What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Canterbury v Auckland

Messages
10,195
Sunday at Rugby league Park, Christchurch. Live on Maori TV at 2pm

http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4689517a6429.html

Canterbury trampled over Auckland

The Press | Friday, 12 September 2008

The Canterbury Bulls and Auckland do battle in Christchurch on Sunday. TONY SMITH has a look at a historic match between the two sides.

Frank Endacott says Sunday's Canterbury Bulls-Auckland clash in Christchurch has brought memories flooding back of 1993's magical match which launched a legion of league careers. His included.
Rugby league stalwarts still speak of Canterbury's 36-12 national provincial championship final conquest in reverential tones. They recall the record 10,000 fans, sardine-packed into every seat, nook and cranny of the Addington Showgrounds. They remember roaring themselves hoarse at the two Logan Edwards-inspired tries which inflicted mortal blows on Auckland in the first five minutes.
"Auckland brought all their pros back from the UK, but we went out and absolutely demolished them that day," Endacott reflected this week.
The Bulls' two Bartercard Cup national titles this decade were phenomenal feats. But nothing has diminished the glow of that marvellous mid-winter afternoon 15 years ago. John Coffey, The Press' long-serving rugby league writer, wrote: "It would have been impossible for a Canterbury script writer, secluded in a red and black room, to have come up with a more perfect climax to a highly successful season."
Endacott, who coached Canterbury then and will be barracking for the Bulls on Sunday, still beams with pride at the '93 game on several levels.
Eight Cantabrians toured Great Britain and France later that year in Howie Tamati's team and Endacott still swears hooker Mike Culley "should have been a Kiwi". Many went on to win to win professional contracts with the nascent Auckland Warriors franchise, or other Australian and British clubs.
Endacott's own coaching career took a stratospheric trajectory. He was already Junior Kiwis coach in 1993 but he took over Tamati's top job in 1994 and went on to have a record seven-season tenure.
He became the Auckland Warriors' foundation reserve grade coach in 1995 and replaced John Monie as first-grade boss two seasons later.
Endacott later coached Wigan and Widnes in England and is still actively involved in the game as a players' agent who commands the respect of Australian and British clubs. He is also proud of how many of his charges have stayed in the game. A lot of them are still coaching and giving back to the sport." Eight of the 17-man squad have coached at club, representative or secondary schools level in the last two seasons. Brent Stuart, a nuggety frontrower in 1993, is now the Bulls' head coach after a six-year stint as assistant. Wing Mike Dorreen and second-rower Edwards guide the Canterbury 18s.
Justin Wallace, the backline reserve in '93, is the current Canterbury Rugby Football League chairman while former Kiwi Aaron Whittaker has become a whistleblower, regularly refereeing junior and lower grade senior matches after a successful club coaching stint. Skipper Mark Nixon is now a part-time rugby league broadcaster.
Canterbury had just one overseas-based professional in 1993, backrower Brendon Tuuta was playing in England.
The red-and-blacks had put a record 40 points on Auckland's local lads earlier on Anzac Day but lost 6-9 in the return encounter. So Endacott was not surprised when Auckland coach Owen Wright brought back seven pros from Britain for the final. He fielded five Kiwis, led by legendary backrower Tawera Nikau. Ex-All Black centre Craig Innes was one of three future Kiwis in the squad.
The Showgrounds were dubbed the Killing Fields back then. Canterbury had beaten Auckland three times there in the 1990s and upset the touring Great Britain team.
While Endacott says Canterbury "never needed motivation to beat Auckland", but the wholesale inclusion of overseas pros gave his players an extra incentive.
"We dusted them," he said. Skipper Nixon said: "They might have had all those Kiwis and professionals, but ... the difference between them and us is often only a lucky break."
Endacott said Canterbury had a "great bunch of blokes". "We were like one big happy family. They just gave everything, it was a terrific display."
The Cantabs won all the individual arm-wrestles. Nikau was the only Aucklander to enhance his reputation. Endacott said the battle between "the two No.13s", Nikau and Tuuta was "exceptional".
"Tawera was a terrific player, but pound-for-pound, you wouldn't bet against Brendon, he was one of the toughest blokes to play the game, and he had it over Tawera that day."
Nikau would later lament that Canterbury "seemed to want it more than we did".
Stuart, still smarting at losing his Kiwis jumper to Se'e Solomona, outplayed the Auckland prop. Mike Culley, overlooked for a Kiwi trial, dominated Duane Mann, scored the match-clinching early second-half try and kicked four goals.
Tuuta was man-of-the-match but the sparkplug was second-rower Edwards. "Logan was the player in our team who could turn a game at the drop of a hat" Endacott said. "We had a little blindside play we used to use with Logan and he set up those first two tries. He had a great game."
Innes was shut out by Canterbury debutant Blair Harding, who scored two tries "and unfortunately dropped the ball which would have given him a hat-trick", Endacott said. Harding passed away several years ago but Endacott said he was "a terrific player". "It's a shame, he's still not with us."
Endacott says the '93 final was the "catalyst why we had so many players on the Kiwi tour to UK and France that year and why so many went on to better things, playing in the NRL and test footy.
"We all did it for each other and our province. We were proud to play for Canterbury in those days and getting the chance to play Auckland, who had two-thirds of the test team in their lineup, gee it was a challenge we couldn't say no to."
Endacott also believes Canterbury had an important 18th-man the partisan crowd. "It was absolutely chokka block in the stands, a huge occasion, one we will never forget. It was the crowd that got us home that day. The players said the crowd was absolutely phenomenal.
"I hope all rugby league fans in Canterbury turn up on Sunday. I'd like to see the Canterbury crowd get real vocal like they were back then."
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
Its going to be the match of the season....or when they both meet in the final in a few weeks time.

