Taniwharau Rugby League Club
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Colours | Green and Gold |
| Founded | 1944 |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
|
| Coach |
Premier Coach: Harley Raihe Premier Reserve Coach: Chris Fox |
| Competition | Waikato Rugby League and WaiCoa Competition |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 14 |
| Waicoa Bay Premierships | 2002, 2007 |
The Taniwharau Rugby League Club is a rugby league club from Huntly, New Zealand. They compete in the Waikato Rugby League and WaiCoa club competitions. The club plays in a green and gold strip and are based at Waahi Pa Huntly.
History
Taniwharau, founded in 1944 by Tonga Mahuta, is the most successful club in Huntly, a town which once boasted four rugby league clubs, the Rangiriri Eels, Huntly South, Huntly United and Taniwharau.
The club won 11 straight Waikato premierships during the 1970-80's. Taniwharau also won the inaugural Waicoa Bay championship in 2002 and again in 2007 a year in which they went through the season unbeaten; a feat that has never been achieved before at the Waikato Rugby League Premier Level. Taniwharau were able to win the reformed Waikato Rugby League title in 2008 and 2009.[1][2]
Taniwharau was arguably the most successful club in the Waikato in the 2013 season with 5 teams in 7 Grand Finals. On 10 August 2013 the Taniwharau Rugby League Club fielded the 13s, 14s, 18s, Reserves and Premier grades on Grand Final day with only the 13s grade going down to Te Iti Rearea. The 14s and 18s grade saw the Taniwharau boys come up against the family team from the Turangawaewae Rugby League Club. The 14s having just beaten Turangawaewae 28-26 and the 18s comfortably and convincingly winning their game 22-10 keeping Turangawaewae scoreless in the second half. The Reserves and Premiers both had the challenge of playing Hamilton City Tigers in their finals with both games going right down to the last minute with Taniwharau snatching both games by 2 points - 16-14 in the Reserves grade and 18-16 in the Premier grade.
Current players
2017 Premier Players: Harley Raihe (COACH)
Joel Thompson (Captain), Pawhare Brown (Vice Captain) Damien Darlington, Ranginui Taoho, Waka Tai-Rakena, Teina Ngahiwi, Duane Sykes, Darren Kingi, Mahinga Rangi, Koroheke Moana-Taniwha, Junior Afualo, Dana Ratu, Reihana Tai-Rakena, Jason Watkins, Tamihana Morunga, Russell Leef, Steven Kingi, Epiha Kete, Malcolme Noda, Ruben Fourie, Taane Paki, Codie Christensen
2017 Premier Reserve Players: Chris Fox (COACH)
Tame Moana (Captain), Tarawhiti Paki (Vice Captain) Chase Kennedy, Utah Wilson, Ranginui Rikirangi-Thomas, Taumata Soloman, Anthony Goff, Kena Rangi, Pounamu Poihipi, Tuhoro Paki, Tahauriki Paki, Te Kanohi Kuka, Jaedyn Ardern, Ora Muru, Brendan Irvine, Clifford Merriman, Lloyd Ricketts, Lionel Maxwell-Wairau, Cody McKinnon, Ohomairangi Tawha-Rangi, Heihoa Raihe, Te Hokioi Maipi, Jason Thompson, Heywood Kuka, Te Orumene Mohi-Te Wara, Grant Spice, E.J Nathan, Punakai Waikai
Notable past & present players
- Lance Hohaia (New Zealand International)[3]
- Wairangi Koopu (New Zealand international)
- Herewini Rangi (New Zealand Warriors player)
- Andy Berryman (New Zealand international)
- Steve Berryman (Cook Islands international)
- Don Parkinson (New Zealand international)
- Rick Muru (New Zealand international)
References
- ↑ "It's all gold for champions Taniwharau". Waikato Times. 12 August 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ↑ Devonshire, John (10 August 2009). "For Taniwharau it's a three-peat". Waikato Times. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
- ↑ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. p. 83. ISBN 9781869693312.