Waikato Rugby League

Waikato Rugby Leagueis the local sporting body responsible for the administration ofrugby leaguein theWaikato regionof New Zealand. The WRL are represented by theWaikato rugby league team.They are currently part of the Upper Central Zone along with Coastline Rugby League andBay of Plenty Rugby League.

Senior games are played across several venues; Hamilton -Resthills Park,Raahui Pookeka Huntly - Davies Park, and Albert Park - Te Awamutu.

Womens/Waahine games take place at Albert Park - Te Awamutu.

Junior Games take place at Ngaaruawahia High School, Resthills Park, and Hopuhopu Sports Grounds.

History

The league was constituted as theSouth Auckland Rugby Leagueon 28 April 1921.^[1]

Current Teams

Premier Division clubs 2024

Taniwharau Rugby League(Huntly) - Davies Park
Turangawaewae(Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
Ngaruawahia Panthers(Ngaruawahia) - League Park
Hamilton City Tigers(Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Hukanui / College Old Boys / Ravens (Hamilton)

Championship Clubs for 2024

Taniwharau Rugby League(Huntly) - Davies Park
Coast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa Domain
Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Hauraki Tigers (Paeroa)
Hamilton Hornets (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Turangawaewae (Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
College Old Boys (Hamilton) - Resthills Park
Whatawhata Wolves (Whatawhata)
Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park
Whaingaroa Whai (Raglan)

Womens Premiership Clubs for 2024

Te Awamutu Firehawks (Te Awamutu) - Albert Park
Coast Steelers (Taharoa) - Taharoa Domain
Turangawaewae(Ngaruawahia) - Paterson Park
Hamilton City Tigers (Hamilton) - Resthills Park

Womens Championship Clubs for 2024

Ngaruawahia Panthers (Ngaruawahia) - League Park
Taniwharau Rugby League(Huntly) - Davies Park
Whatawhata Wolves (Whatawhata)
Whaingaroa Whai (Raglan)

Dormant clubs

Huntly South Chargers (Huntly) - Davies Park
Fairfield Falcons (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park
Morrinsville Bulls (Morrinsville)
Rangiriri Eels (Maurea)
Otorohanga Tigers (Otorohanga) - Island Reserve
Kio Kio Hunters (Maihihi) - Kio Kio United Sports Ground
Frankton Albions (Hamilton) - Swarbrick Park
Ngaruawahia Lions (Ngaruawahia) - Patterson Park
Jaradites Rugby League (Hamilton)
Huntly United (Huntly) - Davies Park
Cambridge Raiders (Cambridge)
Waipa Wildcats (Kihikihi)
Thames Wanderers (Thames/Coromandel)
Ohinemuri Warriors
Whaingaroa Divers (Raglan)
Glen Afton (Glen Afton)
Chartwell Lions

Past winners Premier grades

Waikato club championship winners since 1986:

1986-Huntly South def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
1987-Frankton Albions def Huntly South (Davies Park, Huntly)
1988-Ngaruawahia Panthers def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
1989-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
1990-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
1991-Hamilton City Tigers def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
1992-Turangawaewae def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)
1993-Hamilton City Tigers 50-10 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)^[2]
1994-Turangawaewae 30-23 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)^[3]
1995-Turangawaewae 20-15Taniwharau(Resthills Park, Hamilton)^[4]
1996-Turangawaewae 26-18Taniwharau(Resthills Park, Hamilton)^[5]
1997-Taniwharaudef Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)^[6]
1998-Turangawaewae 35-18 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)^[7]
1999-Turangawaewae 32-22 Hukanui(Davies Park, Huntly)^[8]
2000-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)^[9]^[10]
2001-Hukanui def Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)

Between 2002 - 2007 Waikato aligned itself with Coastlines and theBay of Plentyto create the Waicoa Bay Championship:

2002-Taniwharaudef Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)^[11]
2003-Turangawaewae defTaniwharau(Davies Park, Huntly)
2004-[Ngongotaha def Ngaruawahia Panthers (Puketewhero Park, Rotorua)^[12]
2005-Turangawaewae def Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)^[11]
2006-Turangawaewae def Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)
2007-Taniwharau24-18 Turangawaewae (Davies Park, Huntly)^[13]
2008-Taniwharau40-4 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)^[14]

The Waikato club championship resumed in 2009

2009-Taniwharau16 - 2 Ngaruawahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)^[15]
2010-Hamilton City Tigers 19-12Taniwharau(Resthills Park, Hamilton)^[16]
2011- Ngaruawahia Panthers 24-4 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
2012- Hamilton City Tigers 34-4 Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)

WaiCoa Bays Championship resumed in 2011:

2011- Hamilton City Tigers 26-6 Taniwharau (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2012- Hamilton City Tigers 26-12 Ngaruwahia Panthers (Davies Park, Huntly)

Bay of Plenty Clubs break away from the competition, Leaving it as The "WaiCoa Championship"

2013- Taniwharau 18-16 Hamilton City Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2014- Taniwharau 20-18 Otumoetai Eels (Davies Park, Huntly)

The Waikato club championship resumed in 2015:

2015- Hamilton City Tigers 33 - 12 Taniwharau (Davies Park, Huntly)

WaiCoa Bays Championship resumed in 2016:

2016- Hamilton City Tigers 24 - 19 Pacific (Resthills Park, Hamilton)

The Waikato club championship resumed in 2017:

2017- Taniwharau 16 - 14 Hamilton City Tigers (Davies Park, Huntly)
2018- Taniwharau 28 - 12 College Old Boys (Davies Park, Huntly)
2019- Taniwharau 28 - 22 College Old Boys (Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2020 -
2021 -
2022 -
2023 -
2024 - Premiers:Taniwharau Rugby League26 -12Ngaruawahia Panthers(Resthills Park, Hamilton)
2024 - Championship:Taniwharau Rugby League18 -12 Hauraki Tigers (Resthills Park, Hamilton)

National competitions

TheWaikato rugby league teamhas competed inNew Zealand Rugby Leaguecompetitions, notably theLion Red Cupas TheWaikato CougarsandBartercard Premiership.They were represented in theBartercard Cupby theWaicoa Bay Stallionsa team that represented Waikato, Coastlines andBay of Plenty.

