2008 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2008 New Zealand rugby league season was the 101st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Auckland won the title by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 38–18 in the Grand Final.

International competitions
See also: List of New Zealand Kiwis matches and New Zealand at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup

The New Zealand national rugby league team played two matches in New Zealand in 2008 as build up to the World Cup. As the All Golds they played a match against the New Zealand Māori in New Plymouth. They also defeated Tonga in a test match in Auckland. The Kiwis went on to win the World Cup for the first time, defeating Australia 34 - 20 in the Final. Coached by Stephen Kearney the World Cup squad was captain Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, David Fa'alogo, Nathan Fien, Dene Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Krisnan Inu, David Kidwell, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Jason Nightingale, Sam Perrett, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Setaimata Sa, Jeremy Smith, Evarn Tuimavave and Manu Vatuvei.

18 October 2008
New Zealand  56 – 8  Tonga
Try: Ropati (3)
Nightingale (2)
Marshall (2)
Sa
Leuluai
Mannering
Goal: Inu (6)
Matai (2)		 (report) Try: Vuna
Leo-Latu
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Jason Robinson

Earlier in the year New Zealand had lost 12-28 to Australia. Roy Asotasi, Iosia Soliola, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank Pritchard and Brent Webb played in this match but were not included in the World Cup squad.

As part of the Festival of World Cups New Zealand sent teams to the University Rugby League World Cup, International Police Rugby League World Cup, Women's Rugby League World Cup and Defence Forces World Cup. New Zealand, coached by Frank Endacott, won the Women's World Cup while the New Zealand Police lost the final of the Police World Cup.

The New Zealand Māori side were coached by Luke Goodwin with Richie Blackmore and Chris Anderson providing assistance.[1] The squad to face the All Golds was Kevin Locke, Jordan Rapana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Wairangi Koopu, Jason Nightingale, Arana Taumata, Rangi Chase, Sam McKendry, Ben Ellis, Weller Hauraki, Bronson Harrison, Anthony Cherrington, Lee Te Maari, Jared Kahu, Joseph Cahill, Chance Bunce, James Tamou and Kevin Proctor.[2] Bronx Goodwin, Chase Stanley, Craig Smith, Charlie Herekotukutuku and Karl Johnson were added to the team for the World Cup opening match against the Indigenous Dreamtime Team.

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

The New Zealand Rugby League ruled that the Rugby League Cup would be defended in all Bartercard Premiership matches, home and away. The Cup changed hands in the Final, when Auckland defeated the holders, Canterbury, 38–18.[3]

Bartercard Premiership
Bartercard Premiership 2008
LeagueBartercard Premiership
SportRugby league
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)Maori Television
Major PremiershipAuckland
Minor PremiershipCanterbury

The 2008 season was the inaugural Bartercard Premiership. It replaced the Bartercard Cup as the top division of rugby league in New Zealand.

Teams

Canterbury were co-coached by Brent Stuart and Dave Perkins with Phil Prescott as the director of coaching. Mike Dorreen and Logan Edwards were the co-coached of the age group side.[4]

Auckland were coached by Sam Panapa and included Pita Godinet, Jeremiah Pai and Wayne McDade.[3]

Bay of Plenty were coached by Graham Lowe.[5]

Season standings
Province Pl W D L For Ag P/D Pts
Canterbury 5 5 0 0 242 96 146 10
Auckland 5 3 1 1 204 92 112 7
Waikato 5 3 0 2 110 138 -28 6
Wellington 5 2 1 2 146 138 8 5
Bay of Plenty 5 1 0 4 114 186 -72 2
Taranaki 5 0 0 5 96 262 -166 0

Fixtures and results
Round 1
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Auckland 70-0 Bay of Plenty 24 August 2008 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Wellington 18-38 Canterbury 24 August 2008 Porirua Park, Porirua
Taranaki 22-24 Waikato 24 August 2008 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Round 2
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Canterbury 94-10 Taranaki 30 August 2008 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Waikato 30-24 Bay of Plenty 31 August 2008 Davies Park, Huntly
Wellington 30-30 Auckland 31 August 2008 Porirua Park, Porirua
Round 3
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Canterbury 34 - 22 Bay of Plenty 6 September 2008 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Wellington 56 - 20 Taranaki 7 September 2008 Porirua Park, Porirua
Waikato 10 - 34 Auckland 8 September 2008 Resthills Park, Hamilton
Round 4
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Waikato 30 - 18 Wellington 13 September 2008 Davies Park, Huntly
Bay of Plenty 48 - 28 Taranaki 13 September 2008 Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Canterbury 36 - 30 Auckland 14 September 2008 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Round 5
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Bay of Plenty 20 - 24 Wellington 20 September 2008 Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Taranaki 16 - 40 Auckland 20 September 2008 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Canterbury 40 - 16 Waikato 21 September 2008 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Grand final
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Canterbury 18 - 38 Auckland 28 September 2008 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Tries (Auckland) 3: Sione Tongia
1: Savinata Hafoka, Sunita Laiseni,
Raymond Ioane, Wayne McDade,
and Pita Godinet
Tries (Canterbury) 2: Nathan Sherlock
1: Chris Bamford
Goals (Auckland) 2: Jeremiah Pai
1: William Heta
Goals (Canterbury) 3: Scott Hurrell
Broadcast Maori Television

Australian competitions
Main article: 2008 New Zealand Warriors season

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 8th out of 16 teams before winning in the Qualifying and Semi finals before losing to eventual premiers Manly.

The Junior Warriors finished third in the Toyota Cup, making the finals before losing to the Brisbane Broncos in a Preliminary Final.

The Auckland Vulcans also competed in the NSW Cup.

Club competitions

Auckland
See also: Auckland Rugby League club trophies

The Mt Albert Lions won the Fox Memorial, defeating Otahuhu 24–22 in the final. The Otahuhu Leopards won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership) while Richmond won the Stormont Shield. Richmond also won the Sharman Cup (second division) while the New Lynn Stags won the Pheland Shield (third division).

Mt Albert were coached by Brent Gemmell and included Steve Buckingham, Sala Fa'alogo, Paul and David Fisiiahi, Anthony Swann and Matthew Sturm.[6]

Wellington

The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.[7]

Canterbury

Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

Other Competitions

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club defeated Hamilton City Tigers to win the Waikato Rugby League competition.[8]

Taniwharau defeated Otumotai to win the WaiCoa Bay championship.[9]

Pacific won the Baywide premier competition.[10] This was a joint competition run by the Coastline and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's.[11]

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See also

References
  1. Big name help for All Golds, Maori TVNZ, 25 September 2008
  2. NZ Maori loaded with experience TVNZ, 3 October 2008
  3. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.p.350-357.
  4. Bulls score Prescott The Press, 13 May 2008
  5. Bay league draw criticised Daily Post, 9 September 2008
  6. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.350.
  7. Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions The Press, 4 November 2011
  8. Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat Waikato Times, 19 July 2010
  9. It's all gold for champions Taniwharau, i.stuff.co.nz, 31 January 2009
  10. Falcons make Bay league debut The Daily Post, 3 April 2009
  11. First game back close for centre The Daily Post, 2 June 2008
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