Taranaki_Rugby_League
Taranaki Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. The TRL are represented by the Taranaki rugby league team. They are in the Mid-Central zone along with the Manawatu Rugby League.
Five Taranaki senior clubs compete in the Western Alliance, alongside five clubs from the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Taranaki clubs in the Western Alliance include:
Bell Block Marist Dragons
Coastal Cobras
Hawera Hawks
Normanby/Okaiawa Knights
Waitara Bears
Western Suburb Tigers
The Taranaki Rugby League was founded with the help of Adam Lile, one of the members of the 1907-1908 "All Golds" tour.[1]
In 2008 the Taranaki Rugby League named its Team of the Century: Dave Watson; Babe Hooker; Ron McKay; Willie Talau; Ernest Buckland; Tony Kemp; Issac Luke; Bruce Gall; Howie Tamati; Wille Southorn; Graeme West; Adam Lile; Barry Harvey. Bench: Jack McLeod; Fred White; Lance Moir; Jim Parker; Charles Hunt.
Referee of the century: Graham Church. Coach of the century: Alan Marshall. Player of the century: Wille Southorn.[2]
Lion Red Cup
Between 1994 and 1996, the Taranaki region was represented by the Taranaki Rockets in the Lion Red Cup competition. The Rockets were notable for having Willie Talau, John Farrar on their roster, both players played for their Club Western Tigers Wille who now competes in the Super League with St. Helens.and John Farrar who was selected and played for the New Zealand Maori Rugby league team against Great Britain and Papua New Guine.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 22 | 10 | 1 | 11 | 481 | 536 | -55 | 21 | Sixth | N/A |
| 1995 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 339 | 770 | -431 | 5 | Eleventh | N/A |
| 1996 | 22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 516 | 438 | 33 | 22 | Seventh | N/A |
Bartercard Cup
Taranaki was represented in the Bartercard Cup competition for two years by the Taranaki Wildcats. They finished in last place both seasons, before folding at the completion of the 2003 season.
National provincial competition
Taranaki Rugby League were awarded a place in the new six-team National Provincial Competition which began in 2008. In the first season the team finished in sixth place.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 96 | 262 | -116 | 0 | Sixth | N/A |
| 2009 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 86 | 212 | -126 | 2 | Fifth | N/A |
- John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
- "Dream team of century is named". Taranaki Daily News. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- Taranaki Rugby League TRL homepage