Players of note

Brad Clark- (Huntly South) Melbourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, NZ Maori
Tawera Nikau- (Rangiriri Eels) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Castleford, Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm
Wairangi Koopu- (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, NZ Warriors, Melbourne Storm
Tukere Barlow- (Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Warrington Wolves
Martin Moana- (Huntly South) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Halifax
Lance Hohaia- (Taniwharau) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008, Saint Helens
Sam Rapira- (Hukanui) *Kiwis, NZ Warriors, Kiwis Rugby League World Champion 2008
Steve Rapira- (Hukanui) NZ Warriors Juniors 2008, North Queensland Cowboys, NZ Warriors
Kurt Kara- (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors Juniors 08' 09', Newtown Jets
Herewini Rangi- (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Australian Bush Footy
Aoterangi Herangi- (Turangawaewae) NZ Warriors 2004, Wynnum Manly Seagulls
Jesse Royal- (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) Penrith Panthers, Newcastle Knights, NZ Warriors
Tainui Raihe- (Taniwharau, Hamilton City Tigers) NZ Maoris, Waikato 1998-2000
Hekewaru Muru- (Turangawaewae) NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League
Shaun Kenny-Dowall- (Turangawaewae, Ngaruawahia Panthers) *Kiwis, NZ Maoris, Waikato Rugby League, Sydney Roosters, NRL All Stars
Isaac John- (Turangawaewae, Pacific Sharks) NZ Warriors, Penrith Panthers
Sam Perrett- (College Old Boys) Sydney Roosters, Bulldogs, NZ Maoris, NZ Kiwis
Zoram Watene- (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20s 2007, Winsor Wolves 2009-2012, Auckland Vulcans 2013^[17]
Malakai Watene-Zelezniak- (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20s 2008, Winsor Wolves 2011, Auckland Vulcans 2013^[18]
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak- (College Old Boys) Penrith Panthers u/20s 2013, NSW u18s 2013, Australian Schoolboys 2013^[18]
Louis Anderson- (Taniwharau) NZ Warriors, Kiwis 2004-06, Tonga
Donavan Briggs- (Hamilton City Tigers) Cronulla Sharks u/18s 2015/2016 New Zealand Kiwis u/16s 2014
Harlan Lawrence Rawiri Collins- (Taniwharau) Manly Sea Eagles u/20s 2015
Dylan Rintoul- (College Old Boys) Canterbury Bulldogs u/20s 2013
Te Maire Martin- (Turangawaewae)

West Tigers u/20s 2014/2015 Penrith Panthers 2016

Morgan Harper- (Ngaruawahia Panthers)Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Austin Dias- (Turangawaewae)West Tigers

References

^Coffey, John and Bernie WoodAuckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009,2009.ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4,p.74.
^Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1993,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1993. p.p.160-163
^Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1994. p.p.174-175
^Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1995. p.190
^Muru, Patterson play crucial roles in grand final triumph^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,23 September 1996
^Waikato clubs to clash in pre-season tournament^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,11 March 1998
^Turangawaewae again wear league premiership crown^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,7 September 1998
^Turangawaewae trounce grand final challengers^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,18 October 1999
^Tigers taking on league champs^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,11 September 2000
^Rugby league action hots up^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,27 April 2001
^^a ^bGrand final a fitting end for tangi teams^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,25 August 2006
^League clubs ready for battle^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,9 April 2005
^Taniwharau win championship after enthralling encounter^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,27 August 2007
^Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,19 July 2010
^Panthers too good for Taniwharau^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,29 March 2010
^Richens, Matt (26 July 2010)."Finally Tigers bag prize".Waikato Times.Retrieved30 November2011.
^NSWRL.com, Aucklandvulcans.co.nz
^^a ^bNSWRL.com

[akl100-1] Coffey, John and Bernie WoodAuckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009,2009.ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4,p.74.

[nz93-2] Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1993,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1993. p.p.160-163

[nz94-3] Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1994. p.p.174-175

[nz95-4] Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1995,New Zealand Rugby Football League,1995. p.190

[5] Muru, Patterson play crucial roles in grand final triumph^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,23 September 1996

[6] Waikato clubs to clash in pre-season tournament^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,11 March 1998

[7] Turangawaewae again wear league premiership crown^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,7 September 1998

[8] Turangawaewae trounce grand final challengers^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,18 October 1999

[9] Tigers taking on league champs^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,11 September 2000

[10] Rugby league action hots up^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,27 April 2001

[fitting-11] Grand final a fitting end for tangi teams^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,25 August 2006

[12] League clubs ready for battle^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,9 April 2005

[13] Taniwharau win championship after enthralling encounter^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,27 August 2007

[14] Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,19 July 2010

[15] Panthers too good for Taniwharau^{[dead link‍]}Waikato Times,29 March 2010

[Stuff.co.nz_3957378-16] Richens, Matt (26 July 2010)."Finally Tigers bag prize".Waikato Times.Retrieved30 November2011.

[17] NSWRL.com, Aucklandvulcans.co.nz

[NSWRL.com-18] NSWRL.com

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]