Sir Peter Leitch Club AT MT SMART STADIUM, HOME OF THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS

9th August 2017 Newsletter #182

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To enter: YOU MUST subscribe to Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter. BLK T-Shirt Giveaway Name: Then post a stamped addressed P.O Box 54295 Address: envelope with your name, address, phone The Marina 2144, Phone Number: number and email to the address on the Manukau, Auckland Email: left. New Zealand T-Shirt Sizes: Winner will be drawn on We ship internationally! 30/08/2017 Did Anyone Really Expect Anything Different? By David Kemeys Former Sunday Star-Times Editor, Former Editor-in-Chief Suburban Newspapers, Long Suffering Warriors Fan

ATURDAY NIGHT loomed and I had to work, and for the first time ever I did not even bother to hit Srecord so I could watch when I got home. That in itself is a bit sad really. So low is my expectation that I totally expected to be beaten by a Knights side coming into a match with a little bit of confidence having beaten St George a week earlier. So I have no idea if they were as bad as the press would have me believe, because I did not see the game. So it was interesting to compare a couple of things from the papers. In a pre-game preview Marvin France said what we all knew, that with only pride to play for, things could get a whole lot worse if we failed to get past the last-placed Knights. Therefore there is only one possible conclusion, things just a lot worse. To be fair, as unpopular as it is to state it, , , and , were all out, and no side would cope well with that level of injury. But we were, me excluded, tipped to win this one. Poor Marvin summed it up, win for the few fans who have not already given up on the side. During the week big boss Jim Doyle was on the radio, and was widely slated, though god knows what anyone expected of him other than a defence of his organisation. I thought he was excellent. We heard all about maintaining standards refusing to quit, and pride in the jersey but there it was on Sunday morning, my old mate Dave Long, a thoroughly decent bloke who would like nothing better than to write about a winning side, instead beginning his report with news we have been put out of our misery, the defeat confirming no finals footy. It was stating the obvious, since virtually no one believed that did not happen weeks ago. It was retro round in the NRL and the Warriors brought back all their bad habits for the occasion. “This wasn’t a gutsy performance where they battled away, showing superb skills but narrowly lost to a more talented team, it was just dreadful.” That’s five on the bounce, and even old faithfuls like me can’t see improvement on the horizon. A Depressing Tale When we played the Cowboys and Sharks, at least we had the consolation we gave it all against better teams. That is all I ever ask really, that we do that, try the very best we can. But against the Knights our, according to Long, last tackle options were poor, and we gave away dumb penal- ties against a side that was sloppy in its own execution. Considering the Knights are on track, even after two wins, to pick up the wooden-spoon for a third straight year, it is all pretty depressing stuff.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 3 Finding A Positive Maumalo and Shaun Johnson. That’s the nucleus of a good side. If every cloud has a silver lining, it is hard to find it at the moment, but all the same, there have been some Charlie In Limbo signs of improvement. He might not be the best prop in the game, but most Defensively we are tracking in the right direction, of us Mt Smart tragics have a soft-spot for Charlie even if it does not really feel like it. Gubb. Against the Sharks and Cowboys we were decent His time with us is up at the end of the year, and he enough. Only the most miserable would fail to con- won’t be offered a new deal, but his future is in doubt cede that the boys did not give everything they have. anywhere, because of NRL salary uncertainty. The evidence is that the Sharks’ , who usually runs for enormous metres, was kept in check. Happy is Charlie’s man, and he says there a few clubs interested, and even more Super Even against the Knights, Nathaniel Roache provided League teams. plenty of energy, okay I admit it, I sneaked a peek at a replay, and Isaiah Papalii put in a decent shift. Gubb would like to stay in the NRL, and in 37 games, while not always a world-beater, he hasn’t looked out Forgotten man Jazz Tevaga did not look out of place, of place either. and was pretty good – pity he’s leaving. The big problem is going to be any NRL club interest- Papali'i made his debut against the Knights in round ed is going to have to fit him in under the cap, and no one, and the former schoolboy rugby star finally got one knows yet what that number will be, with negoti- game number two on Saturday. ations taking forever. Kearney has high hopes for the youngster. “We So How Do We Fix It? realise he's got a great deal of potential and it's just a matter of making sure we give him an opportunity.” The vultures continue to circle but I seldom hear anything constructive (an allegation you could throw Surely Ata Hingano is another youngster who fits at me and it would stick) about how we actually im- into the potential-plus category. prove the situation. Tohu Harris will be at the club next year, and there It’s all the culture is wrong, the coach is wrong, the seems to be plenty of conjecture might players are wrong, the tea leady is wrong... follow him in. What frustrates is the notion that it is a very compli- The prop is under contract with the Broncos until the cated problem. end of next season but coach Wayne Bennett has giv- en him permission to talk to other clubs, and Blair's It isn’t. own management have asked for a release from the The team just isn’t good enough. last year of his contract. You don’t have to be Wayne Bennett to figure that We are said to be prepared to offer a four-year deal. out, but it is a bit harder to know what to do about it. “At the moment he's contracted to the Broncos, but if he gets a release there's a good chance he may end up Players have contracts, so you can’t just bin everyone, with us, Doyle said. much as some of the more pissed-off among us might like to. Blair would add experience and aggression to our pack, and I for one would not be broken-hearted The salary cap is meant to even things up, but we all know there are clubs that regard it as a guideline. If we were to benefit from the situation at the Bull- Every club could spend about $7million this year. dogs, where it is said players will have to be shed with a salary cap blunder looming. I’d welcome James If you spend heaps of it on big name players, that’s Graham that is for sure. good if they deliver, and terrible if they don’t.

We still have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Simon Manner- Continued on next page... ing, Isaac Luke, Solomone Kata, David Fusitu’a, Ken

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 4 Continued from previous page... would almost certainly take time to come to the same conclusions Doyle has already reached. It’s especially bad if you do that, and leave yourself not much for the rest of the players you need. But what do I know? I just want to stop with the blame game and think about how to move forward. If you spend a little bit on some and they deliver, that’s good, if they don’t, that’s really bad. Player Of THe Year? So ask if our big name players delivered? David Fusitu’a has still only played 53 first-grade games but I will be surprised if he is not in the con- Manu Vatuvei, , Jacob Lillyman, Shaun versation for our player of the year. He scored eight Johnson, Ben Matulino, Ryan Hoffman ... tries in the first 10 matches this season, then slipped Then ask if the second tier players delivered? out of scoring action, before crossing the chalk again against the Knights. James Gavet you’d argue was pretty good, Blake Ayshford up and down, and much the He must love playing Newcastle, considering he has same. You’d count him as second-tier because he was scored 10 of his career 29 tries against the Knights. not on huge money. In his rookie year in 2014 he grabbed a double, then Regardless of where you end up, putting it right is got a four-try haul in a 50-14 win last year, and a not easy. hat-trick in the 2017 season-opening 26-22 win in March. Recruiting top talent from has always been a slog, forcing the club to pay good coin, thus reduc- That sparked a run in which Fusitu’a snared eight ing what it has for the rest. tries in the first 10 matches of the year. Development has not been a lot better. Too many He is the only player in the squad who has appeared good ones have got away, too many poor ones have in every match this season, Newcastle his 38th con- stayed. secutive outing. I will go out on a limb here and say a better long- He is our leading try scorer and brought up his 50- term strategy is to look at junior level players at other game milestone against Penrith last month. NRL clubs as possibilities, because I believe generally Moving between the centres and wing, he has gained speaking their skill sets are a lot better. well over 100 metres a game, with a best of 287 In fairness to the club, we have tried to use our against the Panthers in round 10. He averages about Under 20s increasingly as a feeder team that devel- 13 runs and 124 metres a game. ops NRL ready players, rather than just a side full of enormous kids capable of running over everybody else. We must persist. Kearney is rebuilding and I am already on record saying dumping him would be another monumental mistake. He is well down the path to clearing house, discarding unwanted players, though I’d confess there are one or two he seems to have enormous confi- dence in that I don’t. Managing director Jim Doyle may have some ques- tions to answer given things have not been stellar during his tenure, but fair play to the bloke, he fronts, clearly has the desire, is a recognised achiever, and is smarter than most of us that is for sure. Why would you demand someone else? Do you really want to appoint someone else? That person

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 5 Hoffman back for Canberra clash VODAFONE WARRIORS v Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland by Richard Becht 4.00pm, Sunday, August 13

