’ve got to vouch for every guy’s character in this team’.”

But Bond won Amos over eventually, playing all but one of his Tests for New Zealand under his coaching.

Bond held his front-row spot for the remainder of New Zealand’s 2-1 series win over the Australian tourists in ’53, while he scored his only Test try in the following year’s series opener against Great Britain at Carlaw Park after starting in the second-row.

Later in 1954 he was part of the New Zealand squad for the inaugural World Cup in France, historic also for being the Kiwis’ first Northern Hemisphere air voyage. New Zealand played France in the tournament opener in Paris and, with legendary goalkicker Des White unavailable for the World Cup, Bond booted two goals in a 22-13 loss. He also played in the 26-6 defeat to Great Britain in Bordeaux, before slotting three goals in New Zealand’s non-Test exhibition clash with Australia in Los Angeles enroute home.

Bond was on the plane again for the Kiwis’ 1955-56 tour of Britain and France, tallying three tries from nine appearances and playing the last of his seven Tests in the 28-13 dead-rubber victory over Great Britain at Leeds.

 

After being out of favour with coach Harold Tetley throughout the tour, Bond said his standout performance in Great Britain’s first-ever loss at the famed Headingley ground was the highlight of his Kiwis tenure.

Bond toured Australia with the Kiwis in 1956, playing six games – including a two-try performance against Wide Bay – without being able to force his way into the Test line-up.

He represented South Island until 1956 and helped Papanui to its first championship in 1957, before playing hooker for Canterbury against Great Britain in 1958 and hanging up the boots at the end of that season. But Bond rescinded his retirement in 1962 to play for Marist then took on a player-coach role with fledgling Kaiapoi in 1965.

Bond, a wool presser at the freezing works during his playing days, permanently called time on his club career in 1969.

In 2017 he was invited to speak to the Kiwis squad in the lead-up to their clash with Scotland in Christchurch, imparting some basic-but-vital knowledge on the players following along the World Cup trail he helped blaze 63 years earlier in France.

“I said to them, ‘This game’s simple, all you’ve got do is use this – I pointed to my head – and these, and I showed them my hands’.”

JOHN BOND
NEW ZEALAND (1953-55)
7 Tests – 1 try, 2 goals (7 points)
15 tour matches – 4 tries, 3 goals (18 points)
-1954 World Cup tour
-1955-56 Kiwis tour of Great Britain and France
-1956 Kiwis tour of Australia

As seen on NRL.com

After stealing the show on the grand stage that was the NRL’s historic double-header in Las Vegas on Sunday, Joey Manu admitted there were times last week when playing rugby league on the other side of the world was the last thing he wanted to be doing.

The Kiwi Test star remained in Sydney after his teammates departed for the US late last month as he awaited the birth of his daughter, and when she eventually arrived on February 24 Manu decided he wouldn’t travel to take on the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium.

But some arm twisting from coach Trent Robinson triggered a change of heart, with the 27-year-old arriving days before kick-off and going on to play a starring role in his side’s 20-10 win over last year’s beaten grand finalists.

“Once she came, I wanted to stay home. I tried to stay home. But ‘Robbo’ told me to get on the plane and come over here,” Manu said after the game.

“Only the second day after she came, I had to pretty much go [to the US].

“It was full on, no sleep. It was tough leaving my wife, I just felt like I was helpless really and I felt so bad.

“But she ended up getting her head around it. She was supportive as and said, ‘go do your thing and come home to us next week’.”

And do his thing he did.

A try off an intercept to open the game was followed by a masterful assist in the second half – which saw Manu create space between two defenders before flinging a no-look flick pass out to winger Junior Pauga – played a huge role in the Roosters winning their first season-opener since 2021.

Manu also contributed 165 run metres, eight tackle busts and two line break assists, with the experience of being part of a history-making event worth it in the end.

“To come over here in Vegas, I always wanted to be a part of it,” Manu said.

“I just didn’t want to miss out on the game. It was a good experience out there.

“We’re the first to do it too, so I didn’t want to miss it and it would have been pretty tough watching it from home.

“I’m glad I came over now.”

Meanwhile the two-time premiership winner said he was hopeful of having his immediate playing future sorted soon, as he continues to decide between remaining in the NRL or potentially switching codes to rugby union, which he grew up playing in New Zealand.

“Still in the middle of sorting things out. But Robbo has been awesome. He’s been openminded and he just wants the best for myself,” Manu said.

“I just want the best for myself, my family and the Roosters too.

“Hopefully I can get some things in place. But still up in the air. I just want to knock it on the head and then just get into the season.

“I hope I get to finish my career here or get a few more years here. I came here when I was 16, so to give back to the club, the fans, the members and all that, would be special.

“They kickstarted my career and hopefully I get a few more years… it would be tough to play for a different club.”

Rugby league great Stacey Jones has today been appointed as New Zealand Kiwis head coach to the end of the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

The much-decorated 47-year-old Jones moves into the role after serving as an assistant coach with the Kiwis since 2018 while he is now in his eighth season as an assistant coach with One New Zealand Warriors in NRL.

“We’re delighted to be appointing an absolute legend of the game to coach the Kiwis,” said NZRL CEO Greg Peters.

“Stacey has served a lengthy apprenticeship with the Warriors and has also been with us as a long-term assistant coach with the Kiwis.

“It’s personally pleasing to see him rewarded with this appointment.

“Not only is he an outstanding individual with a deep knowledge and understanding of ‘The Kiwi Way’, he is a technically astute coach who understands what it takes to operate at the top international level.

“We are grateful to the Warriors for supporting his appointment and allowing him the time to do it.

“We are also excited about the opportunity this appointment provides to bring the game closer together in New Zealand by strengthening the connection with the Warriors.”

Following his glittering playing career, Jones transitioned quickly into coaching with a number of roles with the Warriors.

“This is a huge honour for me,” said Jones.

“It was a special privilege to play for my country and to now have the chance to coach the Kiwis is both exciting and humbling.

“I’ve enjoyed working with the Kiwis over the last few years and seeing the team develop under Madge (Michael Maguire). I’ve learnt so much being involved with such a special group of players.

“I’m hugely grateful to the Warriors for the coaching opportunities they’ve given me to put me in this position and for the way they supported me in my bid for this role wth the Kiwis while continuing to work at the club.”

During his playing career Jones played more than 350 games at the highest level.

He captained the Kiwis and played a total of 46 Tests while he amassed 261 NRL appearances for the Warriors and a further 45 games for Les Catalans Dragons in the Super League.

Awarded the ONZM for services to rugby league, he won the Golden Boot in 2002, was inducted into the NZRL Legends of League, included in the NZRL Team of the Century and has also been inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame and the NRL Hall of Fame.

 

 

STACEY JONES

 

Born: May 7, 1976

Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand

Coaching Career:

New Zealand Kiwis assistant coach 2018-2023

One New Zealand Warriors NRL assistant coach 2017-2024

Māori All Stars head coach 2019

One New Zealand Warriors New South Wales Cup head coach 2015-2016

One New Zealand Warriors NYC head coach 2014

One New Zealand Warriors junior recruitment and pathways coach 2013

Auckland Rugby League football development officer 2012

Point Chevalier Pirates coach 2010-2011

One New Zealand Warriors NRL skills coach 2008

Playing Career:

International: 46 Tests for Kiwis 1995-2006

NRL: 261 appearances for One New Zealand Warriors 1995-2005 & 2009

Super League: 45 appearances for Les Catalans 2006-2007

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is thrilled to announce an exciting partnership with Dynasty Sport, marking the renowned sportswear brand as the official apparel provider for the next five years.

This partnership marks a significant milestone for both entities as they unite to elevate the presence and performance of New Zealand Rugby League on a global scale.

As the official apparel provider, Dynasty Sport brings its expertise in crafting high-performance, cutting-edge sportswear to outfit NZRL teams and supporters alike.

 

“We are thrilled to welcome Dynasty Sport to the NZRL whanau,” said Greg Peters, CEO of NZRL. “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and the enduring legacy of New Zealand Rugby League.

 

“It’s evident that New Zealand Rugby League and Dynasty Sport share a number of core values. Dynasty Sport has a deep passion for sport spanning across both grassroots and professional teams; we felt very aligned on our relentless commitment to excellence on and off the field.”

 

“We’re excited to have all New Zealand’s Rugby League brands under Dynasty Sport, and together, we look forward to creating unforgettable moments both on and off the field.”

 

Tyler Rakich, co-founder and Director of Dynasty Sport, is equally excited about the new partnership.

“We are extremely passionate about rugby league, and as a Kiwi-owned and operated business, we feel privileged to have our logo on our national team’s jerseys, he said.

“Fans can look forward to a full range of beautifully designed supporters’ apparel in 2024. There will be something for everyone and we can’t wait to see fans wearing it with pride!”

Peters also acknowledged the contribution of the incumbent partner BLK.

“We’re grateful to BLK, who have supported the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns over the last four years.

As we embark on this new chapter with Dynasty Sport, we thank BLK for their partnership and wish them continued success in their future endeavours.”

 

 

About Dynasty Sport

 

We’re sportspeople too. Some of us play, some of us used to, some of us coach and all of us love to watch our favourite teams and athletes compete every week.

​Headquartered in Auckland, with locations across NZ & Australia, Dynasty Sport operates across a global footprint. We are proud to supply high quality on and off-field sports apparel to professional and grassroots sporting organisations, schools, and businesses around the world.

We have a focus on sustainability too. Ecotek, our fabric made from ethically sourced recycled plastic bottles, is used in our ranges, helping fans and organisations make the sustainable choice whenever they can.

Dynasty Sport are leaders in rugby league, with a great reputation amongst fans and organisations for their impressive ranging and designs, high-performance technology and sustainability focus. Most recently, the One NZ Warriors range has been enormously popular. The Cowboys, Titans, Sea Eagles, Tonga Rugby League, Toa Samoa and dozens of grassroots clubs across NZ and Australia also proudly wear Dynasty Sport.

For more information on Dynasty Sport visit www.dynastysport.co.nz

 

 

The New Zealand Rugby League grieves the loss of Paul Schultz, who passed away on February 9, 2024.

Starting his career with Marist in the Auckland Rugby League competition, Schultz quickly became known for his exceptional talent. He played a crucial role in Marist’s consecutive championship wins in 1965 and 1966 before moving on to Point Chevalier.

Representing Auckland with pride, Schultz contributed to historic victories over South Africa in 1963 and Australia in 1969. His dedication earned him a place in the national team, where he played eight test matches and represented New Zealand in the 1968 World Cup.

Schultz’s humility, sportsmanship, and commitment to the game left a lasting impression on all who knew him.

As seen on NRL.com

Kiwi Ferns legend Honey Hireme-Smiler will be part of the Sky Sport commentary team that breaks new ground with unique bilingual commentary on this week’s All Stars games in Townsville.

One of the greatest players to ever pull on a Kiwi Ferns jumper, Hireme-Smiler played 32 Tests and went to four World Cups, and now she finds herself on the other side of the microphone.

“I’m thrilled to see Sky creating innovative ways to foster use and acceptance of reo Māori. This will be a new and unique opportunity for the commentary team, and we are so ready to deliver an awesome immersive experience for New Zealanders,” said Hireme-Smiler.

Sky Sport’s collaboration with the NRL for 2024 kicks off with the two showpiece All Stars games in Townsville this weekend.

Sky Sport has been steadily increasing the use of te reo Māori, but bilingual commentary is another first for the company, highlighting Sky’s dedication to foster cultural diversity and support the normalisation of te reo Māori on air.

Coverage on Sky Sport 1 will be available through Sky, streaming on Sky Sport Now and free to view on Sky Open with an alternative Australian Fox Sport commentary available on Sky Sport 4 or by using the alternative commentary via the yellow button.

The Harvey Norman All Stars will be presented by veteran Māori broadcaster, Te Arahi Maipi (Tainui) with bilingual commentary provided by Dale Husband (Ngāti Maru), Te Aorere Pēwhairangi (Ngāti Porou) and Honey Hireme-Smiler (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Haua, Tainui)

Pre and post-match panel discussions will be led Maipi who will be joined by Warriors captain, Tohu Harris (Ngāti Kahungunu) and Hireme-Smiler.

The success of incorporating te reo Māori into sport coverage was proven during last year’s Harvey Norman All Stars game, reaching more than 100,000 viewers were covered by Te Aorere Pēwhairangi on social media.

As seen on NRL.com

Issac Luke is on the verge of making a shock comeback with the Māori side in next month’s Harvey Norman NRL All Stars, which would see him take the field on the one-year anniversary of his father’s passing.

Despite not playing in the NRL since 2020, the 36-year-old hooker has just completed a full pre-season with Queensland Cup side Souths Logan, after he returned with them for the back end of last season and appeared in three games.

Luke had just arrived home from his week as an assistant coach with the Māori All Stars last February when he found out his dad, George, had passed away following a slip that occurred during Cyclone Gabrielle in New Zealand.

In the months which followed, Luke decided to give top-level football another go as a way to honour George and in recent times he’s been in regular contact with new Māori coach Adam Blair about a comeback for the event in Townsville on February 16.

“If I was to get the chance, I’d be playing for my dad. The game falls on the day he died last year,” Luke told NRL.com.

“I am the second oldest of his children and I spoke to my dad every week, so not being able to have that, it’s tough.

