‘The Little General’ stands tall as New Zealand’s greatest-ever halfback and arguably the nation’s most decorated rugby league player of all time.

 

Earmarked for the game’s highest levels after captaining the Junior Kiwis and representing Auckland in 1994, Stacey Jones forced his way into the fledgling Auckland Warriors’ No.7 jersey shortly after his 19th birthday and was the club’s leading light for more than a decade.

 

A Kiwis debut at the 1995 World Cup – the first of 46 Test appearances across 12 seasons for the grandson of legendary Māori  forward and 23-Test Kiwi Maunga Emery – followed at the end of a whirlwind rookie season. Jones’ run of 19 consecutive Tests from that initial call-up encompassed series victories over Great Britain at home and in England, and momentous wins over Australia in three successive years with the diminutive playmaker at the forefront.

 

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“When I gave him his first start for the Kiwis I remember walking down the hotel hallway, all the players had their doors open and there was Stacey sitting there watching TV in the Kiwis’ number seven jersey – he was just so proud of it,” Jones’ first New Zealand coach, Frank Endacott, recalls.

 

The Warriors’ player of the year in 1997 and co-captain of the club’s drive to a maiden finals appearance in 2001, Jones put together a year of achievement arguably unmatched by any player in the history of New Zealand rugby league in 2002.

 

The 26-year-old skippered the Warriors to a historic minor premiership and grand final appearance; despite the 30-8 loss to Sydney Roosters in the NRL decider, Jones carved his name into grand final folklore with a sparkling individual try.

 

 

He subsequently captained the Kiwis for the first time in six post-season Tests against Australia, Wales, Great Britain and France. Unsurprisingly named New Zealand’s player of the year for the second time, Jones became just the second Kiwi to win the prestigious Golden Boot and was a Sportsman of the Year finalist at the Halberg Awards.

 

Rare instinctive brilliance and game-breaking ability often overshadowed Jones’ qualities as an outstanding organising halfback, brave defender and leader with a tenacious competitive streak and willingness to step up in the clutch moments.

 

“He’s just a true legend of the game. Pound for pound probably the best player the Warriors have ever had and one of the best halfbacks the Kiwis of all time,” Endacott says.

 

“Stacey understood the game, he was a natural. When you were in a tight spot you could rely on Stacey to do something to keep you in the game. He wasn’t a talkative player early on but he certainly got better as the years went on. A great bloke and he deserves all the accolades he gets.”

 

 

Jones’ first Warriors farewell preceded a starring role in the Kiwis’ 2005 Tri Nations triumph. The veteran’s commanding performance in the watershed 24-0 defeat of the Kangaroos in the Leeds-hosted final – his fifth Test victory against Australia – just days after returning from Auckland following the birth of his third child underlined his commitment to the black-and-white jersey, as well as his penchant for dominating on rugby league’s biggest stages.

 

Retiring from international football after New Zealand’s golden point loss to Australia in an epic 2006 Tri Nations final, Jones’ tallies of Test appearances (46), tries (16) and points (160) were equal-second, equal-third and second, respectively, in Kiwis history at the time.

 

Jones’ two seasons with Super League club Catalans Dragons included captaining the French outfit to a historic Challenge Cup final appearance in 2007, while he came out of retirement for a memorable one-season stint back at the Warriors in 2009.

 

“Stacey arrived as a teenage sensation, replaced a true legend in Gary Freeman at the ’95 World Cup and also replaced an Australian international in Greg Alexander as the Warriors’ halfback,” prominent rugby league journalist, author and historian John Coffey explains.

 

“Since then I’m sure he has been an inspiration to many youngsters to take up rugby league with his performances for the Warriors and Kiwis. He was a great leader on the field for club and country – on attack he was a genius and on defence he had a lot of courage.”

 

An impressive coaching CV includes stints in charge of the Warriors’ under-20s (featuring Holden Cup premiership success in 2014) and NSW Cup teams and the Māori All Stars, and assistant roles with the Kiwis and Warriors first-grade sides – the latter leading to a position as interim NRL head coach midway through 2022.

 

Made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2006 and named at halfback in the Kiwis’ Team of the Century in 2007, post-playing accolades for Jones came in the form of his induction to the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame (2015) and the NRL Hall of Fame (2019).