ECOND ROWER Ryan Hoffman returns from track to play his 250th career match in Friday week’s Ssix weeks on the sideline while Nathaniel Roache clash against South . starts at hooker in two key changes for the Vodafone Warriors’ 23rd-round NRL match against the Can- The Raiders have found form over the last month. berra Raiders at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday After a run of four straight losses they’ve won three (4.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: Flava). of their last four matches to sit on 22 points, four outside the top eight. Hoffman last appeared in the 21-14 home win over Canterbury-Bankstown on June 23, a foot injury They have a 20-17 winning edge in 37 matches be- forcing him to miss the Vodafone Warriors’ run of tween the two clubs but the Vodafone Warriors are losses to Manly, Penrith, North Queensland, Cronul- 12-7 ahead in home contests including those played la and Newcastle. at Yarrow Stadium in 2016 (lost 12-38) and in 2014 (won 54-12); the 42-point Eden Park The 33-year-old gives the side a 301-game injection victory is the club’s biggest over the Raiders. of experience teaming up in the back row with the seasoned Simon Mannering and second-year NRL In the 17 matches the rivals have played at Mount player Bunty Afoa. Smart Stadium, the Vodafone Warriors are 11-6 ahead winning the last two there in 2015 (30-8) and Roache (21) is set to start for just the third time in 2013 (50-16). what will be his 20th NRL outing. Members of softball’s world champion Black Sox will In his first game back from a hamstring injury, he be special guests at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday. was used in the second half of last Saturday’s 10-26 In attendance will be Nathan Nukunuku (captain), loss to the Knights. He began at hooker but spent Thomas Enoka (vice-captain), Cole Evans, Brad the last 26 minutes on the right wing replacing the Rona, Ben Enoka and Campbell Gibson plus some of injured David Fusitu’a. the management team. In a busy 40 minutes, his statistics showed 120 me- tres from 10 runs (including four dummy half runs), Vodafone Warriors 13 tackles without a miss, two line breaks, a line 13 Simon Mannering break assist, four tackle breaks, two off loads and two 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Interchange: kicks as well as his first NRL try. 2 David Fusitu’a 14 Issac Luke 3 Blake Ayshford 15 Roache’s selection results in Issac Luke moving to the 4 Solomone Kata 16 Isaiah Papali’i interchange while Hoffman’s return means Afoa is set 5 Ken Maumalo 17 James Bell to start on the right edge with Isaiah Papali’i – origi- 6 Kieran Foran 18 Jazz Tevaga nally named to start last week – on the bench. 7 Mason Lino 20 Chris Satae Others on the extended bench are Sam Lisone, rook- 8 Jacob Lillyman 21 Mafoa’aeata Hingano ies James Bell, Chris Satae and Charnze Nicoll-Klok- 9 Nathaniel Roache 22 Charnze stad plus second-year NRL players Jazz Tevaga and 10 Ben Matulino Nicoll-Klokstad Ata Hingano. 11 Bunty Afoas 12 Ryan Hoffman Sunday’s match will leave prop Jacob Lillyman on

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 6 110 Years Ago: All Golds Tour By John Coffey QSM Author of ten rugby league books, Christchurch Press sports writer (44 years), NZ correspondent for Rugby League Week (Australia) and Open Rugby (England)

N AUGUST 1907 two groups of footballers left Auckland and Wellington on ships bound for Sydney, Iwhere they would play three matches under rugby union rules and effectively introduce Northern Union football (rugby league) to Australasia. They had little choice than to play 15-a-side because the pioneers in both countries had no access to rule books explaining the new code which had sprung up in the north of England. Twelve years earlier, at a meeting in Huddersfield, 22 and Yorkshire clubs had broken away from the autocratic -based England Rugby Union after being refused the right to compensate players for time lost from work on Saturday mornings to travel to their rugby commitments. Their split was irrevocable. The dispute over “broken time” payments had waged for years between the pre- dominantly working class northerners and the generally wealthy toffs from the south. There was no doubt which was the stronger area on the field. Between them Yorkshire and Lancashire had won all twelve county championships. After the great split of 1895 England’s national team was severely weakened and proved easy meat for the Original All Blacks when they toured a decade later. Some of those All Blacks were to be prom- inent in the southern breakaway, sharing with their Australian counterparts an anger at their meagre allow- ances and lack of injury insurance while they made their respective rugby unions rich. Albert Henry Baskerville was the organiser of the first “rebel” tour, overcoming massive odds and fierce opposition from the powerful rugby union, the government, local authorities and newspapers. A 25-year-old Wellington postal worker, talented athlete and accomplished footballer, Baskerville had learned of the North- ern Union’s popularity from reading newspaper reports and dreamed of taking on the teams which had been banned from playing the All Blacks. One of his prime lieutenants was George Smith, the leading All Blacks wing of his era and an international athlete, who liaised with sportsmen of similar mind in Sydney. Agree- ment was made for the “rebels” to play in Sydney, and also Ceylon, en route to Britain. Baskerville was inundated with applications from representative rugby union players, despite threats of life suspensions and banishment from playing fields. He also required every man to contribute £50 ($100) to- wards the costs of the venture. The Northern Union had also offered match guarantees. One of the prime movers in Sydney was great cricketer Victor Trumper, and the agreement signed by Baskerville’s men was similar to that used for Australian cricket tours of England, which until then had also been privately organ- ised. Wellington forward Hercules Wright was named captain and Petone businessman Harry Palmer was manager. They set off on a ten-month odyssey and became rugby league’s first world champions. New Zealand newspapers referred to them as the Professional All Blacks, but a Sydney sub-editor dubbed them the All Golds, a play on words from amateur All Blacks. It was meant to be derogatory but the name All Golds now holds a proud place in our nation’s rich sporting history. When they arrived in England they found the new game had evolved from that seen and enjoyed by George Smith and his fellow Originals. Lin- eouts had been abolished and all goals devalued to two points before 1905, but in 1906 teams were reduced from 15 to 13 players and play-the-balls had replaced the untidy rucking and mauling. The rule changes were all designed to speed rugby up and make it more enjoyable for players and spectators. Bolstered by brilliant Australian centre Dally Messenger, the All Golds learned on the road and did well to win 19 and draw two of their 35 matches, scoring 414 points and conceding 294, against the cream of the British semi-professionals at club, county and international levels. More importantly, they won two of the three Test matches against the Northern Union. The British clubs fell over themselves offering contracts to the visitors and, sadly for the development of the new game in New Zealand, influential players such as Auck- landers George Smith (Oldham) and (Wigan) signed up. Who could blame them, with life bans from a vengeful NZRU and an uncertain football future waiting for them at home?

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 7 Continued from previous page...

Baskerville had acted as organiser and tour secretary until the last game when he scored a try in his team’s 23-10 defeat of St Helens. By the time they berthed back in Sydney preparations were well under way for the inaugural 1908 rugby league season (the forerunner of the NRL) and they helped to coach the clubs. The first trans-Tasman series consisted of three Tests. While the Australians were now the newcomers to rugby league rules and tactics, they had Messenger’s knowledge and skills to call upon against a depleted touring party. New Zealand won the first two Tests and the series, with Baskerville’s spectacular 50-yard run to score from an interception vital to the 11-10 victory in the first match at the Sydney Showground. Tragically, within eleven days Baskerville had died from pneumonia in a hospital, surrounded by his stricken team-mates. He had caught a chill on the sea trip from Sydney. Baskerville’s dream tour began in Sydney on August 17, 1907, and ended in the same city on June 6, 1908. The All Golds played 49 matches (five under rugby union rules), for 29 wins, three draws and 17 losses. The first rugby league match in New Zealand was a benefit for his widowed mother at Athletic Park in Wellington on June 13, 1908. While the code flourished in Australia and was further boosted when most of the 1908-09 Wallabies changed codes, the sad loss of Baskerville severely set back its establishment and spread in New Zealand.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 8 By Miles Davis

2017 World Athletics Championships Day 1, London Stadium. Bolt-ed 4/8/2017. Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates winning his heat of the Men’s 100m.Photo ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy from www.photosport.nz

HERE ARE many fans who will miss sprinting legend Usain Bolt as he retires (there is no doubt athletics Twill miss their star attraction) but I am not one of them. It may be that I am just a cynical old sod but I am highly sceptical as to the legitimacy of his achievements. Sprinting has been blighted over the decades by performance-enhancing drugs with many of its top perform- ers being caught out and banned. Granted Bolt has not been one of those but I find it almost unbelievable that so many Jamaican athletes have been found guilty of doping violations and yet the fastest of them all is clean. With Bolt being arguably the Jewel in the Crown and a major marketing tool for the IAAF there is part of me that feels that even if he was found to have contravened regulations he would not be outed because of the huge damage it would do to the sport. Of course Bolt may be totally clean and just a sporting freak and if that is the case I will give myself a slap for ever doubting him. I just hope that he manages to enjoy his retirement unlike his female World Record-hold- ing counterpart Florence Griffith-Joyner. Her records for the 100m and 200m, set nearly 30 years ago, still stand but sadly she died at the tragically young age of 38, Was she clean? Impossible to say but her retirement at the age of 28 came as the IAAF announced random out of competition drug-testing was to be introduced. As I said, I hope that I am just a cynical old sod and there is no truth in my terrible musings. If We Have To Suffer, So Will You. A couple of weeks ago I exhorted the faithful not to give up on the Vodafone Warriors’ play-off chances until the calculator confirmed the dream was over. Apart from a combination of miracles matching that of Lazarus (and I don’t mean Glenn) the dream is now over. The weekend’s loss to bottom of the table was a low-point of the season and fans can right- ly ask questions of all personnel at the club and their future next season. Having said that there is still one thing that can keep fans going over the next few weeks. It is something I have resorted to over the years when any of my sporting teams have little left to play for. I call it “Spoil Someone Else’s Party”. If the Vodafone Warriors’ fans are going to suffer let’s hope our team can ruin other fans seasons. In other words if we have to suffer, let’s make them suffer. The Vodafone Warriors have 2 fixtures left that can impact on teams aiming for the play-offs. Those are games against the Canberra Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles. Wins against those sides could stop them making the play-offs and make their fans as miserable as we are. I know this is a churlish and un-christian attitude to have but I have found it very therapeutic over the years and recommend it highly. Apart from spreading the pain it also gives us motivation to cheer the team on. Go you Vodafone Warriors.

