2005 New Zealand rugby league season

2005 New Zealand rugby league season
Seasons
←  2004 2006  →

The 2005 New Zealand rugby league season was the 98th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the sixth season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mt Albert Lions won the Cup by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 24–22 in the Grand Final.

International competitions

See also: List of New Zealand Kiwis matches and 2005 New Zealand rugby league tour of Great Britain and France

The New Zealand national rugby league team played Australia at Auckland's Ericsson Stadium as part of the Tri-Nations. New Zealand lost this match 26-28 but went on to win the tournament, defeating Australia 24–0 in the final at Elland Road. Earlier in the year New Zealand had lost the ANZAC Test, 16–32. Coached by Brian McClennan, for the Tri-Nations New Zealand included; Louis Anderson, Roy Asotasi, Nathan Cayless, David Faiumu, Awen Guttenbeil, Shontayne Hape, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, David Kidwell, Ali Lauiti'iti, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Frank Pritchard, Tony Puletua, Paul Rauhihi, David Solomona, Motu Tony, Clinton Toopi, Nigel Vagana, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb, Jake Webster, Paul Whatuira, Bronson Harrison and captain Ruben Wiki. Jerome Ropati, Matt Utai, Benji Marshall, Thomas Leuluai, Wairangi Koopu, Dene Halatau and Jamahl Lolesi played in the ANZAC Test but did not tour. Daniel Anderson coached the Kiwis in the ANZAC Test before resigning in June and being replaced by McClennan.

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21 October 2005

Australia	28–26	New Zealand

Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 15,400 [1]

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In February a New Zealand Residents team competed in the St Marys Invitational Sevens tournament in Sydney. The Team included Paul Atkins and Charlie Herekotukutuku ^[2] A full Residents team then played against a New South Wales Country side and a Jim Beam Cup selection in October. ^[3] The team was coached by Phil Prescott and included Shane Beyers and Corey Lawrie.

The New Zealand Māori side hosted the Cook Islands in October, the three match series was drawn 1-all and broadcast live on Māori Television. ^[4] The New Zealand Māori were coached by Tawera Nikau while Kevin Iro coached the Cook Islands. ^[5] The New Zealand Māori included Weller Hauraki, Kaine Manihera, Herewini Rangi and Aaron Heremaia while Cook Islands team included George Tuakura and Marty Mitchell.

New Zealand hosted the 2005 Women's Rugby League World Cup. The Kiwi Ferns won the tournament, defeating the New Zealand Māori side in the final.

National competitions

Bartercard Cup

The 2005 Bartercard Cup was the sixth season of the Bartercard Cup competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Mount Albert Lions claimed their third and final premiership, as in 2006 they were replaced by the Auckland Lions.

The Teams

• Hibiscus Coast were coached by Tony Benson and included Odell Manuel. ^[6]
• North Harbour were coached by Karl Benson and Ken McIntosh. During a mid-season training session New Zealand A prop Ben Valeni collapsed and died from a heart attack. ^[7] Gene Ngamu made a mid-season come back for the Tigers. ^[8] The team included Daniel Vasau. ^[6]
• Marist Richmond were coached by Bernie Perenara and included Misi Taulapapa.
• Mt Albert were coached by Brian McClennan and included Fabian Soutar, Phillip Shead, Andreas Bauer, Paul Fisiiahi and Steve Buckingham. During the season forward Paulo Teniseli died suddenly. ^[9]
• Otahuhu-Ellerslie included Toshio Laiseni, Cooper Vuna, Paul Atkins, Bryan Henare and George Tuakura. ^{[6] [10]}
• Waicoa Bay were coached by Tawera Nikau. ^[11]
• Central were coached by David Lomax and included Sonny Whakarau in his final year for the side. ^{[11] [12]}
• Wellington were coached by Paul Bergman . ^[11]
• Canterbury were coached by Phil Prescott with Brent Stuart the assistant coach. ^[13] The squad included Kaine Manihera, Shane Beyers, Lewis Brown, Charlie Herekotukutuku and Corey Lawrie. ^{[2] [14] [15]} During the season the Bulls played a home game at Wingham Park on the West Coast, the first game to be played outside of Christchurch. ^[16] During the season Beyers became only the second player to play 100 Bartercard Cup matches. ^[17]

Seasons Standings

Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Mt Albert Lions	16	12	0	4	570	326	244	24
Canterbury Bulls	16	11	0	5	543	388	155	22
Counties Manukau Jetz	16	11	0	5	445	379	66	22
North Harbour Tigers	16	10	0	6	508	323	185	20
Hibiscus Coast Raiders	16	9	2	5	512	362	150	20
Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards	16	9	0	7	442	412	30	18
Marist Richmond Brothers	16	8	2	6	399	387	12	18
Wellington Franchise	16	5	3	8	418	459	-41	13
Central Falcons	16	4	3	9	299	531	-232	11
Glenora Bears	16	4	1	11	388	486	-98	9
Eastern Tornadoes	16	3	1	12	339	558	-219	7
Waicoa Bay Stallions	16	3	0	13	368	620	-252	6