“If I do get the green light [to play] I don’t know how I will handle the occasion… but I am blessed even to be considered.

“[Physically] I’ll be good, I have got through the pre-season with the Magpies (Souths Logan) and have passed everything I needed to.”

Luke descends from the Ngāruahine iwi in southern Taranaki and previously represented the Māori in 2020 and 2021, at the back end of his 286-game NRL career.

Having played numerous Tests alongside him for the Kiwis, before later linking up with him at the Warriors and with the Māori All Stars, Blair knows better than most what Luke can do for a team.

“’Bully’ [Luke] brings players together; he carries a lot of mana from his experience and what he has done in the game,” Blair told NRL.com.

“He’s someone that wears his heart on his sleeve and understands how much it means to be Māori and what this represents.

“To have someone like him around the camp, whether that be as a player or staff, is invaluable to the group.

“He will never let you down, but he will know if he is ready or not.”

After watching Luke progress throughout the pre-season, Souths Logan coach Karmichael Hunt believes the former Kiwi international still has what it takes to play at an elite level, despite his 37th birthday coming up this May.

“No doubt, if he was given an opportunity, he would be able to still do a job at that level,” Hunt told NRL.com.

“You don’t lose your footy nous and ability to think your way through a contest and Bully still picks our defence apart at training; he is as crafty as can be with the ball.

“He’s in really good condition…. he’s had a full pre-season and is looking really good.”

See the ultimate celebration of culture and showcase of pride at NRL Harvey Norman All Stars. Grab your tickets here.

The New Zealand Rugby League community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest-ever players, Kiwi #323 Des White.

 

The NZRL Team of the Century fullback, Auckland Immortal, goalkicker extraordinaire and former Test coach has passed away, aged 96.

 

White played 21 Tests for New Zealand from 1951-56 and scored a then-record 132 points, cementing his legacy with a world record 11 goals in an unprecedented 49-25 thrashing of Australia in Brisbane in 1952 that set the Kiwis on course for a historic series triumph.

 

Breaking into club football with Ponsonby Ponies in 1947, White kicked six goals in Auckland’s 30-9 defeat of the returning 1947-48 Kiwis tourists and slotted five for Auckland Colts in a loss to the visiting Australian side – the first of several individual battles with legendary South Sydney fullback Clive Churchill.

 

The 23-year-old received his maiden Kiwis call-up for the 1950 series against Great Britain. He marked his Test debut in Christchurch by kicking a penalty goal from near halfway in the opening stages and his boot proved the difference in a 16-10 victory, finishing with five goals.

 

White’s attributes as a safe custodian and a fine attacking fullback tended to be overshadowed by his goalkicking prowess in an era where possessing a long-range sharpshooter was a huge asset. He kicked another five goals in New Zealand’s 16-15 eclipse of the famed 1951 French tourists at a muddy Carlaw Park.

 

The 1951-52 Kiwis went winless in five Tests in Britain and France, but White smashed the New Zealand record for most points on a tour with 212 (four tries, 100 goals), displaying remarkable durability to turn out 33 times in a mammoth 40-match schedule.

 

White helped Ponsonby secure all four major Auckland Rugby League trophies – the Fox Memorial Shield, Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield and Rukutai Shield – in 1952 and was a key figure in a halcyon period for the Kiwis.

 

Following his 11-goal spree in the second Test at Lang Park in 1952, he booted another five goals in a series-winning 19-9 win over Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. White’s series tally of 18 goals equalled another world record, while he also became the first New Zealander to top a century of points on a tour of Australia, a trip that included another 11-goal haul against Northern Division.

 

In 1953, White was at the forefront of a home success against Australia with his first Test try and four goals in the 25-5 series-opening rout and a clutch three-goal display as New Zealand clinched the rubber 12-11 in the second clash. White dotted down for his only other Test try in the 18-16 loss in the third clash.

 

White’s seven goals underpinned New Zealand’s 20-14 second-Test victory over the formidable 1954 Great Britain tourists in a 2-1 series loss, but the last match of the tour would have a fateful impact on the last-liner’s career.

 

Auckland’s 5-4 win over the Lions was marred by brawling and violent incidents, the most of infamous of which saw White illegally tackled by rugged British centre Dougie Greenall. The terrible impact of the controversial challenge resulted in White having his spleen removed during a five-week hospital stay.

 

White was ruled out of the inaugural World Cup in France later that year and would not return to international football until 1956, coming back for the Kiwis’ tour of Australia.

 

The 29-year-old’s swansong for New Zealand featured a 3-0 series loss to the green-and-golds but nevertheless included several highlights: seven goals in a tour-opening win over NSW, eight goals in a big victory over Queensland and nine goals against Central Queensland.

 

Fittingly, White landed four goals in his last Test, a 31-14 defeat at the SCG.

 

Settling into retirement, White took over as Auckland coach in 1958. He accepted the New Zealand coaching reins for the 1961 home series against Australia – which finished one-all in his only Kiwis assignment – while his Auckland side upset the tourists 13-8.

 

White’s New Zealand record tally of 132 Test points (two tries, 63 goals) was broken by Matthew Ridge during the 1990s and was subsequently passed by Stacey Jones and Shaun Johnson, but his 467 points (seven tries, 223 goals) in 48 matches for the Kiwis is a mark destined to stand forever. He also continues to hold long-standing records for most points for Ponsonby (794) and Auckland (467).

 

In 1990, White was one of only two sportspeople primarily known for rugby league (with Ces Mountford) among the inaugural inductees to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, while he was one of the initial batch of 13 NZRL Legends of League in 1995.

 

Centenary celebrations brought further accolades for the universally admired White: he earned the fullback nod in the New Zealand Team of the Century line-up in 2007 and was among the first six Auckland Immortals named in 2008.

 

New Zealand Rugby League offers its sincere condolences to the Ponsonby club, Auckland Rugby League and Des White’s family and friends.

 

13 December 2023

 

After outstanding international seasons, James Fisher-Harris [Kiwi #801] and Georgia Hale [Kiwi Fern #122] have both been awarded the Player of the Year for 2023. The Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year award goes to Matthew Timoko and Annessa Biddle, while Rocco Berry has been named the Kiwis A Player of the Year.

 

James Fisher-Harris [Kiwi #801] solidified his position as one of the top front rowers in the game in 2023. Fisher-Harris led the Kiwis to a historic thrashing of the Kangaroos, producing 142 run metres in the team’s effort to win the Pacific Championships. Thanks to his outstanding performances in the Pacific Championships, the Kohukohu star also won the prestigious 2023 IRL Golden Boot award.

 

In her ninth season of International Rugby League, Georgia Hale [Kiwi Fern #122] takes home Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year as well as the 2023 IRL Golden Boot award. Hale’s captaincy heroics helped the Kiwi Ferns break a seven-year drought with their recent win against the Jillaroos. Hale topped the tackle count, producing 130 tackles and 388 run metres over the international season.

 

NZRL GM of Football & High-Performance Motu Tony says, “The impact both Georgia and Fish have not only on their teammates but their communities especially here in New Zealand is inspiring.

 

To have a year where our two New Zealand captains not only led their teams to historic victories over Australia but also both took home their respective Golden Boots is something special.

 

Winning the Golden Boot awards is a testament to their work ethic, dedication to the jersey and ability to lead from the front.”

 

Matthew Timoko had an outstanding international debut, with the 23-year-old producing class performances across all three matches. The Ellerslie Eagles junior recorded one try, 416 run metres, and 14 tackle breaks throughout the Pacific Championships campaign.

 

Annessa Biddle takes home Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year after exploding onto the international scene. Biddle displayed her dominant ball-running ability and versatility, initially starting on the wing then moving into second row for the final two matches. The Otara native was instrumental in the victory against Tonga’s women, producing one try, 135 run metres, and 24 tackles.

 

Rocco Berry is the Kiwis A Player of the Year after a stellar test match against the Tonga A men. Berry produced a try-saving tackle and a spectacular try assist using great footwork and an even better flick offload. His feats ignited a late-game surge which saw the Kiwis A side come from behind to claim victory 36-26.

 

NZRL GM of Football & High-Performance Motu Tony says, “In a year where we saw 16 debuts in the Black & White jersey plus the return of the Kiwis A, it was no easy feat for our coaches to choose only one stand-out rookie.

 

The depth of this next generation of Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns is exciting and positions us well for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup. I look forward to seeing these young players continue to develop and shine on the international stage

 

 

2023 New Zealand Rugby League Award Winners

 

New Zealand Kiwis Player of the Year – James Fisher-Harris

New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Player of the Year – Georgia Hale

New Zealand Kiwis Rookie of the Year – Matthew Timoko

New Zealand Kiwi Ferns Rookie of the Year – Annessa Biddle

New Zealand Kiwis A Player of the Year – Rocco Berry

 

James Fisher-Harris, Georgia Hale and Jérémy Bourson have each created Golden Boot history after being chosen as the respective 2023 men’s, women’s and wheelchair winners.

Fisher-Harris is the first prop to win the prestigious award since its inception in 1984 and will add the IRL Golden Boot to the Pacific Cup medal he received after leading the Kiwis to a record 30-0 defeat of the Kangaroos and his third consecutive NRL premiership ring with Penrith.

The New Zealand captain was presented with the 2023 IRL Golden Boot by 2000 winner and two-times World Cup-winning Kangaroos captain Brad Fittler at an event in Sydney on Wednesday.

Hale, who is the first forward to win the women’s award, and Bourson – France’s first Golden Boot recipient in any discipline of the game – are both based in the Northern Hemisphere and were unable to attend.

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded each year to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches.

Fisher-Harris was chosen by a panel comprising of Golden Cap recipients Adam Blair, James Graham, Darren Lockyer, Adrian Morley and Ruben Wiki, who are among just nine players to have played more than 50 internationals for their country.

Previous Golden Boot winners Stacey Jones, Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Joey Manu were among the many current and former Kiwis to pay tribute to Fisher-Harris.

Michael Maguire, who had charge of Fisher-Harris in all but one of his 15 appearances for New Zealand, including the Pacific Championships triumph, and members of his coaching staff, also sent messages of congratulations.

“I can’t think of a better bloke to take out such a prestigious award,” Maguire said. “It’s thoroughly deserved.

“In our time together, over the years, I have watched you grow from that young player to winning grand finals and now leading the Kiwis to an emphatic win against Australia, and creating a bit of history.

“You led right from the front, right from the time you walked into the month of the campaign that we had together. You’re an absolute champion and with the way you go about things, and there’s a lot of reasons why you’re such a success in rugby league.

“What an award to have. You have now created a little piece of history for yourself in the international space, along with such a great win.”

Kiwi Ferns coach Ricky Henry was emotional as he told Hale she had been chosen by a panel of Jillaroos great Karyn Murphy, Kiwi dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England 2017 World Cup prop turned rugby league commentator Danika Priim.

“I don’t think this award could go to a player more deserving than Georgia,” Henry said. “She is a professional on and off the field.

“Georgia does the things that other players don’t want to do on the footy field; the things that people don’t get rewarded for or recognised for.

“We know that she is a really hard worker but the biggest growth in her game has been her football IQ and that has made her the player she is today.

“This is a reward for everything you have done for rugby league, for yourself, for your family and for us in the Kiwi Ferns environment. You are a massive role model for all the young girls playing rugby league in New Zealand and Australia.”

Hale, who helped the Kiwi Ferns to a gritty 12-6 defeat of the Jillaroos, edged team-mate Mele Hufanga and rival fullbacks Tamika Upton and Apii Nicholls to become the second successive New Zealander to win the Golden Boot after Raecene McGregor.

The award caps a year in which the 28-year-old lock played both in the Women’s Super League and NRLW, helping the Gold Coast Titans to the club’s inaugural grand final and the Kiwi Ferns to their first win against the Jillaroos since 2016.

“I play rugby league to win premierships or championships or World Cups, so to receive such an accolade like this is a very proud moment and I think of how proud I am to be a Kiwi Fern and to represent the Ferns before and the Ferns to come,” Hale said.

“It’s been a special year. I started my journey in 2023 here at Leeds Rhinos, which I was so fortunate to be a part of, and then was really excited to be able to return home to the Gold Coast and have such a proud season with our Titans girls.

“Then to finish off my season representing the Kiwi Ferns, breaking a seven-year drought back with the girls from back at home, just really put the icing on the cake but I don’t think you can ever be satisfied with what you have done.

“I am just really excited to see what the next steps are for me personally in my career and also with all the teams that I am so fortunate to take the field with.

Fisher-Harris continued the Kiwis’ recent stranglehold on the Golden Boot after Tuivasa-Sheck won in 2019 and Manu received the award last year, with the trophy not awarded in 2020 and 2021 due to the impact of Covid.

He won the award from Kiwis team-mate Joseph Tapine, Kangaroos prop Payne Haas and English halfback Harry Smith, who were shortlisted by the panel from 20 international players nominated by members of the media in Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

The wheelchair 2023 IRL Golden Boot was chosen by Malcolm Kielty (England) and Robert Fassolette (France), the two key figures in establishing the sport, along with another driving force in the game’s development in Martin Coyd, and long serving administrator Niel Wood.

Bourson and England’s Lewis King were shortlisted after two recent internationals between last year’s World Cup finalists, with France triumphing in Leeds and England winning in Marseilles.

The Frenchman received the award in Perpignan from last year’s winner, England’s Seb Bechara, whom he plays alongside at Catalans Dragons.

