In League with

Issue 1 February 2012

Message from the General Manager Numbers in the South grow Inside this South Island Rugby League shows a 17% increase in numbers issue: Welcome to the first edition of In League with South Island Rugby League. This In the Past 2 monthly newsletter is for members of the South Island Rugby League community, its friends and supporters. The newsletter will provide rugby league updates, articles, League on the 3 images and information on the game in the South Island. West Coast 2011 It’s an exciting time to be involved with Rugby League in NZ. The changes at NZRL Southland’s Sea- 3 Headquarters and the fine work that is being done to get the game back on track is son 2011 now starting to show dividends. The popularity of the game has never been so high especially amongst young people. Otago Rugby 4 League 2011 The Southern Zone has been in existence Tasman Rugby 5 now and fully operational for just over 18 League 2011 months. In that time a huge amount has Canterbury Rug- 5 happened with Rugby League in the by League 2011 South Island.

Coaching and 6 One of the real highlights from 2011 has Notice board been the employment of dedicated Rugby Important dates 7 League Development Officers in each Sponsors district. At present one position exists in Southland, Otago, the West Coast and Canterbury with a further one to be in place in Tasman early in 2012. Ruben Wiki with youngsters at the Otago Roots Camp in 2011 SOUTHERN ZONE 2011 saw the inception of a South Island District Competition for senior representa- tive teams which was won by the Canterbury A team. The re-emergence of teams from Tasman (the Titans) and Otago (the Whalers) was particularly satisfying. This competition will be run again in 2012. In addition, a South Island District Tournament will also be held in July 2012 for 15 and 17 years old teams. At a district level it has been heartening to see Rugby League back in Tasman and Otago. In 2012 it looks likely that there will be 6 teams in the Dunedin and 7 teams in the Tasman competitions. 18 months ago there were none. Great also to see Hokitika fielding teams on the Coast and for Southland to be looking at 7 teams in 2012 after having only 4 in 2009. A lot of work is being done in schools across the mainland and there is a real enthusiasm for the game. I’m sure that you will enjoy reading about how things are going in the various clubs Home of the and districts of the South Island. I’m keen to get your Rugby League stories and pic- South Island Scorpions tures as well so that others can see them. Just email them to me at [email protected] League is the game they play in Heaven

The lightning-fast modern game has left union looking like league in the old days of unlimited tackles and the zero metre rule: very boring

In the evolution of sport, one stands out as the most brutally novelties in attracting the attention of young people. The globali- exciting game devised by humankind: rugby league football. At sation of sporting coverage has also increased the level of com- a time when many men lament the metrosexualisation of socie- petition for domestic codes. Rugby league’s achievement has ty, it is a refreshingly physical code. As the legendary coach been to stay alive in this tough environment. While attempts to and commentator Roy Masters once said, ballroom dancing is expand the code into AFL-obsessed Melbourne and outlying a contact sport, rugby league is a collision sport. centres such as Perth and Adelaide have not been successful, it remains strong in its states of origin. It started in Australia in 1908 as a breakaway from the toffee- nosed, tweed-coated amateur code of rugby union. Like most In the battle of the rugby codes, league is supreme. Even though aspects of the industrial society, this was a class-laden event. union has now turned professional, its standards have fallen A group of tough-minded, hard-bodied working-class men in away. Ironically, it resembles the way in which league was Sydney resented the elitist and parsimonious values of the played in the 1950s: a pointless series of rucks from which the rugby union establishment. They saw a code flush with money, forwards barge the ball forward and the backs kick it away. Rug- yet too mean to pay them travelling expenses or compensation by union is locked in a time warp of unlimited tackles, zero-metre for time lost at work on match days. So they created their own defensive lines and spectator boredom. Even worse, at an inter- professional league.History has recorded the class tensions at national level, the game is plagued by overly officious referees play. Herbert Moran, captain of the Australian Wallabies in who mistakenly believe the fans have paid good money to watch 1908-09, wrote of how, after the split, rugby union ‘became them blow the pea out of their whistle. Twenty years ago, I was a cleaner because we lost some of the rougher elements’. In a keen rugby union fan. Today, along with many others, I would paper reviewing the period, the academic Murray Smith has rather watch paint dry than endure the tedium of a union test argued, ‘the development of rugby league as a rival code must match. be understood as the failure of the upper-middle class in Syd- ney to negotiate with lower-middle class and working men who The second factor in league’s success is the way in which it wished to share their game.’ helps men deal with the repression of masculinity in modern society. One of the saddest things I have witnessed has been In the century since its formation, rugby league has not only the decline in Australian male culture, whereby men have be- maintained its working-class fan base, but developed new con- come reluctant to express themselves in traditional ways, such stituencies to become the pre-eminent winter sporting code in as through physical strength. This has been squeezed out of New South Wales and Queensland. Its appeal is fascinating. society by a number of powerful influences: the crisis in male With the rise of labour-saving technologies, the working class identity brought about by changes in the workplace and family in Australia has shrunk. Yet league remains popular, pointing to unit; the rise of Left-feminism, with its sanitising impact on public its capacity to re-invent itself and keep pace with social and culture; and the moralising of the mass media, hypocritically nar- economic change. rowing the spectrum of so-called socially acceptable behaviour.