 

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Clubs: City-Point Chevalier, Auckland City Vulcans, Auckland/New Zealand Warriors, Catalans Dragons

Provinces: Auckland

 

New Zealand Representative:

 

1995  3 Tests at World Cup (England)

1996  2 Tests v Papua New Guinea

1996  3 Tests v Great Britain

1997  2 Tests v Australia (home and away)

1998  3 Tests v Australia (home and away)

1998  3 Tests in Great Britain

1999  1 Test in Australia

1999  1 Test in Tri Nations (NZ)

1999  1 Test v Tonga

2000  1 Test in Australia

2000  5 Tests at World Cup (England)

2001  1 Test v France

2001  1 Test v Australia

2002  1 Test v Australia

2002  1 Test in Wales

2002  3 Tests in Great Britain

2002  1 Test in France

2003  1 Test in Australia

2005  5 Tests in Tri Nations (NZ, Aus & GB)

2005  1 Test in France

2006  1 Test in Great Britain

2006  5 Tests in Tri Nations (NZ & Aus)

 

Total Test Appearances: 46 matches – 16 tries, 47 goals, 2 field goals (160 points)

 

OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS

 

Kiwis captain in 7 Tests (2002, 2006)

New Zealand Player of the Year (1999, 2002)

Golden Boot winner (2002)

Halberg Awards NZ Sportsman of the Year finalist (2002)

Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2006)

New Zealand Team of the Century (2007)

New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame (2015)

NRL Hall of Fame (2019)

June 24, 2022

New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) has inducted, for the first time in its history, four Kiwi Ferns to its prestigious Legends of League. Congratulations to Kiwi Fern legends, Luisa Avaiki, Nadene Conlon, Trish Hina and Leah Witehira who now join the esteemed Legends’ Club.

Also receiving the top New Zealand Rugby League honour are Kevin Iro, Stacey Jones, James Leuluai, Sir Graham Lowe, Dane O’Hara, Quentin Pongia, Howie Tamati and Ruben Wiki.

Expanding the NZRL Legends of League further has been a long time coming – and the return of the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns to the Test arena after a three-year, COVID-enforced hiatus seems the perfect juncture to honour a new batch of inductees.

A six-strong panel made up of NZRL President, NZRL Life Member and former Kiwis captain and coach Howie Tamati, NZRL Life Member and 1994-2000 Kiwis coach Frank Endacott, 1990s Kiwi and 2008 Legends of League inductee Tawera Nikau, 1995 Kiwi Ferns original and long-serving NZRL Kiwis and National Teams Manager Nadene Conlon, former NZRL Director Elizabeth Richards, and rugby league journalist, author and NZRL historian Will Evans heeded the call in recent months to run the rule over dozens of worthy candidates.

Building on the recent work to recognise and celebrate the New Zealand women’s team’s history, the historic decision was made to induct an initial group of four Kiwi Ferns to the Legends of League, along with eight new Kiwis selections.

The key criteria set down for Legends of League recognition were: longevity, leadership, achievement and performance at international level (first and foremost) as well as club and provincial level; enhancing rugby league’s standing in New Zealand; and post-playing contribution to the game. Having been retired for at least five years – a directive since the establishment of the Legends of League in 1995 – remains a requirement.

Ruben Wiki and Stacey Jones narrowly missed the five-year retirement cut-off when the last batch of Legends of League were inducted in 2013 – and their inclusion this time around was essentially a fait accompli.

The Auckland juniors and long-time Kiwis teammates, who played 101 Test matches between them in the 1990s and 2000s, were the only New Zealand Team of the Century selections yet to receive Legends of League recognition. In 2019, Wiki and Jones – both esteemed Kiwi captains and universally admired for their impact on the Australian premiership – joined Mark Graham as the only New Zealanders in the NRL Hall of Fame in 2019.

The outpouring of emotional tributes for 35-Test Kiwi Quentin Pongia from every corner of the rugby league world following his death in 2019 from cancer, aged just 48, reflected the esteem in which he is held in the game. Widely revered as one of the toughest and most durable and uncompromising forwards of any era, the West Coast-bred, Canterbury provincial rep and Canberra Raiders premiership winner was a Kiwis engine-room cornerstone from 1992-2000 and captained New Zealand to Test series glory in Great Britain in 1998.

‘The Beast’ moniker illustrated the powerful impact Kevin Iro had as a blockbusting centre or winger in the Kiwi jersey for more than a decade, and on the British and Australian club scenes for 15 seasons. Aucklander Iro scored 16 tries in 34 Tests from 1987-98 and starred in a host of Challenge Cup final and Super League grand finals with Wigan, Leeds and St Helens.