The Playoffs

	Qualifying and elimination finals					Semi-finals					Preliminary final					Grand final
						1	Mt Albert Lions	24								Canterbury Bulls		22
							Canterbury Bulls	34								Mt Albert Lions		24
	2	Canterbury Bulls	36								Mt Albert Lions		39
	3	Counties Manukau	18								Counties Manukau		22
						Counties Manukau		32
						North Harbour Tigers		30
	4	North Harbour Tigers	30
	5	Hibiscus Coast	20

Match	Winner		Loser
Elimination Play-off	North Harbour Tigers	30	Hibiscus Coast Raiders	20
Preliminary Semifinal	Canterbury Bulls	36	Counties Manukau Jetz	18
Elimination Semifinal	Counties Manukau Jetz	32	North Harbour Tigers	30
Qualification Semifinal	Canterbury Bulls	34	Mt Albert Lions	24
Preliminary Final	Mt Albert Lions	39	Counties Manukau Jetz	22

Grand Final

The Canterbury Bulls lost the grand final when Fabian Soutar scored for Mt Albert in the last second of the match. ^[18]

Team	Total
Mt Albert Lions	24
Canterbury Bulls	22

Tries (Mt Albert Lions)	2: P.Ah Van
	1: R.Baxter, P.Fisi'iahi, F.Soutar
Tries (Canterbury Bulls)	1: J.O'Brien, T.Pelenise, D.Metcalf, C.Lawrie
Goals (Mt Albert Lions)	2: S.Buckingham
Goals (Canterbury Bulls)	3: J.O'Brien
Venue	Ericsson Stadium

Australian competitions

Main article: 2005 New Zealand Warriors season

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 11th out of 15 teams and failed to make the playoffs.

Club competitions

Auckland

See also: Auckland Rugby League club trophies

The Manurewa Marlins won the Fox Memorial trophy while the Papakura Sea Eagles won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership). Manurewa, who were coached by Rusty Matua and player-coach Richie Blackmore won the Grand Final 34–24 over Papakura. ^[19]

The Howick Hornets won the Sharman Cup (Division Two).

Wellington

Petone play North City at Rugby League Park in the Wellington Rugby League grand final. As of 2011, this is the last major game of rugby league to be played at the venue. ^[20]

Canterbury

Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

Other Competitions

Turangawaewae defeated Taniwharau to win the Waicoa Bay grand final. ^[21]

2005 was the first year of the Eastern Alliance club rugby league competition, which involved clubs from the Hawke's Bay Rugby League and Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League. ^{[22] [23]}

References

1. "Tri-Nations 2005". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 5 December 2008.
2. Bulls in NZ squad to contest league sevens ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 7 February 2005
3. 5 Bulls called for play in Aust ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 15 September 2005
4. 2005 International Rugby League Results & Tables Rugby League International Scores
5. John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 332. ISBN   978-1-86969-331-2.
6. NZ Presidents Selection / 2005 Tag International Series Archived 13 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine leagueunlimited, 24 February 2005
7. New Zealand A prop dies after collapse ^{[ dead link ]}AAP, 8 July 2005
8. Ngamu gets Tigers call-up ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 5 August 2005
9. Mount Albert spurred on by memory of team-mate ^{[ dead link ]}Sunday Star-Times, 18 September 2005
10. Bulls face Otahuhu and its hefty reinforcements ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 16 April 2005
11. New Bartercard Cup takes shape TVNZ, 26 January 2006
12. Whakarau calls it a day with Central Falcons ^{[ dead link ]}The Evening Standard, 17 August 2005
13. Character counters size ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 16 September 2005
14. Bartercard Cup debuts ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 13 April 2005
15. "From the Bulls to the Broncos". sportingpulse. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
16. Canterbury Bull's Draw ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 15 April 2005
17. Poised for 100; Shane Beyers ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 12 August 2005
18. Grand final heartbreaker Soutar's last-second try mauls Bulls ^{[ dead link ]}The Press, 19 September 2005
19. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. ISBN   978-1-86969-366-4, p. 347.
20. Kilgallon, Steve. Whatever Happened to Rugby League Park? Sunday Star-Times, 17 April 2011. p. B7
21. Grand final a fitting end for tangi teams ^{[ dead link ]}Waikato Times, 25 August 2006
22. Gisborne team humbled in horror weekend Hawke's Bay Today, 18 April 2005
23. Mustangs reveal hope for Gisborne after more mismatches Hawke's Bay Today, 2 May 2005

External links

Preceded by 2004 Bartercard Cup	Bartercard Cup 2005	Succeeded by 2006 Bartercard Cup