2008 New Zealand rugby league season

Bartercard Premiership 2008
Bartercard Premiership 2008
League	Bartercard Premiership
Sport	Rugby league
Number of teams	6
TV partner(s)	Māori Television
Major Premiership	Auckland
Minor Premiership	Canterbury
NZRL seasons
	← 2007 2009 →

2008 New Zealand rugby league season
2008 New Zealand rugby league season
Seasons
	← 2007 2009 →

The 2008 New Zealand rugby league season was the 101st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Auckland won the title by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 38–18 in the Grand Final.

International competitions

The New Zealand national rugby league team played two matches in New Zealand in 2008 as build up to the World Cup. As the All Golds they played a match against the New Zealand Māori in New Plymouth. They also defeated Tonga in a test match in Auckland. The Kiwis went on to win the World Cup for the first time, defeating Australia 34 - 20 in the Final. Coached by Stephen Kearney the World Cup squad was captain Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, David Fa'alogo, Nathan Fien, Dene Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Krisnan Inu, David Kidwell, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Jason Nightingale, Sam Perrett, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Setaimata Sa, Jeremy Smith, Evarn Tuimavave and Manu Vatuvei.

12 October 2008

All Golds	44 – 10	Māori
Try: Vatuvei (2) Hohaia (2) Sa Inu Perrett Wiki Goal: Luke (3) Inu (2) Swann	(report)^{[permanent dead link‍]}	Try: Kenny-Dowall Nightingale Goal: Locke

Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Referee: Leon Williamson

18 October 2008

New Zealand	56 – 8	Tonga
Try: Ropati (3) Nightingale (2) Marshall (2) Sa Leuluai Mannering Goal: Inu (6) Matai (2)	(report)	Try: Vuna Leo-Latu

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Referee: Jason Robinson

Earlier in the year New Zealand had lost 12-28 to Australia. Roy Asotasi, Iosia Soliola, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank Pritchard and Brent Webb played in this match but were not included in the World Cup squad.

As part of the Festival of World Cups New Zealand sent teams to the University Rugby League World Cup, International Police Rugby League World Cup, Women's Rugby League World Cup and Defence Forces World Cup. New Zealand, coached by Frank Endacott, won the Women's World Cup while the New Zealand Police lost the final of the Police World Cup.

The New Zealand Māori side were coached by Luke Goodwin with Richie Blackmore and Chris Anderson providing assistance.^[1] The squad to face the All Golds was Kevin Locke, Jordan Rapana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Wairangi Koopu, Jason Nightingale, Arana Taumata, Rangi Chase, Sam McKendry, Ben Ellis, Weller Hauraki, Bronson Harrison, Anthony Cherrington, Lee Te Maari, Jared Kahu, Joseph Cahill, Chance Bunce, James Tamou and Kevin Proctor.^[2] Bronx Goodwin, Chase Stanley, Craig Smith, Charlie Herekotukutuku and Karl Johnson were added to the team for the World Cup opening match against the Indigenous Dreamtime Team.

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

The New Zealand Rugby League ruled that the Rugby League Cup would be defended in all Bartercard Premiership matches, home and away. The Cup changed hands in the Final, when Auckland defeated the holders, Canterbury, 38–18.^[3]

Bartercard Premiership

The 2008 season was the inaugural Bartercard Premiership. It replaced the Bartercard Cup as the top division of rugby league in New Zealand.

Teams

Canterbury were co-coached by Brent Stuart and Dave Perkins with Phil Prescott as the director of coaching. Mike Dorreen and Logan Edwards were the co-coached of the age group side.^[4]

Auckland were coached by Sam Panapa and included Pita Godinet, Jeremiah Pai and Wayne McDade.^[3]

Bay of Plenty were coached by Graham Lowe.^[5]

Season standings

Province	Pl	W	D	L	For	Ag	P/D	Pts
Canterbury	5	5	0	0	242	96	146	10
Auckland	5	3	1	1	204	92	112	7
Waikato	5	3	0	2	110	138	-28	6
Wellington	5	2	1	2	146	138	8	5
Bay of Plenty	5	1	0	4	114	186	-72	2
Taranaki	5	0	0	5	96	262	-166	0

Fixtures and results

Round 1

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Auckland	70-0	Bay of Plenty	24 August 2008	Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Wellington	18-38	Canterbury	24 August 2008	Porirua Park, Porirua
Taranaki	22-24	Waikato	24 August 2008	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth

Round 2

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Canterbury	94-10	Taranaki	30 August 2008	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Waikato	30-24	Bay of Plenty	31 August 2008	Davies Park, Huntly
Wellington	30-30	Auckland	31 August 2008	Porirua Park, Porirua

Round 3

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Canterbury	34 - 22	Bay of Plenty	6 September 2008	Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Wellington	56 - 20	Taranaki	7 September 2008	Porirua Park, Porirua
Waikato	10 - 34	Auckland	8 September 2008	Resthills Park, Hamilton