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 9 Success By Barry Ross

ONGRATULATIONS MUST go the Australian Womens Soccer team, the Matildas and their coach, CAlen Stajcic, for their success at the recent Tournament of Nations in the USA. Four countries were invited to compete and these were Australia, Brazil, Japan and the USA. Leading into the event, the USA were the world’s number one rated Womens team, while Japan was sixth, Australia seventh and Brazil eighth. Each team played each of the other three teams at the Tournament of Nations and the Australian girls dom- inated the competition. They beat the USA 1-0 at Seattle on 27 July, then Japan 4-2 at San Diego on 30 July and finally, Brazil 6-1 at Carson City on 3 August. This was the first title in the history of Australian womens soccer. Samantha Kerr, the 23 year old Fremantle-born Australian forward, was the Tournament’s leading goal scorer with four. She banged in a hat trick against Japan, while her other goal came against Brazil. Sam plays club football in the American National Womens Soccer League and is currently the all-time leading goal scorer in this league with 34. She plays with the Sky Blue FC, who are based at Piscataway, New Jersey. The three Stadiums used in the Tournament were the Century Link Field in Seattle, which is the home of the Seattle Seahawks NFL team, Stub Hub Centre at Carson which is about 20 kilometres south of downtown Los Angeles and Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. The NFL Super Bowl on 25 January 1998 was played at Qual- comm when the Denver Broncos 31 beat the Green Bay Packers 24. The average crowd at the Tournament of Nations was over 15,000, while all matches were screened live on TV. The Australian girls win over the USA was their first in 27 matches. Australian basketball was given a real boost with the announcement that three of the local National Basket- ball teams will play leading American NBA clubs in the USA in October. The Sydney Kings are first away and they meet the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City on 3 October. Next up is United and they play the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City on 9 Octo- ber. The third game is on 14 October when the Brisbane Bullets take on the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Arena Phoenix. The three matches are all pre-season fixtures for the American clubs and several Australian players will feature in these games with their American teams. Australians, Joe Ingles and Dante Exum are with the Utah Jazz. All games will be shown on live TV. Sporting fans from all over the world were saddened when Australian sporting legend, Betty Cuthbert AM, MBE, passed away on Sunday 6 August at Perth aged 79. She has battled Multiple Sclerosis for a long period and has been wheelchair-bound for many years. Born in the Sydney suburb of Merrylands on 20 April 1938, Betty won four Olympic Gold Medals. As an 18 year old at the 1956 Melbourne Games, she won the womens 100 and 200 metres, as well as being a member of the winning Australian girls 4x100 metres relay team. At the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Betty won the womens 400 metres final. She will be missed. And now to Rugby League. The Roosters 36-18 loss to Manly on Sunday could cost them a place in the top two at the end of the regular season. Things don’t get any easier this week as they travel to Melbourne to meet the first placed Storm on Saturday night. Melbourne lead the table by four competition points and if they de- feat the Roosters, they will probably win this year’s minor premiership. After their impressive 54-0 drubbing of the Titans on Saturday, the Broncos sit in third place and have a massive for and against of 138. They meet the Sharks in Brisbane on Friday night in a game with plenty of emotion for the visitors, as Sharks captain, Paul Gallen, will want to celebrate his 300th first grade match with a victory. Coach Wayne Bennett knows his Broncos could stumble in the race to the play-offs, as they face teams fighting for a position in the top eight. As well as the Sharks, who are currently fourth, they finish with the Dragons (ninth), the Eels (fifth) and the Cowboys (sixth). Although the Panthers moved into eighth place after their 28-14 victory over the Tigers on Sunday, they are far from secure, as they still have to meet the Cowboys (sixth), the Raiders (tenth) , the Dragons (ninth) and Manly (seventh).There are still many twists and turns before we will know the final make-up of the eight teams who will move into the play-offs.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 10 Continued from previous page...

In the under 20 Holden Cup, Cronulla belted Canberra 58-22 on Saturday and now lead the table by seven competition points from second placed Penrith. The young Sharks only need to win one of their last four games to take the minor premiership. They finish with the Broncos (currently eighth), the Cowboys (fourth), the Roosters (eleventh) and the Knights (sixth). Kyle Flanagan, 18 years and son of Sharks first grade coach, Shane Flanagan, cracked the 300 points mark for the season with his 18 points against the Raiders. He now has 302 points to his credit from 17 tries and 117 goals. After 22 rounds the Warriors sit in second position on the Intrust Super Premiership ladder, four competi- tion points behind first placed Wyong Roos and two points clear of third placed Penrith. The Warriors play seventh placed Wentworthville this Sunday at Mt. Smart before the Warriors clash with the Raiders in the NRL fixture. The Wolfpack bounced back after their shock 26-16 loss last week to City in the English League third level competition. At Workington on Sunday, they smashed the locals 68-0, scoring 12 tries. Five eighth, , collected four tries, while Craig Hall finished with 28 points from two tries and 10 goals from 13 attempts. The Wolfpack meet the this coming Sunday at Keighley in the third of seven Super eight games to decide which two teams will be promoted next season. After Keighley, the Wolfpack play four successive Super eight games at home in Toronto against Newcastle (19 August), Whitehaven (2 September), Barrow (9 September) and Doncaster (16 September).

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Special guests at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday will be members of the world champion Black Sox softball team.

Among those in attendance will be Captain Nathan Nukunuku, vice-captain Thomas Enoka, Cole Evans, Brad Rona, Ben Enoka and Campbell Gibson plus manager Jayden Moore and assistant coach Darryl Marino.

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 11 By Ben Francis

Tigers Win Rugby League Northland Good crown in Whangarei for the Grand Final between Moerewa Tigers and Takahiwai Warriors Premiership

HE MOEREWA Tigers have won the Rugby League Northland Premiership after defeating the Takahi- Twai Warriors 44-24 in the final at Toll Stadium in Whangarei. The Warriors were looking for back-to-back titles but it wasn't to be after the Tigers The defending champions started the game strong scoring two tries inside the first 20 minutes to lead 8-0. But the Tigers found form and put the Warriors under pressure, scoring six tries to lead 32-8 at the break. The Warriors came out firing in the second half, scoring two early tries to make it 32-16, but the Tigers scored shortly after to extend their lead. The Warriors hit back immediately to make it a tense finish but the Tigers scored once more with five min- utes to go to put the result beyond doubt. The Warriors scored once more right on fulltime but it was too late and the Tigers claimed their first title since 2007 in their 50th season as a club. The Tigers were the lost dominant team on attack during the season and it showed in the final. Backs Te Tuhi Tepene and Jaydenn Bentley-Hape combined for 53 tries in 2017, while captain Eli George scored 18 for the season, including two in the final. The focus now turns to the Northern Swords with Moerewa and Takahiwai contributing 15 players to the squad.

Making a trip from the Mid-North to Moerewa Tigers halfback Brodee Palmer Warrior leads out Takahiwai in Rugby support the Tigers. eyes the try line. League Northland Premiership Grand Final at Toll Stadium 5 August.

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 12 Roger Bailey By Miles Davis

OGER BAILEY was to leave an indelible mark on Auckland and New Zealand rugby league. Noted for Rhis speed and agility he also possessed a defence-splitting pass and a great dummy. As a youngster at Seddon High School he showed a stubborn and determined streak that was to be his con- stant companion. A confirmed league fan, when told he would either play rugby union or pick up rubbish he settled for rubbish duties. Although he played for 4 different clubs in Auckland he is most associated with Ponsonby with who he won 3 Fox Memorial Shields in 1967, 1971 and 1973. In 1973 he captained Ponsonby in a challenge match against Cronulla and scored 2 tries in a famous 27-21 victory in front of a capacity 15,000 crowd at Carlaw Park. He was concussed after scoring his first try but as there was little regard for personal safety in those days he carried on. It was not long before he was selected for his province and was part of the Auckland team that beat Great Britain in 1962. His Auckland side also tasted victory over the touring French. A real star attraction in the 60’s he was first selected for the Kiwis in 1961 and went on to make 75 appearanc- es for them. These games included 30 tests in which he scored 12 tries. Captain of his club and province he was never afraid to stand up to authority leading to several clashes which especially impacted on his Kiwi career. Due to disputes he was left out of the 1970 and 1972 World Cups. Had he not had such an up and down relationship with the national body he would likely have been the first to make 100 appearances for the Kiwis. He contributed greatly to a golden era for the Kiwis which includ- ed a 19-0 over Great Britain in 1962 (Great Britain were rated the best side in the world at the time). The Kiwis were also awarded the Courtenay Goodwill Cup for being the most successful inter- national side in the period 1960-65. In 1973 as player/coach of Ponsonby he won the Hyland Memori- al Cup for most outstanding coach in Auckland rugby league. Bailey’s 4 brothers all had successful league careers and his son David played for Rochdale and Wakefield in England and made 3 appearances for the Vodafone Warriors. In 1995 Roger Bailey was an inaugural inductee into the NZRL Legends of League and in 2007 was named at Centre in the Kiwis Team of the Century. His eye-catching style of play and presence on the field would have made him a star attraction in the modern game and he would probably have given a run for his mon- ey. Roger Bailey Hall of Fame https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_INpF04NKAI 1973 Ponsonby v Cronulla (Full Match) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e7khchjdUA Ticket for Ponsonby’s 1973 game against Cronulla in which Bailey scored 2 tries.

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 13 By Miles Davis From Warrior To Red Devil

S WARRIORS fans mourn the departure of their idol Manu Vatuvei those that follow the Salford Red ADevils are eagerly anticipating his home debut. Manu has already made an impact in the dressing room and on the pitch. (whose Hull team played Manu and his Salford mates last week) told me that Manu’s arrival had given the Salford squad a much needed lift in morale and was finding his feet in his new surroundings. Tony felt that it would not be long before Manu was in full flight. Of course it takes time to acclimatise to new surroundings, especially for a home boy like Manu but he has already made his mark on the field scoring 2 tries against Hull. This Friday, 11th August The Beast makes his home debut against top of the table Castleford and the fixture is all about the big man. The marketing for the game centres around his introduction to the home faithful (see poster below) and a bumper crowd is expected. It’s great to see Manu making his mark and you can en- joy his home debut with the Salford v Castleford game being shown live on Sky Sport 2 on Saturday morning (coverage starts at 6.30am with kick off at 7am). Go The Beast!!!!!