Go the Bulls!!
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
Canterbury lead 30-24 with 20 mins to go. Its probaly the best standard of league i have seen in NZ for a long time. Good size crowd too.

Auckland have called into their starting line up a few players from the Auckland Vulcans.
 

Calixte

First Grade
Messages
5,428
This structure seems to have some benefits for the game in NZ...

The profile of these games seems higher than the Bartercard Cup from this side of the Tasman.
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
This structure seems to have some benefits for the game in NZ...

The profile of these games seems higher than the Bartercard Cup from this side of the Tasman.

I would say yes, not a massive improvement though. If you only had Auckland, Waikato, Wellington and Canterbury then every game would be close.

In the Bartercard Cup there were 5 Auckland teams, and now they have formed a Auckland team proper.

However in saying that Auckland are not at full strength as some club teams are still playing finals footy :crazy: but they are not far off it. Today they called in a few Auckland Vulcans players from their Premier League Team since they have finished now.

The NZRL must carry on with this competition next year, maybe drop Taranaki though.

I also believe Canterbury U18's beat Auckland U18's too!!! Auckland is like the Kangaroos, pretty hard to beat in any grade anywhere in the country!!

I expect the final will be Canterbury vs Auckland in Canterbury with a crowd twice the size turning up....though i believe Auckland will be full strength by then.
 

ozbash

Referee
Messages
26,922
This structure seems to have some benefits for the game in NZ...

dont agree.
its a 2 team comp.

the only benefit is the exposure of ill management and lack of promotion.

give me Bartercard any day..
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
dont agree.
its a 2 team comp.

the only benefit is the exposure of ill management and lack of promotion.

give me Bartercard any day..

I think its a three team comp, Wellington did draw against Auckland two weeks ago;-)
 
Last edited:

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
Carl, can the guys in the warriors dev squad play ?

Unsure mate, but i would guess they could if they are registered to an Auckland club. NZRL tried to block any Auckland players that had played a certian amount of Preimer League with the Auckland Vulcans.
 

Calixte

First Grade
Messages
5,428
The benefit appears to be in the larger domestic crowds for NZ.

Or is this a misconception?
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
The benefit appears to be in the larger domestic crowds for NZ.

Or is this a misconception?

Todays crowd would have been 2-300. Where as the other games have been around 100. Bartercard cup was around 100-150. In saying that this is the first time since 1993 i think we have had this typre of competition. and back then they got anything from 5,000 - 10,000 at Canterbury. I guess once people get behind it and know about it things will pick up.

I think the final in Canterbury against Auckland could draw up to 1,000 if they get good press.
 

Calixte

First Grade
Messages
5,428
Then there is clearly a benefit in bigger attendances.

As I said originally...

The issue in NZ seems to be the need to develop and improve domestic attendances and competitions.

The NZRL make the ARL look like world's best practice which is a truly frightening thought.

Clearly there is a need for a tiered system such as:-

1. Test Level - New Zealand
2. Inter-Island Level - A Kiwi Origin Type game (North v South Island)
3. Provincial Level - A strong inter-provincial or inter-city comp for say 6 or so teams
4. Club Level - retaining the history of the Otahuhu/Mt Alberts of this world, while incorporating the outer lying areas represented by the Bartercard Cup
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
Good crowd turned up on a sunny day although a few more leaguies could have made an effort to support. This comp has breathed life back into provincial league and pride is rebuilding. Life has been breathed back into the NU Rugby league Cup with some long overdue exposure!! It looked all shiny and new!

New beginnings for provincial rl![COLOR=#00e0] [/COLOR]

This a comment from a guy that went to the match...

Also Waikato upset Wellington and Bay of Plenty beat Taranaki to award the wooden spoon to them.
 
