2016 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2016 New Zealand rugby league season was the 109th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the re-formatted National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The competition was won by the Akarana Falcons.

International competitions
See also: List of New Zealand Kiwis matches

The New Zealand national rugby league team played in the 2016 Anzac Test, losing 0-16. Coached by Stephen Kearney the team was Jordan Kahu, Jason Nightingale, Tohu Harris, Gerard Beale, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kodi Nikorima , Shaun Johnson, Jesse Bromwich (c), Lewis Brown, Adam Blair, Kevin Proctor , Manu Ma'u , Jason Taumalolo. Bench: Greg Eastwood, Martin Taupau, Sam Moa and Kenny Bromwich. Peta Hiku, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Brad Takairangi were originally selected to play but withdrew due to injury. Alex Glenn and Danny Levi were a part of the Kiwis squad but did not play in the match.

Kearney stepped down as coach on 12 September, to become the New Zealand Warriors head coach.[1][2] He was replaced by David Kidwell, who took on the position full-time.[3]

The Kiwis will compete an end of season test match against Australia in Perth, and the 2016 Four Nations in Great Britain.[4]

The Junior Kiwis played in a trans-Tasman match on 7 May, losing 20-34. Coached by Kelvin Wright, the squad was Brad Abbey (Canterbury Bulldogs), Greg Lelesiuao (Gold Coast Titans), Patrick Herbert (St George-Illawarra Dragons), Reimis Smith (Canterbury Bulldogs), Ken Tofilau (Newcastle Knights), Jamayne Isaako (Brisbane Broncos), Ata Hingano (New Zealand Warriors), Poasa Faamausili (Sydney Roosters), Brandon Smith (North Queensland Cowboys), Cowan Epere (Penrith Panthers), Marata Niukore (New Zealand Warriors), Esan Marsters (Wests Tigers) and Tom Amone (Parramatta Eels). Bench: Siosifa Talakai (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Nathaniel Roache (New Zealand Warriors), Isaiah Papalii (New Zealand Warriors) and Kurt Bernard (Penrith Panthers).[5]

The New Zealand Residents side will play a New Zealand Māori team on 15 October.[6] The Residents will be coached by Rod Ratu and includes; Uila Aiolupo, Jethro Friend, Roman Hifo, Paulos Latu, Alan Niulevu, Raymond Talimalie (Counties Manukau Stingrays), Tevin Arona, Chris Bamford, James Baxendale, Phil Nati, Nathan Saumalu, Matthew Sauni (Canterbury Bulls), Tevita Latu, Siua Otunuku, Daniel Palavi, Eddie Purcell, Tevita Satae (Akarana Falcons) and Nick Read (Waikato).[7]

The 23-man New Zealand Māori XIII squad includes; Tomasi Aoake, James Bell, Keanu Dawson, Bodene Thompson (New Zealand Warriors), David Bhana (Newcastle Knights), Trent Bishop, Carlos Hotene, Tony Tuia (Howick Hornets), Zach Dockar-Clay, Malakai Watene-Zelezniak (Penrith Panthers), Carne Doyle-Manga (Wyong Roos), Greg Eastwood, Curtis Rona (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Delane Edwards (Freemantle Roosters), George Edwards (Papakura Sea Eagles), Kurt Kara (Newtown Jets), Taane Milne (St.George-Illawarra Dragons), Piki Rogers (North Sydney Bears), Kouma Samson (Glenora Bears), Dion Snell (Mt Albert Lions), Manaia Osborne, Te Ariki Peneha (Whiti Te Ra) and Dana Ratu (Taniwharau).[8]

The New Zealand Rugby League named Jesse Bromwich as the Kiwis Player of the year while Jordan Rapana was the Kiwi Rookie of the year and James Fisher-Harris was the junior player of the year. Other award winners were: Shane Price (volunteer), He Tauaa (club), Andrew Auimatagi (domestic coach), Chris McMillan (match official), Jordan Riki (under 16s), Chanel Harris-Tavita (under 18s), Daniel Palavi (domestic player) and Sarina Fiso (women's player).[9]

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

Auckland are the holders of the Rugby League Cup but have not defended the trophy since 2012.