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 14 By Shane Hurndell Hawke’s Bay Today Sports Reporter Bears and Tigers

THE DIFFERENCE: Caleb Ritai had the final say in last Produce weekend’s thriller in Waitara and finished the match Fitting Thriller with 17 points. ACK KNUCKEY would have been proud. I received numerous texts with this message on Saturday night Jas Taranaki rugby league fans reflected on the Jack Knuckey Memorial Day staged at Waitara’s Clifton Park earlier in the day. The feature game saw the Western Suburbs Tigers premiers pip the Waitara Bears 25-24 courtesy of a 75th minute dropped goal from Caleb Ritai to capture the Tai Ngaia Challenge Shield. The day, which also featured reserve grade and masters games between the two clubs, was put on in memory of Taranaki league stalwart and former New Zealand Maori selector Knuckey who died in 2009 at the age of 60. Knuckey first played for the Bears as a teenager before moving to Auckland to play for the Otahuhu club. During that two-year stint he gained New Zealand under-19 selection. When standoff Knuckey who was known as “the hit man” returned to Taranaki he went on to play 97 games over 14 seasons for the province. He was a Central Districts rep from 1979 to 1983 and gained New Zealand Maori selection in 1977. When his playing career ended he coached the Bears and Tigers at premier level as well as Taranaki before being named a New Zealand Maori selector in 1994. Old timers on the sideline at Clifton Park on Saturday said the thrilling premier encounter reminded them of the intense battles between the Bears and Tigers in the late 1980s when Knuckey was coaching the Tigers. “It was an awesome day. Everything went well and the weather was good,” said current Taranaki coach and former Kiwi Ferns mentor Alan Jackson. “Jacko” who was a more than handy hooker for Wainuiomata during their Lion Red Cup glory days in the late 1980s turned out for the Bears masters who were beaten 12-4 by their Tigers counterparts. The Bears and Tigers Reserves drew 38-all. Knuckey’s son Quinn Knuckey played in the halves in the masters game and played 40 minutes for the Tigers and 40 minutes for the Bears, an indication the Knuckey family will always be staunch supporters of both clubs. Knuckey’s grandson, Morehu Knuckey, turned out for the Bears premiers. As the score suggests the premier game was a nailbiter. The score was 18-all at halftime. Ritai finished the game with 17 points from two tries, four conversions and the dropped goal. Ren McGee and Travell Ngatoko also scored tries for the Tigers. Chance Te Uira scored two tries for the Bears. Bent Martin, yes another from that famous family better known for golf and softball, Logan Tea and Casio Marino scored the others and Mahorahora McLeod kicked two conversions.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 15 Continued from previous page...

Hawke’s Bay rugby league fans will be hoping for similar thrillers when their Spring Competitions begin at the Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park in Hastings on Saturday. Eight premier teams, six reserve grade sides and six women’s teams will be in action. It will be interesting to see how many players back up from Hawke’s Bay’s premier club rugby competition which ended last weekend with Napier Old Boys Marist retaining the Maddison Trophy with a 31-26 win against Clive in the final at McLean Park in Napier. This was the NOBM team’s 34th consecutive win. The Bay’s other hot union side and the country’s No 1 secondary schools team, Hastings Boys’ High School completed the round robin phase of their Super 8 competition with an away 20-16 win against Hamilton Boys’ High School last weekend. The two teams will meet in the televised Hastings-hosted Super 8 final on Saturday. Hastings have won all 16 of their matches this season scoring 944 points while conceding 66.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 16 $40pp PRICE INCLUDES BUBBLES ON ARRIVAL, A DELICIOUS ARRAY DAVID HARTNELL’S OF FOOD Cel��rity Qu�z Nigh� Special guest Miles Davis featuring Friday 22nd Sept, 6.30pm Award-Winning Magician Eden Club Mick Peck 225 Sandringham Rd, Kingsland, Auckland Enjoy a fun evening with the legendary gossip columnist David Hartnell MNZM and Talkback Radio host Miles Davis, in support of Blue Septmber raising awareness of prostate cancer. Featuring magic from the unforgettable Mick Peck, it’s guaranteed to be a night of fun and laughter! TICKETS SELL FAST SO GET IN QUICK! Purchase your tickets now at https://blueseptember.org.nz/david-hartnell-trivia-quiz-night/ or contact Carol Roche, Events Manager PROUDLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY [email protected] 09 415 2204 blueseptember.org.nz

PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY sary Anniver Mt Albert Lions is turning 90 ebration 90th Cel 1927 - 2017

A weekends Celebration 25th,26th,27th August. A fantastic reason to get together and Celebrate the Clubs Successes over the Last 90 Years.

26th August - Dinner Alexandra Park : 3 Course Dinner, Cash Bar, Formal Dress, 6pm – 12.00am 25th August - Golf Chamberlain Park 18 holes, Shot Gun Start 12pm, BBQ & Beers Back to Mt Albert Clubrooms

Dinner only $ 55.00 Dinner and Golf $ 110.00

Tickets can be purchased on facebook.com/MARL.Lions/ or direct debit BNZ 02-0192-0027012-06 Particulars: 90th Code: Your full name Register via email & pay online or register at the Bar & pay Cash or Eftpos. Bravehearts Provisional Squad Named For 2017

COTLAND HAVE announced their provisional squad ahead pf the Rugby League World Cup 2017 Sdown under this autumn. Head coach Steve McCormack has stuck with his tried and trusted Bravehearts who took to the quarter-finals in 2013, won the 2014 European Championship and drew with then world-number one nation New Zealand last November. The squad is led as ever by joint record-appearance-maker , who has played in 23 internation- als for Scotland since McCormack handed him his debut in his first game in charge back in 2004. “Danny played in my first game and has been virtually ever-present since,” explains McCormack. “It would be very easy for Danny, a top professional, former Man of Steel, to have four weeks off at the end of every season and go on holiday but people like Danny, and those other players, make a firm commitment to us every year. It’s tough on their families and its tough on their bodies but that’s the beauty of what we’ve got at Scotland: a really strong bunch, totally committed to the cause.” Other regulars for the last few years included are Brough’s Huddersfield team-mate Dale Ferguson, Hull KR duo Danny Addy and , and Wakefield prop Adam Walker, all of whom have 14 caps, and Lon- don Broncos’ centre Ben Hellewell, who has played 15 times. “They’ve not only been reliable but have always played well in big tournaments against the best in the world,” says McCormack. “Last year they were sensational. They won’t be intimidated about playing the likes of Ton- ga and New Zealand as we’ve played them before and matched them.” The pool includes 22 of those in the Scotland squad at the Four Nations last year, with NRL stars , and named, while and , who missed the Four Na- tions through injury, are back to take the NRL contingent to five. There are seven uncapped players in the provisional squad, all of most of whom have been involved with Scotland before. Rochdale hooker Ryan Maneely and forward , on loan at from Hull KR this season, were both members of the Scotland squad at the Four Nations last season but only played the warm-up fixture at Barrow. Keighley’s Davie Dixon and Brandan Wilkinson of came through the Under-19s while Australian-based Liam Faughlan played for the Students in the recent Universities World Cup and had a trial for Glasgow Warriors rugby union club earlier this year. The new names are both young outside backs: 21-year-old Lachlan Stein from NRL giants and 18-year-old , who has broken into the Hull KR first team. The provisional squad also includes two former Edinburgh Eagles players who have progressed through the SRL player pathway to earn two full caps each during the 2015 European Championships who are now test- ing themselves in the tough Australian club competitions: 22-year-old half-back Lewis Clarke from Galash- iels, who is now at Moore Park Broncos in South Sydney, and Glaswegian second rower Scott Plumridge, 21, who is with Mittagong Lions. “I’ve said to the players: selection will be based on performances,” says McCormack. “It doesn’t matter wheth- er you are in the NRL, or bottom of the Championship. I know a lot about these players, know I can trust them and just hope they can perform over these next seven or eight weeks and get on that plane. “We’ve had our first team meeting and there is a fall-out programme that players will join as their club season ends, once they have gone on holiday for a break to recharge ahead of the World Cup. We might add two or three more to this group as we get nearer the tournament: this not a definitive list so there is time for other players to force their way in.”

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 19 Continued from previous page...

