2002 New Zealand rugby league season

Otago defeated Tasman 42–28 to win the Rugby League Cup on 8 September.[8] Otago then defeated Canterbury "A" 52-34 and Southland 20–16.[9]

The 2002 Bartercard Cup was the third season of the Bartercard Cup competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. After the Ngongotaha Chiefs had withdrawn from the competition halfway through 2001 the New Zealand Rugby League had to consider the future of franchises. As part of this reorganisation the two Wellington teams, the Porirua Pumas and the Wainuiomata Lions both withdrew and were replaced by a combined Wellington Franchise. The Central Falcons, from Manawatu, and Taranaki Wildcats both joined the competition. 2002 saw the Mt Albert Lions win their first championship after an all Auckland final series.

• Hibiscus Coast were coached by Tony Benson and included Aaron Heremaia, Vinny Dunn, Daniel Floyd, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Tyrone Pau, captain Anthony Seuseu, Jeremy Smith, Shannon Stowers, Karl Te Mata and Regan Wigg.[10][11]
• Northcote were coached by Geoff Morton and included Karl Johnson, captain Ken McIntosh, Matthew Spence, Jared and Damon Trott and Brent Webb.
• Glenora were coached by Dean Hunter and included captain Gavin Bailey, Karl Edmonson, Sione Faumuina, Fuifui Moimoi and Lee Tamatoa.[6]
• Marist-Richmond were coached by Bernie Perenara and included Jamie Cook, Karl Guttenbeil, Ricky Henry, Tevita Latu, Marcus Perenara, Jerome Ropati, Evarn Tuimavave, Matthew Tuisamoa and Daniel Vasau.[11][12]
• Mt Albert, in their 75th season, were coached by John Ackland and included Vinnie Anderson, Keneti Asiata, Andreas Bauer, co-captain Steve Buckingham, Sala and David Fa'alogo, Lee Finnerty, Peter Lewis, co-captain Ben Lythe, Hutch Maiava, Wayne McDade and David Myles.[11][13]
• Otahuhu were coached by Dean Clark and included Isaak Ah Mau, George Carmont, co-captain Esau Mann, Odell Manuel, Vince Mellars, co-captain Boycie Nelson, Meti Noovao, Jonathan Smith, Butch Tua and George Tuakura.[11]
• Eastern were coached by James Leuluai and included David and Paul Fisiiahi, Eddie and Phillip Leuluai, Zebastian Lucky Luisi, Jeremiah Pai, Herewini Rangi and Logan Swann.[6]
• Manurewa were coached by Trevor Clark and included Henry Fa'afili, Cheyenne Motu and Neville Ramsey.[11][14]
• Taranaki were coached by Alan Jackson and included Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga.[15] Jackson himself played in one match, coming on as a substitute when his side was reduced to twelve men.[16]
• Central were coached by John Lomax and Peter Sixtus and included Weller Hauraki, David Lomax, Billy Weepu and Sonny Whakarau.[17][18][19][20]
• Wellington were coached by Gerard Stokes and included Lusi Sione.
• Canterbury were coached by Phil Prescott who was assisted by Brent Stuart.[21] The team included Chris Bamford, captain Shane Beyers, Charlie Herekotukutuku, Corey Lawrie, Tangia Tongiia and Vince Whare.[22] Before the season started the Bulls played pre-season matches against the Cronulla Sharks in Timaru at Fraser Park and against a Mainland XIII selection in Christchurch.[23][24]

Around 5000 watched the match, the last played at Carlaw Park.[11] Sala Fa'alogo was the man of the match.[6]

Coastline, Taranaki, Waikato, Manawatu, Bay of Plenty and Wellington competed in the North Island Super 6. Wellington and Manawatu did not select players from the Wellington Franchise or Central Falcons respectively.[25]

Waikato defeated minor premiers Wellington 46–30 at the Grand Final, held in Wellington.