National Competition

2016 will be the seventh year of the National Competition. The competition was reformatted for this season, with Akarana, Counties Manukau, Canterbury and Wellington competing in a National Championship.[10] The other zones will revert to district teams with these teams competing in four regional championships. The four winners will then compete in a National Premiership competition, and the winner will play a promotion-relegation match against the last placed National Championship side.[11][12]

The National Secondary Schools Tournament took place between 29 August and 2 September while the National Youth Tournament took place between 26 and 30 September.[6]

National Championship

The Akarana Falcons won the grand final, after finishing second following the round-robin.[13]

Season standings
Team Pld W D L B PF PA Pts
Counties Manukau Stingrays 320114264+784
Akarana Falcons 320111688+284
Canterbury Bulls 32019478+164
Wellington Orcas 300352176-1240
Final
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Counties Manukau Stingrays 12-32 Akarana Falcons 1 October Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland[14]

National Premiership

The match between the Southland Rams and Canterbury Development sides, won by Southland, was for the Eddie Hei Hei Memorial Trophy.[15]

Team Pld W D L B PF PA Pts
Waikato 330013414+1206
Southland Rams 32015476-224
Canterbury Development 31026662+42
Taranaki Sharks 300328130-1020
Promotion/Relegation

Waikato earned promotion to the 2017 National Competition, while Wellington will have to win their regional competition to enter the 2017 National Premiership.

Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Wellington Orcas 14-38 Waikato 1 October Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

Regional competitions

The Southern region series, which started in August, involved Southland, Otago, West Coast and Tasman.[16] The competition was won by Southland, who were undefeated.[17][18]

Waikato defeated Northland and the Bay of Plenty while Taranaki defeated the Manawatu Mustangs in a two-match series.[19]

Canterbury Development defeated the Auckland Vulcans development side in a one-off match.[20]

National secondary schools tournament

The national secondary schools tournament was won by the Southern Cross Campus, who defeated Kelston Boys' High School 16-12 in the final. Onehunga High School won the development division.[21]

National youth tournament

The Counties Manukau Stingray defeated the Akarana Falcons 18-16 in the under-15 youth final, while Akarana defeated the South Island Scorpions 44-6 to win the under-17 competition.

Australian competitions
Main article: 2016 New Zealand Warriors season

The New Zealand Warriors played in their 22nd first grade season in the Australian competition, finishing 10th in the National Rugby League.

The Warriors also fielded teams in the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and Holden Cup. The Intrust Super Premiership NSW team finished 5th, and then defeated the Penrith Panthers 21-14 in an elimination final before losing to the Newtown Jets 18-22 in a semi-final. The Junior Warriors Holden Cup team finished the season in 14th position.

For the third consecutive year, Auckland hosted the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines.

Club competitions

Auckland
See also: Auckland Rugby League club trophies

The Papakura Sea Eagles won the Fox Memorial, defeating the Pt Chev Pirates 12-8 in the grand final.[22] The Sea Eagles had also won the Rukutai Shield as the minor premiers, and held the Roope Rooster challenge cup at the end of the season. Mt Albert won the Kiwi Shield.[23]

The Te Atatu Roosters won the Sharman Cup, defeating the Bay Roskill Vikings 31-22 to earn promotion for 2017.[24] The Roosters had also won the Phelan Shield as minor premiers.[23]

Papakura also won the ARL Coastal Classic Nines, defeating the Howick Hornets 20-14 in the final. The Ngaruawahia Panthers won the plate, defeating the Manurewa Marlins 8-0. It was the first time a side from the Waikato had competed.[25]

Zacharia Tippins from the Glenora Bears was named the Fox Memorial Player of the Year, Nukurua Ngere from Papatoetoe was the Sharman Cup Player of the Year, Jonathan Carl from Pt Chevalier won the Lance Painter Rose Bowl for top goal kicker in the Fox Memorial, Saula Solomona from Pt Chevalier won the Masters Rugby League Cup for top try-scorer in the Fox Memorial and Mt Albert's Zae Wallace was the rookie of the year. Richie Blackmore was named coach of the year.[23]