Scotland RLWC2017 Provisional Squad Player – 2017 club – Scotland appearances

Danny Addy - Hull KR – 14 Will Oakes - Hull KR - 0 Euan Aitken - St George Illawarra Dragons - 3 Brett Phillips - - 9 - - 2 Calum Phillips - Workington Town - 5 Sam Brooks - - 3 Scott Plumridge - Mittagong Lions - 2 Danny Brough - – 23 Sheldon Powe-Hobbs - Northern Pride - 1 Brett Carter - - 6 Matthew Russell - Wolves - 8 Lewis Clarke - Moore Park Broncos - 2 David Scott - - 13 Lachlan Coote - - 3 Lachlan Stein - Penrith Panthers - 0 Davie Dixon - Keighley Cougars - 0 - - 6 - St Helens - 8 Lewis Tierney - * - 3 Liam Faughlan - - 0 Adam Walker - - 14 Dale Ferguson - Huddersfield Giants - 14 Alex Walker - London Broncos - 3 Ben Hellewell - London Broncos – 15 Jonathan Walker - Darlington Point Roosters - 6 - - 7 Peter Wallace - Penrith Panthers - 4 Ben Kavanagh - Hull KR - 14 Joe Wardle - Newcastle Knights - 6 Kane Linnett - North Queensland Cowboys - 7 Brandan Wilkinson - Bradford Bulls – 0 Frankie Mariano - Featherstone Rovers - 2 Joe McClean - Gloucestershire All Golds - 4 *on loan at Ryan Maneely - - 0 + on loan at York City Knights Kieran Moran – Hull KR+ - 0

The Bravehearts have been drawn in Pool B of this year’s Rugby League World Cup and will play New Zea- land, Samoa and Tonga during the pool stages, with the top three teams progressing to the Quarter-Finals: Scotland vs Tonga, 29 October 2017, Barlow Park (Cairns) Scotland vs New Zealand, 4 November 2017, Christchurch Stadium Scotland vs Samoa, 11 November 2017, Barlow Park (Cairns)

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 20

RLWC2017 Supporting Grassroots Club Finals Across NZ

By Harley Wall Moerewa Tigers celebrate Northland Premiership RLWC 2017

UGBY LEAGUE World Cup has made the rugby league community a key strategic focus as part of their Rpromoting the tournament within New Zealand. This year we have appointed over 80 Community Am- bassadors from rugby league clubs, launched our club ticket sales promotion and will also be promoting at a number of club finals coming up across the country. Firstly, congratulations to the Morewa Tigers who defeated the Takahiwai Warriors 44-20 in the Northland Premier Grand Final last Saturday. The Tigers finished the regular season in third, and had to play three sud- den-death matches to claim their premiership victory. An extraordinary way for their club to celebrate their 50th season in operation, and well deserved Waikato Rugby League hold their club finals this weekend at Davies Park in Huntly, where the Premier, Re- serve and Under 17 grades will be contested. Home side Taniwharau feature in all three finals, facing Hamil- ton City Tigers in the Premiers and Reserves and Turangawaewae in the 17s. Last weekend in sudden death, the Tigers scored twice in the last five minutes to steal victory from the Ngaruawahia Panthers. Although they head into the final as underdogs, they proved in 2015 that tag means nothing, as they beat a previously unbeaten Taniwharau side 36-12 in the final. In Rotorua, Pikiao Warriors will host Tokoroa’s Pacific Sharks in the Bay of Plenty/Coastline Premier Grand Final. They’ve split their wins this season, and if their last grand final encounter in 2014 is anything to go by, this one will definitely go down to the wire. In the Reserve Grade final, the Otumoetai Eels take on the Pacific Sharks. Finally, host their Grand Final Day at Linfield Park this Sunday the 13th of August. The Premiers final is a re-match of last year’s final, between Hornby Panthers and Linwood Keas. Although Linwood finished the season as minor premiers, Horn- by defeated them in the first round of playoffs to advance straight to the Grand Final. The grand final match up will be an epic showdown, preceded by both the Women’s and Under 16s finals earlier on the day. Pikiao Vs Pacific 2014 BOPRL Grand Final The RLWC2017 Team would like to congratulate all clubs involved in club finals, and extend our congratulations to all our community ambassadors who have worked tirelessly to get their clubs there. Our team will be on-site at the Waikato Grand Final in Huntly, with tickets being available for purchase starting from $10 for kids, $20 for adults and $45 for family passes.

For more information on the World Cup and to purchase tickets on- Tigers v Taniwharau line head to www.rlwc2017.com (Waikato RL Grand Final)

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 22 NZ Resident 18S and Taurahere Wider Squads Named

By Brooke Hurndell NZRL

EW ZEALAND Rugby League have named “Being a part of these programmes is just as reward- Ntheir New Zealand Resident 18s and Taurahere ing for the coaching staff as it is for the players so I wider squads for their September 23 match-up. am thankful to NZRL for this opportunity,” he says. The two sides will face off against each other in hopes Both sides will be cut down to 18-man squads by of earning a spot in the New Zealand 18s team who September 12 ahead of the fixture. will take on the Australian Schoolboys in late Sep- tember. New Zealand Resident 18s v Taurahere The last time a NZ 18s fixture took place in 2015 the Saturday 23 September NZ Resident 18s were defeated by the Australian Bruce Pulman Park, Auckland Schoolboys in both encounters. New Zealand Resident 18s wider squad: This year presents the first opportunity for players *last zone represented as per LeagueNet at 18s level to wear the black jersey. The selection Akarana: Chanel Harris-Tevita, Elijah Sufia, Emanuel Gerard for this team will include not only the best of those Tuimavave, Javvier Pitovao, Lewis Afeaki, Lewis Sio, Matt residing in New Zealand (NZ Resident 18s), but also Timoko, Reagan Mclennan, Soane Hufanga, Starford Toa, Tyler Slade, Vito Tevaga; Auckland Development: Tutuki Kama- New Zealanders currently playing in Australia (Tau- na-Pou; Counties: Asu Kepaoa, Dredin Sorenson-McGee, Israel rahere) to create a New Zealand 18s side that repre- Ogden, Keanu Laumati-Paki; Mid Central: Awatere Kiwara, sents the best of New Zealand. Wesley Veikoso; Northland: Paul Turner; Southern: Daniel Sakisi, Jordan Riki, Seth Tauamiti; Upper Central: Hayze Per- New Zealand 18s Head Coach Ezra Howe says the ham, Sheldon Rogers. fixtures will further strengthen the NZRL pathways Head Coach - Moehewa Armstrong, Assistant Coach - Alan for those wanting to reach the pinnacle of rugby Ettles, Manager - Ben Vaipaata, Trainer - Marrin Haggie, Physio league in New Zealand. - Ulima Tofi Taurahere wider squad: “This is a great opportunity for the boys to put their : Dre Ngatui-Woe; Canberra Raiders: Sebas- tian Kris; Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs: Lauchlan Talau, best foot forward playing against Australia while Tommy Talau; Cronulla Sharks: Cruise Topai-Aveai; Gold enjoying being in an elite environment. Coast Titans: Moeaki Fotuaika, Darius Farmer, Jackson Paulo, Reihana Marsh; Manly Sea Eagles: Semisi Kioa, Zaane Weath- “Players like James Fisher-Harris who was part of erall, Keith Titums, Mark Tepu-Smith; Newcastle Knights: the Taurahere programme when it first started back Will Finau; North Queensland Cowboys: , Sean in 2014, show that these pathways provide a good Mullany, ; : Haze Dunster, Joseph Tai- foundation to then go on and represent New Zealand pari, Oregan Kaufusi, Vallance Harris, John Fonua, Tui Afuola; at the highest level. Penrith Panthers: Sean Blore; : , Tyrone Taukamo; St. George Illawarra Dragons: Steven “I know this fixture will see a good standard of foot- Marsters ; : Baylee Bentley-Hape. Head Coach - Rangi Hiroti, Assistant Coach - Tim McIntyre, ball being played from both teams with many talent- Manager - Antony Bosley, Trainer - Lee Paru ed boys to take the field. Physio - David Close

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 23 Kiwi Ferns To Play World Cup Warm-Up Game In New Zealand

Kiwi Ferns player Sharlene Atai, Kiwi Ferns captain Sarina Fiso and By Brooke Hurndell RLWC2017 general manager of New Zealand operations Andrea NZRL Nelson. (Photosport)

UGBY LEAGUE World Cup 2017 (RLWC2017) four, it will be a great chance for fans to watch two Ris delighted to announce that New Zealand fans games for a very affordable price,” she concluded. will get the opportunity to watch the Kiwi Ferns play a warm-up match on home soil before they contest The Kiwis Ferns have been drawn in Pool B of this the Women’s Rugby League World Cup 2017, which year’s Women’s Rugby League World Cup and will kicks off in Sydney in less than 100 days. play Canada (November 16), Cook Islands (Novem- ber 19) and Papua New Guinea (November 22) in the The Kiwi Ferns will fine-tune their World Cup prepa- pool stages. rations by playing New Zealand Maori Wahine Toa at Waikato Stadium ahead of the men’s RLWC2017 Chairman of New Zealand Maori Rugby League John pool match between Samoa and Tonga on Saturday 4 Devonshire said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for the November 2017. New Zealand Maori Wahine Toa team to be playing on such a huge occasion with a great atmosphere. Kiwi Ferns captain Sarina Fiso said: “This game against New Zealand Maori Wahine Toa will give “It’s also a great chance for our players to test them- the squad the best possible preparation for this year’s selves and help the Kiwi Ferns prepare for the Wom- Women’s Rugby League World Cup as well as pro- en’s Rugby League World Cup.” viding the opportunity to play in front of family and Previously part of the user-pays Festival of World friends, which means so much to the team.” Cups, this year’s tournament will be first time the “It will also give us a taste of the Rugby League World Women’s Rugby League World Cup has been held Cup atmosphere before we head across to Australia,” as a standalone event, with the pool matches to be she concluded. played at Southern Cross Group Stadium in Cronul- la (Sydney) as triple-headers on November 16, 19 New Zealand are co-hosts of the men’s tournament and 22 with the semi-finals to be played as a dou- and will stage seven games of what will be the biggest ble-header on November 26. rugby league event the country has ever hosted. The addition of the Kiwi Ferns and New Zealand Maori The tournament will see both the men’s and women’s Wahine Toa contest only enhances this special occa- finals played as a double-header in Brisbane on 2 De- sion. cember 2017 – the first time two World Cup winners will be crowned on the same day, on the same stage. RLWC2017 New Zealand General Manager Andrea Nelson said: “It’s great to be able to give the Kiwi Australia, Canada, Cook Islands, England, New Zea- Ferns the opportunity to play on home soil in front land and Papua New Guinea will be the six teams to of the New Zealand public before they travel across contest this year’s tournament. the Tasman for the Women’s Rugby League World Australia are the reigning champions with the Kiwi Cup.” Ferns vying to win back the trophy they won in 2000, “With ticket prices starting from $45 for a family of 2005 and 2008.

