24 November 2022
2022 sees the return of the prestigious Pirtek Volunteer of the Month award, where our rugby league community gets a chance to see their hard mahi recognised across the motu. This award is gifted to a volunteer who displays the core values of NZRL’s Kiwi Way: being family first, innovative, inclusive, respectful, respectful and humble. We are excited to announce that the final winner of 2022 and the month of November is Siosiua Kailahi.
Siosiua Kailahi delves his hat into many roles across the rugby league community. Kailahi is the head coach for the U13 Wolfpack rugby league side, the U13 Hakula Tonga representative side, the St. Pauls Junior squad while also holding roles with the New Zealand Canterbury Bulldogs academy and U18s Dean Bell North White side (Assistant coach).
Dedicated to a role where he works with young men, Kailahi is much more than a coach. Siosuia acts as a role model, counsellor, mentor and father figure to all the youth that oversees. For Sosh (as he is known), it is more than just rugby league. The game is a vehicle that allows him to connect and mentor teenagers into becoming men. It is about how they represent themselves and their families on and off the pitch.
Sosh encourages the boys he coaches to be accountable, to be respectful and, most importantly, to be connected.
His energy never wavers between the three teams he coaches, and his efforts show that rugby league can be a driver for creating young role models in the community.
Pirtek CEO Chris Bourke commented on Kailahi, “Siosiua Kailahi is a worthy winner of the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month award for November. Kailahi displays and delivers on all of the core values of NZRL’s Kiwi Way.
He is innovative with his coaching methods and values respect and humility in his teams. Importantly, Siosuia is humble and teaches the young boys to be modest in life via his involvement with the teams he is associated with.“
Volunteers need to be recognised for their commitment and dedication, and Siosiua epitomises those values.
Congratulations Siosiua!
3 October 2022
2022 sees the return of the prestigious Pirtek Volunteer of the Month award, where our rugby league community gets a chance to see their hard mahi recognised across the motu. This award is gifted to a volunteer who displays the core values of NZRL’s Kiwi Way: being family first, innovative, inclusive, respectful, respectful and humble. We are excited to announce that the first winner in 2022 and the month of September is David Pohika.
David is the epitome of someone who loves the game of rugby league. Coming from Hauraki, a rugby heartland, Pokiha has worked tirelessly to grow our game in the area. For the last two years, David has gathered a group of boys to train every week, even though it is highly unlikely for the Tigers to find another club to play against.
Despite this, both Pokiha and the boys he trains, still show up regularly to practice and play the game that they love.
His passion and dedication for the sport is unmatched in the Hauraki region and is a well-deserved winner of this award.
Pirtek CEO Chris Bourke commented on the September winner, “The Hauraki Tigers are very privileged to have David Pokiha playing a pivotal role in their club. We love that Dave is challenging the status quo in a Rugby prominent region.
Although struggling to get games together we appreciate that Dave perseveres to ensure those who are passionate about playing Rugby League get that opportunity.
David is a very well deserving winner of the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month, and keep up the great work”
To nominate, please fill out the form below!
Thanks to Pirtek, each month we look to celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to Rugby League and their community. This month, we congratulate Pam Haua from the Randwick Kingfishers for being our August Volunteer of the Month.
Pam is the Junior delegate for the Randwick Kingfishers and is considered the “face of the small junior committee”. She is the junior coaches’ and managers’ go-to person when it comes to anything they need assistance with. Pam’s contribution is key to the success of the Junior club’s registrations, tournaments and prize giving.
Prior to the 2019 season starting, Pam started collecting registrations and even had a table set up for Junior registrations at a local Naenae community event, she also went out of her way to collect registrations in Taita – showing her dedication to the growth of the game and club in her community.
During the season, the Randwick Kingfishers hosted juniors one Saturday – Pam and her husband wore bright bibs and were out on the field helping teams, ensuring that everyone was aware of the time they were playing and where they were needed to be. This is not an easy job for two people, with five different age groups playing at one venue over one day. The club received comments from other clubs who mentioned that it was a well hosted day.
Pam was responsible for hosting the entire Junior prize-giving night and kept all teams well informed on the details of the event. She also kept all the volunteers in the loop right from the start of the season up until the final event.
“You can tell she is someone who knows what needs to happen in the background to have things run smoothly. Pam also knows what’s required for things to be made easy for coaches, managers and families in order for our kids to get out there and play the game we all love,” said Peggy, nominator.
Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek, said: “Pam certainly covers a multitude of roles (along with husband Kevin), and demonstrates the true character of a volunteer. Maintaining that sort of commitment to the game we love shows the valued integrity and work ethic that Pam displays and that is why she deserves to be the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.”
Nominations are now open for Pirtek’s September Volunteer of the Month.