“It’s a great honour for me,” Bourson said. “There have only been three winners and I am the first Frenchman. It’s important to remember. A lot of people will really like seeing that and I’ll never forget this achievement.

“The next step for the French team is the World Cup, which we have already started preparing for. My singular aim is, very simply, to win the World Cup and the Golden Boot in 2026.”

IRL Chair Troy Grant congratulated Fisher-Harris, Hale and Bourson on their achievements as international player of the year.

“You only need to hear from their coaches and team-mates to know that James, Georgia and Jérémy are deserved winners of the Golden Boot and worthy of having their names alongside some of the greats of our game,” he said.

“Each played a significant role in the achievements of their team at international level this season, in which all three of last year’s World Cup winners were beaten, and they have now created personal history.

“On behalf of the IRL Board, I would like to congratulate the winners, all of the players who were nominated and the members of the judging panels whose status and achievements in the game ensure the Golden Boot remains one of the most prestigious awards in Rugby League.”  

 

IRL Golden Boot Roll of Honour

Men  

1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand)
and Peter Sterling (Australia)
1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
1990 Garry Schofield (England)
1992 Garry Schofield (England)

1991-98 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)
2023 James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)

     WOMEN  

2018 Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
2019 Jess Sergis (Australia)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)
2023 Georgia Hale (New Zealand)

WHEELCHAIR  

2019 Jack Brown (England)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Sebastien Bechara (England)
2023 Jérémy Bourson (France)

28 November 2023

Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris, lock Joseph Tapine and Kangaroos prop Payne Haas are in line to become the first running forward to win the IRL Golden Boot in 20 years after being selected on a short list of four nominees for the 2023 award.

Fisher-Harris and Tapine, who helped New Zealand to a record 30-0 defeat of Australia in the inaugural Pacific Cup final, are vying with Haas and England centre Harry Smith for the 2023 IRL Golden Boot as international player of the year.

Kiwi Ferns trio Georgia Hale, Mele Hufanga, Apii Nicholls and Jillaroos fullback Tamika Upton have been shortlisted for the women’s Golden Boot, while Frenchman Jeremy Bourson and England’s Lewis King are the contenders for the wheelchair Golden Boot.

The last running forward to win the Golden Boot was former Great Britain captain Andy Farrell, who played mostly second-row or lock in his 34 international appearances before switching to rugby union, where he now coaches Ireland.

Former Kangaroos captain Cameron Smith, who is one of nine players to have played more than 50 internationals, won the Golden Boot in 2007 and 2017 but he was a dummy half and not a running forward like Fisher-Harris, Tapine and Haas.

The only other forward to have won the Golden Boot was former New Zealand captain Hugh McGahan in 1987, while England’s Kevin Sinfield played halfback when he received the award in 2012.

The men’s 2023 IRL Golden Boot short list of Fisher-Harris, Haas, Smith and Tapine was chosen by a panel comprising of Golden Cap recipients Adam Blair, James Graham, Darren Lockyer, Adrian Morley and Ruben Wiki, who have each played more than 50 internationals.

The quartet were selected from a long list of 20 players nominated by members of the media in Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, after the conclusion of the Pacific Championships and the historic England-Tonga series.

The women’s IRL Golden Boot winner short list was chosen from 14 nominees after the Pacific Championships, which featured New Zealand’s first triumph over the Jillaroos since 2016, and internationals in Europe.

Players from England, France, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands were also nominated, before the New Zealand trio of Hale, Hufanga and Nicholls and Australia’s Upton were shortlisted.

The women’s 2023 IRL Golden Boot winner will be selected by Australian Jillaroos great Karyn Murphy, former New Zealand dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England 2017 World Cup prop turned rugby league commentator Danika Priim.

The judges of the 2023 Wheelchair IRL Golden Boot are Malcolm Kielty (England) and Robert Fassolette (France), the two key figures in establishing the sport, along with another driving force in the game’s development in Martin Coyd, and long serving administrator Niel Wood, who has been a member of the IRL’s Wheelchair Rugby League advisory committee.

Bourson and King were shortlisted for the Golden Boot after last weekend’s international between World Cup finalists England and France in Marseilles, in which the visitors avenged their defeat in Leeds three weeks earlier.

France’s Lionel Alazard and the England trio of Sebastien Bechara, who is the current Golden Boot holder, Jack Brown and Nathan Collins were also considered.

IRL Chair Troy Grant congratulated the 10 players shortlisted for the Men’s, Women’s and Wheelchair Golden Boot awards.

“The IRL Golden Boot is one of the game’s most prestigious awards and any of the nominated players would be a worthy winner,” Mr Grant said.

“In recent weeks we have seen all three of last year’s World Cup winners – the Kangaroos, Jillaroos and England Wheelchair team – beaten, and this shows how closely contested the international game is.

“That is reflected in the nominations for the 2023 Golden Boot and there is no clear-cut candidate for any of the awards.

“On behalf of the IRL, I would like to thank the panels of former greats of our game, and those who have made a significant contribution to the development of Wheelchair Rugby League, for their involvement in helping to choose the 2023 international player of the year.”

The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.

The 2022 IRL Golden Boot winners were New Zealand’s Joey Manu and Raecene McGregor, and England Wheelchair star Sebastien Bechara.

The winners of the 2023 IRL Golden Boot awards will be announced in early December.

 

IRL Golden Boot Short Lists

Men

James Fisher-Harris (New Zealand)
Payne Haas (Australia)
Harry Smith (England)
Joseph Tapine (New Zealand)

Women

Georgia Hale (New Zealand)
Mele Hufanga (New Zealand)
Apii Nicholls (New Zealand)
Tamika Upton (Australia)

Wheelchair

Jeremy Bourson (France)
Lewis King (England)

Previous IRL Golden Boot Winners

Men  

1984 Wally Lewis (Australia)
1985 Brett Kenny (Australia)
1986 Garry Jack (Australia)
1987 Hugh McGahan (New Zealand)
and Peter Sterling (Australia)
1988 Ellery Hanley (England)
1989 Mal Meninga (Australia)
1990 Garry Schofield (England)
1992 Garry Schofield (England)

1991-98 No award given
1999 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2000 Brad Fittler (Australia)
2001 Andrew Johns (Australia)
2002 Stacey Jones (New Zealand)
2003 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2004 Andrew Farrell (England)
2005 Anthony Minichiello (Australia)
2006 Darren Lockyer (Australia)
2007 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2008 Billy Slater (Australia)
2009 Greg Inglis (Australia)
2010 Benji Marshall (New Zealand)
2011 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2012 Kevin Sinfield (England)
2013 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2014 Shaun Johnson (New Zealand)
2015 Johnathan Thurston (Australia)
2016 Cooper Cronk (Australia)
2017 Cameron Smith (Australia)
2018 Tommy Makinson (England)
2019 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Joey Manu (New Zealand)

WOMEN  

2018 Isabelle Kelly (Australia)
2019 Jess Sergis (Australia)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Raecene McGregor (New Zealand)

WHEELCHAIR  

2019 Jack Brown (England)
2020 No award given
2021 No award given
2022 Sebastien Bechara (England)

 

A panel comprising some of the most accomplished players in international rugby league will select the men’s and women’s 2023 IRL Golden Boot winners after nominations were finalised following the recent Pacific Championships and historic England-Tonga series.

Golden Cap recipients Darren Lockyer (Australia), Adrian Morley (England), Ruben Wiki (New Zealand), James Graham (England) and Adam Blair (New Zealand), who are among just nine players to have played 50 internationals for their country, will choose the men’s IRL Golden Boot winner.

The women’s IRL Golden Boot winner will be decided by Australian Jillaroos great Karyn Murphy, former New Zealand dual code superstar Honey Hireme-Smiler and England 2017 World Cup prop turned rugby league commentator Danika Priim.

The judges of the 2023 Wheelchair IRL Golden Boot include Malcolm Kielty (England) and Robert Fassolette (France), the two key figures in establishing the sport, along with another driving force in the game’s development in Martin Coyd, and long serving administrator Niel Wood, who has been a member of the IRL’s Wheelchair Rugby League advisory committee.

IRL Chair Troy Grant said: “The IRL Golden Boot is one of the oldest and most highly regarded awards in rugby league, so it is fitting that some of the giants of the international game decide the winners.

“Having former players of such standing choose the men’s and women’s international player of the year adds to the prestige of the IRL Golden Boot and we thank them for their support of the award.

“There could also be no-one better qualified to determine the winner of the Wheelchair Golden Boot than those who pioneered the sport and the IRL is grateful for their involvement.”

New Zealand players dominate the long lists of men’s and women’s candidates, chosen by members of the media in Australia, England, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, after the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns triumphed against Australia in the Pacific Championships.

Kiwis stars Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Jahrome Hughes, James Fisher-Harris, Joey Tapine and Ronaldo Mulitalo headline the contenders for the men’s Golden Boot, while 2022 winner Raecene McGregor and Kiwis Ferns team-mates Apii Nicholls, Mele Hufanga and Georgia Hale are candidates for the women’s award.

England’s Harry Smith, Mikey Lewis, John Bateman and Matty Ashton have also been nominated after the recent 3-0 series defeat of Tonga, alongside the Kangaroos quartet of Cameron Murray, Harry Grant, Payne Haas and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow.

As seen on nzherald.co.nz

As Kiwis fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ran on to the field on Saturday against the Kangaroos in Hamilton, he repeated a simple mantra.

It had been on his mind all week, as he promised himself – and his teammates – that he would deliver.

I can, he said quietly. And I will.

But this was more than just motivation, as he was battling the odds.

The 28-year-old produced a man of the match performance, in easily the best game of his international career. And he did it despite a broken rib, which meant he couldn’t train fully over the past two weeks, after the bone was smashed up against Samoa at Eden Park.

“It was really painful in the Samoan game,” Nicoll-Klokstad told the Herald. “It was a bit sore last week. I had to get two separate painkilling jabs and have a huge pad. But it came back to that mentality thing; I missed the mark mentally last week.”

There were many heroes on Saturday as the Kiwis completed a famous victory over the Kangaroos – just their second in 10 clashes since 2016 – with their 30-0 triumph. But Nicoll-Klokstad typified the desire, determination and camaraderie in this squad.

It was only his fourth test at fullback but the kind of performance that will be long remembered, especially given the physical baggage. Three weeks ago, against Samoa, he felt an instant rush of pain as he braced for contact in a tackle. It was a good, legal hit but something wasn’t quite right and it was more than a knock.

”It happened early in the game, 15 minutes in,” said Nicoll-Klokstad. “I ran off the field at halftime to get it jabbed and that’s when they found out.”

It made the following week a challenge, as the Kiwis prepared to play Australia in Melbourne.

”That was the hardest,” said Nicoll-Klokstad. “I had to get my head around moving with it and knowing that, yep, it was broken and I’ve just got to get through the session.”

He didn’t do any contact work but still couldn’t avoid reminders.

”I couldn’t even sneeze, that was a bit painful,” he said, also feeling while it sleeping. It was a compromised preparation and he was far from his best in Melbourne, as the Kiwis were outpointed 36-18.

Nicoll-Klokstad was pinned in his own territory for much of the match, unable to impose himself on the game.

”It was a good learning curve for me personally, I felt I was a little bit too much in my head and missed my assignment,” he said. “I didn’t play the standard I wanted to play and it came back to a mentality thing.”

”I was really looking forward to this week because I knew I could be a lot better, getting back to what I know how to do. It was simple; I just had a phrase in my head the whole week. It was – ‘I can and I will’.”

Before Saturday’s match he had injections in two separate areas to numb the area, popped a couple of painkillers and strapped a large pad over his left chest.

”Then I was good to go.”

And what a display. He made 277 metres from 30 carries, with six tackle busts. He created two line breaks, set up a try with a reflex pass and organised his defence superbly.

”I wanted to make amends,” said Nicoll-Klokstad. “Be better, be my best. Hopefully the boys are proud of the effort.”

With jubilant fans staying on a long time around the final whistle, the magnitude of the victory began to sink in.

”I’m honoured, proud, grateful – so many emotions and feelings,” said Nicoll-Klokstad. “First win against Australia and what a way to do it too.”

His proud coach Maguire summed up the effort.

“He actually wasn’t meant to play,” admitted Maguire. “It just goes to show what players will do when they are playing for their country. He wasn’t quite sure after the Samoan game if he would keep going but he didn’t want to leave [camp] and when you have got things like that going on within your group and then good leadership, you come up with some special performances.”

Read more on nzherald.co.nz

As seen on nzherald.co.nz

Kiwis’ winger Ronaldo Mulitalo has found personal redemption.

Mulitalo capped off a difficult three weeks – revealing he had copped plenty of online abuse and vitriol during the Pacific Championships campaign – with a brilliant display in the Kiwis’ 30-0 win over Australia in Hamilton.

The negativity is nothing new for Mulitalo. For more than two years he has faced questions, jibes and doubts over his commitment to his country of birth, after the controversial State of Origin eligibility drama in 2021.

Mulitalo was born and raised in Auckland, playing for the Ellerslie Eagles, among other clubs, before his family emigrated to Brisbane when he was 13. He represented Queensland at the Under-18 and Under-20 levels and was called up for Origin in 2021, before being dramatically scratched 24 hours before kickoff, as a check of the revised rules found he was ineligible, due to his arrival in the Sunshine State after his 13th birthday.