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 24 Auckland Semi-Finalists Confirmed

By Talei Anderson Pirates Francis Leger sits inside the competitions top three try ARL scorers

HE PT Chevalier Pirates remain at the top of the table after taking down fourth-seeds Howick 32-16 in TRound 17 of the SAS Fox Memorial on Saturday. Watch the live stream replay Howick v Pt Chevalier in Round 17 of the SAS Fox Memorial here. After a heart breaking draw against Glenora in Round 16 - losing the chance to secure the Konica Minolta Roope Rooster for the 2017 season - Pt Chevalier player/coach Dylan Moses said it was a loss that came with lessons. “It’s good to bounce back from last week’s draw (Round 16 v Glenora),” he said. “We had that game in the bag [and] we should have closed it down… it was good to see the boys dig deep - especially in the last 10 minutes of today’s game.” “Howick’s a quality side, they’re not in the top four for nothing. We knew if they got up in the second half their crowd would bring them home… we managed to stop that early in the second half and get the two points for ourselves.” With only one week to go and a two-point lead in the competition, Moses says there’s still improvements to be made. “We need to be improving week in and week out. The games are only going to get tougher, so we need to keep building and bring the right attitude to both our trainings and games.” Pt Chevalier (1st), Glenora (2nd), Mt Albert (3rd) and Howick (4th) have all secured a spot in this year’s semi-finals, but the order in which they finish - following this weekend’s games - will determine who they play the week following. It’s do or die for the who must win their game against Marist this Saturday if they have any chance of staying in the Fox Memorial Premiership next year. Following their loss to Te Atatu in Round 16, Mangere East are now in the firing line of being relegated to the Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup division. Sitting one point behind the Roosters, the Hawks will need to win their match and await results from the Te Atatu v Glenora game this weekend to settle their future in the competition. For Te Atatu, a win against the Bears will secure their spot in the Fox Memorial competition, but a loss cou- pled with a Mangere East victory will see them relegated in 2018.

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 25 Continued from previous page...

The Marist v Mangere East game will be streamed live online this Saturday August 12 at www.auck- landleague.co.nz from 2pm (2.30pm kick-off). Otahuhu (1st), Bay Roskill (2nd), Otara (3rd) and Ponsonby (4th) have all secured a spot in this year’s Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup Premiership play-offs. Results from this weekend’s games will again determine where they are placed in the top four and who they go up against in the minor semi-finals. East Coast Bays, Waitemata, Manukau and Hibiscus Coast will play for the Sharman Cup Plate with the first round of semi’s being played this Saturday (2.30pm kick-off).

Arl Results For Saturday August 5 ARL Fixtures For Saturday August 12 SAS Fox Memorial: Round 17 SAS Fox Memorial: Round 18 Mt Albert 32 Te Atatu 22 Northcote v Mt Albert @ Birkenhead War Memorial Richmond 24 Glenora 36 2.30pm Marist 34 Papakura 12 Te Atatu v Glenora @ Jack Colvin Park 2.30pm Howick 16 Pt Chevalier 32 Marist v Mangere East @ Murray Halberg Park Mangere East 6 Northcote 42 2.30pm (click here to live stream from 2pm) Papakura v Howick @ Prince Edward Park 2.30pm Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup Premiership: Pt Chevalier v Richmond @ Unitec Sports Field Round 13 2.30pm Otahuhu 110 Ellerslie 12 Bay Roskill 36 Otara 22 Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup Premiership: Manurewa 112 Papatoetoe 0 Round 14 Ponsonby 62 New Lynn 16 Ellerslie v Bay Roskill @ Ellerslie Domain 2.30pm Papatoetoe v Ponsonby @ Kohuora Park 2.30pm Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup Plate: Round 13 New Lynn v Otahuhu @ Lawson Park 2.30pm East Coast Bays 34 Waitemata 24 Manurewa v Otara @ Mountfort Park 2.30pm Manukau 24 Hibiscus Coast 36 Pakuranga bye Crown Lift Trucks Sharman Cup Plate: Semi-finals East Coast Bays v Waitemata (1 v 2) @ Freyberg Park 2.30pm Manukau v Hibiscus Coast (3 v 4) @ Moyle Park 2.30pm

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 26 game on JUNIOR LEAGUE www.aucklandleague.co.nz

SATURDAY $8 ADULT AUGUST 12 $2 CHILD U16 GATES OPEN HOT FOOD & 9.30AM DRINKS 10.00AM U13 OPEN GLENORA V MANUREWA 11.15AM U14 OPEN PAKURANGA V MARIST 12.30PM U14/15 REST HIBISCUS COAST V HOWICK 1.55PM U15 OPEN MANUREWA V MANUREWA 3.20PM U16/17 REST BAY ROSKILL V MT ALBERT

MT SMART #2 O’RORKE ROAD, PENROSE EFTPOS AVAILABLE SAS College Rugby League Road To The Finals

By Talei Anderson ARL

OUTHERN CROSS Campus have been given an extra life and a chance to advance to the SAS College SRugby League grand final after taking down fourth-placed Mt Albert 28-10 in their semi-final (Game B) last Wednesday August 2. Wet conditions left both sides struggling with ball control, but it didn’t take long for the home side to gain momentum and make their way down field. Southern Cross standoff Eric Poiri Wichman kicked high to the right with centre Paea Fotu receiving the ball to put first points on the board. Halfback Samuel Nat converted for an early 6-0 lead. The south Auckland school scored another in quick concession. Again, off the boot of Wichman left-centre Samuela Fisiitalia was quick on his feet grounding the ball in goal to collect their second. Ten minutes into the first half and Southern Cross were up 10-0 with 15 minutes to go. Finally holding onto the ball, Mt Albert scored a last minute try to reduce the deficit to 10-4, but the conver- sion went out wide leaving the score 10-4 to Southern Cross at the break. There was no stopping the home side who - in front of a large and very vocal crowd at Southern Cross in Mangere - were straight out the gates in the second stanza adding another 12 points to their score board to lead 22-4. With ten minutes remaining Mt Albert looked destined for defeat, but a powerful and determined Lewis Afeaki stormed through the pack presenting an opportunity for standoff Anotnio Wulf to cross over the line. Halfback Emmanual Kelly converted to get up 10-22. It looked like the game was over, but in the final seconds of the match, Southern Cross hit back with one last try to claim a 28-10 victory at full-time. Southern Cross coach Rod Ratu said his side were better prepared for this week's game following their defeat against St Paul's the week prior. "After the long break - school holidays and what have you - it was hard for them to find their rhythm… the loss against St Paul’s was a bit of a wake-up call," he said. "Today's performance is what's expected of them."

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 28 Continued from previous page...

"They've played consistently throughout the season and there's no reason we can't make this year's grand finale." Southern Cross 28 (Paea Fotu, Samuela Fisiitalia, Spencer Poimatagi, Samuela Lauhingoa, Nitoa Kairau tries; Samuel Nat x4 goals) Mt Albert Grammar 10 (Venuka Mausala, Anotnio Wulf tries; Emmanuel Kelly x1 goal). Meanwhile in the SAS College Rugby League Game of the Round (1 v 2) Kelston Boys' advanced through to this year's premier , edging past defending champions St Paul's College 10-4. Southern Cross's win coupled with St Paul's loss will see them go head-to-head this Wednesday. "It's always a tough game when we come up against Kelston," said St Paul's captain Daetyn Tanuvasa. "We've got another physical battle against Southern Cross… all we can do is keep our heads up and look at what we need to bring to the game. Kelston Boys' 10 (Joseph Onyeke, Anderson Mafi tries; Konrao Tu'ua x1 goal) St Paul's 4 (Matthew Palu x1 try). In other games, Aorere took down Papatoetoe 20-4 to secure the fifth position in the premier championship final placings. Wesley College will play in this year's premier plate grand final following their win over Manurewa 16-10. Manurewa will play Western Springs this Wednesday to see who will advance to play Wesley the week follow- ing.

