Wellington Rugby League Weekly E Newsletter-PASS IT ON What a fantastic weekend of celebrations we had over the Labour Weekend for the WRL Centenary. Some feedback from the Centenary weekend.......... It was great to see so many people make the effort to come from far and wide to be a part of a very special event. Each and every one has played some part in the history of the game here in Wellington and to see Many thanks and congratulations to you and the organising committee on a tremendous celebration of many friendships renewed was very pleasing indeed. 100 years of rugby league in the capital city. At the chance of missing someone out I do want to thank the following people and acknowledge their After following your progress through your excellent newsletter and now witnessing your skills first contribution to making the entire weekend so special. Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown and Councillor hand I’m certain the game in Wellington is in good hands and faces a healthy future. John Morrison, Clare Lundon and the team at WCC Parks & Gardens, Gary at Avalon TV Studios, Leo and My weekend in Wellington finally ended on Tuesday with a walk along the waterfront and back up Robbie at Pak n Save Petone, Brent at Lion Nathan, Paul and the team at the Empire Hotel and the Randwick Willis Street to outside the and Petone Clubs. A very special thank you to our MC Frankie Stevens and to Sir Peter Leitch for his Hotel St George where I sat in the lunchtime sun while the encouragement and support and finally to the entire Centenary Committee for all your hard work and support Bootleg Beatles played the music of my youth from the hotel balcony. Is there anything you two can’t for the many months planning the celebrations. arrange? Whilst the focus was clearly on the Centenary we still had plenty of rugby league action happening over the Thanks for everything, including you both making the time to talk to me personally. last fortnight including the 15s and 17s vying for a finals berth but coming up short with narrow losses to Warmest regards Colin MacKenzie Akarana and the challenge for the Rugby League Cup against Auckland also falling short. Well done to you and the team for a job well done over the weekend a big thank from me you both can The following boys made the Merit teams selection and have earned a place at next year’s NZRL Performance be very proud of the weekend Camps- 15s Merit Losi Filipo, Luke Cummings, Desmond Fa’Afoa-17s Merit -Danny Levi, Kauri Aupouri. Jon Masaga also made the NZ Residents that defeated NZ Maori last weekend and will have gained much Sir Peter Charles Leitch KNZM QSM from the experience. Just wanted to say a big thank you to WRL and the team that helped to provide a fantastic Centenary College finals wrapped up last Saturday and Taita College went back to back in the Stephen Kearney Cup Weekend. It was great to be amongst some true ‘local legends’ of our wonderful game. You all deserve whilst Wainuiomata High School made amends for last year’s loss in the Johnny Lomax Cup to win it in its 2nd a huge pat on the back for all the hard work that went in to making this such a memorable event. year. A full report on all the finals is further on. Yours in league Finally we are gearing up for another visit from the Melbourne Storm who come to us as the 2012 NRL Champions. Invites will be out shortly for the training camp for those boys chosen to attend and the Golf Day is Tina & Darryl Marino back on the 7th December at Shandon so you will need to be in quick if you want a spot. Thank you very much for inviting me to the Gala Dinner. It was an amazing evening in all respects Teams of 4 are welcome as well as individuals and we are looking for hole sponsors also so please get in which I am sure my father would have loved to have been part of. touch with us to book your team and hole sponsorship. Please also pass my thanks to all those who organised the event - brilliant. Thanks again for your support of Rugby League in Wellington. Ken Bryant (son of Harold Bryant WRL Life Member) DINGO Visit us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wellington-Rugby-League/149807975039915 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK Celebrating 100 Years 1912-2012 Images from the Labour Weekend celebrations NZRL Chairman Scott Carter, Sir Peter Leitch & Stephen Kearney. NZRL & WRL Life Member Bud Lisle & Ron Farrell 3 Legends of League inductees John Whittaker, Stephen Kearney & Colin O’Neil. Sam Stewart & Jason Hemson Kiwis & Kiwiferns at Randwick Club on Friday night. Wellington V