Waikato were coached by Tawera Nikau and included Herewini Rangi. Manawatu included Rangi Chase and Weller Hauraki.[25] Taranaki were coached by Howie Tamati.

Canterbury A, Otago, Southland, Tasman and the West Coast competed in the South Island Provincial Championship.

Otago won the title, defeating Canterbury A 23–22 in the Grand Final.

Phil Bergman played for Tasman.

The Riccarton Knights defeated the Linwood Keas 42–22 to win the Mainland Super 10 championship.

The Thacker Shield was contested as part of the Mainland Super 10, with the holder defending it at every home game.[26] In 2003 the Thacker Shield returned to its original once a year inter-district challenge format.

Super 10 Dreamteam; Fa'atali Sa (Papanui), Charlie Herekotukutuku (Kaiapoi), Clinton Fraser (Sydenham), Hamish Barclay (Riccarton), Sam Lemalie (Linwood), Josh Reuben (Kaiapoi), Aaron Whittaker (Riccarton), Leon Hallie (Otago), Andrew Auimatagi (Linwood), Mathias Pitama (Kaiapoi), Andrew Tallott (Hornby), George Taunga (Southland) and Corey Lawrie (Hornby). Coach: Brent Ringdahl (Riccarton).

The Kiwi Cup was the National Junior Competition for under-18s and was held between Akarana, Counties-Manukau, Waikato, Canterbury, Wellington and Manawatu. Akarana, who included Jerome Ropati, Epalahame Lauaki, Marcus Perenara and Evarn Tuimavave, defeated Counties-Manukau 42–22 in the final. Counties-Manukau included Toshio Laiseni.[7]

The Foundation Cup was the National Junior Competition for under-16s. The invited teams were Counties-Manukau, Wellington, Akarana, Canterbury, Waikato and Northland. Counties-Manukau, who included Kim Uasi and Willie Heta, defeated Wellington 28–6.

The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won the Fox Memorial trophy, defeating Otahuhu 44–40 in double extra time.[6] The Papakura Sea Eagles won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership).[11] Earlier in the season the Hibiscus Coast Raiders had won the Roope Rooster cup, defeating Marist 64–4 in the final. Ellerslie won the Sharman Cup while the Mount Wellington Warriors won the Phelan Shield.

The Hibiscus Coast's Willie Bishop won the Best and Fairest award and the Bert Humphries Memorial Trophy as best back in the competition. Junior Asiata from Otahuhu won the Bert Humphries Memorial Trophy as best forward while Papakura's Stuart Heslop won the Most Improved award. Asiata also won the Rothville Trophy as player of the year while Bishop was awarded the Lance Painter Rosebowl as top goal kicker. Otahuhu's Shane Dance won the Lipscombe Cup as Sportsman of the Year.

Papakura were coached by Kelly Shelford while Mount Albert included Carl Doherty and Manukau included Ben Vaeau.[28]

The Randwick Kingfishers won the Wellington Rugby League title, defeating the Wainuiomata Lions in the grand final.

Riccarton won the Canterbury Rugby League title, defeating Linwood 54–14 in the grand final.

Aaron Whittaker and Logan Edwards played for Riccarton. Kane Ferris played for Linwood.

Turangawaewae and the Taniwharau Rugby League Club met in the inaugural Waicoa Bay grand final with Taniwharau winning 28–26.[29] Turangawaewae won the Waikato Rugby League Premiership. The Ngongotaha Chiefs defeated Pikiao to win the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition. Te Paamu, who included Andrew Leota, defeated Kawerau 46–22 in the Coastline final.

The Waitara Bears defeated Marist 26–12 in the Taranaki Rugby League grand final.[30] Linton, who included Jesse Royal, defeated Levin 48–26 in the Manawatu Rugby League grand final.

Blenheim Central defeated Nelson 32–12 in the Tasman grand final while Suburbs won the West Coast Rugby League title by defeating Cobden-Kohinoor 28–20.