SAS College Rugby League results for Wednesday SAS College Rugby League fixtures for Wednesday August 2 August 9

Premier Championship Premier Championship Kelston Boys 10 St Paul's 4 St Paul’s v Southern Cross @ Grey Lynn Park 4pm Southern Cross 28 Mt Albert Grammar 10 (Game C) - winners will advance to play Kel- Aorere 20 Papatoetoe 4 ston Boys’ in the 2017 SAS College grand final. Premier Plate Wesley 16 Manurewa 10 Premier Plate Western Springs 12 Westlake Boys 10 Manurewa v Western Springs @ Manurewa High Avondale bye 4pm - winners will advance to play Wesley College in the 2017 SAS College Rugby League plate grand final. Senior A James Cook Puutake 12 Southern Cross 10 Senior A Pakuranga 20 Sir Edmund Hillary 16 Southern Cross v Pakuranga @ Southern Cross 4pm Papakura 16 Lynfield 34 (semi-final) Selwyn v Aorere (Aorere default) Westlake Boys bye

U/15 9-aside Avondale 22 Southern Cross 16 St Paul's 44 Sir Edmund Hillary 12 Aorere v Onehunga (Aorere default)

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 29 Scotland Add Two NRL Talents To World Cup Extended Squad As Walker Is Withdrawn

COTLAND HAVE added two young players from Australia’s NRL to their provisional Rugby League SWorld Cup squad. James Bell of and South Sydney Rabbitohs’ winger Campbell Graham both made their NRL debuts last week and have been drafted into the Bravehearts player pool for the tournament down under in October. "We are always watching a number of Scottish qualified players at clubs in the UK, Australia and New Zea- land,” said head coach Steve McCormack. “We’ve known about them since last year and have been really pleased to see the progress that James and Campbell have been making. It was great to see them make their NRL debuts within a few days of each other.” A giant winger, 18-year-old Graham is still a sports student at Randwick’s Marcellin College and has been preparing for exams, therefore was a surprise call up for the Rabbitohs’ first team last week. After Graham made a thrilling debut against St George Illawarra Dragons, Bunnies coach Michael Maguire described him as a ‘’level-headed kid who will be straight back into the books tomorrow’’. Graham was born in Sydney and has played twice for Australia Schoolboys but qualifies for Scotland courtesy of his Glaswegian father, Stew- art. Having come through the system at the Warriors, second rower or loose forward Bell played for the first team in pre-season and at the Auckland Nines but had to wait until he was 23 to make his NRL bow against Cro- nulla Sharks last month. Born and bred in Auckland, Bell has represented the Maori but is eligible for Scot- land due to his grandfather hailing from Aberdeen. “James is a tough hard working versatile forward who will fit in really well with our style,” explains McCor- mack. “And at just 18 years old, Campbell has an enormous future in the game ahead of him. Both players have impressed us with their enthusiasm to represent Scotland and their understanding of what it means to them and their family. We are really pleased to welcome them to the family." The two call-ups mark a contrast to the news that 2016 Player of the Year Adam Walker has failed a drugs test. In a statement, Scotland RL chairman Keith Hogg said: “We totally support the RFL anti-doping regula- tions and the action undertaken by Wakefield Trinity. We will be withdrawing Adam Walker from our ex- tended World Cup squad." The Bravehearts have been drawn in Pool B of this year’s Rugby League World Cup and will play New Zea- land, Samoa and Tonga during the pool stages, with the top three teams progressing to the Quarter-Finals:

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BLG2317p065 65 8/08/2017 5:52:31 PM THIS WEEK IN BIG LEAGUE’S HUGE ROUND 23 ISSUE… NRL, HOLDEN CUP, INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP, INTRUST SUPER CUP AND RON MASSEY CUP TEAM LISTS, PREVIEWS AND STATS + SCORES AND RESULTS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY!

INSIDE • The Eels have been one of the hardest hit clubs when it comes to off-field issues – but with the leadership of coach Brad Arthur and CEO Bernie Gurr, players and fans see a light at the end of the tunnel. “The number one thing I heard from Parramatta fans is they wanted one Parramatta, a united Parramatta,” Gurr says. “Number two is we had to regain their trust – the fans, members and sponsors.” ROUND 23 • Plenty is said about the ‘Big 3’ but Storm centre Will On sale at newsagents, Chambers is well on the way to becoming one of the club’s supermarkets and at most influential players. Chambers says he was very close to the ground from signing with the Roosters for next year but assurances the club Thursday, August 10 was going to be a force in the future kept him in Melbourne. DIGITAL VERSION • Manly have vowed to leave their egos at the door for the rest Available via of the season, with five-eighth Blake Green saying the players magsonline.com.au were guilty of getting ahead of themselves after their great run Through Apple Newsstand in the middle part of the year. and Google Play • South Sydney breakout star is in all kinds of Angus Crichton JOIN THE CONVERSATION pain – a rolled ankle last week adding to his list of injuries – but the 21-year-old says he’s not giving up his spot for anyone. @bigleaguemag bigleague@newslifemedia. PLUS… The Top 8 acts of sportsmanship, The Analyst tracks the com.au Broncos’ unbelievable attacking statistics and a Paul Gallen commemorative 300 games poster.

Contact details Editorial: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] The mini-Beast Warriors winger Ken Maumalo a winger, but I’ve been trying my best to do that for the team. has a lot to live up to, but he’s “I try and set goals each week for how many carries I take each week – I try to get been well-prepared for the 17-plus carries every game. “The past few rounds I haven’t reached challenges he will face in the standards I set earlier in the year, so I’m trying to get back [to that form] to finish off the NRL. By WILL EVANS the season.” Warriors coach has MERGING from the shadow of a club come under increasing pressure as the legend is never easy – and few club faded out of finals contention in his Eplayers cast a shadow as big as first season at the helm, but Maumalo Warriors wing giant Manu Vatuvei. credited the former Kiwis Test mentor for Making Ken Maumalo’s task of providing him with the confidence to settling into the ‘The Beast’s’ spot produce a breakout campaign. on the left flank is his similarity in “He’s had a massive impact on me size and style to Vatuvei, who scored this year,” the Papatoetoe Panthers a phenomenal 152 tries in 226 NRL junior says. games before joining Salford last month. “I’ve really come out of But the 23-year-old is relishing the my shell under him. I’m still chance to fill the void left by his hero learning and trying to improve, and mentor. but ‘Mooks’ [Kearney] “Manu’s had a massive influence has come to the club on my career,” Maumalo, who has and given me the picked up the moniker ‘Mini-Beast’, opportunity to play tells Big League. regular first grade. “He’s always been there for us “He’s making me young boys, talking to us about realise my talent what to do and what not to do, on and I’m getting and off the field. better because of “He’s a real role model for having the chance to us. I idolised him growing him, play first grade every so just to train with him was week. In my first year I was a real buzz. He is a massive loss just content to be around the because he’s so experienced and boys and happy just to get one game in the a lot of us look up to him.” NRL. As your career goes on you have to take In another excruciatingly it more seriously and give it your best. underachieving Warriors “Things like looking after my diet, doing campaign, Maumalo’s more stretching and recovery, just the progression from fringe knowledge I have now compared to my first-grader to permanent first year has made a big difference.” starter has been a bright spot. Maumalo made a two-try Test debut for The 2014 NYC premiership- Toa Samoa against last October and winner made 18 appearances featured on the wing again for the island in the top flight in 2015-16 but Although he nation against England in May, but the has missed just one game this didn’t have much Auckland-born tyro’s rapidly rising year – ironically making way luck in the try-scoring stocks could see him cap a watershed for Vatuvei’s only outing in an stakes early in his year with Kiwis World Cup selection. injury-plagued farewell season, career, crossing just “That was my goal at the beginning in Round 4 against Canterbury. four times in his first of this year, to set myself up with the The 191cm and 105kg 31 games, a four-game opportunity to play for the Kiwis. powerhouse is doing an excellent mid-season streak of “Only my performances can do that, job of replicating Vatuvei’s finding the stripe [including but if don’t make the Kiwis I’ll be proud trademark charges to get a dazzling long-range to play for my mum and dad’s country the Warriors out of their effort against the Bulldogs in at the World Cup if I get chosen. It’s danger zone. Round 16] suggested Maumalo will been a great experience so far to play Maumalo sits ninth in also assume Vatuvei’s mantle as the for Samoa. the competition for runs – Warriors’ chief strike weapon out wide. “It’s massive having my family behind only ’ “I’ve tried to copy parts of [Vatuvei’s] supporting me when I play, not only David Nofoaluma among game, especially trying to get the boys for the Warriors but also for Samoa wingers – and 12th for on the front-foot at the start of our sets,” – (representing Samoa) was Nathan Hopkins/NRLPhotos.com Nathan run metres, averaging the softly-spoken Maumalo says. for them, giving something 17 carries and 151 “Obviously he’s been doing that for back for all the support

PHOTOS: metres per game. many years and it’s not an easy job as they’ve given me.”

18 BIG LEAGUE 2017 Round 23 Courtesy of our friends at Big League Magazine

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 33 DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 VENUE: MT SMART STADIUM KICK-OFF: 4PM (NZ) REFEREE: ADAM GEE ASSISTANT REFEREE: GAVIN REYNOLDS TOUCH JUDGES: RUSSELL TURNER & CHRIS McMILLAN SENIOR REVIEW OFFICIAL: ASHLEY KLEIN V REVIEW OFFICIAL: LUKE PATTEN FOX LEAGUE: 1.30PM (AEST) P T G PTS #NRLWarriorsRaiders P T G PTS LIVE RADIO: 2GB, ABC

