Manukau Magpies

Established in 1912, the club played as the Manukau Rovers with Jim Rukutai as club captain. The club was officially affiliated with the Auckland Rugby League at their annual meeting on 16 April.[2]

Their first committee selected at that first meeting in March 1912 was Patron: Mr. F.W. Lang, (M.P.); President: Mr. John R. Sceates; Secretary: Mr. H.V. Pattin; Treasurer: Mr. H.E. Reynolds; Committee: Messrs R.W. Sansbury, T.A. George, J.B. Morton, T. Grundy, H.E. Reynolds, A. Patten, E. Pullan, Jim Rukutai, and S. Child (chairman).[1]

In their first season they had 53 registered members. Their senior team squad was made up of the following players: Jim Rukutai, Arthur Hardgrave, Pullen, Strong, Alexander, Targuse, Hughes, Griffiths, McGechan, Clark (2), Kennedy, Tole, Wilson, and Moore (2).[3] They finished the 1912 season with 3 wins and 7 losses. In the 1913 season they struggled to put a full team on the field and pulled out of the senior grade after playing just 5 matches. In 1914 they fielded junior teams only and this continued until 1923 when they amalgamated with the Māngere club to enter a senior team in the competition named "Mangere United".

In 1924 the entire club switched codes and became a rugby union club. They were extremely critical of the Auckland Rugby League and stated that they had been on the end of a number of poor decisions over the previous three seasons particularly to do with player registrations. The details of which were laid out in a letter from the club secretary which was published in the Auckland Star on 12 July 1924. Auckland Rugby League responded stating that the details in the letter were not correct.[4]

The Manukau Rugby League club was reborn at a meeting in Onehunga on 29 September 1932 with Jim Rukutai in attendance .[5]

The club was initially mainly active in junior grades until 1936 when a senior team was re-established after Steve Watene, a Kiwi international convinced Auckland Rugby League that the team he had built from scratch would be competitive. Watene had travelled through many parts of the North Island recruiting players, including Jack Hemi, Joe Boughton, and Len Kawe (who had represented New Zealand Māori in 1925), Tom Trevarthan from Otago rugby. History was made that year when they took out the Championship (Fox Memorial), and Roope Rooster knockout competition in their first season back in the top grade since the 1913 season.[6] Watene became the first ever Māori player to captain the Kiwi's Coffee, John; Wood, Bernie (2009). Auckland 100 Years of Rugby League. Huia. pp. 115–117. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4..

The club celebrated its centenary in 2011.[7] Dean Bell was named as the Manukau Player of the Century.[8] Given the club moved to the rugby union code in 1924 and wasn't re-established as a league club until 1932 the 2020 season would mark the 100th year of the club playing rugby league.

Players who have played for Manukau include George Nēpia and Puti Tipene (Steve) Watene. Arthur Hardgrave was Manukau's first New Zealand representative, playing for New Zealand in Manukau's foundation year (1912). His son Roy Hardgrave later also represented New Zealand in 1928 and spent time playing for St Helen's in England.[9]

The club later had a close association with the Bell family as Dean Bell, Ian Bell and Clayton Friend all played for the club and Cameron Bell coached the club.

The following players have played for Manukau and gone on the make the New Zealand national rugby league team with the year(s):

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

• 1919 Third Grade
• 1920 Third Grade and Fifth Grade
• 1922 Second Grade knockout competition
• 1936 First Grade (Fox Memorial)
• 1941 Thistle Cup (highest point scorers in the 2nd round)
• 1942 First Grade (Fox Memorial)
• 1943 First Grade (Fox Memorial)

The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the first grade championship, Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield and Stormont Shield matches which involved all first grade sides. It does not include additional one off type matches such as those against non-Auckland teams or charity matches.