Two factors have been fundamental to its success. The first is Men across the class divide enjoy the physicality of rugby rule changes. When league broke away from rugby union it league. Its power athletes are among the best in international adopted rules that promoted ball movement and limited the sport and, with changes in the ethnicity of the game, they are amount of kicking. The number of players per team was re- getting even better. Ten years ago it was rare to see a Polyne- duced from 15 to 13 and the dreary spectacle of a rugby ruck sian or Aboriginal player in first grade. Now they are the predom- was replaced with a much faster play-the-ball. These changes inant ethnic groups at the game’s elite level. To give one exam- made the game fan-friendly, inviting the possibility of skilful ple, rival fans have taken to calling the South Sydney Rabbitohs, chain passing and open field running. The ruggedness of man- one of the grand old inner-city foundation clubs, the All Browns. on-man tackling was matched by the excitement of plays that swept from one end of the field to the other. The Polynesians, in particular, were born to play rugby league, with their stocky physiques and explosive power and pace over Whenever rugby league was threatened by monotony, such as short distances. They have taken the code to a new level, leav- when the mighty St George Dragons won 11 consecutive ing it unsurpassed for the strength of its tackling and running premierships in the Sydney competition between 1956 and skills. Rugby league has become the game they play in Heaven, 1966, its administrators found ways of enlivening the code. The Hell and all manly places in between. Dragons had a roster of champion players but also a determi- nation to exploit the unlimited tackle rule, using their big for- Written by Mark wards to bash other teams into submission through lengthy Latham, former periods of ball retention. Two new rules restored the free- Australian Federal flowing purpose of the game. The number of tackles was re- Labor leader, St stricted to four and then six, while the zero-metre defensive line George Dragons was extended to five and then 10 metres, giving creative play- follower since 1968. ers greater space in the ruck area. First published Spectator Australia Increasingly, society demands a faster pace and greater inten- Sept, 2010. sity in its recreational activities. Traditional sports are now com- peting against computer-generated games and other electronic