That caused a media storm at the time – with many questioning the inept administration that led to the blunder – while Mulitalo was devastated.

“Heartbroken and lost for words,” he wrote on social media. “All I wanted to do was don this Maroon jersey and represent this great state.

That led to questions, when he was selected for New Zealand last year, that it was only his fallback option.

But there can’t be any doubts about his commitment now. He was a strong performer at last year’s World Cup, then had his finest match in the black and white V last Saturday, with numerous telling interventions in the stunning victory, also scoring his eighth try in nine tests.

“One of the things that tested me was people questioning my pride in New Zealand and my jersey,” said Mulitalo. “But when I set my mind to something and it means something to me, I go balls-out for it and it definitely feels like that, showing my pride in this jersey and what it means to me. I’m not just here because I’m here, I’m here to bring my game and put some pride in the jersey.

Mulitalo said he had put the “whole saga” of the Queensland episode behind him – ”I’ve moved on with my life” – even if a lot of other people haven’t.

“The whole week I have been getting abused, the whole campaign, from certain people for different things,” the 23-year-old said. “I’ve just been getting hammered, not only online. My family sees stuff like that and I just really wanted to come out with a statement. I know that this game meant so much to New Zealand in general and the game of rugby league in New Zealand. Hopefully there [were] some kids in the crowd or watching on television that saw how proud they could be of New Zealand and be in this jersey one day.”

Mulitalo was electric, particularly in the first half. Two long-range line breaks sparked the Kiwis – and the crowd – as did his celebrations after the first try, his eighth in nine tests. He also soared, AFL-style, to claim a defensive goal-line drop-out – which defused pressure at a crucial stage – and produced one of the hits of the season on Valentine Holmes, flattening the Kangaroos winger.

“I don’t even remember the hit – I just got up,” said Mulitalo. “I don’t normally tackle so it was unfamiliar waters that I was in. I got up, [carried] on like a goose and hopefully [gave] the boys a bit of a lift.”

Though the Kiwis won’t reassemble until next October – due to the NRL’s unfortunate scheduling – the memory of what unfolded last Saturday will last a long time.

“I’m super proud of the whole group,” said Mulitalo. “How we have pulled ourselves together, representing our country like that means the world to us.”

“Whether we made history, nothing mattered more than a win for us and putting pride back in the jersey and making New Zealand so proud of us. Whether we won by one point or 30 points it doesn’t matter, a win was the main thing.”

Read more on nzherald.co.nz

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The Kiwis have the home-ground advantage while the Kangaroos have the momentum heading into Saturday’s Pacific Cup Final in Hamilton.

With Val Holmes contributing 16 points and Lindsay Collins grabbing the first try double of his career, the Kangaroos proved too strong for the Kiwis in a 36-18 triumph in Melbourne last weekend.

The Kangaroos have now won all 12 Test matches played in Australia since Mal Meninga took the helm but they will face a hostile reception from the fans at Waikato’s FMG Stadium and also from a fired up Kiwi forward pack seeking redemption.

Both sides are set to be at full strength for the decider and nothing will be left in the tank in the final match of another long and testing season for the game’s superstars.

The Kiwis have proven countless times during the past 20 years that lead-up form goes out the window when the silverware is on the line and the likes of James Fisher-Harris and Joe Tapine are sure to bring the heat to the early exchanges.

Team News

Kiwis: Coach Michael Maguire sticks with the same 17-man squad that went down to the Kangaroos in Melbourne with Joey Manu remaining in the centres and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad staying at fullback. Roosters youngster Naufahu Whyte is 18th Man once again.

Kangaroos: Props Payne Haas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui return to the side after being rested last weekend so Jake Trbojevic and Tom Flegler make way. Liam Martin is also back in the starting side so Reuben Cotter reverts to the bench and last week’s debutant Nicho Hynes goes to 18th Man.

Stat Attack

• This will be the first time since the Four Nations final in Wellington in 2014 that NZ has hosted a championship decider
• This will be only the second time since 2014 that the Kiwis have played the Kangaroos in NZ
• The last Trans-Tasman clash on New Zealand soil was the one-off Test at Go Media Stadium in 2018 when the Kiwis triumphed 26-24.
• Both sides completed at 82 per cent in their clash in Melbourne last weekend. The Kangaroos completed 32 of 39 sets and the Kiwis completed 28 of 34.
• Adam Blair and Ruben Wiki hold the record for most appearances for NZ against Australia with 24.

Read the full article on nrl.com

Auckland, New Zealand, October 31, 2023 – For the third week running the New Zealand Kiwis will have the same side when they face the Kangaroos in Saturday’s Pacific Championships final at FMG Stadium in Hamilton (5.00pm kick-off).

The competition decider pits the Trans-Tasman foes against each other on New Zealand soil for only the third time in 11 years.

The most recent was the one-off international at Go Media Stadium in Auckland in 2018 when the Kiwis stunned the Australians 26-24.

Five years on only centre Joseph Manu – who debuted that night – and captain James Fisher-Harris remain in the line-up playing this week.

In the only other Trans-Tasman battle in New Zealand since 2012, the Kiwis beat the Kangaroos 22-18 in the Four Nations final in Wellington in 2014.

The only survivor from the New Zealand side that night is the 33-year-old Kieran Foran who’s set for his 31^st Test this week after making his debut as a 19-year-old in 2009.

The Kiwis go into Saturday’s final on the back of last Saturday’s 18-36 loss to Australia in Melbourne but are buoyed by having a rare opportunity to meet them at home.

“The players are excited about playing in such an important Test and doing so in front of a passionate home crowd,” said Kiwi head coach Michael Maguire.

“We’ve got great belief in our side and I’ve got a lot on confidence in where we’re going.

“We’ve had a good look at where we need to be better from last week and the boys will take those lessons into Saturday’s match in Hamilton.”

Jahrome Hughes and Dylan Brown are paired in the halves for the sixth consecutive Test while Penrith’s premiership-winning props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota again lead the Kiwis’ charge in the middle of the park.

In the past 26 years, New Zealand and Australia have clashed only 15 times on this side of the Tasman with the Kiwis claiming six wins to Australia’s eight with one draw.

 

PACIFIC CHAMPIONSHIPS FINAL

 

NZ KIWIS v KANGAROOS

FMG STADIUM, HAMILTON

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2023

 

 

NO.	PLAYERS NAME	HERITAGE NUMBER
1	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	#820
2	RONALDO MULITALO	#824
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	#832
4	JOSEPH MANU	#815
5	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	#808
6	DYLAN BROWN	#826
7	JAHROME HUGHES	#819
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (c)	#801
9	KIERAN FORAN	#757
10	MOSES LEOTA	#827
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	#817
12	BRITON NIKORA	#818
13	JOSEPH TAPINE	#800
14	FA’AMANU BROWN	#835
15	NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA	#804
16	GRIFFIN NEAME	#834
17	LEO THOMPSON	#833
18	NAUFAHU WHYTE	–
19	WIREMU GREIG	–
20	KEANO KINI	–

 

Auckland, New Zealand, October 30, 2023 – The Kiwis take rugby league back to New Zealand rugby union’s home ground Eden Park tomorrow to begin their build-up for Saturday’s Pacific Championships against the Australian Kangaroos at FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton (5.00pm kick-off).

It was at Eden Park that the Kiwis opened their campaign with a 50-0 win over Toa Samoa on an emotion-charged occasion on October 21.

The two finalists arrived in Auckland yesterday following the Kangaroos’ 36-18 win over the New Zealanders in Melbourne on Saturday night.

“We appreciate the opportunity to have the Kiwis training at Eden Park,” said New Zealand Rugby League CEO Greg Peters.

“It’s a big week for the game in New Zealand, the first time since the Four Nations final in Wellington in 2014 that we’ve had a championship decider played here.

“It’s also only the second time since then that the Kiwis have played the Kangaroos in New Zealand.”

The last Trans-Tasman clash on New Zealand soil was the one-off Test at Go Media Stadium in 2018 when the Kiwis triumphed 26-24.

After training in Auckland tomorrow, the Kiwis travel to Hamilton on Wednesday where they will mix with the public at a signing session at Centre Place in the central city scheduled for 3.00pm.

They have a field session on Thursday morning before winding up their on-field preparations at FMG Waikato Stadium on Friday.

 

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As seen on NRL.com

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The Kangaroos and Kiwis meet in a preview of the Pacific Championships final with both sides having already qualified for next week’s decider in Hamilton.

The last time the great Trans-Tasman rivals met was last year’s World Cup semi-final with the Kangaroos getting home 16-14 on the back of tries to Josh Addo-Carr, Val Holmes and Cam Murray.

Auckland, New Zealand, October 24, 2023 – An unchanged squad has been named for the New Zealand Kiwis’ Pacific Championships contest against the Kangaroos at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Saturday night (8.10pm kick-off local time).

Kieran Foran is listed in the #9 jersey this week after being selected in the #14 shirt but starting at dummy half in the Kiwis’ commanding 50-0 victory over Toa Samoa at Eden Park last Saturday.

The 33-year-old 282-game NRL veteran is set for his 30^th Test since his debut as a 19-year-old against England in the 2009 Four Nations in Huddersfield.

With frontline hookers unavailable, Kiwi head coach Michael Maguire called on halfback Foran to fill the void at dummy half.

He responded with a courageous display in an unbroken 58-minuter shift, finishing the encounter with 52 metres from eight runs and 31 tackles as he fronted up to the Samoans in the middle of the park.

“Kieran put his head in the middle against Samoa and did such a great job for the team,” said Kiwi head coach Michael Maguire.

“He’s a hugely passionate Kiwi who has been in this space for 14 years and he’d die for his teammates. He loves the jersey.”

The Kiwis’ win over Samoa followed Australia’s 38-12 victory over the beaten Rugby League World Cup finalist on October 14 ensuring the Trans-Tasman neighbours will meet in the final at FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on November 4.

First they face off in just the fourth Test between the two countries in the Victorian capital.

The first was in 1991 when the New Zealanders famously stunned the Australians 24-8 at Olympic Park.

They met at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome in the 2006 Tri Nations, the Kiwis leading 15-14 before Australia scored late to win 20-15.

Their last meeting was at AAMI Park in the 2006 Anzac Test when the Kangaroos held on for 12-8 triumph.

 

NZ KIWIS v KANGAROOS

AAMI PARK, MELBOURNE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2023

 

 

NO.	PLAYERS NAME	HERITAGE NUMBER
1	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	#820
2	RONALDO MULITALO	#824
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	#832
4	JOSEPH MANU	#815
5	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	#808
6	DYLAN BROWN	#826
7	JAHROME HUGHES	#819
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (C)	#801
9	KIERAN FORAN	#757
10	MOSES LEOTA	#827
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	#817
12	BRITON NIKORA	#818
13	JOSEPH TAPINE	#800
14	FA’AMANU BROWN	#835
15	NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA	#804
16	GRIFFIN NEAME	#834
17	LEO THOMPSON	#833
18	NAUFAHU WHYTE	Debutant
19	DANNY LEVI	#806
20	WIREMU GREIG	Debutant
21	KEANO KINI	Debutant

 

 

New Zealand Kiwis A and Mate Ma’a Tonga A added another vibrant chapter to the nations’ burgeoning rugby league rivalry, getting the Eden Park triple-header underway with an 11-try thriller.

The Nathan Cayless-coached Kiwis A side ultimately prevailed 36-26 in a match characterised by big momentum swings. Kiwis A were ahead of the clock in storming to a 12-0 advantage, but Tonga A dominated the majority of the first half with the next three tries.

Three unanswered tries after the break put Kiwis A on course for victory, though a late flurry from Tonga A ensured the result was in the balance until the latter stages.

Following stirring pre-match Sipi Tau and haka challenges that would have done any Tonga or Kiwis side that has graced the international arena proud, the home side needed just two minutes to post the opening try after Tonga A’s kick-off sailed dead on the full.

Kiwis A halfback Zach Dockar-Clay and fullback Keano Kini combined superbly to give Melbourne Storm wing sensation Will Warbrick a path to the corner. Warriors livewire Taine Tuaupiki – lining up in the No.6 jersey – bounced the sideline conversion off the crossbar and over for an early 6-0 lead.

Tonga A successfully withstood another dangerous attacking raid, but an ill-conceived offload 10 metres out from their own line under strong defensive pressure gifted a try to Kiwis A second-rower Jack Howarth, a former Australian Schoolboys rep who made his NRL debut with the Storm in August.

After narrowly avoiding further scoreboard damage, Tonga A’s first genuine attacking set came unstuck when a deflected kick saw imposing Warriors NSW Cup tyro Jacob Laban charge 30 metres upfield for Kiwis A. Another chance slipped through the visitors’ fingers when fullback Delouise Hoeter couldn’t grasp a brilliant chip kick with no defenders in front of him.

The errors kept flowing from Kiwis A midway through the first half, but stout goal-line defence compensated for the drop-off in ball control.

The torrent of possession finally told in the 29th minute, however, when a barnstorming dummy-half run from ex-Warriors hooker Temple Koloamatangi-Kalepo opened Tonga A’s account. Naati Teaupa’s conversion pulled the scores back to 12-6.

