New Zealand Domestic Comp

[Sharky Pete]

Orcas to face Waicoa Bay in new-look competition
By FRED WOODCOCK - The Dominion Post
Last updated 05:00 24/08/2010

A new competition but an old name as the revamped Wellington Orcas prepare to kick off their national provincial rugby league campaign this weekend.

A new zonal competition has replaced the district-based league because of restructuring at New Zealand Rugby League. The move will result in a similar competition to that of the old Bartercard Cup.

Wellington will be joined by six other teams in a round-robin format – three home matches, three away matches and a bye – with the top two making the grand final.

The other teams are the Northern Swords, Auckland, Counties-Manukau, Waicoa Bay Stallions (Waikato, Coastline and Bay of Plenty), Heartlands (Hawke's Bay, Manawatu and Taranaki) and a lone South Island team, the aptly named South Island.

Wellington were known as the Orcas in the Bartercard Cup but they dropped the moniker during the past two years.

"We floated a few different ideas and asked people to come back to us with some suggestions," Wellington Rugby League general manager Jason Hemson said.

"We have had a few names in the past, like the [Wellington City] Dukes, [Hutt Valley] Firehawks, Porirua Pumas and the [Hutt Valley] Dolphins, but the Orcas was the most recent and there weren't any bad connotations so we made the decision to resurrect it.

"The brand is well known and it is something that we can build off."

The Orcas have the opening of their season tonight and, under the guidance of Petone coach Trevor Clark, play their first match, against Waicoa Bay at Fraser Park in Lower Hutt on Sunday.

The other two home matches are to be played at Porirua Park, against Northern on September 12 and South Island on October 10.

A 25-man squad was announced yesterday with club champions Porirua Vikings boasting seven players.

The Squad

Wellington Orcas squad: Alfred Penese, Abel Lefaoseu, Hemi Kemp, Dwayne Waterman, Johnny Teleaga, Anton Wereta, George Mafi (all Porirua), Matthew Wanoa, Shannon Bradbrook, Dallas Vincent, Stephen Sutorius, Shannon Hogan, Kimihia Pakipaki-Hemopo (Petone), Dario Esposito, Eddie Aukino, Peter Gubb, Simon Nash (University), Matthew Everitt, Kieran O'Brien, Bureta Fairamo (Wainuiomata), Awhio Luke, Mohi Aupouri, Anthony Utanga (Te Aroha), Michael Ioapo (St George), Bernard Gregorius (Upper Hutt).

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-pos...as-to-face-Waicoa-Bay-in-new-look-competition

 

[snowman]

do we know any of these players?

 

[Sharky Pete]

do we know any of these players?

Not that I know of.

But I thought it was a good article so I thought I'd post it.

 

[snowman]

cheers

 

[Sharky Pete]

cheers

I am sure our New Zealand based fans may be interested in this anyway.

 

[SharkLabelSociety]

I'm more interested in the Northern Swords.

 

[Bundy]

Dario Esposito

Good strong Kiwi name that one!

 

[Sharky Pete]

With our game against the Warriors in Taupo next season, here is an opportunity to possibly get a relationship happening with the Waicoa Bay Stallions.

Considering Taupo would fit in with that club it's an opportunity to possibly have links with them.

 

[snowman]

hahahahaha

it was the same as convicted melbourne drug smugller hui lyn

 

[kiwishark]

I'm more interested in the Northern Swords.

Be interesting SLS, as you know League lives in the shadows of Union up here, in saying that we have produced some cracker age group teams 17's and 19's but most players convert to Union after that, as the Senior League is shocking at best, this possibly is the way to keep more of the age group stars in the game going forward.

 

[Sharky Pete]

FIVE DAYS TO NATIONAL NZRL COMPETITION
Wednesday 25 Aug 2010 10:03
by Matthew O'Neill

With only five days to go until the kickoff of the new National Competition, NZRL Football Manager Tony Kemp is anticipating a competitive new look competition in all three grades, "Having been around the regions with Community camps and Hearts camps it is obvious that the passion and commitment for quality rugby league is at an all time high.

There was a lot of competition for places on these teams and everyone has worked hard to prepare."

"The Zones have taken great care to choose coaches, trainers and managers with the qualifications and experience needed to get the best from their teams, the players have gone through a rigorous selection process and attended Heart Camps in their Zones.

They completed a Drug and Alcohol workshop with Drug Free Sport, along with presentations about player pathways and nutrition by NZRL Football Department staff. Everyone is well prepared and we are really looking forward to seeing how they all get on."

New Zealand Rugby League formed seven Zones following a review in 2009, and the Northern, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Upper and Lower Central, Wellington and Southern Zones will field teams at all three grades in the new competition.

The Premiers will compete for the Albert Baskerville Trophy; the 17s for the Mark Graham Cup and the 15s will be competing for the Nathan Cayless Cup.

Each team has been selected based on trial performance in their Zone and will feature players from most if not all contributing districts.

The first round kicks off on 29 August when South Island take on Heartland in Christchurch and the Orcas play Waicoa Bay in Wellington.

Full details of the competition, the draw, fixtures and results can be found on the NZRL website www.nzrl.co.nz on the Our Schedule / National Competition page.

http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=37470