Page 2 In League with West Coast Rugby League 2011

The past season was comprised Cobden-Kohinoor, Hokitika,Suburbs/ one of the most Waro-Rakau and Brunner. Again it was a repeat significant in the history of 2010 with Cobden-Kohinoor taking the honours of the game here on the from Suburbs/ Waro-Rakau. West Coast. We started In the Schoolboy (and girls) grades some 550 the year with a flood at youngsters in seven clubs embraced rugby Wingham Park and in league in 2011. November we endured The West Coast Chargers competed in the South an even bigger one. But Island Districts Competition with the young James Ward: Player/Coach champion Runanga team in between there was contingent having their moments without really and Peter Kerridge plenty of footy. In threatening for the title. February we hosted the West Coast had representation in the three South NRL charity match Island Zone teams. Lance McEwen played for the between the Vodafone Waro-Rakau Club, West Coast Chargers and Warriors and the then the South Island Scorpions. A further four Newcastle Knights with players played for the South Island 15’s and two an excellent curtain rais- in the South Island 17’s. At season's end Lance er between a West Coast was judged WC player of the year, an award Blair Invitation 13 and the Sims, a victim of the Pike Mine disaster, won for Canterbury Bulls. Held the two previous years. as a Pike River Coalmine The final game of the year at Wingham Park disaster featured South Island v Auckland in all three James Ward on attack in the Grand Final fundraiser and to raise grades. community spirits it In the annual West Coast sports awards WCRL succeeded on all fronts Chairman/Secretary Peter Kerridge received the and generated an all time Administrator`s Award repeating his original record crowd for rugby success back in 2001. league on the West On 21st November a major flood hit Wingham Coast of 5,500. The Park with water rising to1.5 metres through the previous evening a grandstand dressing rooms and causing signifi- successful fund raising cant damage to fences. Groundsman Frank dinner was held at Gibson (NZRL Volunteer of Year 2010) repaired Shantytown with the visit- the fences in time to celebrate his 87th birthday Lance McEwen WCRL Player of the Year ing footballers present . on 18th December. The regular club season featured six teams in the Monteiths Finally the long awaited recruitment of a Coaching Championship: Runanga,Brunner, Cobden-Kohinoor, and Development Officer finally came to pass in Waro-Rakau, Suburbs and Hokitika. Runanga repeated the November with Paddy Byrne`s welcome previous year`s effort to down Suburbs in the Grand Final and appointment. Peter Kerridge retain the title. The U18s four team Solid Energy competition Southland’s Season 2011 A new committee headed by President Teaukura Moetaua Pacific Raiders from Dunedin. were very active in 2011. The time and energy put in by Te Secondary schools competitions were held in both himself was considerable and he will be missed in 2012. The the 1st and the third terms and involved 12 teams year saw a number of new initiatives and the continuation of from eights schools for the 13 a side in the third those started in 2010. The clubrooms at Elles Rd received a term, and eight teams from six schools in the nine a new paint job and the grounds at Sandypoint got a new set of side 1st term competition. posts. The local senior competition saw the newest and sixth team A part time development officer was employed. This the Cowboys win the grand final defeating the Wakatipu Gi- position was in place for a period of approximately ants. The grand final was a superb occasion. Played at the 12 weeks and delivered programmes into primary no. 2 rugby union ground, it was watched by a huge crowd. and secondary schools. 8 Primary schools in South The singing of the national anthem was one of the highlights Invercargill received the Fundamental Skills of a well organised day. A combined round was played with programme with in excess of 1300 children receiving Otago club teams and commenced on 9 July with 4 South- coaching in the skills of the game. An administrative land and 3 Otago teams participating. The final between the resource was also employed to undertake 8 hours top Otago and the top Southland club was won by the South per week of operational duties.

Page 3 In League with The Southland Rams played in the South Island district League to deliver the programmes and opportunities competition and whilst the results on the scoreboard were- that it was able to and without whom it wouldn’t have n’t as they would wish, the side showed that at full strength been possible. and at home it was capable of upsetting its more fancied rivals. The Southland 15’s team travelled to to take on their West Coast and Canterbury equivalents and competed well. Southland managed to get two boys in the South Island Scorpions 15’s side. Tai Soames and Tamati Harris made huge sacrifices and travelled big distances to train and play with the Scorpions, leaving home on a Friday morning and travelling for 9 hours on a bus to get to Christchurch and then returning home on Monday after the games. The profile of league in Southland has risen dramatically with the support of the local media with Nathan Burdon and Logan Savory very supportive of the league.Key fund- ing partners the ILT Foundation and the Southland Com- munity Trust enabled the Southland District Rugby Otago Rugby League The new senior competition was played in the winter with Thanks to the support of the Otago Community Trust, a 4 teams participating on a Saturday afternoon at the Ken- joint Development Officer role was established in part- sington Oval. The Grand Final winning team was the ex- nership with Otago Touch. In this posiyion Grant Milne perienced Kia Toa Tigers who defeated favourites the has done a wonderful job in getting rugby league up and South Pacific Raiders. The Raiders made amends by win- running and in delivering programmes and competitions ning the Combined Otago Southland competition beating into schools. He delivered the Kiwi Sport Fundamental the Wakatipu Giants. Skills programme into primary schools and he has been to 12 schools to date with 2 tournaments of kiwi league From out of this competition a strong Otago Whalers team tag having been played. was picked and competed in the South Island District Competition finishing a very creditable third behind the The inaugural secondary schools competition was held two Canterbury teams. Johnny Hughes was selected in in the third term with 4 teams from three schools involved the South Island Scorpions senior side following the trials in both senior and junior grades. The traditional boys in Christchurch and whilst didn’t get game time showed schools Otago Boys High School, Kings High School and that there is talent in Otago that can compete at national John McGlashan all fielded teams. The champion team level. The real commitment shown by the players was evi- Otago Boys High played the top Southland team St Pe- denced by the fact that the team travelled three times to ters from Gore and a hard fought draw was the result. Christchurch and back on the day of their games (an 8 Sports and Charitable Trust, the Southern Victorian Trust hour round trip). There is great enthusiasm for the compe- and Sport Otago through the Kiwi Sport Regional Part- tition again in 2012 and for places in the Otago Whalers nership Fund was critical to the growth that was achieved. Significant interest was shown for the spring premier competition which was run for the first time in 2010 and as a result 8 teams entered this competition which was won again by the Hawks. Two of these teams have indi- cated a desire to be playing in the winter competition in 2012 which would boost the competition to 6 teams. The support of the Otago Community Trust, the Bendigo Valley Sports and Charitable Trust, the Southern Victori- an Trust and Sport Otago through the Kiwi Sport Region- al Partnership Fund was critical to the growth that was achieved.

