1990 New Zealand rugby league season

The 1990 New Zealand rugby league season was the 83rd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Provincial Competition that was won by Auckland.

International competitions

The New Zealand national rugby league team played three matches against Great Britain, two Tests against Papua New Guinea and a Sesquicentennial Test against Australia. They lost the series to Great Britain 2–1 and lost to Australia but won the series in Papua New Guinea 2–0.

Before the Lions arrived a Probables v Possibles trial match was played. The Probables won the match 68–14. The Lions then arrived after five matches in Papua New Guinea and opened the tour with a 23–22 victory over a Presidents XIII. Great Britain then lost to

Coached by Bob Bailey and managed by Ray Haffenden, the New Zealand Kiwis squad for the Great Britain series was: Darrell Williams, Sam Panapa, Kevin Iro, Tony Kemp, Tony Iro, Dean Clark, Gary Freeman, Peter Brown, Duane Mann, Brent Todd, Tawera Nikau, Mark Horo, captain Hugh McGahan, Morvin Edwards, Mark Nixon, George Mann, Matthew Ridge and Dean Lonergan.

The Kiwis then travelled to Papua New Guinea for two Test matches. A full seven match tour had initially been scheduled but was cancelled by the NZRL after the International Board ruled that Australian based played only had to be released for the Test matches.

The Kiwis then hosted the Australian Kangaroos. The squad was Ridge, Edwards, Watson, Williams, Panapa, Kelly Shelford, Freeman, Brown, Mann, Todd, Longergan, Nikau and captain McGahan. The substitutes, Paddy Tuimavave, Mark Nixon, Mark Horo and George Mann were all unused. The Test was played at Athletic Park and featured the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as the half time entertainment. Australia won the match 24–6 with Sam Panapa scoring New Zealand's only try and Matthew Ridge converting it. Captain Hugh McGahan announced his retirement from international football after the match.

The

Eight domestic

Auckland, who had held the Rugby League Cup since 1986, lost the trophy to Canterbury when they lost 25–22 at the Showgrounds on 29 April. Wellington then defeated Canterbury 25–20 in Christchurch to claim the trophy. They defended it once in the remainder of the season, defeating the Bay of Plenty 70–14.^[4]

National Provincial Competition

First Division

Auckland won the competition, despite losing to Canterbury 25–22 in Christchurch.^[5] Auckland won its other five games, defeating Wellington 24–4 and 38–18, Bay of Plenty 62–8 and 64–0 and Canterbury 40–18. Wellington defeated Canterbury 42–2.

• Auckland were coached by Graham Mattson and included Peter Brown, Iva and Peter Ropati, Brian McClennan, Sam Panapa, Phil Bancroft, Tawera Nikau, Paddy and Tony Tuimavave, Se'e Solomona, Francis Leota, Mike Patton, George Mann, Richard Blackmore, Dean Clark and Hitro Okesene.^[6]
• The Bay of Plenty included Russell Stewart and Paul Nahu.
• Dave Ewe, Sonny Whakarau, Robert Piva, John Lomax, Mark Woods, Esene Faimalo, Peter Edwards, Darren Rameka, Denvour Johnston
  , Geoffery Tangira, Paul Jones, Rangi Bell and Tom Malu.
• Canterbury were coached by Frank Endacott and included Simon Angell, Riki Cowan, Mike Dorreen, Logan Edwards, Mark Nixon, Brent Stuart, Whetu Taewa, captain Wayne Wallace, Justin Wallace, Andrew Vincent and Aaron Whittaker.

Second Division

Northern Zone

• Northland included Jason Mackie.
• Waikato included Tukere Barlow. The Waikato team also toured the South Island during Easter weekend, playing Canterbury and the West Coast.
• For the Taranaki Invitation side that played Great Britain Charlie McAlister returned from England. The side also included Dave Watson, Robert Piva and Barry Harvey.

Central Zone

• On 25 April, before the Zone competition,
  NSWRL Premiership
  players.
• Peter Edwards played for the Wellington Emerging Players.

Southern Zone

• The Canterbury Emerging Players side who won the title included Andrew Vincent and Blair Harding.
• Wayne Dwyer played for the West Coast.

National Club Competition

The national club competition, called the Lion Red League Nationals for sponsorship reasons, was won by the Wainuiomata Lions who defeated the Otahuhu Leopards 34–12 to win the National Club Final at Carlaw Park.

Club competitions

Auckland

Upper Hutt defeated the Wainuiomata Lions 23–12 to win the Wellington Rugby League's Appleton Shield.

Hornby won a record 18th Canterbury Rugby League title when it defeated Addington 24–14 to lift the Pat Smith Challenge Trophy in the club's 75th year.

Hornby also won the Thacker Shield for Canterbury, defeating Marist.

Simon Angell, Mark Nixon and Blair Harding played for Hornby. Wayne Wallace was Hornby's player-coach. Logan Edwards played for Marist while Mike Dorreen and Brent Stuart played for Addington. Gordon Smith was Halswell's player-coach. Halswell also included Aaron Whittaker.

Other Competitions

The Takahiwai Warriors, who included Jason Mackie, won the Northland Rugby League title, defeating the Moerewa Tigers 34–20 in the final. The Warriors then defeated the Far North's Te Paatu Warriors in a champion of champions play off.

Turangawaewae defeated Ngaruawahia 13–12 to win the Waikato Rugby League grand final. Tukere Barlow played for the Hamilton City Tigers. The Midland and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's merged before the season began and the clubs competed in a single competition. The Ngongotaha Chiefs, who included Russell Stewart, won the newly combined competition, defeating Pikiao 33–6. The Repongaere Eels defeated the Kaiti Devils 24–4 in the Gisborne-East Coast grand final. The Gisborne-East Coast under 13 representative team included Rico Gear.^[8]

The Waitara Bears won the Taranaki Rugby League's Lile Shield, being taken to extra time by the Western Suburbs Tigers before winning 24–16. Kia Ora dominated the Manawatu Rugby League season, winning the grand final 26–0 over Wanganui.

Marist won the West Coast Rugby League title, defeating Suburbs 9–4 in the grand final. Marist were coached by Tony Coll and led by Wayne Dwyer. The West Coast Rugby League also ran a Women's competition for the first time, which was also won by the Marist club.

The University Blue side won the Otago Rugby League title while He Tauaa won its fifth Southland Rugby League title, defeating the Wakatipu Giants 37–12.

References