The team of the year was; Fullback: James Dowie (Papakura), Winger: Saula Solomona (Pt Chevalier), Centre: Semisi Tyrell (Mangere East), Standoff: Drew Radich (Otahuhu), Halfback: Raymond Talimalie (Mangere East), Prop: Tony Tuia (Howick), Hooker: Zacharia Tippins (Glenora), Second-row: Dion Snell (Mt Albert) and Lock: Trent Bishop (Howick).[23]

Wellington

Whiti Te Ra defeated Te Aroha 26-24 in the Wellington Rugby League grand final. It was Whiti Te Ra's first title and they went through the season undefeated, the first team to do so since the Randwick Kingfishers in 1944.[32]

Canterbury

The Linwood Keas won the Canterbury Rugby League's Pat Smith Memorial Trophy by defeating the Hornby Panthers 29-10 at AMI Stadium.[33][34] Corey Lawrie captained the Hornby side. Linwood's Erwin Sauni was awarded the Mel Cooke Memorial Trophy as the man of the match.[34]

Northland

The Takahiwai Warriors won the Whangarei City & Districts rugby league title by defeating the Otangarei Knights 18-16 at Toll Stadium, Whangarei.[35]

The Kaikohe Lions won the inaugural Taitokerau rugby league Premiership title by defeating the Pawerenga Broncos 10-6 at Rugby Park, Kaikohe.[36]

The Moerewa Tigers won the inaugural Taitokerau rugby league Championship title by defeating the Muriwhenua Falcons 38-10 at Rugby Park, Kaikohe.[36]

Other leagues

The Southland Rugby League and Otago Rugby League ran a joint eight team competition after both leagues were reduced to four teams.[16] He Tauaa defeated the Cowboys 20-18 in the Southland club rugby league final at Les George Oval to win their fourth successive title.[37]

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References
  1. "Kearney new Vodafone Warriors head coach". warriors.kiwi. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. "Stephen Kearney backs David Kidwell to take over Kiwis coaching duties". tvnz. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. "Kidwell not confirming Mannering as Kiwis skipper". Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  4. "Perth to host October Test match". nrl.com. 27 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  5. "Marsters named in Junior Kiwis squad". Retrieved 17 August 2016.
  6. "Calendar nurtures trans-Tasman talent". nzrl.co.nz. 22 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. "Ratu in charge of strong Residents side".
  8. "Auckland Rugby League - Auckland Rugby League".
  9. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11786293
  10. "NZRL - Premiership".
  11. "NZRL re-launch national competition for 2016". APRL. 23 February 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2016.
  12. "NZRL - Championship".
  13. "Falcons fly high for premiership crown".
  14. "All Auckland league final confirmed".
  15. "Eddie Hei Hei Trophy up for grabs".
  16. "Southland and Otago rugby league competitions to combine". Southland Times. 12 April 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  17. "Rams to test themselves".
  18. "Rams want to lift profile".
  19. "NZRL - News".
  20. "NZRL - Championship Qualifying".
  21. Pulsating finish to NSST finals nzrl.co.nz, 2 September 2016
  22. "Auckland Rugby League - Auckland Rugby League". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  23. "Auckland Rugby League - Auckland Rugby League". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  24. "Auckland Rugby League - Auckland Rugby League". Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
  25. "Papakura and Ngaruawahia win at Sportsafe ARL Coastal Classic Nines". Auckland Rugby League. 28 February 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
  26. "Team Sheet".
  27. "Team Sheet".
  28. "Team Sheet".
  29. "Team Sheet".
  30. "Team Sheet".
  31. "Team Sheet".
  32. "Whiti Te Ra complete unbeaten season".
  33. "Hornby win through to final".
  34. "Godfather inspires final win".
  35. Johnsen, Andrew (31 July 2016). "League: Last-minute penalty gives Takahiwai win in grand final". NZ Herald. ISSN 1170-0777. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  36. "Northland league teams go head to head". Māori Television. Retrieved 27 February 2018.
  37. "He Tauaa wins fourth consecutive league final". Southland Times. 17 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
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