The remaining four Kiwis Legends of League places went to key figures of the Kiwis’ halcyon 1980s era that featured so many ground-breaking victories.

The ultra-versatile James Leuluai played Tests in four different backline positions – but it is as brilliant, elusive centre that he is chiefly remembered. A breath-taking sidestep and blinding acceleration garnered 14 tries in 29 Tests.

Leuluai also produced some unforgettable Challenge Cup moments at Wembley with Hull FC, where he played alongside Auckland and Kiwis teammate and fellow 2022 Legends of League inductee Dane O’Hara.

Dubbed the ‘Rolls Royce of wingers’, O’Hara was a prolific try-scorer – including 14 touchdowns in a then-record-equalling 36 Test appearances for New Zealand – but was equally revered for his professionalism, dedication and leadership. He captained the Kiwis against Australia in 1980, a rare feat for a winger.

Taranaki hooker Howie Tamati was another vital component of New Zealand’s international rugby league renaissance, playing the last 19 of his 24 Tests for the Kiwis in succession, captaining his country against Papua New Guinea in 1983 and featuring prominently in watershed triumphs over Australia and Great Britain. Tamati, one of the game’s great servants, later coached the Kiwis in 1992-93 and began a long tenure as NZRL President – a post he continues to hold with pride and enthusiasm – in 2013.

Previous inductees such as Scotty McClymont, Lory Blanchard and Ces Mountford enhanced their case for inclusion by coupling esteemed playing careers with outstanding tenures as coach of the Kiwis. But Sir Graham Lowe has broken new Legends of League ground as the first inductee (aside from referee John Percival) without a prominent playing background.

After cutting his teeth at Ellerslie in the 1970s, Lowe became one of the most influential and revolutionary figures in the code’s history in New Zealand. The national team’s outstanding results under Lowe’s tutelage from 1983-86 heralded a turning point for the Kiwis, while his achievements and status as a club coach at Norths Devils, Wigan and Manly Sea Eagles, as well as State of Origin level with Queensland, are virtually unmatched by a New Zealander.

Luisa Avaiki’s inclusion as one of the first four Kiwi Ferns Legends of League was never in doubt. One of just three players to feature in New Zealand’s first three World Cup triumphs, Avaiki was the only 1995 original still playing when the Kiwi Ferns carried off the 2008 title. Meanwhile, the front-row powerhouse’s role as captain of the 2003 and ’08 World Cup successes underline her status as one of women’s rugby league’s finest leaders, and she has gone on to carve out a highly successful career in coaching and development post-playing.

Another 1995 original, Nadene Conlon’s distinguished standing as a women’s rugby league pioneer and long-serving, high-achieving Kiwi Ferns leader is matched only by her towering off-field contributions to the game. The 2000 World Cup-winning co-captain – admired for her tireless performances as a backbone of the Kiwi Ferns’ pack – has spent more than two decades working in rugby league coaching, development, administration and management with Auckland Rugby League, the Warriors and NZRL, while few have done as much to drive women’s rugby league’s progress.

Trish Hina has been described as one of New Zealand’s greatest sportswomen, representing her country in rugby league, rugby union, touch football and softball. But the Wellington five-eighth undoubtedly made her biggest impact in the 13-a-side game. Arguably women’s rugby league’s first genuine superstar, Hina’s Kiwi Ferns tenure spanned 13 years and her linchpin role in three World Cup triumphs included two player of the tournament nods. The record-breaking try-scorer and goalkicker boasted a game-breaking kitbag of skill, vision and pace unmatched among her contemporaries.

Leach Witehira was a prominent figure on New Zealand’s trail-blazing tour of Australia in 1995 and later formed a stellar halves combination with Hina as the Kiwi Ferns won the first two World Cups. Witehira was a prolific try-scorer at international level, a steady playmaking influence and key leader as the Ferns cemented their status as the dominant force in women’s rugby league.

New Zealand Rugby League congratulates the 12 new members of the Legends of League – a richly-deserved honour for some of the Kiwis’ and Kiwi Ferns’ best ever.