Tasman Titans VS Otago Whalers

Issue 1 February 2012 Page 4 Tasman Rugby League The new senior com- 1381 young school children experience the skills of and petition with 5 teams had an opportunity to play rugby league was completed in July and saw the Stoke A part time Development Officer will be put in place in Cobras come out on the New Year once funding has been finalised. This posi- top in a hard fought tion will continue to deliver the very successful coaching grand final against programmes into primary, intermediate and secondary the Tahunanui Tigers. schools with part of the brief being the expansion on the A sixth club team is primary competitions held in 2011 for the schools in- already confirmed for volved. 2012. This was fol- Based at Sport Tasman and with the Sports Trusts full lowed by a highly support Tasman Rugby League are well placed to con- competitive Town v tinue the rapid growth it has already experienced. Country series which also served as a trial for the newly formed Tasman Titans. The committee continue to bring in new partners through sponsorship with a number of new sponsors confirmed The feature of the competition was the new playing strips including Bin Inn, Wendy Mannering Harcourts Realty, that the teams played in. These came about through fund- MoreFM and Endurance Fishing LTD as Gold Sponsors. ing from Air Rescue Services Ltd and looked very sharp. Quade Dearman from Nelson Boys High School became The successful fundamental skills coaching programme in the first Tasman player to make the South Island Scorpi- schools was completed with schools competing in compe- ons side playing for the Scorpions 17’s in the National titions over a four week period in August. Baseline data Competition with distinction. collected indicates that the programme delivered saw

Canterbury Rugby League

2012 was a difficult year for . The Gore Trophy for section 2 was won by the Riccarton The earthquakes that Christchurch experienced had a Knights by 36 to 12 over the Northern Bulldogs . huge impact on rugby league clubs with facilities and par- Results for other grades were: ticipation numbers taking a hammering. It was with real 1st Division – Burnham Chevaliers 18 beat Sydenham pride though that Canterbury Rugby League managed to Swans 16 be the first winter code in Canterbury to get its season 2nd Division – Timaru Warriors 32 beat Marist Saints 12 underway. Presidents won by the Halswell Hornets The final tote up of teams at the conclusion of the season The Terry Cox Trophy for the 18’s was won by the Lin- showed a better than anticipated drop in numbers of only wood Keas who defeated Hornby Panthers by 38 to 16 4% which was gratifying given the number of people who The Chas Clarkson Trophy for 16’s was won by Celebra- left the city during the year. tion Lions 38 over Halswell Hornets 16 The Premier competition was taken out by the strong 14 years(frank Archer Cup) – Linwood Keas 24 beat Halswell Hornets team coached by Shane Endacott who Halswell Hornets 12 defeated the Celebration Lions in the Grand Final by 52- 13 years(Evans Cup) – Celebration 16. 12 years(Walker Cup) – Halswell Hornets