19 6 0 24 Roger TUIVASA-SHECK (C) 1 19 5 0 20 WARRIORS RAIDERS Position (Points) 12th (18) 10th (22) Points For 373 448 20 9 0 36 20 13 0 52 David FUSITU’A 2 Nick COTRIC Points Against 453 395 ATTACK 17 4 0 16 Blake AYSHFORD 3 (C) 18 7 58 144 Tries 77 65 Completions 75% 79% 15 4 0 16 Solomone KATA 4 Joey LEILUA 20 9 0 36 Tries 0-20m 40 40 Tries 21-50m 18 12 Tries 51-100m 12 5 19 6 0 24 Ken MAUMALO 5 19 16 0 64 DEFENCE Tries 67 78 15 2 0 8 Kieran FORAN 6 20 5 0 20 Tries 0-20m 40 30 Tries 21-50m 9 25 3 0 0 0 Mason LINO 7 20 4 12 40 Tries 51-100m 9 11 MATCH AVERAGES 19 0 0 0 Jacob LILLYMAN 8 Junior PAULO 19 0 0 0 Tries Scored 4 3 Tries Conceded 3 4 Points Scored 22 19 8 1 0 4 Nathaniel ROACHE 9 19 3 0 12 Points Conceded 20 23 Hit Ups/Runs 164 174 13 1 0 4 Ben MATULINO 10 19 0 0 0 Tackles 297 326 Metres Gained 1531 1566 Handling Errors 4 4 13 1 0 4 16 4 0 16 Bunty AFOA 11 Offloads 11 7 Line-breaks 4 4 15 6 1 26 Ryan HOFFMAN 12 Joe TAPINE 18 2 0 8 Goalkicking 79% 79% HEAD-TO-HEAD 18 4 0 16 Simon MANNERING 13 19 5 0 20 Played 37, Canberra 20, Warriors 17 AT MT SMART STADIUM Played 17, Warriors 11, Canberra 6 INTERCHANGE WINNING FORM 2017 19 1 11 26 Issac LUKE 14 7 0 0 0 WARRIORS: WLLLWWLLWLLWLWBWLBLLLL Streak – 5 losses CANBERRA: LLWLWWWLLLWWLLBLLBWLWW Streak – 2 wins 19 0 0 0 Sam LISONE 15 Clay PRIEST 14 0 0 0 PAST 8 CLASHES 2017 – CANBERRA D. WARRIORS 20-8 at GIO Stadium 2016 – CANBERRA D. WARRIORS 26-22 at GIO Stadium; 2 0 0 0 Isaiah PAPALI’I 16 Dave TAYLOR 7 0 0 0 CANBERRA D. WARRIORS 38-12 at Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth 2 0 0 0 James BELL 17 Luke BATEMAN 18 1 0 4 2015 – WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 30-8 at Mt Smart Stadium; WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 18-6 at GIO Stadium 2014 – WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 54-18 at GIO Stadium; RESERVES WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 54-12 at Eden Park 2013 – WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 50-16 at Mt Smart Stadium † 1 0 0 0 Jazz TEVAGA 18 Michael OLDFIELD 2 2 0 8 BIGGEST HEAD-TO-HEAD WINS WARRIORS D. CANBERRA 54-12 at Eden Park, 2014 1 0 0 0 Chris SATAE 20/19 Jeff LIMA 3 0 0 0 CANBERRA D. AUCKLAND 56-12 at Bruce Stadium, 2000 NEXT CLASH 9 1 0 4 Mafoa’aeata HINGANO 21/20 Royce HUNT 1 0 0 0 WARRIORS: v South Sydney at ANZ, 6pm Friday August 18 CANBERRA: v Penrith at GIO, 2pm Sunday August 20 6 6 0 24 Charnze NICOLL-KLOKSTAD 22/21 ^ 1 0 0 0 CASUALTY WARD WARRIORS: Albert Vete (arm), Shaun Johnson (knee) – indefinite; †Played 1 game for Penrith James Gavet (arm), Bodene Thompson (pectoral) – season CANBERRA: (knee) – season; Sia Soliola (suspended) ^ Played 1 game for Warriors – Rd 26 COACHES Stephen KEARNEY PENALTIES SCRUMS PENALTIES SCRUMS 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16 13 14 15 16

50 BIG LEAGUE 2017 Round 23 Courtesy of our friends at Big League Magazine

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 34 GAME SEVEN: Warriors v Canberra

NRL Preview by DAVID MIDDLETON @Middleton_David HOLDEN CUP

DATE: SUNDAY, AUGUST 13 VENUE: MT SMART STADIUM KICK-OFF: 11.45AM (NZ) Hope flickers for late surging Raiders REFEREE: NICK PELGRAVE ASSISTANT REFEREE: KIERON IRONS TOUCH JUDGES: SIMON TAYLOR & ROCHELLE TAMARUA FOX LEAGUE: 9.30AM (AEST) JUNIOR PAULO 204 metres in WARRIORS V RAIDERS Round 22 Lee TURNER 1 Paul ROACHE Dean KOUKA-SMITH 2 Wesley TAMEIFUNA Melino FINEANGANOFO 3 Sebastian KRIS Kane TELEA 4 Andre NIKO Gibson POPOALII 5 Mikaele RAVALAWA Paul TURNER 6 Derek HAY Chanel HARRIS-TAVITA 7 Erin CLARK (C) Chris SIO (C) 8 Emre GULER Eiden ACKLAND 9 Jarred TUITE Tayhler PAORA 10 Fabien PALETUA-KIRI Tyler SLADE 11 Daniel KEIR Mt Smart Stadium three wins from their past four 10 minutes in which Josh Papalii Sunday, 4pm games has raised hopes of was sin-binned last Saturday Jerome MAMEA 12 Jacob FIELD a late push for the play-offs. night. Despite being one man Joe VUNA 13 Kye MADDEN Form: The outlook is becoming History: In a stretch of five short, they ploughed downfield 14 Dylan TAVITA, 15 Havi 14 Lachlan COOPER increasingly gloomy in Auckland games from 2013 to 2015 the and created so much momentum TUPOUNIUA, 16 Troy PULUPAKI 15 , 16 Zac as questions come thick and fast Warriors had it all over the the Sharks were forced to 17 Israel OGDEN, 18 Kelepi LUI MASTERS, 17 William SAMUEL concerning the team’s dismal Raiders, in three consecutive concede penalties to hold 20 Isaiah PAPALI’I, 21 Lewis SIO 18 Sione AFEMUI, 19 Harry performance in 2017. It was games they brought up a half Canberra out. 22 Kenese KENESE (C) VAN DARTEL, 20 Ron LEAPAI supposed to be the year the century against the Green Best Bet? Look for the Raiders 23 Soane HUFANGA 21 Logan SPAANDER, 22 Mitchell Warriors finally discovered their Machine and the other two to stage a hit and run mission 24 Elijah SUFIA SMITH, 23 Sato KETIA-OPO finals mojo, with a world class results were also decisive. at Mt Smart and inflict further Grant POCKLINGTON ‘spine’ and quality across the Since then, the Raiders have damage on the Warriors’ playing roster. Sadly, the year has turned the tables to win the shattered season. ROOTED TO THE BOTTOM… The Warriors just can’t catch turned into another failure and past three, including a 20-8 Money-spinner: Options for a break and went down to the Knights 70-4. Winger Gibson recriminations are not far away. victory in Canberra in Round 7. First Tryscorer include Jordan Popoalii scored the side’s only points with a try in the second As for the Raiders, their position Danger sign: The Raiders Rapana, Joey Leilua and half, but Newcastle picked up right where they left off, scoring is improving by the week and proved their dominance in the Nick Cotric. another five tries after the break. They’ll be looking to improve on their discipline, finishing the night off with 40 missed tackles. HEAD-TO-HEAD LEADERS AVERAGE METRES AVERAGE TACKLES LINE-BREAKS FANTASY POINTS RUNNING OUT OF TIME… The Raiders’ finals hopes are Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 172 Simon Mannering 45 Jordan Rapana 20 Simon Mannering 59.2 getting slimmer after going down to the Sharks. Erin Clark was the first to break through the defence and score halfway Jack Wighton 161 Josh Hodgson 36 Nick Cotric 14 Shaun Johnson 58.1 through the first half. Despite being down by 20 points in the Ken Maumalo 151 Bodene Thompson 35 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 11 Josh Papalii 53.3

Robb Cox/NRLPhotos.com Robb second the Raiders’ defence was tough but couldn’t hold out Junior Paulo 150 Elliott Whitehead 33 Shaun Johnson 9 Jordan Rapana 50.7 further tries from the high-flying Cronulla side. Jordan Rapana 147 Issac Luke 31 David Fusitu’a 8 Bodene Thompson 43.9 PHOTO: – KAMILIA HANNA

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 35 Reader Mail

Hi Sir Peter UR KIDS were so excited to Oreceive the training t-shirts last night at their training and just as excited to hear that you liked the photo I posted. They all had great games to- day and I'm sure they will all be watching the mighty Vodafone Warriors tonight, I know my son and daughter will be. A huge thank you for all that you do to keep the kids enthusiastic about league and to BLK for the donation of the t-shirts. You guys do amazing things for keeping the youth of today interested in play- ing this awesome game. Thanks again, Carrie Williams

Brunner Rugby League on the West Coast of the South Island.

UR GRANDSON Tyson LeVavasour Brown after his final Rugby match against Lyttleton at Lyttleton Othe score was 24 20 unfortunately to Lyttleton lol. Also we met up with Steve Angow who also frequents the Sir Peter Leitch lounge when he is able.and a photo of us watching our grandson while wearing our TEAM COLOURS! Lorraine and Dave Mckee

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Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 36 More Reader Mail

Hi Sir Peter HE SUBURBS Rugby League Twould like to thank you and BLK sports for these fantastic ki- wis T shirts our boys and girls in the u6s, u8s, u10s love them Thanks for your continued sup- port. Brad Tacon, Suburbs RL on the West Coast

Dear Sir Peter N BEHALF of Hokitika Rugby OLeague - we would like to sincerely THANK YOU & Peter from BLK for dis- tributing these bloody fabulous RLWC tshirts to our kids!! They absolutely love them! You guys are superstars!! Cheers heaps Kirsty Wilson, HRLC Secretary

Sir Peter Leitch Club Newsletter Page 37

Dear Peter @ BLK Sport & Sir Peter, TTACHED ARE some photos taken of the great T-shirts sent by Sir Peter from BLK Sport. We are Avery appreciative of your support and generosity to our schoolboy teams. The kids were very excited to received these T-Shirts and they do look great on them. Thanks again for this very generous donation and for helping to promote Rugby League and sport amongst our youth. Regards, Brian & Kathleen Aynsley Brunner Rugby League

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