2022 NZRL LEGENDS OF LEAGUE INDUCTEES

Kiwis
Kevin Iro
Stacey Jones
James Leuluai
Sir Graham Lowe
Dane O’Hara
Quentin Pongia
Howie Tamati
Ruben Wiki

Kiwi Ferns
Luisa Avaiki
Nadene Conlon
Trish Hina
Leah Witehira

 

By warriors.kiwi & Photosport.nz

As seen on warriors.kiwi/news

New Zealand rugby league greats Ruben Wiki and Stacey Jones have tonight been revealed as two of the four players to join the NRL Hall of Fame in a formal induction ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday night.

In a momentous night for the game in New Zealand, they will be inducted alongside Australians Danny Buderus and Craig Young, joining 106 players previously honoured.

The Kiwi legends were among last year’s nominees when Kiwi legend and New Zealand player of the century Mark Graham (the first Kiwi included) was inducted along with Petero Civoniceva, Cliff Lyons, Steve Menzies, Ricky Stuart and Gorden Tallis.

And they were again included in a list of 25 nominees announced last week for this year’s intake.

Wiki (46) and Jones (43) were long-time Kiwi teammates throughout their careers, Wiki playing a then-world record 55 Tests from 1994 to 2006 while Jones made 46 Test appearances from 1995-2006; they also both captained the Kiwis.

Wiki became the first New Zealander to play 300 NRL games, finishing with a total of 312 appearances including 225 for Canberra and 87 for the Vodafone Warriors.

Jones played his entire NRL career with the Vodafone Warriors, making a club record 261 appearances (until Simon Mannering went ahead of him).

Wiki and Jones have both worked extensively for the Vodafone Warriors since their playing careers ended, Wiki as a strength and conditioning coach and Jones in a number of coaching positions (he’s now an NRL assistant coach).

They were both named in the New Zealand Rugby League’s Team of the Century and have both been included in the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.

A voting college representing a cross section of the game – scroll down to see college members – selected their top five players to be included in the exclusive Hall of Fame club. The four players were selected through an independent audit of the votes.

NRL Chief Executive Todd Greenberg said the four inductees were all worthy recipients of the honour.

“All four of our player inductees will stand proudly alongside the 106 players who they will join in the Hall of Fame,” Greenberg said.

“These are some of the best players of their generations, and they will now join the best of the best.

“They each dominated their respective eras and commanded enormous respect. They still do.

“This year’s Hall of Fame class is an exceptional one. We will be recognising greatness when our latest class are formally inducted.”

Senior manager of NRL awards Frank Puletua said the induction ceremony would be one of the most important nights on the calendar.

“This year, we will be acknowledging our contributors as well as our players,” Puletua said.

“The Hall of Fame induction has become an incredibly important night for the game as we take the opportunity to reflect on our pioneers and our finest players.

“All four of our player inductees can now forever be known as Hall of Famers, and that only adds to their standing in the game.”

Three contributors – one each from administration, broadcast media and print media – will be announced tomorrow ahead of the formal induction.

For more information on the NRL Hall of Fame and Immortals, please visit nrl.com/hall-of-fame/

HALL OF FAME 2019

 

DANNY BUDERUS

Born: February 6, 1978, Taree, NSW

Junior Football: Taree United

Club: Newcastle Knights

Position: Hooker

Premiership Career 1997-2013: Newcastle Knights: Played 257. Points 246 (61 tries, 1 goal).

First Grade Debut: Newcastle v South Queensland at Marathon Stadium, 23/3/1997 (Rd 3)

Grand Finals: 1 – Newcastle 2001 (W)

Rep Career: Australia: Tests 24 (2001-06), Kangaroo tours 2001, 2003; Tri-Nations 2004, 2005. New South Wales: State of Origins 21 (2002-08). Country Origin: 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008

 

STACEY JONES

Born: May 7, 1976, Auckland, NZ

Junior Football: Point Chevalier

Club: Vodafone Warriors

Position: Halfback

Premiership Career 1995-2009: Vodafone Warriors: Played 261. Points 674 (77 tries, 176 goals, 14 field goals). Super League 2006-2007: Les Catalans: Played 45 games.

First Grade Debut: Warriors v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, 23/4/1995 (Rd 7)

Grand Finals: 1 – Warriors 2002 c (L)

Rep Career: New Zealand: Tests 46 (1995-2006), World Cups 1995, 2000, Tri-Nations 1999, 2005, 2006; Captained Kiwis in seven Tests

 

RUBEN WIKI

Born: January 21, 1973, Auckland, NZ

Junior Football: Otara Scorpions

Clubs: Canberra Raiders, Vodafone Warriors

Position: Centre/Second Row/Prop

 

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