Tonga A squared the ledger soon afterwards on the back of a magnificent charge from North Queensland-bound centre Viliami Vailea. Auckland-born 19-year-old second-rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki – who played 12 NRL games for the Cowboys this season – busted the Kiwis A defence a couple of plays later and plunged over for his side’s second try.

The red wave continued to wash over a shellshocked Kiwis A outfit as Salesi Foketi won the race to a deft grubber two minutes out from the break, giving Tonga A a stunning 18-12 halftime lead.

Cayless’ charges returned from the sheds with far greater impetus. Kiwis A forced an early line dropout before Warriors top-grade regular Rocco Berry was held up over the line, but the centre’s incisive run and quick play-the-ball during the hosts’ next set laid the platform for an equalising try.

Hooker Danny Levi, a New Zealand Test rep at the 2017 World Cup and part of the current Kiwis squad, sliced up the Tongan defence and found quicksilver Titans teenager Kini backing up to finish off a 50-metre try under the posts.

Kiwis A regained the lead in the 53rd minute through recent Warriors NRL debutant Paul Roache, who took an offload from Dockar-Clay and made a beeline for the in-goal from 10 metres out.

Multiple errors from Tonga A proved costly as Kiwis A carved out a 12-point advantage at the hour mark.

Kini’s exquisite tip-on of a Tuaupiki pass from a scrum win gave fellow 2023 NRL newcomer, winger Ali Leiataua, a saloon passage to score out wide. Tuaupiki nailed another conversion from touch, his fifth of the afternoon.

Tonga A struck back with 14 minutes remaining – and in their first genuine visit to the opposition’s 20-metre zone in the second half. Classy backline hands opened up some space for big Burleigh Bears winger Tony Francis, who produced a sensational finish to slam the ball on the goal-line. But the missed conversion kept the scoreline at 30-22.

The result was effectively sealed soon after the restart, with Tonga A unable to clean up the kick-off. Great footwork and an even better flick offload from Berry sent Warbrick crashing in for his second try, while another superb sideline goal from Tuaupiki provided Kiwis A with a vital 14-point buffer.

A scoring chance fell by the wayside for Tonga A when Vailea’s long-range run from a Kiwis A mistake was foiled by a magnificent chase and cover tackle from former clubmate Berry. But with three minutes on the clock, excellent vision from Koloamatangi-Kalepo put left winger Sione Hopoate over untouched for the last try of a highly entertaining encounter.

New Zealand A captain Kalani Going, a revelation for the Warriors’ NSW Cup side and an NRL debutant in the final round of 2023, looked every bit the leader on both sides of the ball. Young Kiwis A forwards Howarth, Wiremu Greig, Pasami Saulo, and twin towers Benjamin Te Kura and Joe Chan grabbed their representative opportunity with both hands, while Dockar-Clay, Tuaupiki and Kini consistently provided offensive spark.

New Zealand Kiwis A 36 (Will Warbrick 2, Jack Howarth, Keano Kini, Paul Roache, Ali Leiataua tries; Taine Tuaupiki 6 goals) defeated Tonga A 26 (Temple Koloamatangi-Kalepo, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Salesi Foketi, Tony Francis tries; Naati Teaupa 3 goals) at Eden Park, Auckland on Saturday, October 21.

October 19, 2023

 

Kalani Going has become the second Northlander in a week to be named to lead a national team after being chosen as captain of the New Zealand Kiwis A side to face Mate Ma’a Tonga A at Eden Park on Saturday.

The 26-year-old follows in the footsteps of Kohukohu-raised James Fisher-Harris who was unveiled on Sunday as the Kiwis’ new captain for their Pacific Championships campaign starting against Toa Samoa on Saturday.

The proud Northlanders were both opponents and teammates in their younger years when Going was at Kamo High School and Fisher-Harris attended Whangarei Boys’ High School.

This week they have been brought together as brothers in arms alongside 35 other players in a camp that’s the first of its kind in New Zealand rugby league history.

For Going the appointment as captain adds another layer to an extraordinary past 12 months.

It has seen him go from mliking cows on the family farm to making his NRL debut with the One New Zealand Warriors, selection in the New Zealand Kiwis A squad and now the captain’s job as well.

A standout as his club’s captain in the New South Wales Cup, he finished the season by being named the One New Zealand Warriors’ NSW Cup Player of the Year and also made the NSW Cup Team of the Year.

Going will lead a Kiwis A side which boasts players with solid NRL experience and a host of the country’s most promising prospects.

He has been named at loose forward in a pack which includes Canberra’s former Kiwi hooker Danny Levi and Māori All Stars front rowers Pasami Saulo (Canberra) and Wiremu Greig (Parramatta). Halfback Zach Dockar-Clay (Sydney Roosters) and utility Asu Kepoaa also bank significant experience.

Named in the centres are 2019 Kiwi World Nines representative Bailey Simonsson (Parramatta) and Rocco Berry (One New Zealand Warriors), who has just come off his best NRL season so far; their fathers are both former All Blacks (Paul Simonsson and Marty Berry).

The side is packed with NRL rookies.

Apart from Going, winger and former All Black Sevens player Will Warbrick established himself in his debut season with Melbourne while others to make their maiden appearances this year have been fullback Keano Kini (Gold Coast), winger Ali Leiataua (One New Zealand Warriors), standoff Taine Tuaupiki (One New Zealand Warriors), second rower Jack Howarth (Melbourne) and bench forwards Paul Roache (One New Zealand Warriors) and Jack Chan (Melbourne). Canberra’s Trey Mooney, listed as 18^th man, is also a rookie, his debut last year being his sole appearance before had added four games this season.

Second rower Jacob Laban (One New Zealand Warriors) is yet to make his first-grade debut as is giant bench forward Benjamin Te Kura (Brisbane) and 19^th man Tanner Stowers-Smith (One New Zealand Warriors).

 

NZ KIWIS A v MATE MA’A TONGA A

EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND

1.30PM, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

  

NO.	PLAYERS NAME	CLUB
1	KEANO KINI	Gold Coast
2	WILLIAM WARBRICK	Melbourne
3	ROCCO BERRY	One New Zealand Warriors
4	BAILEY SIMONSSON	Parramatta
5	ALI LEIATAUA	One New Zealand Warriors
6	TAINE TUAUPIKI	One New Zealand Warriors
7	ZACH DOCKAR-CLAY	Sydney Roosters
8	PASAMI SAULO	Canberra
9	DANNY LEVI	Canberra
10	WIREMU GREIG	Parramatta
11	JACK HOWARTH	Melbourne
12	JACOB LABAN	One New Zealand Warriors
13	KALANI GOING	One New Zealand Warriors
14	PAUL ROACHE	One New Zealand Warriors
15	JOE CHAN	Melbourne
16	BENJAMIN TE KURA	Brisbane
17	ASU KEPAOA	Wests Tigers
18	TREY MOONEY	Canberra
19	TANNER STOWERS-SMITH	One New Zealand Warriors
COACH	NATHAN CAYLESS

The promising batch of players chosen to represent New Zealand Kiwis A in the opening match of Saturday’s triple-header at Eden Park will be eyeing the clash with Tonga A as a stepping stone to full Test honours.  

A 15-strong Kiwis A squad laced with experienced first-graders, emerging fringe NRL players and gun teenagers was named last week; they will be joined by three members of Michael Maguire’s Kiwis group not selected for the Pacific Championships Test against Toa Samoa.  

The selection of four Kiwis A tyros – Wests Tigers’ Asu Kepaoa, and Warriors trio Ali Leiataua, Jacob Laban and Tanner Stowers-Smith – in particular is a ringing endorsement of New Zealand Rugby League’s representative pathways.  

Versatile 23-year-old Kepaoa has already racked up 40 NRL appearances for the Tigers after being lured to Sydney by the Roosters aged just 17 and earning his NSW Cup spurs with North Sydney Bears.  

The Auckland junior represented Akarana Falcons and Counties Manukau Stingrays at age-group level, winning selection in the New Zealand Under-16s Merit Team, the New Zealand Residents 18s and – after linking with the Roosters – the 2019 Junior Kiwis side that featured the likes of Griffin Neame and Jordan Riki.  

Snapped up by the then-Maguire-coached Tigers midway through 2020, Kepaoa played five top-grade games on the wing and crossed for four tries. He had an extended NRL stint in the centres at the back end of 2022, while this year his 19 matches (in which he scored five tries) included starts in the second-row, in the centres and on the wing.  

Leiataua made his NRL debut in June as the Warriors memorably spoiled Canberra centre Jarrod Croker’s 300th game celebrations in a blistering 36-14 victory. The 20-year-old produced a superb display on both sides of the ball opposite the milestone man to announce himself as a star of the future.  

A hamstring injury suffered during that match sidelined Leiataua for more than two months, but he returned in time to play a standout role in the Warriors’ NSW Cup playoffs charge that ended at the preliminary final stage. In 16 NSW Cup appearances in 2023, Leiataua scored 10 tries, made 13 line-breaks, chalked up 77 tackle-breaks and six try assists, and averaged 137 running metres.  

The nephew of Warriors and Kiwis great Ali Lautiiti and the brother of Kiwi Ferns rep Onjeurlina Leiataua, the athletic outside back is a Papatoetoe Panthers junior whose representative achievements include New Zealand Residents 16s selection in 2019 (from Counties Manukau Stingrays) and New Zealand 18s Schools selection (from King’s College). A member of the Warriors’ inaugural SG Ball squad in 2020, Leiataua played for Auckland Blue in the 2021 NZRL Under-20s tournament before outlining his potential for Redcliffe Dolphins in the 2022 QRL Colts competition.  

Randwick Kingfishers (Wellington) product Jacob Laban – born in Moto’otua, Samoa – represented New Zealand Residents 16s in 2020 before finishing his secondary school studies in Auckland at Kelston Boys’ High. He was named College Sport Wellington’s rugby league player of the year in 2019 and earned the same award under the College Sport Auckland banner in 2021.  

Signed by the Warriors, Laban played in Redcliffe Dolphins’ under-18 and under-20 teams in 2022 and began this year in the Warriors’ SG Ball line-up. The 19-year-old second-rower’s rapid progress continued via 17 appearances at NSW Cup level – scoring five tries, and averaging 74 metres and 24 tackles a game – while he received a call-up to the Warriors’ extended bench for the final-round clash with the Dolphins.  

Tanner Stowers-Smith, also 19, capped a stunning 2023 rise with a late call-up to join six Warriors clubmates in the Kiwis A squad.  

The highly impressive middle forward hails from Canterbury Rugby League club Halswell Hornets and attended St Bede’s College, while he was briefly contracted to Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. A staple of Canterbury and South Island Scorpions age-group tournament teams, Stowers-Smith kicked off this season by captaining the Warriors’ SG Ball side.  

Stowers-Smith eventually made 13 NSW Cup appearances – including all three of the Warriors’ finals matches – and made a mighty impression in his five starts at prop or lock and eight interchange outings.  

An industrious worker on attack and defence with a dash of X-factor, Stowers-Smith comes from esteemed rugby league stock. His great-grandfather, Pat Smith, is a Canterbury legend and has the rare distinction of captaining the Kiwis in all 36 matches (including 10 Tests) he played for his country from 1947-49. CRL’s premier clubs vie for the Pat Smith Challenge Trophy on grand final day.  

New Zealand Kiwis A’s showdown with Tonga A kicks off at Eden Park at 1.30pm on Saturday, October 21. 

October 18, 2023

Four debutants have been named for the New Zealand Kiwis’ opening Pacific Championships match against Toa Samoa at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday (6.00pm kick-off).

Auckland-born Canberra centre Matthew Timoko is the only newcomer in the backline while Christchurch-born former Toa Samoa international Fa’amanu Brown (Newcastle) is set for his Kiwi debut at hooker.

The other two newcomers are West Coaster Griffin Neame (North Queensland) and Gisborne-born Leo Thompson (Newcastle) on the interchange.

Head coach Michael Maguire’s first selection of the year features 12 players who lined up for the Kiwis in their last international, the 14-16 loss to the Kangaroos in the Rugby League World Cup semifinal in Leeds on November 12 last year.

Winger Jamayne Isaako is recalled to the New Zealand team after last playing in the 2-0 series win against the touring Great Britain side in 2019.

“The core of the side is built around players who have shown the passion they have for the Kiwi jersey in the past,” said Maguire.

“Joining them are four players who are about to represent their country at this level for the first time. That’s hugely exciting for them and their families as it is for our whole group.”

The well-travelled Brown (28) provides significant international experience having represented Samoa since 2016 including at last year’s Rugby League World Cup in England.

Greymouth-raised Neame (22), who has made 43 NRL appearances for the Cowboys since 2021, was a non-playing member of the Kiwis’ squad for their mid-season Test against Mate Ma’a Tonga in Auckland last year.

The 23-year-old Thompson started the season by representing the Māori All Stars side against the Indigenous All Stars in Rotorua in February before making 25 appearances for the Knights to boost his NRL career tally to 41 since his debut last year.

Timoko (23) has made 62 appearances for the Raiders in the past four years, playing all 25 of their matches in 2023 when he finished with 11 tries, 118 tackle breaks and averaged 158 metres a game.