Messages
10,195
I was in the crowd today, loved it

Unfortunately i couldn't have the tape going at home, might have to get onto Maori TV to try and get a copy

The Auckland side looked bigger and faster, but Canterbury just kept scrambling
 

mean_maori_mean

Juniors
Messages
2,251
Carl, can the guys in the warriors dev squad play ?

Sunita Laiseni has been a fixture on the wing for Auckland in their campaign so far. He is in the warriors development.

He is the younger brother of Toshio Laiseni (former junior kiwi, warrior, shark, cowboy and now with Newton Jets).

Sunita will play toyota cup next year at least a few games, should have got some games this year. Played in last years fox final for Papakura when he was only 15 or 16..

Im pretty sure that Beau King (prop) will be in the Warriors development. Im sure he a young fulla. From Papakura aswell i think.

All the rest of warriors development are playing for under 16's or 18's.

Canterbury team are full of seasoned campaigners - which showed. But not much youngsters

Auckland team was a whole new team. Their whole backline bar Laiseni has played some NSW CUP this year.
 

kiwileaguefan

Juniors
Messages
2,426
Courageous Bulls display grit

Tony Smith - The Press | Monday, 15 September 2008
756556.jpg
DEAN KOZANIC
ELUSIVE: Bulls fullback Johnny Aranga evades Auckland defenders at Rugby League Park in Christchurch yesterday. Aranga scored twice to help Canterbury to a 36-30 win.
Related Links


Canterbury Bulls coach Brent Stuart's heart was "still pounding" long after the final whistle but Duane Wineti did much to ease the flutters in a pulsating finish at Rugby League Park.

Wineti pounced to score the match-winning try in the final minute of a 36-30 victory over Auckland to guarantee the Bulls a berth in the Bartercard national provincial premiership final on September 28.

The seasoned scrum-half had earlier got Canterbury out of jail from a goal-line drop-out. Auckland was getting ready for a second set of six tackles but the northerners stood around watching as Wineti's kick bounced into touch to earn Canterbury a pressure-relieving scrum feed.

A bomb was then launched on the fifth and final tackle. Auckland fullback Saui Hafeta seemed to misjudge it in the sun and was hammered by the Bulls' chasers. The ball popped out for Wineti to gleefully glide between the posts as Canterbury retained the Rugby League Cup returned to Christchurch only hours before by a Hawkes Bay official.

Stuart, a front-row colossus in Canterbury's 36-12 national provincial final win over Auckland 15 years ago, watched proudly as the Class of 2008 replicated their footballing forebears' resolve.
"The team just showed much much courage they've got after we lost both our centres (Kasi Leka and Ben Hurrell) in the first 20 minutes," Stuart said. "They hung in there and played 80 minutes of hard, grinding football against a talented Auckland side which was off-loading and supporting pretty well."

Stuart felt the win would give Canterbury a psychological edge if the Bulls meet Auckland again in the final. "Now they know they can get ito a real dogfight and come out the other end with a victory."

Skipper Jonny Limmer led the Bulls' defence with some typically tigerish tackling, forward Kasi Leka ran down an Auckland ball for a try-saving tackle and Ross Turi gave Canterbury go-forward against the big Auckland pack. Auckland stung the Bulls with two early tries to Ukuma Taai and Sione Tongia to race out to a 10-0 lead. But Bulls fullback Johnny Aranga continued his fine form with two touchdowns to put Canterbury in front. The score ebbed and flowed with Paletasala Ale scoring for Auckland and Mananui Te Heu Heu striking back for the Bulls before Scott Hurrell slotted a penalty goal for Canterbury.

But Auckland Vulcans New South Wales Cup half Pita Godinet swooped on a Bulls mistake to clinch a 20-18 half-time lead.

Two chances went begging for Auckland before Sione Taka scooped up a Canterbury crossfield kick for a runaway try to put Auckland in front, 24-18, after the interval.

Canterbury's Andrew Auimatagi scored from a scrum move to tie the score. Limmer produced a captain's knock to cap a move created by Te Heu Heu's barnstorming break before Godinet equalised for Auckland and Jeremiah Pai kept his cool to land a left-footed conversion despite the cat-calls from the Canterbury crowd.

But Wineti had the last say after Canterbury's aerial assault.

Aggrieved Aucklanders clustered around referee Adam Burns but their coach Sam Panapa felt it was "a fair contest". Canterbury Bulls 36 (Johnny Aranga 2, Mananui Te Heu Heu, Andrew Auimatagi, Jonny Limmer, Duane Wineti tries; Scott Hurrell 6 goals) Auckland 30 (Pita Godinet 2, Ukuma Taai, Paletasala Ale, Sione Tongia, Sione Taka, Godinet 2, Jeremiah Pai goals). HT: 18-20. Referee: Adam Burns (Canterbury).
 
Top