Auckland at Rugby League Park Team of the Century cutting the cake Tony Kemp, Sir Peter Leitch & Stephen Kearney Ken & Luke Laban with Sir Peter Leitch Sir Peter Leitch & Ki Teariki Northern Union Cup Team Of The Century Announced Fullback-Warren Collicoat (Porirua City/Upper Hutt) Winger-Phillip Orchard (St George) & Victor Aramoana (Upper Hutt) Centre-John Whittaker (Randwick) & Bill Kelly (Athletic) Stand-off – Tony Kemp (Randwick) Scrum-half- Finley Rassmussen (Randwick) Prop- John Lomax (Wainuiomata) & Kevin Tamati (Petone, Upper Hutt, Randwick) Hooker-Colin O’Neil (Marist) Second-row Forward-Sam Stewart (Randwick) & Stephen Kearney (Randwick) Loose Forward- Mike Kuiti (Upper Hutt) Captain of the Century- Sam Stewart (Randwick) Player of the Century- John Whittaker (Randwick) Get your piece of History-Limited stock remaining $30 each Sizes SM,M,L,XL,XXL To order email [email protected] Scott Carter with Pele & Tim Gibson Antz Akavi, Nicki Starkey & Brenda West WRL Patron Winnie Laban Tony Kemp & Ana Pereira (Kiwi Fern) Paul Rowan Empire Hotel Plaque 2012 Wellington Rugby League Award Winners NZRL 15s & 17s Merit Teams Acknowldeged at the Centennial Dinner NZRL 15s Merit teams players from Wellington Team Of The Year Randwick Premiers Losi Filipo Coach Of The Year Darryl Marino Luke Cummings Manager Of The Year Carl Ewart (Trentham Titans) Desmond Fa’Afoa Administrator Of The Year Wendy Hynes (Petone Panthers) Volunteer Of The Year Kenny O’Brien (Orcas PoDs) NZRL 17s Merit teams players from Wellington Top Try Scorer Axton Daniels-Randwick Danny Levi Top Points Scorer Rubin McCormack-Randwick Kauri Aupouri Women’s Player Of The Year Brenda Collins-Te Aroha Orcas Player Of The Year Jon Masaga for the full squads visit http://www.nzrl.co.nz/news-archive/season-finishes-on-a-high-.aspx Orcas 15’s Losi Filipo Orcas 17’s Danny Levi Junior Player Of The Year Danny Levi COLLEGE FINALS RESULTS Colin O’Neil Best & Fairest Jon Masaga-Porirua Sandy Hurndell Sports Person Of The Jon Masaga-Porirua Stephen Kearney Cup Year Taita College 44 v Wainuiomata HS 10 Tyrone Paikea with Sir Peter Leitch Johnny Lomax Cup Wainuiomata HS 36 v St.Pats.Silverstream 22 College Sport Cup Naenae WBD over Porirua Orcas Cup Rongotai College 46 v Mana College 18 Merit Teams 2012 Wellington Rugby League Award Winners Rongotai College Taita College Wainuiomata High School 2012 Winners of the Orcas Cup 2012 Winners of the Stephen Kearney Cup 2012 Winners of the Johnny Lomax Cup Juniors ORCAS CUP Rongotai College JLC team proved that they are a Rugby League force to be reckoned with, going through the pool games unbeaten and putting on a great display of power and speed to beat Mana College in the Orcas Cup grand final by 46 points to 18 JOHNNY LOMAX After being runners up last year in the Johnny Lomax Cup final, Wainuiomata High School again made the final and this time came up trumps in front of a big group of supporters. Putting on a well drilled performance against a well-coached St Pats Stream side. Even with a strong individual performance by Stream captain Asafo Amumua, it was the experience of Murphy Albright along with the Umaga – Jensen twins, Thomas and Peter of Wainuiomata High that proved to be the difference in the end with Thomas scoring a hat-trick before half time in the 36 – 22 win. Seniors COLLEGE SPORT CUP After a dramatic semi- final that went into extra time with Wellington College, Naenae were set to play Porirua in the College Sport Cup final, unfortunately Porirua were unable to field a team which meant Naenae won by default making them the 2012 College Sport Cup winners. STEPHEN KEARNEY CUP TAITA and Marino win again! It’s been a great year for the Wellington Rugby League Coach of the year Darryl Marino. Who has not only won the Wellington Rugby League Premiership title with Randwick, but he has now won back to back titles in the Stephen Kearney Cup with Taita College. Taita met with last year’s College Sport Cup winners Wainuiomata High School in this year’s SKC Grand Final. With both teams unbeaten this season this was destined to be a great match. Taita drew first blood and not long after it was WHS turn to add points to the scoreboard. Conceding points seemed to have lifted Taita and they turned up the heat by playing a very clinical brand of football. Wellington Orcas 17’s half, Starr Masae, directed the Taita team around the field well with barnstorming runs from center Mate Mulikiha’amea eating up meters. Although WHS scored again late in the 2nd half it was too little too late with Taita winning comfortably by 44 points to 10.