 

 

NZ KIWIS v TOA SAMOA

EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2023

 

NO.	PLAYERS NAME	HERITAGE NUMBER
1	CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	#820
2	RONALDO MULITALO	#824
3	MATTHEW TIMOKO	Debutant
4	JOSEPH MANU	#815
5	JAMAYNE ISAAKO	#808
6	DYLAN BROWN	#826
7	JAHROME HUGHES	#819
8	JAMES FISHER-HARRIS (C)	#801
9	FA’AMANU BROWN	Debutant
10	MOSES LEOTA	#827
11	ISAIAH PAPALI’I	#817
12	BRITON NIKORA	#818
13	JOSEPH TAPINE	#800
14	KIERAN FORAN	#757
15	NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA	#804
16	GRIFFIN NEAME	Debutant
17	LEO THOMPSON	Debutant
18	NAUFAHU WHYTE	Debutant
19	WIREMU GREIG	Debutant
20	DANNY LEVI	#806
21	KEANO KINI	Debutant

 

 

 

 October 15, 2023

Penrith’s three-times NRL premiership-winning prop James Fisher-Harris has been named to lead the New Zealand Kiwis in their Pacific Championships campaign.

The 27-year-old Northlander’s captaincy appointment was announced last night as the Kiwis and the New Zealand Kiwis A squads assembled in Auckland ahead of the Labour Weekend triple-header at Eden Park next Saturday.

The Kiwis take on Toa Samoa while the New Zealand A side will face Mate Ma’a Tonga A on a day when the Kiwis Ferns meet Mate Ma’a Tonga.

Fisher-Harris takes over the captaincy from veteran Kiwi Jesse Bromwich who has called time on his international career.

The 37 players selected for the two New Zealand teams gathered with staff and an array of Kiwi greats for last night’s announcement.

Ruben Wiki, Tawera Nikau, Stacey Jones, Stephen Kearney, Adam Blair and Nathan Cayless all spoke passionately about what the Kiwi jersey meant to them.

“It’s such a privilege and honour to be named to lead my country,” said Fisher-Harris.

“I’m proud to represent my family and the people from where I’m from (in Northland). It’ll be a special moment leading my teammates out against Toa Samoa at Eden Park.”

It won’t be Fisher-Harris’ first experience leading the Kiwis having filled the role for Bromwich in last year’s Rugby League World Cup clash against Jamaica in Hull.

“James has grown into a wonderful leader during my time with the Kiwis,” said Kiwi head coach Michael Maguire.

“He was a natural choice to become captain for this campaign. He’s so respected by all our players and staff alike, very much a leader whose actions do the talking.”

Fisher-Harris leads a Kiwi squad which includes 12 players who lined up in the 14-16 semi-final loss to the Kangaroos at the Rugby League World Cup last November.

 

JAMES FISHER-HARRIS

(Penrith Panthers)

Born: January 5, 1996

Birthplace: Rawene, NZ

Position: Second Row/Prop/Loose Forward

Height: 187cm

Weight: 103kg

Junior Club: Marist Brothers (Whangarei)

Other NRL Clubs: Nil

Kiwi Number: 801

Kiwi Test Debut: v Scotland, Workington, 2016

Tests: 12 for Kiwis (2016-2019)

Test Points: 4 (1 try)

NRL Games: 180 (2016-2023)

NRL Points: 48 (12 tries)

Auckland, New Zealand, October 10, 2023

 

Teenaged prop Tanner Stowers-Smith has added another chapter to his remarkable rugby league year after being called into the New Zealand Kiwis A squad for the Labour Weekend Triple-header encounter with Toa Samoa at Eden Park.

The Christchurch born and raised 19-year-old will go into camp in Auckland on Sunday alongside the rest of the A squad as well as the New Zealand Kiwis who are preparing to face Toa Samoa in their Pacific Championships international on October 21.

Stowers-Smith becomes the seventh One New Zealand Warriors player in the line-up joining clubmates Rocco Berry, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Kalani Going, Paul Roache and Jacob Laban while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will also be in camp with the Kiwis’ Test squad. He’s one of three teenagers in the A squad, the others being Laban (19) and Brisbane’s Benjamin Te Kura (18).

The call-up caps an extraordinary season for the Halswell Hornets and St Bede’s College product.

The great grandson of legendary former Kiwi captain Pat Smith, Stowers-Smith excelled in both rugby league and rugby union as a schoolboy but opted for rugby league after finishing his schooling last year.

Signing a two-year deal with the Warriors, he started the 2023 season captaining the club’s under-19 side in the New South Wales Rugby League’s SG Ball Cup competition.

He appeared in all nine of the team’s games before being promoted to the New South Wales Cup side once the SG Ball season was over.

Playing alongside and against experienced campaigners, Stowers-Smith made his NSW Cup debut against the Sydney Roosters on April 30 and ended the season with 13 appearances including six starts.

 

NZ KIWIS A SQUAD 

 

NEW ZEALAND KIWIS A v  TONGA A
NAME	CLUB
ROCCO BERRY	One New Zealand Warriors
JOE CHAN	Melbourne Storm
ZACH DOCKAR-CLAY	Sydney Roosters
KALANI GOING	One New Zealand Warriors
JACK HOWARTH	Melbourne Storm
ASU KEPAOA	Wests Tigers
JACOB LABAN	One New Zealand Warriors
ALI LEIATAUA	One New Zealand Warriors
TREY MOONEY	Canberra Raiders
PAUL ROACHE	One New Zealand Warriors
PASAMI SAULO	Canberra Raiders
BAILEY SIMONSSON	Parramatta Eels
TANNER STOWERS-SMITH	One New Zealand Warriors
TAINE TUAUPIKI	One New Zealand Warriors
BENJAMIN TE KURA	Brisbane Broncos
WILLIAM WARBRICK	Melbourne Storm

 

Auckland, New Zealand, October 4, 2023

Seven players are in line to make their New Zealand debuts after being named in the Kiwis’ 21-man squad for the inaugural Pacific Championships. 

The potential debutants are led by North Queensland prop Griffin Neame, a non-playing member of the New Zealand squad for last year’s mid-season Test against Mate Ma’a Tonga. 

Also named is Christchurch-born Newcastle utility Fa’amanu Brown, who comes into the New Zealand squad for the first time after representing Toa Samoa at last year’s Rugby League World Cup. 

Joining Neame and Brown are Parramatta and Māori All Stars front rower Wiremu Greig, 19-year-old Gold Coast NRL rookie fullback Keano Kini, Newcastle and Māori All Stars prop Leo Thompson, Canberra centre Matthew Timoko and Sydney Roosters middle forward Naufahu Whyte. 

Two former Kiwis who have also played for Samoa have been recalled. 

Dolphins winger Jamayne Isaako finished the 2023 NRL season as both the leading try scorer and the top points scorer. He last represented the Kiwis against Great Britain in 2019 as well as representing Samoa earlier that season. 

And experienced Canberra and Māori All Stars hooker Danny Levi returns after last playing for New Zealand at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup. He has represented Toa Samoa since 2019 including at the World Cup last year.  

The remaining 12 players named were all in the Kiwis’ line-up for their World Cup semi-final against the Kangaroos when they were denied 16-14 in an epic battle at Elland Road in Leeds. 

Returning from the backline that night are 2022 Golden Boot winner Joseph Manu, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dylan Brown and Jahrome Hughes. 

Penrith’s premiership-winning props James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota are back along with Isaiah Papali’i, Briton Nikora, Joseph Tapine, Kieran Foran and Nelson Asofa Solomona. 

“It’s always a real thrill being able to bring new players into the Kiwi camp,” said New Zealand Kiwis head coach Michael Maguire.  

“It’s a special place and these men have earned the opportunity. They’ll benefit so much from being around players who have done the jersey proud. 

“This series is exciting for the game in New Zealand and also a chance for us to start our journey to the next World Cup in 2025.” 

The Kiwis begin their campaign against Toa Samoa in a Labour Weekend triple header at Eden Park on Saturday, October 21 before facing the Kangaroos in Melbourne a week later. 

The series final will be played in Hamilton on November 4.  

  

2023 Kiwis Pacific Championship Squad:  

NELSON ASOFA-SOLOMONA	Melbourne Storm
DYLAN BROWN	Parramatta Eels
*FA’AMANU BROWN	Newcastle Knights
JAMES FISHER-HARRIS	Penrith Panthers
KIERAN FORAN	Gold Coast Titans
*WIREMU GREIG	Parramatta Eels
JAHROME HUGHES	Melbourne Storm
JAMAYNE ISAAKO	The Dolphins
*KEANO KINI	Gold Coast Titans
MOSES LEOTA	Penrith Panthers
DANNY LEVI	Canberra Raiders
JOSEPH MANU	Sydney Roosters
RONALDO MULITALO	Cronulla Sharks
*GRIFFIN NEAME	North Queensland Cowboys
CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD	One NZ Warriors
BRITON NIKORA	Cronulla Sharks
ISAIAH PAPALI’I	Wests Tigers
JOSEPH TAPINE	Canberra Raiders
*LEO THOMPSON	Newcastle Knights
*MATTHEW TIMOKO	Canberra Raiders
*NAUFAHU WHYTE	Sydney Roosters

 

* denotes potential debut

A number of Kiwis, Kiwi Ferns, and fellow New Zealanders are set to take the field in the NRL and NRLW Grand Finals this Sunday October 1st. The games will be played at Sydney’s Accor Stadium, featuring defending champions the Newcastle Knights women and two-time consecutive NRL Premiers, the Penrith Panthers, looking to achieve a three-peat.

 

NRLW Grand Final – Newcastle Knights v Gold Coast Titans, Sunday 1^st October, 5:55 pm NZST

Newcastle Knights:

#3 Shanice Parker (Kiwi Fern #163)

#4 Abigail Roache (Kiwi Fern #168)

#11 Laishon Albert-Jones (Kiwi Fern #161)

#14 Nita Maynard (Kiwi Fern #137)

The Newcastle Knights look to defend their 2022 title and are touted as favourites to win, having only lost once during the regular season. Kiwi Ferns bolster the Newcastle side across the pitch, with Roache and Parker in the centres, Albert-Jones inside Parker at second row, and Maynard to come off the bench as a substitute hooker. The Knights secured their spot in the Grand Final after a thrilling Preliminary Final which saw them narrowly outlast the Brisbane Broncos.

 

Gold Coast Titans:

#4 Niall Williams-Guthrie

#13 Georgia Hale, Captain (Kiwi Fern #122)

The Gold Coast Titans women enter their first Grand Final as underdogs after finishing the 2022 competition in last place. In an outstanding turnaround, the Queensland side finished fourth on the table and then went on to beat the formidable Sydney Roosters outfit in the Preliminary Finals. Kiwi Fern veteran Georgia Hale will lead the team onto the park as they aim to win their first NRLW Premiership. Niall Williams-Guthrie will take her place in the centres after only her first season of rugby league, having made the code-switch from New Zealand rugby sevens.

 

NRL Grand Final – Penrith Panthers v Brisbane Broncos, Sunday 1^st October, 9:30 pm NZST

Penrith Panthers:

#8 Moses Leota (Kiwi #827)

#10 James Fisher-Harris (Kiwi #801)

#11 Scott Sorensen (Kiwi #831)

Moses Leota and James Fisher-Harris line up as the starting props in Penrith’s daunting forward pack, while Scott Sorensen will appear on the left edge at second-row. The Panthers will look to complete the first three-peat since the Eels 1981-1983 Premierships, but were beaten by the Broncos once during the regular season. Penrith enter their fourth consecutive Grand Final, following a dominant 38-4 win over the Melbourne Storm in their Preliminary Final.

 

Brisbane Broncos:

#2 Jesse Arthars

#12 Jordan Riki

Young Jesse Arthars and Jordan Riki will lace up for the Brisbane Broncos after consistently exceptional seasons. Both have been in the Broncos squad since the club’s infamous last-place season in 2020. The fiery Brisbane side has since become a force to be reckoned with, due to their powerful forward pack and explosive backs. They enter the Grand Final looking to win their first Premiership since 2006.

The 2023 Dally M Awards at Sydney’s Royal Randwick racecourse saw several Kiwi men and women take home some of the most prestigious awards at the NRL level.

The NRL and NRLW Dally M Teams of the Year recognises the best player in each position across all regular season rounds. Judges regularly vote on the best player in each position throughout the year, with a further vote conducted at the end of the regular season.

Significant changes to the Dally M voting process for both the NRL and NRLW competitions were introduced for the 2023 season. This season, two independent judges each gave out votes on a 3,2,1 basis for every game, meaning players could earn a maximum of six votes per game compared to three in previous years. The decision to add a second judge to assess each game in 2023 will increase the final total of points to players, but also the level of fairness in further removing potential variances arising from a single judge voting on a game.

First-class wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Jamayne Isaako were named Wingers of the Year, with Jamayne also the NRL’s top point scorer this season. Watene-Zelezniak achieved the New Zealand Warriors club record for most tries in a season, while fellow teammate Shaun Johnson rightfully earned Halfback of the Year. Johnson had an outstanding comeback season that helped his side reach the NRL Preliminary Final for the first time in 12 years. He was only beaten by 1 point to narrowly miss out on the prestigious Dally M Medal.

Having only made their NRLW debuts at the beginning of the season, Mele Hufanga and Annessa Biddle took home the Centre and Rookie of the Year awards after consistently outstanding performances week in and week out. Hufanga starred for the semi-finalist Brisbane Broncos after debuting for the Kiwi Ferns at the 2022 Rugby League World Cup. The 21-year-old Biddle also finished second in the competition for post-contact metres (620). “What a season it’s been for me and I’m just so honoured and privileged to receive this award especially with the amount of outstanding rookies there were,” Biddle said.