Page 5 In League with The junior sportsman of the year was Jak Fraser-Marshall Referee numbers continue to be a concern as they are from Halswell across the country but awards were made to Paddy In representative games, the Canterbury A team beat the Whare as Mini Referee of the year, Mark Robin for Mod Canterbury 20’s in a very close tussle to win the new South and the Schoolboy referee of the year was Darryl Ma- Island District Competition. The Canterbury 14’s finished taiti. runners up in the Futures Tournament in Wellington with 6 players making the tournament team. The senior referee of the year was Graham Morell Probably the two biggest features of the year were, Canterbury had a strong representation in the South Island apart from the earthquake, the resignation of General Scorpions teams which managed to get 6 players into the Manager Graeme Sole who left at the end of the year to NZ Residents team that defeated the NZ Maori (Junior Sa- take up a position with the NZ Pony Clubs Association levao, Jaye PukePuke, Bruce Havea, Kyle Leka, James and the leasing of Rugby League Park to be re devel- Baxendale and Manu Weepu, Brent Stewart as Coach) oped into a stadium to be used for rugby union and oth- er sporting fixtures including rugby league. The Canter- From a governance perspective, the Canterbury Rugby bury Rugby League can still use the new stadium for Football League became simply Canterbury Rugby League representative matches and their club grand final, and and adopted a new constitution that aligned more closely hope international and NRL matches will be played with both the Southern Zone and New Zealand Rugby there. Leagues. New General Manager Craig Kerr was appointed just A new Strategic Plan was drafted to be instituted in 2012. prior to Xmas and started at CRL HQ on the 16th Janu- This set out the key directions in which CRL are intending ary. to focus. Following on from the Halswell clubs success in 2010 in Everyone involved in Canterbury Rugby League are becoming the Grassroots Club of the year, long serving looking forward to 2012 season and the prospects of administrator, coach and manager Chris (Herm) Hansen growth in numbers particularly with the potential for in- from the Burnham Club was named male volunteer of the crease s in population as a result of the rebuild but year at a function in Auckland. hopefully also because the frequency and severity of On the local scene; Junior volunteer of the year was Linda the earthquake which still plague the region abate. Kennedy, Junior administrator of the year was Toni Daw- son from Halswell Hornets.

Officials Coach, referee and trainer courses are in the process of being finalised across all Southern Zones. These courses are open to beginners so it is a great chance to entice your friends, family and co-workers into becoming involved. It is a very rewarding experience. For more information about these courses con- tact your regional Development Officer.

Notice board

Otago Canterbury SOUTH ISLAND RUGBY LEAGUE KIWIS  Club meeting 20th February ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING  First Premier game 24th March is to be held on Friday 24 February, 2012 at 5.30 pm. at Gary Clarke Museum West Coast 50 Lismore Street, Opawa  First game TBC  First Premier game 7th April

Tasman Southland  First Premier game 24th March  First Premier game 1st April

Issue 1 February 2012 Page 6 Important Dates for 2012

Southern Zone Rugby League January February General Manager th Steve Martin 19 - Community Roots Carnival – Nelson (Auckland Point Phone: 03 474 6425 School) Email: [email protected] March th Otago Rugby League 10 – Nelson Nines - Nelson Development Officer April Grant Milne 1st – Community Roots Carnival – Christchurch (Canterbury Phone: 0212868262 Park) Email: th [email protected] 20 – ANZAC TEST - 22nd – Community Roots Camp – Greymouth (Wingham Park) Southland District Rugby 28th – Community Roots Carnival – Invercargill (Elles Rd) League Development th Officer 29 – Community Roots Carnival - Dunedin (Kings High Dennis Thompson School) Phone:0274646084 May Email:[email protected] June Canterbury Rugby League 2-4 – Rangatahi Tournament (NZMRL) Development Officer July Te Wairau 1st - South Island Hearts Camp – Christchurch Phone:021499494 1st – 4th – SI 15 and 17’s Tournament – Christchurch Email:[email protected] August West Coast Rugby 12th – National Zonal Tournament starts 15’s-17’s League Development 26th – National Zonal Tournament Starts Premiers Officer th Paddy Byrne 26 – SI District Senior Competition Starts Phone:0212886975 September rd th Email:[email protected] 3 – 6 – National Secondary Schools Tournament - Auckland Tasman Rugby League October Development Officer November Paul Lafotanoa 9th – 12th – Senior Club Coach Course South Island - Christ- Phone:0211212559 church Email: December [email protected]