Waikato League

[GoSouths]

Any one here keep tabs on Rugby League in the Waikato? is it still going strong?
Been some good players come out of there. Tawera Nikau, Lance Hohaia, Wairangi Koopu, Sam Rapira, the Horo Brothers to name a few.
Just cant think of anyone thats made it to the NRL from that region recently.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Huntly-Taupiri-Ngaruawahia was always the stronghold in the Waikato with its historical connection to the coal mining industry, similar to the West Coast. But no idea how the code is faring there these days. there seemed to be a healthy League scene further east in Rotorua in recent years too.

 

[Matua]

Any one here keep tabs on Rugby League in the Waikato? is it still going strong?
Been some good players come out of there. Tawera Nikau, Lance Hohaia, Wairangi Koopu, Sam Rapira, the Horo Brothers to name a few.
Just cant think of anyone thats made it to the NRL from that region recently.

The fatty in the backs for the Dolphins is from Waikato, but don't think he came out of the league scene.

 

[Pneuma]

Bay of Plenty District Rugby League - Home

www.sporty.co.nz

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Bay of Plenty District Rugby League - Home

www.sporty.co.nz

That’s the next district over from Waikato, centred on Rotorua as I mentioned. A little disappointing to see there’s no sides from the eastern BoP there though (Whakatane/Kawerau/Opotiki etc). There used to be.

 

[Pneuma]

That’s the next district over from Waikato, centred on Rotorua as I mentioned. A little disappointing to see there’s no sides from the eastern BoP there though (Whakatane/Kawerau/Opotiki etc). There used to be.

Was all I could find. Not sure what that means.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Was all I could find. Not sure what that means.

Means I’d smack you in the head for confusing the BoP with Waikato, haha. That’s like lumping Burnie in with Launceston

 

[Pneuma]

Means I’d smack you in the head for confusing the BoP with Waikato, haha. That’s like lumping Burnie in with Launceston

That’s an insult to Burnie

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Waikato guys currently in the NRL that come to mind are Taine Tuaupiki, Te Maire Martin and Morgan Harper. Can’t really say they ‘came through the system’ exactly but they all played in the Waikato as kids at least.

In the recent TV show ‘Match Fit’ a team of 40-something ex-Kiwis played against the current Taniwharau team in Huntly.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Can’t speak for Waikato, but across the country it is a real struggle from what I understand

Christchurch is down to 6 clubs in the Premier Grade, 2 pulled out pre season, one of them being a proud club in the Papanui Tigers, they gave up 100 in a game last season. The West Coast comp is dead, but they have the Greymouth Greyhounds playing in an 11 team Christchurch Reserve Grade comp

From listening to a bit of Kemp on SENZ, I’m not all over it but Sport NZ got NZRL around the table years back, and said that you either move to a zone model, or you get no funding from us. The zone model has been a huge failure so the regions are getting together now to try and get rid of it

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Can’t speak for Waikato, but across the country it is a real struggle from what I understand

Christchurch is down to 6 clubs in the Premier Grade, 2 pulled out pre season, one of them being a proud club in the Papanui Tigers, they gave up 100 in a game last season. The West Coast comp is dead, but they have the Greymouth Greyhounds playing in an 11 team Christchurch Reserve Grade comp

From listening to a bit of Kemp on SENZ, I’m not all over it but Sport NZ got NZRL around the table years back, and said that you either move to a zone model, or you get no funding from us. The zone model has been a huge failure so the regions are getting together now to try and get rid of it

That’s interesting. Sounds like they were trying to impose a structure that onto NZ RL that just fundamentally doesn’t reflect the way the sport is in NZ. It’s not like union where you can generally pull teams from all areas in a kinda equal way, league is highly concentrated in particular towns/districts according to peculiar demographic factors. Hopefully they get this and work with it.

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Hayze Perham is from Rotovegas

Hes locked down the Dogs #1 spot this year

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Hayze Perham is from Rotovegas

Hes locked down the Dogs #1 spot this year

A few BoP lads have made it over the years. JWH is from Rotorua, Will Warbrick is from Kawerau, and of course Benji is from Whakatane