 

2023 NRL DALLY M AWARDS, KIWI WINNERS

Winger of the Year – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (New Zealand Warriors, Kiwi #794), Jamayne Isaako (Redcliffe Dolphins, Kiwi #808)

Halfback of the Year – Shaun Johnson (New Zealand Warriors, Kiwi #774)

 

2023 NRLW DALLY M AWARDS, KIWI WINNERS

Centre of the Year – Mele Hufanga (Brisbane Broncos, Kiwi Fern #166)

Rookie of the Year – Annessa Biddle (Cronulla Sharks)

 

For the full Team of the Year lists see here: NRL, NRLW

 

As seen on Sydney Morning Herald smh.com

Niall Williams-Guthrie remembers the intensity and the excitement of the 2004 NRL grand final.

She’d flown over from New Zealand to watch her 19-year-old brother, Sonny Bill Williams, play for the premiership in front of 80,000 people in just his first year in the NRL.

As seen on nrl.com

The National Rugby League (NRL) has announced the nominees for the 2023 NRL Dally M Team of the Year as well as several individual Dally M awards for the NRL Telstra Premiership.

The Dally M Awards recognise the game’s most outstanding performers from both the NRL Telstra Premiership and NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership each year, with this year’s awards to be presented on Wednesday, September 27 in Sydney.

Significant changes to the Dally M voting process for both the NRL and NRLW competitions were introduced for the 2023 season.

This season, two independent judges each gave out votes on a 3,2,1 basis for every game, meaning players were able to earn a maximum of six votes per game compared to three in previous years.

The decision to add in a second judge to assess each game in 2023 will increase the final total of points to players, but also the level of fairness in further removing potential variances that arise from a single judge voting on a game.

 

As seen on nzherald

FMG Stadium Waikato will host the Pacific Cup grand final on Saturday, November 4, as part of the newly announced Pacific Championships in partnership with New Zealand Rugby League.

The 2023 Pacific Championships is a two-tiered competition with six men’s teams and seven women’s teams taking part in the tournament across two pools.

“I firmly believe the Pacific Cup will be the biggest international rugby league event on home soil since the 2017 World Cup,” said NZRL chief executive Greg Peters.

Hamilton City Council’s General Manager of Venues, Tourism and Major Events, Sean Murray, said: “We’re working hard to deliver an exceptional Pacific Championship final at FMG Stadium Waikato. The team looks forward to passionate fans and the exposure this game will bring to our city and region.”

“How special to bring the best players in the world back home to play in front of their communities,” Peters said.

“We’re excited to work with these Pacific teams to bring our rugby league heroes back home and unite fans across New Zealand and the Pacific.

“No other code can produce such a celebration of culture and passion; the atmosphere will be unmissable.”

Full schedule below:

As seen on nrl.com

If you’ve watched him play this season then you’ll struggle to believe it, but confidence has never really been a strong point for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

Humility was central in his upbringing as part of a Māori whānau (family) in Hamilton, New Zealand, and it’s a big reason why he’s become one of the most popular members of the Warriors’ squad since joining mid-season in 2021.

But as he’s learned in the more recent part of his now 12-year professional career, it’s also a trait which has at times held him back on the rugby league field and meant he hasn’t always backed himself.

“It’s something I have lacked in the past for sure. I am not a very confident person and that is something I have worked on,” Watene-Zelezniak told NRL.com.

“I never grew up talking about my achievements and things like that.

“I have had a mind coach now for a few years and I am just trying to believe in myself and the things I can do. That goes a long way to performing out on the field.

“Also knowing that I have been around a long time and you don’t lose things, you gain things, and most of it is in my head.”

The results are hard to argue with so far in 2023.

Following his stunning hat-trick to help his side past the Sea Eagles 29-22 last Friday, the veteran has shot up to 21 tries for the year and is equal with Jamayne Isaako and Alex Johnston as the NRL’s top try-scorer, despite playing six less games than the former and five fewer than Johnston.

It also puts him on track to become the most prolific Warrior of all time across a single season, with the mark of 23 tries achieved by both Francis Meli and David Fusitu’a in the past set to be crushed if the 28-year-old remains fit.

He has failed to score a four-pointer just once in his past 12 games and has just four games this year without at least one try to his name.

But ask him how he’s doing it and those old habits creep back, with his teammates, coaches and whānau all listed as reasons before he takes any credit himself.

“I am a lot of things before I’m a footy player and being a husband and father are my most treasured things… what my wife and kids are doing for me at home has been so important,” he said.

I have got a lot of clarity in what I am doing, thanks to Webby [coach Andrew Webster] and his game plan and what he has been talking to me about, the way he has narrowed my role.

16 August 2023

Tickets for the rugby league triple-header at Eden Park are on sale now | https://bit.ly/BuyRLTickets

Tamaki Makaurau Auckland’s Eden Park will host a blockbuster rugby league triple-header between New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga on Saturday, October 21st, as part of the newly announced Pacific Championships in partnership with the NRL.

The Kiwis will face Samoa, igniting a new Pacific rivalry hot off last year’s World Cup momentum; the Kiwi Ferns will line up against Tonga, and an NZ Kiwi A team will assemble for the first time in 17 years.

Thanks to the current depth of the New Zealand talent pool, the NZ Kiwis A team will consist of current and future Kiwi-committed NRL stars who will take on a Tonga A team as the opening match of the rugby league triple-header.

“How special to bring the best players in the world back home to play in front of their communities. Without the support from Tātaki Auckland Unlimited this series wouldn’t have happened,” says NZRL CEO Greg Peters.

“We’re excited to work with Samoa to bring their rugby league heroes back home and unite fans across New Zealand and the Pacific.

“No other code can produce such a celebration of culture and passion; the atmosphere will be unmissable.”

The 2023 Pacific Championships is a two-tiered competition with six men’s teams and seven women’s teams taking part in the tournament across two pools.

Waikato’s FMG Stadium will host the Pacific Cup grand final on November 4th.

“I firmly believe the Tamaki Makaurau Auckland triple-header and Waikato final will be the biggest international rugby league events on home soil since the 2017 World Cup,” adds NZRL CEO Greg Peters.

Hamilton City Council’s General Manager of Venues, Tourism and Major Events, Sean Murray says, “We’re working hard to deliver an exceptional Pacific Championship Final at FMG Stadium Waikato. The team looks forward to passionate fans and the exposure this game will bring to our city and region.”

 

Full schedule below:

Week One – October 14-15

• Australia v Samoa (men) and Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
• PNG v Cook Islands (men) and Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Two – October 21-22

• New Zealand v Samoa (men), New Zealand v Tonga (women), and NZ Kiwis A v Tonga A (men) at Eden Park, Auckland
• Fiji v Cook Islands (men) and PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Three – October 28-29

• Australia v New Zealand (men and women) at AAMI Park, Melbourne
• PNG v Fiji (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Four – November 4-5

• The Final of the men’s Pacific Cup tournament on November 4 in Hamilton, New Zealand
• The Final of the men’s Pacific Bowl tournament on November 5 at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

The Pacific Championships will be staged in 2023 and 2024, after the NRL and NRLW Premiership seasons, and will include men’s and women’s teams from Australia, New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands.

Tickets for the rugby league triple-header at Eden Park are on sale now | https://bit.ly/BuyRLTickets

 

As seen on warriors.kiwi

Taine Tuaupiki’s inclusion for unavailable first-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is the only change to the One New Zealand Warriors’ line-up for their 24th-round clash against the Wests Tigers at FMG Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night (7.30pm kick-off).

Nicoll-Klokstad is subject to NRL concussion protocols after being forced off the field following a high tackle from Gold Coast prop Moeaki Fotuaika early in last Friday night’s encounter in Robina.

The 23-year-old Tuaupiki was activated as 18th man to replace Nicoll-Klokstad after Fotuaika was sent off and will start this week in what will be his fourth NRL appearance. He was impressive in his 63 minutes against Gold Coast making 165 metres from 17 runs with six tackle breaks and five tackles.

The rest of the starting line-up and interchange is the same as the combination used in the 28-18 victory over the Titans, a result which kept the Warriors in third place on the ladder.

The away game at a sold out FMG Waikato Stadium will be the 700th in the One New Zealand Warriors’ history and the 248th career appearance for halfback Shaun Johnson. Hamilton-raised Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will be looking to extend a stunning try-scoring streak which has seen him score 15 tries in his last 10 outings, failing to score only in the home loss to South Sydney.

 

Read more here – https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2023/08/08/rd-24-team-list-tuaupiki-starts/

As seen on newshub.co.nz

Read more here – https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/08/rugby-league-mackenzie-wiki-following-in-footsteps-of-kiwi-nrl-icon-father-ruben.html?

 

While NZ Warriors are riding high in the men’s NRL, a big group of Kiwi women hope to make a similar impact in the NRLW.

One of them is quite literally creating history, with Mackenzie Wiki following in the footsteps of her father, representing the ‘Green Machine’ of the Canberra Raiders.

Whenever Wiki works out, there are reminders that rugby league is in her DNA – working out underneath a poster of dad Ruben.

“The old man up there in the top corner,” she told Newshub. “Looking down on me, making sure I’m doing it right.”

 

As seen on stuff.co.nz

Read more here – https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/132603954/former-kiwis-star-shaun-kennydowall-leads-hull-kr-to-wembley-dream-challenge-cup-final

 

Hull Kingston Rover’s Kiwi captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall claimed it was “every kid’s dream’’ to play at Wembley – and now he has achieved his goal.

Kenny-Dowall – dubbed SKD during his long NRL career – captained Hull KR to a 11-10 golden point win over Wigan in the Challenge Cup semifinal in Leeds on Sunday (Monday NZ time).

Brad Schneider’s 82nd minute field goal put Hull KR into the August 12 Wembley final against promoted Super League rivals Leigh Leopards.

Kenny-Dowall – set to retire at the end of the season – leapt onto a throng of players congratulating Schneider, who was playing his second game for Hull KR after a mid-season move from the Canberra Raiders.

As seen on nrl.com

Read more here – https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/07/20/so-much-joy-sj-reflects-on-a-week-like-no-other/

 

Looking into his daughter’s eyes as she scanned the 24,000 screaming fans who filled Go Media Stadium last Sunday, Shaun Johnson experienced a new career highlight.

Days on from inking a new one-year deal with the Warriors, Johnson had the chance to carry two-year-old Millah out onto the field with him ahead of the 44-12 victory over the Sharks in Round 20, as he was recognised for reaching 200 games for the club a week prior.

 

As seen on nzherald.co.nz

Read more here – https://www.nzherald.co.nz/kahu/one-of-the-greatest-underdog-makes-it-big-stories-briton-nikora/ZRCWAKIIXZGJDHDYMUNBWRYU7M/

 

NRL player Briton Nikora (Ngāti Maniapoto, Te Arawa, Ngāti Awa) might just possess one of the greatest underdog-makes-it-big stories.

“I remember a couple of teachers who said: ‘You’d better listen because you’ll never play in the NRL’,” he said in an interview with Te Ao With Moana’s Hikurangi Kimiora Jackson.

“There would’ve been heaps of people that doubted me. Just coming up in the grades, just obviously not making like teams.”

It might shock some but Nikora, who was selected for the Kiwis after just 12 games in the NRL and just recently hit the 100 games milestone, almost gave up on his NRL dream.

As seen on NRL.com

Read more here – https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/07/11/a-tale-of-two-sjs-the-legacy-of-johnson–jones/

Few outside the club knew it at the time, but in the final months of 2008, when Stacey Jones answered an SOS call from Ivan Cleary to come out of retirement, the Little General was making a crucial contribution to the career of his heir apparent.

Aged just 18 at the time, a scrawny touch player named Shaun Johnson was well and truly on the club’s radar as the possible long-term answer to their halves puzzle, something which had eluded them since Jones left the club for the south of France at the end of 2005.

As seen on warriors.kiwi

 

The One New Zealand Warriors have rallied around former head coach Daniel Anderson in his recovery from a catastrophic spine injury.

Anderson, who guided the NRL side from 2001 to 2004, was bodysurfing at Soldiers Beach in New South Wales while on vacation with his family in December last year when he went into cardiac arrest after being dumped on his head by a wave.

The 56-year-old was dragged out of the water semi-conscious by two off-duty paramedics who happened to be nearby.

The NRL has today launched the Daniel Anderson Support Fund and announced round 25 will be the ‘Daniel Anderson Round’, with a number of initiatives and public fundraising drives scheduled across that week to support the Anderson family.

One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George is part of a working group, along with several figures from both the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta, who are in talks around how best to action those.

The One New Zealand Warriors have changed their annual Old Boys’ Day to fall on their 25th-round clash against Manly at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart.

Many of the past players expected to be in attendance were coached by Anderson.

“Daniel is a huge part of this club’s history, and the Anderson family a big part of the success of the organisation today,” said George.

“Round 25 will be our big New Zealand fundraiser and further details around those initiatives and how the public can get around it will be confirmed soon.

“We will certainly be playing our part as a club to contribute in supporting Daniel and his family at this time.”

Somewhat unbelievably, Anderson is still working for the Sydney Roosters as head of recruitment, putting in about 10 hours a week from his rehab centre.

An online fundraiser has been set up, where the public can donate to aid in his recovery.

