Wellington Rugby League Weekly E Newsletter-PASS IT ON THIS WEEK IN PASS IT ON... Team of the Century competition-Week 9 WRL Finals Fever Fraser Park Saturday Junior Grand Finals Sunday Cannosn Creek Park Intermediate Challenge Cup review NZ 16’s & 18’s announced Junior Origin & Futures Tournament Randwick have secured their first Grand Final berth since 2007 with an emphatic 44-14 victory over the Porirua Vikings. After leading 26-4 at halftime the Kingfishers continued their try scoring feats to hand the Vikings one of their biggest losses in recent times. The Vikings who have appeared in the last 4 grand finals, winning in ’08,’09,’10, will be looking for a chance at redemption if they can defeat Wainuio- mata in this week’s preliminary final.The Lions came from behind 16-6 at halftime to score all the 2nd half points when defeating Upper Hutt 26-16 in a tense battle at Wise Park in the elimination final. The Vikings and Lions have between them taken 8 of 10 grand final berths in the last 5 years and it should be a great warm up to the grand final between these 2 great clubs. Randwick reserves have also qualified for the Grand Final and will await the winner of St George and Porirua. Meanwhile in Senior 1st semi-finals theTrentham Titans take on the Titahi Bay Marlins and Randwick play the Ynui Natives. Senior 2nd semi-finals sees Porirua play Harbour City and Petone take on St George. Junior Grand Finals are all this Sunday at Cannons Creek. DINGO THE WRL WEBSITE IS UPDATED ON A DAILY BASIS-FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.WRL.ORG.NZ Saturday 4th August Fraser Park $5 entry Preliminary Final Reserve Grade St George Dragons v Porirua Vikings 1pm Preliminary Final Premier Grade Porirua Vikings V Wainuiomata Lions 3pm Saturday 4th August Fraser Park -Outer fields Semi Final Senior 1st-Trentham Titans V Titahi Bay Marlins 1.30pm #2 Semi Final Senior 1st-Ynui Natives V Randwick Kingfishers 1.30pm #3 Semi Final Senior 2nd- Porirua Vikings V Harbour City Eagles 12pm #2 Semi Final Senior 2nd-St George Dragons V Petone Panthers 12pm #3 Junior Grand Finals Sunday 5th August Cannons Creek Park Come & support the future of rugby league 11am 14’s St George V Porirua 11’s Porirua Green V Porirua Maroon 12pm 12’s Randwick V Wainuiomata 12.15pm 17’s Randwick V Wainuiomata 1pm 13’s St George Red V Porirua 1.45pm 19’s WelTec Warriors V Wainuiomata WELLINGTON’S BEST EVER XIII LOOSE FORWARDS If playing for the Kiwis is the first consideration when selecting our best ever Loose Forwards our Wellington numbers are small, only Whare Henry who played both his World Cup tests at loose forward and Mike Kuiti who played half of his six tests in the same position are in the frame. Both played many brilliant and match winning games for their respective clubs and for Wellington over a long period of time. Mike Kuiti played many games for his professional clubs in England in a mixture of loose forward and second row. John Spencer (1909 Melrose RU and ex All Black) and Bill Scott (1919-20 Suburbs) are the only other two Wellington players who have their listed position at loose forward. No 13Loose Forward FOR ALL PREVIOUS WEEKS PLAYERS VISIT WWW.WRL.ORG.NZ & click ont he COMPETITION TAB Whare James Henry (Kiwi no 534 1977 from Marist Club) Whare, 177cm and 102kgs, and Whetu Henry, 180cm and 114kgs, were two brothers who played together for the Kiwis, Wellington and Marist. They were both large men, aggressive and intimidating.The brothers arrived down from Taupo in 1972 and continued their league careers with Marist. Whetu was playing for Wellington the next year. Whare, 20, almost 5-years younger burst on the Wellington scene early in 1976 and stood out like a beacon that season that produced the best club league seen for many years. He made his debut for Wellington in 1974, playing three games, including his first international against Wales. Whare Henry, very fast for a big man his main attributes seen as power with the ball in hand and crunching tackling. Whare Henry was quickly recognized by the national selectors and under Kiwis coach, Ron Ackland, he was chosen for a New Zealand XIII that played a visiting Sydney representative side led by the legendary Tom Raudonikis in 1976. The Kiwis XIII were winners 18-5, and Henry was impressive as was another relative newcomer, Kurt Sorensen. The Kiwis played in the 1977 World Championship with Australia, Great Britain and France, games played in New Zealand and Australia. The Kiwis only win was against France 28-20 in Auckand. The Henry brothers