2009 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2009 New Zealand rugby league season was the 102nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and then the premiership by defeating Auckland 26–20 in the Grand Final.

2009 New Zealand rugby league season

International competitions
See also: List of New Zealand Kiwis matches

The New Zealand national rugby league team defeated Tonga in Rotorua before heading to Europe to compete in the Four Nations where they finished third. By defeating Tonga the Kiwis retained the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy.[1] Coached by Stephen Kearney, the Four Nations squad included; Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, Nathan Fien, Kieran Foran, Bryson Goodwin, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima, Issac Luke, captain Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard, Junior Sau, Iosia Soliola, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kevin Locke and Eddy Pettybourne.

Earlier in the year New Zealand lost 10-38 to Australia. Manu Vatuvei, Roy Asotasi, Dene Halatau, David Fa'alogo, Simon Mannering, Jason Nightingale, Sika Manu and Jerome Ropati played in this match but did not tour at the end of the year.

Bartercard Premiership Selection

A Bartercard Premiership Selection defeated a Samoan Residents side 62-14 on 10 October 2009.[2][3] Canterbury coach Brent Stuart coached the Bartercard selection.[4] Ruben Wiki came out of retirement to play in the match and all the proceeds were donated to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.[5] The match was broadcast on Māori Television.

Bartercard Premiership Selection: Jonny Aranga (Cant), 2-Junior Salevao (Cant), 3-Craig Smith (Cant), 4-Gunther Schaumkel (Auck), 5-James Blackwell (Auck), 6-William Heta (Auck), 7-Kelvin Wright (Auck), 8-Vince Whare (Auck), 9-Nathan Sherlock (Cant), 10-Fred Turuwhenua (Auck), 11-Chris Bamford (Cant), 12-Sialli Tufeao (Auck), 13-Jonny Limmer (Cant). Interchange: 14-Dylan Davis (Auck), 15-Patrick Matulino (Auck), 16-Sione Tongia (Auck), 17-Suaia Matagi (Auck), 18-Darren Kingi (Waikato). Coach: Brent Stuart.[6]

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

Canterbury defeated Auckland on 23 August to win the Rugby League Cup.[7] As in 2008 the New Zealand Rugby League ruled that the Rugby League Cup would be defended in all Bartercard Premiership matches, home and away.

Bartercard Premiership
Bartercard Premiership 2009
LeagueBartercard Premiership
SportRugby league
Number of teams6
TV partner(s)SKY Network Television
Major PremiershipCanterbury
Minor PremiershipCanterbury

The 2009 season was the second and final Bartercard Premiership. Auckland were the defending champions. The same six provinces as in 2008 again took part in the competition. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and defeated Auckland 26–20 in the final.

Auckland included Sala Fa'alogo.[8]

Television

The semi-finals and grand final of the Bartercard Premiership were shown live on SKY Network Television and also delayed on free to air.[2]

Season standings
Province Pl W D L For Ag P/D Pts
Canterbury 5 5 0 0 210 60 150 10
Auckland 5 4 0 1 202 96 106 8
Waikato 5 3 0 2 130 108 22 6
Wellington 5 2 0 3 142 120 22 4
Taranaki 5 1 0 4 86 212 -126 2
Bay of Plenty 5 0 0 5 70 254 -184 0

Warm Up Matches

In a warm up match Canterbury lost to the West Coast 20-14. This was reportedly the first time since 1989 that the West Coast had defeated Canterbury.[9]

Round 1
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Waikato 32-22 Wellington 22 August 2009 Paterson Park, Ngaruawahia
Taranaki 40-8 Bay of Plenty 23 August 2009 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Canterbury 32-30 Auckland 23 August 2009 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Round 2
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Waikato 22-30 Auckland 30 August 2009 Davies Park, Huntly
Wellington 46-12 Taranaki 9 September 2009 Porirua Park, Porirua
Bay of Plenty 16-66 Canterbury 18 September 2009 Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua

Canterbury vs. Bay of Plenty and Wellington vs. Taranaki matches were originally unable to take place as scheduled due to air travel issues. They were rescheduled to be mid-week games.