Link here: https://danielandersonfund.com.au/

• Watch ‘Face To Face’ on Sky Sport 4 at 9.30 tonight when Fox League’s Yvonne Sampson talks to Daniel Anderson.

24th May 2023

Hull KR today confirmed Club Captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall will retire at the end of the 2023 season after a memorable 17-year professional career to take up an exciting role as part of the club’s coaching team from 2024.

Having recently surpassed his 350th career game in the NRL and Super League, Shaun has had an illustrious career in both hemispheres. Kenny-Dowall made his NRL debut for the Sydney Roosters on March 19th against South Sydney Rabbitohs, starting on the wing.

The New Zealand native made 277 NRL appearances for the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle Knights, helping the Roosters secure the 2013 NRL Grand Final in a dramatic win over the Manly Sea-Eagles, with Kenny-Dowall scoring a vital try in the 60th minute.

A proud Kiwi, the 35-year-old was part of New Zealand’s 2010 and 2014 Four Nations victories, both over Australia. In total, the former Ngaruawahia Panther received 17 caps for the New Zealand national team, scoring nine tries for the side.

Shaun joined Hull KR ahead of the 2020 season, making 74 appearances so far in Red and White and helping the Robins’ during a period of exciting progress on and off the field.

In 2021, SKD become the club’s Captain following in the footsteps of Roger Millward, Mike Smith, Michael Dobson and Mose Masoe. At the end of the 2023 season, Shaun will begin his new role as a Development Coach for 2024, working within the first team coaching structure while mentoring the club’s young talent from the Academy up to the Robins’ first team.

Speaking on his retirement and new role for 2024, Shaun spoke of his gratitude to the sport while outlining his excitement for his new coaching role with the club in 2024: ‘I’ve made the decision to retire at the end of the 2023 season and call time on my 17-year career as a professional rugby player.

‘This sport has given me everything and I want to say thank you to everyone who has helped me on this journey. I’ll reflect on it all at the end of the season.

‘Until then though, it’s all to play for. I’ll continue to love every moment I have left on the field as a Robin.

‘For 2024, I’m honoured to be taking on a new exciting challenge here at Hull KR, mentoring the club’s future stars from the Academy up to the First Team.

‘I’m incredibly grateful to be staying with this great club for 2024. I’d like to say a special thank you to the club’s board and Willie Peters for the opportunity and the faith they’ve shown in me for my new exciting role.

‘But for now, I want to finish my final season on a high and win silverware with this great club.

‘Keep your amazing support coming, Red Army. See you on the other side.

SKD.’

Hull KR Head Coach. Willie Peters said: ‘Shaun is a leader of men. He leads through his actions every day at training and every time he takes the field.

‘I value my relationship with Shaun greatly and he’s been a great help since I joined the club last year. I’m excited to work side by side with Shaun as part of the club’s coaching team next season.

‘We are delighted Shaun has accepted a very important position as Development Coach at Hull KR next season.

‘Shaun will play an integral part in our vertical alignment throughout the whole club. Shaun will help the club to develop quality, homegrown juniors ready for Super League alongside our Academy staff.

‘Special thank you to our Board for approving this important role within the club.

‘Before he starts, Shaun has a lot more to achieve on the field as he’s motivated to end his outstanding playing career on a high.’

Hull KR Chief Executive, Paul Lakin added: ‘Shaun is an outstanding leader, a motivator and a shining example to players at all levels of how you get the very most out of your career.

‘He has been pivotal to the culture we have set here at Hull KR and we, as a board, are delighted that Shaun is staying within the club, sharing his vast experience in a vitally important development coaching role working across the Academy, Reserves and First Team.’

As seen on nzherald.co.nz

Kiwi wrecking ball Valynce Te Whare has become an instant cult hero after a stunning debut for the Dolphins in their win over the Sharks last night.

Te Whare, who only converted to league 18 months ago, has been dubbed ‘Val Meninga’ by fans after scoring twice in the 36-16 victory.

Te Whare played eight NPC games for Waikato in the 2019 and 2020 seasons before a brief stint at King Country. Late in 2021 he signed a deal with the Dolphins to make the switch to rugby league, more than a year before the franchise’s first ever game. He impressed in the Hostplus Cup last season being named Centre of the Year and continued that form to earn his NRL call-up this week.

Playing centre with a forward’s frame, the 22-year-old scored his first NRL try by pushing off four Sharks defenders in the 23rd minute to give the home team an early 18-0 lead. He added another try in the second half.

Following his impressive performance, Kiwis in the stands and fellow teammates paid tribute to the star debutant by performing an emotional haka for Te Whare.

Te Whare then acknowledged the fans and his teammates by joining in before hugging family, friends and supporters in the stands.

Te Whare was praised by league experts and commentators for his performance on Saturday.

“Impossible to stop at close range. There are comparisons physically with an immortal, with Mal Meninga and that was an awesome run to get to the try line,” Fox Sport commentator Dan Ginnane said.

Fellow commentator and Broncos great Corey Parker was astounded by Te Whare’s power.

“On debut, only moments ago he got stood up by Mulitalo. But have a look at this, from a standing start the power and acceleration,” he said.

Ginnane added: “You can see the joy he brings. Talking about cult hero at the end of the season, his first grade career is just 24 minutes old — he’s a cult hero now.”

Last week Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett was made aware of the Val Meninga nickname but wasn’t buying it.

“There is no way you can get that surname out in one mouthful so he is known as Val Smith around here,” he said.

“Val Meninga. I like that line,” Bennett continued.

“I saw that the other day and I thought, ‘What are the similarities between him and Mal Meninga?”

“I coached Mal. He is a great player and a great guy. I thought the only similarity was his shorts. I reckon they are both the same size. He is no Mal Meninga, I can tell you that.”

According to NRL.com, Te Whare was the 183rd player to be given an NRL debut by Bennett with the Dolphins’ clash against the Sharks his 900th in charge.

“He is one of the first players we signed here. (Recruitment manager) Peter O’Sullivan saw him in New Zealand playing rugby in the schoolboys,” he said.

“To his credit he has worked really hard and had to make a pretty big adaption from rugby to rugby league. We have invested quite a bit of time in him. It has worked out for both parties.”

 

New Zealand Rugby League mourns the loss of Fullback/Utility Roger (Spud) Tait, Kiwi #440.

Tait played 33 games for the Kiwis, including 11 Test matches. The 1961 season saw him earn the World Record for the most points in a season, totalling 468 points from 34 tries and 83 goals in just 38 games.

Tait played for Waikato and Auckland and finished as captain-coach of the Woden Valley Rams in 1979.

NZRL extends its condolences to the Tait whānau; he will be greatly missed.

Former captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is re-joining the One New Zealand Warriors in 2024 after signing a three-year contract to the end of the 2026 NRL season.

The One New Zealand Warriors granted Tuivasa-Sheck’s request for an early release to switch to rugby union late in the 2021 season but the club has today announced his return to rugby league for a second term with his hometown club.

“It’s hugely exciting knowing Roger is coming back to us, back to his home at Mount Smart Stadium,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.

“When he went to rugby union he did so knowing he was always welcome back here if he wished to return to rugby league. We couldn’t be more delighted it’s happening.

“He’s popular with the players and a real fan favourite. It’s going to be so good seeing him back in our jersey.”

When Tuivasa-Sheck switched to rugby union he had made 111 appearances for the Warriors from 2016-2021 with his career tally standing at 195 games. He had also played 20 Tests for the Kiwis.

“Roger is such a high-quality person and leader who will add another layer to our squad with his enthusiasm, experience, skill and professionalism,” said Andrew McFadden, the club’s general manager recruitment, pathways and development.

“He’ll be a tremendous mentor for our younger players while he’ll also bring in a fresh perspective after spending time in rugby union.”

One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster is looking forward to renewing his relationship with Tuivasa-Sheck.

“Roger came to the club in my second season as an assistant coach in 2016 and he had a huge impact on the squad,” said Webster.

“That first year was cut short by his ACL injury but it was brilliant working with him. I’m super excited knowing he’s coming back to the club.”

George said the club won’t be adding further comment to the signing announcement to enable Tuivasa-Sheck to focus on his rugby union commitments for the rest of the year.

• In 2021 Tuivasa-Sheck became only the second player after Simon Mannering to lead the One New Zealand Warriors in 100 matches.
• He was the first Warriors player to win the coveted Dally M Medal in 2018 and he was honoured with the top international player award – the Golden Boot – in 2019.
• He is the only player to win the One New Zealand Warriors’ player of the year accolade in three consecutive seasons (2017, 2018 and 2019).
• Tuivasa-Sheck’s switch to rugby union saw him make his Test debut for the All Blacks last year before adding two more appearances.

20 April 2023

Mainstream has extended its commitment to New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) for a further four years as Principal Sponsor of the Kiwi Ferns & Referees and Official Associate Sponsor of the Kiwis.

The extended partnership will see Mainstream continue its tenure with NZRL through to the 2025 World Cup after joining the rugby league whānau in 2017.

Throughout the partnership, Mainstream remained an invaluable supporter of the game at all levels, staying loyal to NZRL through the Covid-19 pandemic when there was zero international rugby league activity for nearly two years.

Mainstream continues to show integral support for the women’s game and has been avid supporters of the Kiwi Ferns since the partnership’s inception.

NZRL CEO Greg Peters says Mainstream is an integral member of the NZRL whānau.

“It’s an exciting milestone to extend our partnership with Mainstream through to a third Rugby League World Cup,” says Peters.

“Mainstream has shown invaluable support through some of our most challenging times, and their support of the women’s game has been felt widespread among our Ferns group.

“I know we are all delighted to continue this partnership, and I look forward to what we’ll be able to achieve over the next three years as we enter one of the most exciting eras in international rugby league.”

Managing Director of Mainstream Greg Haliday says, “Mainstream is looking forward to building on the great relationship we have enjoyed over the last few years with the Kiwis and the Kiwi Ferns. You can be sure that our own team will be closely supporting the men’s and women’s teams right through to the excitement of the 2025 World Cup”.

Written by Matt Manukuo

 

As seen on pmn.co.nz

Mackenzie Wiki, daughter of NRL legend Ruben Wiki, has made a historic deal signing with the Canberra Raiders women’s team.

Wiki will be the first daughter of a former NRL player, to sign with the same club of their parent.

The Cook Island international made her representative debut in last years Women’s Rugby League World Cup, where she picked up two tries in her three games.

Mackenzie, 21, says rugby league is a sport she developed a love for.

“This is only my second year of footy, I always played sevens, netball and I was a swimmer. When I was younger I never had the drive to play league, I was just watching Dad because I love footy.

“Getting into it last year I just found this love for it, actually being on the field rather than watching it.

“It’s an honour to follow my Dad at the same club. His first club was Raiders and now my first club is Raiders. It’s just surreal.”​

Mackenzie follows in her father, Ruben footsteps, who debuted for the Raiders 30 years ago. He says once Mackenzie dons the green jersey, it will be an emotional milestone for their family.

“Lost for words sorry it’s an emotional one – if that did come to the fray, it would be a very special moment for our family.

“Due to watching the kids being born here, watching their dad run around and it would be amazing to see her from the grandstand. She does suit the colour, it would be amazing.”

As seen on https://www.stuff.co.nz

 

For the first time in a long time the walking, talking punching bag that is Shaun Johnson is experiencing a feeling he had almost forgotten was possible.

“I’m so happy and I love being happy,” Johnson said after his penalty goal helped the Warriors seal a drama-charged 32-30 win over Cronulla on Sunday.

Johnson has good reason to feel that way, given the Warriors are 4-1 to start the season for the first time since 2018 and sit in second spot on the NRL ladder.

He’s two points off the top of the Dally M leaderboard, too, and looks comfortable in his own skin managing Andrew Webster’s durable and dogged Warriors outfit around the park.

It’s a welcome change from a testing few years for the charismatic 32-year-old halfback.

He was shown the door by the Sharks at the end of 2021, got dropped by the Kiwis and had to be separated from wife Kayla and daughter Millah in a testing return season to the Warriors which was mostly spent in Australia.

“People didn’t understand how much that was affecting him, I saw his daughter grow up on the phone with him,” Warriors hooker Wayde Egan said.

“That took a massive toll on him, he’s back around the people he loves and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Johnson – 231 games and 13 seasons into an NRL career – finally feels like he is in a good space.

Part of that is linked to the fact that Webster has given him a clear vision of his playing style which has been a constant source of debate since his arrival in the NRL as a hot-stepping five-eighth.

“It’s the confidence that I get from the top down,” Johnson said.

“The most common line I hear (from the outside) is ‘you need to run the ball’.

“I’ll look at that and go ‘what do you f…ing mean? I’m not a front-rower’.

“It’s the clarity around the positions ‘Webby’ puts me in within our structure where I can run the ball. It’s my choice if I want to run the ball.”

When the going has got tough – like when they were 20-0 down against Cronulla – Johnson and his Warriors team have found a way to get themselves out of trouble.

“I love winning and working hard for something and achieving it,” he said.

“I love that I get to go home and see my wife and my daughter.

“The whole product is there for me right now, inside and outside of football. I haven’t had that in the past and people won’t get that.

“We get judged on 80 minutes, so the happiness for me is that we’re showcasing the hard work. That’s ultimately what I’m happy about … You can’t pay for happiness.”