played the tests against Australia, lost 12-27, and against Great Britain, lost 12-30. Also in the scrum against Australia were the Sorensen brothers Dane and Kurt, a unique Kiwis occasion. Whare never played for the Kiwis again. He continued to play for Wellington until 1979 reaching 25 games for his province. Record for Kiwis: 1977 two tests plus 1976 game for Kiwis XIII Record for Wellington: 1975-79, 25 games. Michael James Kuiti (Kiwi no 619 1989-1992 from Upper Hutt) Mike Kuiti, while a partner in the second row with Sam Stewart playing for Wellington on most occasions, took a lot longer that Stewart to attract the eyes of the national selector. But like Stewart he was always good enough to play for the Kiwis and did so in 1989 on the tour to England and France playing in the two successful test wins over France and picking up his only test try. He played 11 games on tour, scoring six tries and played both at second-row and loose forward. Of the six tests he played three were in each position. He went to Papua New Guinea in 1990, two tests and played two further tests against the touring Great Britain tourists in 1992. Great Britain opened their tour at Napier against the Presidents XIII captained by Kuiti who played at loose forward. The home side outscored Great Britain four tries to three, Kuiti being the star performer despite the 23-22 loss. He laid on the final pass for three of the tries scored and was superb in the loose. When the first test team was named, Kuiti was the surprise omission. He was very critic’s choice to retain his Kiwis position after his convincing Presidents XIII display. “I’m pretty upset about it. I thought you only lost your test spot if you were not playing well. I didn’t think this was the case, but someone did. I really thought I was going to make it,” said a despondent Kuiti. Tawera Nikau and Mark Horo were in the second row and Hugh McGahan captain at loose forward. Great Britain, a touring team with many of its stars opting not to tour, beat a woeful Kiwis 11-10. The game after the first test was against Wellington and the home team came from behind to win its first ever international 30-22 after Great Britain led 22-6 at half time.The outstanding performer for Wellington was Kuiti. Malcolm Reilly, coach of Great Britain stated, “The contrast was appalling between the two halves. Mike Kuiti was the difference between the two sides”. Unbelievably, Kuiti was again overlooked for the second and third tests. But his reinstatement came when the Kiwis went to Papua New Guinea for two tests. Kuiti and Tawera Nikau were named in the second row and Mark Horo became loose forward when Hugh McGahan withdrew for the 36-4 win at Goroka while Dean Lonergan joined Nikau in the second row for the 18-10 win at Port Moresby with Kuiti playing at loose forward. Like Sam Stewart, Mike Kuiti cut his ties with Wellington and Upper Hutt on 8 January 1990, signing up with Leeds and pursuing a professional career in England playing for Leeds (41 games, 16 tries), Oldham (69 games, 11 tries), Wakfield Trinity (30 games, 3 tries), Rochdale Hornets (47 games, 8 tries) and Batley (38 games, 3 tries, 1 fg) over a period of eight years. He played 225 games, scored 41 tries, in an even mixture of second row and loose forward positions. Born in Foxton, his long association with the very successful Upper Hutt club commenced in 1980 and stretched through to 1991 with two Premierships and captaincy. In 1990 against the West Coast, in Greymouth, he led Wellington to a record 56-10 win in his 50th game for Wellington finally reaching 59 caps in 1993 the 6th best for Wellington ever. Record for the Kiwis: 1989-1992 6 tests, one try. Three tests at second-row and three at loose forward. Total games for Kiwis 15 including 6 tries. Record for Wellington: 1981-1993, 59 games, 6th best for Wellington often captain. Blazer game 50th v West Coast in 1990 Games for Central Districts: 1984-85-86-87, 4 games Record for Upper Hutt: 1980-1992. Two Premiership wins 1986 and 1987. Record in Superleague in England: 1985-1997, 8 years playing 225 games for Leeds, Oldham, Wakefield Trinity, Rochdale Hornets and Batley, scoring 41 tries. Intermediate Challenge Cup After 2 cancellations due to field closures in term 2, the tournament was looking like a “No Go”.Then unfortunately because of the date and venue change many of the schools were unable to compete due to prior commitments. But through the pure determination of the schools still available to play we managed to get the tournament off the ground.