Round 4

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Waikato	30 - 18	Wellington	13 September 2008	Davies Park, Huntly
Bay of Plenty	48 - 28	Taranaki	13 September 2008	Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Canterbury	36 - 30	Auckland	14 September 2008	Rugby League Park, Christchurch

Round 5

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Bay of Plenty	20 - 24	Wellington	20 September 2008	Puketawhero Park, Rotorua
Taranaki	16 - 40	Auckland	20 September 2008	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
Canterbury	40 - 16	Waikato	21 September 2008	Rugby League Park, Christchurch

Grand final

Home	Score	Away	Match Information
Home	Score	Away	Date	Venue
Canterbury	18 - 38	Auckland	28 September 2008	Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland

Tries (Auckland)	3: Sione Tongia
	1: Savinata Hafoka, Sunita Laiseni, Raymond Ioane, Wayne McDade, and Pita Godinet
Tries (Canterbury)	2: Nathan Sherlock
	1: Chris Bamford
Goals (Auckland)	2: Jeremiah Pai
	1: William Heta
Goals (Canterbury)	3: Scott Hurrell
Broadcast	Māori Television

Australian competitions

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 8th out of 16 teams before winning in the Qualifying and Semi finals before losing to eventual premiers Manly.

The Junior Warriors finished third in the Toyota Cup, making the finals before losing to the Brisbane Broncos in a Preliminary Final.

The Auckland Vulcans also competed in the NSW Cup.

Club competitions

Auckland

The Mt Albert Lions won the Fox Memorial, defeating Otahuhu 24–22 in the final. The Otahuhu Leopards won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership) while Richmond won the Stormont Shield. Richmond also won the Sharman Cup (second division) while the New Lynn Stags won the Pheland Shield (third division).

Mt Albert were coached by Brent Gemmell and included Steve Buckingham, Sala Fa'alogo, Paul and David Fisiiahi, Anthony Swann and Matthew Sturm.^[6]

Wellington

The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.^[7]

Canterbury

Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

Other Competitions

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club defeated Hamilton City Tigers to win the Waikato Rugby League competition.^[8]

Taniwharau defeated Otumotai to win the WaiCoa Bay championship.^[9]

Pacific won the Baywide premier competition.^[10] This was a joint competition run by the Coastline and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's.^[11]

References

^ Big name help for All Golds, Māori TVNZ, 25 September 2008
^ NZ Māori loaded with experience TVNZ, 3 October 2008
^ ^a ^b Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.p.350-357.
^ Bulls score Prescott ^{[dead link‍]} The Press, 13 May 2008
^ Bay league draw criticised Daily Post, 9 September 2008
^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.350.
^ Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions The Press, 4 November 2011
^ Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat ^{[dead link‍]} Waikato Times, 19 July 2010
^ It's all gold for champions Taniwharau, i.stuff.co.nz, 31 January 2009
^ Falcons make Bay league debut The Daily Post, 3 April 2009
^ First game back close for centre The Daily Post, 2 June 2008

External links

[1] Big name help for All Golds, Māori TVNZ, 25 September 2008

[2] NZ Māori loaded with experience TVNZ, 3 October 2008

[akl100-3] Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.p.350-357.

[4] Bulls score Prescott ^{[dead link‍]} The Press, 13 May 2008

[5] Bay league draw criticised Daily Post, 9 September 2008

[6] Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.350.

[7] Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions The Press, 4 November 2011

[8] Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat ^{[dead link‍]} Waikato Times, 19 July 2010

[9] It's all gold for champions Taniwharau, i.stuff.co.nz, 31 January 2009

[10] Falcons make Bay league debut The Daily Post, 3 April 2009

[11] First game back close for centre The Daily Post, 2 June 2008

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v t e Rugby league in New Zealand
Federations	New Zealand Rugby League
Representative teams	Men's ("Kiwis") Women's ("Kiwi Ferns") Junior Māori Residents Wheelchair ("Wheel Kiwis")
New Zealand Kiwis	Players Coaches
Zones	Northern Auckland Counties-Manukau Upper Central Mid-Central Wellington Southern
Districts	Auckland (team) Bay of Plenty (team) Canterbury (team) Coastline (team) Gisborne Tairawhiti (team) Manawatu (team) Northland (team) Otago (team) Southland (team) Hawke's Bay (team) Taranaki (team) Tasman (team) Waikato (team) Wellington (team) West Coast (team)
Australian competition teams	New Zealand Warriors (NRL) Auckland Vulcans (defunct) Auckland Lions (defunct)
Competitions	NZRL Men's National Competition NZRL Women's National Tournament Rugby League Cup Bartercard Premiership (defunct) Bartercard Cup (defunct) Lion Red Cup (defunct)
New Zealand domestic seasons	1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

v t e Bartercard Premiership
Seasons	2008 (Auckland) 2009 (Canterbury)
Clubs	Auckland Bay of Plenty Canterbury Taranaki Waikato Wellington