Round 3
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Bay of Plenty 12-52 Auckland 5 September 2008 Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Taranaki 14-36 Waikato 5 September 2009 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Canterbury 32-0 Wellington 6 September 2009 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Round 4
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Bay of Plenty 10-36 Waikato 12 September 2009 Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Taranaki 10-48 Canterbury 13 September 2009 Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Wellington 14-16 Auckland 13 September 2009 Porirua Park, Porirua
Round 5
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Wellington 60-24 Bay of Plenty 19 September 2009 Porirua Park, Porirua
Auckland 74-16 Taranaki 20 September 2008 Mt Smart Stadium Number 2, Auckland
Waikato 4-32 Canterbury 20 September 2008 Davies Park, Huntly
Semi finals
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Auckland 60-4 Waikato 26 September 2009 Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Canterbury 20-17 Wellington 27 September 2009 Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Grand final
Home Score Away Match Information
Date Venue
Canterbury 26-20 Auckland 4 October 2009 Rugby League Park, Christchurch[10]
Tries (Canterbury) 2: Jonny Aranga
1: Junior Salevao, Craig Smith, Jermahl Carroll
Tries (Auckland) 1: William Heta, James Blackwell, Henry Heta, Sione Taka
Goals (Canterbury) 3: Simon Mounga
Goals (Auckland) 1: Cody Walker, William Heta
Referee Leon Williamson
Broadcast SKY Network Television[11]

Junior Grades

Each of the Bartercard Premiership matches was preceded by a National Junior Competition Under 16 and Under 18 game. These two competitions ran in parallel with the senior competition.[2] Auckland won the Under-16s final 11-10 over Taranaki while the Auckland under 18s defeated Wellington 34-10 to win that competition. Both finals were held in Cornwall Park, Auckland.

Australian competitions
Main article: 2009 New Zealand Warriors season

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 14th out of 16 teams and failed to make the playoffs.

The Junior Warriors finished seventh before losing their Qualifying Final match.

The Auckland Vulcans competed in the NSW Cup and finished 11th out of eleven teams.

Club competitions

Auckland
Main article: 2009 Auckland Rugby League season
See also: Auckland Rugby League club trophies

The Mt Albert Lions defeated the Papakura Sea Eagles 32–10 in the Grand Final to win the Fox Memorial. As minor premiers, the Otahuhu Leopards were awarded the Rukutai Shield. Papakura were coached by Dean Clark and included Toshio Laiseni.[12]

Howick won the Sharman Cup while the Manukau Magpies won the Phelan Shield.

Wellington

The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.[13]

Canterbury

Hornby won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

Shane Endacott was the Celebration Lions' assistant coach while Phil Prescott coached Halswell.[14]

The Timaru Warriors rejoined the CRL competition, after being in recess for four years.[15]

Other Competitions

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club won the Waikato Rugby League competition.[16]

Tokoroa's Pacific won the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition while Otumoetai won the combined Coastline-Gisborne premiership, defeating the Paikea Whalers 34–8.[17][18][19] The Hawke's Bay's Flaxmere Falcons competed in the Bay of Plenty competition.[20] Matthew Spence was the Turangi Dambusters' player-coach.[21]

The Paikea Whalers won the Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League competition, defeating the Kaiti Devils 76–14 in the grand final.[22]

Blair Sims was named the West Coast Rugby League's player of the season.[23]

See also

References
  1. Tonga Confirms Team To Face Kiwis In Rotorua voxy.co.nz, 13 October 2009
  2. Bartercard National Provincial Premiership Kicks Off - 21 August 2009 NZRL.co.nz, 21 August 2009. Accessed 2009-08-27. Archived 2009-09-05.
  3. It's just like riding a bike... New Zealand Herald, 11 October 2009
  4. Lure of home final adds incentive for Canterbury New Zealand Herald, 26 September 2009. Accessed 2009-09-25. Archived 2009-09-27.
  5. Wiki to make comeback for tsunami benefit NZPA, 4 September 2009
  6. Canty victory eases the pain The Press, 5 October 2009
  7. Geoff Longley It's go the South Island, No Bull The Press, 4 June 2010
  8. Bulls given a scare in making Bartercard Premiership final Archived 28 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine nzwarriors.co.nz
  9. Coast Go it Alone and Win The Press, 17 August 2009. Accessed 2009-08-27. Archived 2009-09-05.
  10. Auckland, Canterbury in final New Zealand Herald, 28 September 2009. Accessed 2009-09-27. Archived 2009-09-30.
  11. Canterbury Bulls clinch comeback league win The Press, 5 October 2009
  12. Thriller showdown expected Papakura Courier, 13 May 2009
  13. Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions The Press, 4 November 2011
  14. Shane Endacott continues league family tradition The Press, 16 June 2011
  15. Timaru Warriors reflect on loss at home Timaru Herald, 20 April 2009
  16. Panthers too good for Taniwharau Waikato Times, 29 March 2010
  17. Otumoetai Eels 'fall over' in crucial game Bay of Plenty Times, 18 July 2011
  18. Make-over revamps local league The Daily Post, 21 January 2010
  19. 2009 results Archived 20 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine Coastline Rugby League
  20. Falcons make Bay league debut The Daily Post, 3 April 2009
  21. Star Spence in roving Dambusters role The Daily Post, 13 July 2009
  22. Paikea champions The Gisborne Herald, 30 September 2009
  23. Blair Sims New Zealand Herald, 24 November 2010
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