Each winner receives $200 worth of vouchers.
#TheKiwiWay #MoreThanAGame
Thanks to Pirtek, each month we look to celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to Rugby League and their community. This month, we congratulate Georgina Peters from Papakura Sea Eagles / Sisters for being our July Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.
Georgina has been integral to the re-opening of Papakura playgroups and is the parent champion; without her, a lot of Papakura’s players wouldn’t be able to train.
Playgroups is an NZRL initiative where anyone can bring their children (5-0) along to their community club room for a safe place to play with their parents at designated times throughout the week.
Papakura’s playgroup operates for three hours in the evening from 5.30pm until 8.30pm, twice a week, each Tuesday and Thursday. After a hard long day at work, Georgina volunteers her time to run Papakura’s playgroup, which has roughly 10 to 20 kids and families every session.
Not only does she set up and run each playgroup, she also goes above and beyond feeding everyone that attends, as well as the women’s team. Some of her meals include mince stew, boil up and curried sausages – all hearty Kiwi meals that take a bit of pressure off the parents and keep the kids full.
The Papakura Sisters (Papakura’s women’s team) say the playgroup has immensely contributed to the success of their team, due to the immense amount of stress it takes off, allowing them to focus on training for a couple of hours.
Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek said: “Georgina is the type of person Rugby League relies on in New Zealand. Like all volunteers, she gives up her own time to help support the game. The playgroup is a great initiative and it’s great to see the support for the women’s teams. Another deserving winner of the Pirtek Volunteer of the Month. Congratulations Georgina.”
Nominations are now open for Pirtek’s August Volunteer of the Month.
Thanks to Pirtek, each month we look to celebrate a volunteer who has contributed immensely to Rugby League and their community. This month, we congratulate Alan Utanga from the Pacific Sharks Rugby League Club, Tokoroa, for being our May Pirtek Volunteer of the Month.
Over the last 20-years, Alan has gone above and beyond for his league club. He was nominated by Richard and Gen McNamara who had nothing but good things to say. They described Alan as a humble person with an amazing passion for the game whose impact is felt by many on and off the field.
“Over the past two decades, Alan has worked closely with men he once trained as boys and continues to build their potential. Alan’s involvement may seem to go unnoticed to many, even to himself, being a humble individual. But his dedication to ensuring team safety both on and off the field never goes unseen.” Richard says.
“Even with the players and their post-game antics, Alan is always readily available to sober drive and keep the team safe. I have seen Alan offer exceptional advice, help and support to generations of boys playing under 13’s, to now playing senior league, coaching or better yet currently playing NRL. He’s also a growing ref for our younger age levels and has vast knowledge and passion for the women’s league. It is an ongoing privilege to see Alan give his time, energy and efforts week in, week out, season after season. He has helped shape a lot of boys into amazing men playing rugby league.”
“I hope my son is fortunate enough to be taught by Alan, as my brothers and I were.” Richard concludes.
Chris Bourke, General Manager at Pirtek says “Alan’s commitment to the game of rugby league is outstanding and his ability to transfer and share his knowledge of the game to generations of players is a credit to him.”
“With safety a priority at Pirtek, we appreciate Alan’s commitment to team safety on and off the field. His ability to cross over with support to all aspects of the game within the Pacific Sharks makes Alan an indispensable asset to the game for Tokoroa and for New Zealand.”
Nominations are now open for Pirtek’s June Volunteer of the Month.
Each month we acknowledge a Pirtek Volunteer who has contributed a great deal to rugby league and this month we congratulate the efforts of Rose Nahu from Central Rugby League Inc. Rotorua. There are few and far who can say they have achieved the things that Rose has achieved in the many years she has dedicated to the game.
“My fondest memory of rugby league was waking up in the early hours of the morning to watch the Kiwis test matches. Players like Gary Freeman, Howie Tamati, the Iro brothers and so many more” she said.
With almost a decade tenure as treasurer, in her time Rose has successfully turned around the financial status of her local club. She has also brought sponsorship into the club on several occasions including providing tracksuits and boots for players.
Aside from her treasurer role Rose also wears several other hats from coach and trainer to administrator.
“Rugby league has been a part of the Nahu whanau as far back as I can remember. My grandparents, father, step father, mum, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and mokos have contributed at club, district and national level as players, coaches, representatives, volunteers and supporters of the game for five generations. You can say it’s in the blood.”
Rose was nominated by Kerry Mason who had nothing but high praises for her work.
“Rose has been a shining light in the community and is a huge benefit to Bay of Plenty Rugby League and Upper Central Zone respectively” he said.
“You have to have a passion for the game to commit the time I and so many volunteers contribute on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. I love supporting, participating and contributing to the game of Rugby League” she said.
To nominate a volunteer click here.