2001 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2001 New Zealand rugby league season was the 94th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Hibiscus Coast Raiders won the Cup by defeating the Eastern Tornadoes 28-18 in the Grand Final.

International competitions

The New Zealand national rugby league team played a one off test match against France and defeated them 36-0 at Ericsson Stadium. The Kiwis then played Australia at the new Westpac Stadium in Wellington and lost 28-10. New Zealand were coached by Gary Freeman.

The French team also played three matches against regional selections; Northern Districts, Central Districts and the South Island.[1] France won all three of these games, defeating the South Island 24-11 at Lancaster Park,[2][3] Central Districts 28-26 at the Palmerston North Showgrounds and Northern Districts 40-16 in Huntly. Jeff Whittaker coached the South Island team that featured mainly Canterbury Bulls players.[4] The team was captained by Shane Beyers and included Aaron Whittaker.[5] Northern Districts included Lance Hohaia and Hare Te Rangi.[6][7]

The Junior Kiwis included Vince Mellars, Richard Utai and Robert Tanielu.[8]

Auckland conducted a two match trip to Sydney in September 2001.[9] Auckland defeated Northern Māori 48-6 before losing to Sydney Metropolitan 34-12. They were coached by Stan Martin and included Daniel Floyd, Karl Te Mata, Tyrone Pau, Jeremy Smith, Joe Galuvao, Jason Temu, Hare Te Rangi and Cliff Beverley.

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

Tasman defeated Coastline in Tauranga to win the Rugby League Cup.[10]

Bartercard Cup

The 2001 Bartercard Cup was the second season of the Bartercard Cup competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. After losing every match, the Ngongotaha Chiefs withdrew from the competition after round sixteen. All teams scheduled to play them after this were awarded two points for a bye. The Auckland teams were again dominant with only defending champions, the Canterbury Bulls, making the finals from outside of Auckland.

The Teams

Seasons Standings

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
Hibiscus Coast Raiders 211614174242531735
Eastern Tornadoes 211335164149015131
Canterbury Bulls 221417088248939329
Otahuhu Leopards 221417069152816329
Manurewa Marlins 221318065751314427
Wainuiomata Lions 221111006886286023
Northcote Tigers 211011015665085823
Marist Richmond Brothers 21821116755958020
Glenora Bears 2290130630675-4518
Mt Albert Lions 2180131414630-21618
Porirua Pumas 2141161421808-38711
Ngongotaha Chiefs 16001602821000-7180

The Playoffs

 
  Qualifying finals Semi finals Preliminary final Grand Final
                                     
1 Hibiscus Coast 48  
    Canterbury Bulls 16         Hibiscus Coast 28
2 Eastern Tornadoes 10     Canterbury Bulls 30   Eastern Tornadoes 18
3 Canterbury Bulls 12       Eastern Tornadoes 38  
Eastern Tornadoes 24
4 Otahuhu Leopards 42   Manurewa Marlins 20  
5 Manurewa Marlins 43
Match Winner Loser
Elimination Play-offManurewa Marlins43Otahuhu Leopards42
Preliminary SemifinalCanterbury Bulls12Eastern Tornadoes10
Elimination SemifinalEastern Tornadoes24Manurewa Marlins20
Qualification SemifinalHibiscus Coast Raiders48Canterbury Bulls16
Preliminary FinalEastern Tornadoes38Canterbury Bulls30
Grand Final
TeamHalf-timeTotal
Hibiscus Coast Raiders1228
Eastern Tornadoes1818

Jeremy Smith (Hibiscus Coast) was man of the match.[9]

Awards

  • Captain of the Year: Richard White (Hibiscus Coast)[9]
  • Best and Fairest: Daniel Floyd (Hibiscus Coast)
  • Coach of the Year: Brian McClennan (Hibiscus Coast)
  • Most Points: Daniel Floyd (308; Hibiscus Coast)[9]
  • Most Tries: Daniel Floyd (25; Hibiscus Coast)
  • Referee of the Year: Andy Cook (Auckland)

North Island Super Seven Series

A North Island Super Seven Series was held between seven district sides in the North Island. This competition included Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Coastline-Bay of Plenty Mariners, Taranaki, Manawatu and Wellington.[27][28][29] Taranaki and Wellington made the final after defeating Manawatu and Auckland respectively in the semi-finals.[30] Wellington won the competition, defeating Taranaki 30-24.[9]

The Coastline Mariners were coached by Tony Gordon and included Andrew Leota.[31]

Mainland Super 10

The second Mainland Super 10 competition was held between Canterbury Rugby League clubs and the South Island provincial teams. The teams involved included the Tasman Orcas (coached by Paul Bergman), Otago Raiders, Southland Rams and seven clubs from Canterbury: the Haswell Hornets, Hornby Panthers, Eastern Sea Eagles, Papanui Tigers, Riccarton Knights, Sydenham Swans and the Linwood Kews. The West Coast Chargers withdrew after the competition was moved to the first half of the season.[32]

The Papanui Tigers were the minor premiers while defending champions Tasman finished fifth.[33][34] The final was contested between the Linwood Keas and the Eastern Suburbs Sea Eagles.[35]

Australian competitions

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 8th out of 14 teams, making the finals for the first time. In the Qualifying Final they were thrashed 56-12 by the minor premiers, the Parramatta Eels.

Club competitions

Auckland

The Northcote Tigers won the Fox Memorial trophy, defeating Richmond 30-29 in the grand final.[9] Richmond had earlier won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership). The grand final was played at 11:50am before the Bartercard Cup grand final at Carlaw Park but still attracted 6,000 fans.

Hutch Maiava played for the Point Chevalier Pirates while Matthew Tuisamoa and Marcus Perenara played for the Richmond Bulldogs.[36]

Wellington

Robert Piva played for the Kapati Coast Bears while Vince Mellars played for the Petone Panthers. Billy Weepu and John Lomax represented the Wainuiomata Lions.[37]

Canterbury

Hornby won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

Other Competitions

The Hamilton City Tigers won the Waikato Rugby League minor premiership.[38] Hukanui defeated Turangawaewae in the grand final.

The Waitara Bears defeated Marist 14-10 in the Taranaki Rugby League grand final.[39]

References

  1. 2001 France tour of New Zealand rugbyleague.co.nz
  2. French show grit but not enough grunt The Press, 4 June 2001
  3. French open with nailbiter Sunday Star-Times, 3 June 2001
  4. Stokes overlooked for SI coaching job The Press, 11 May 2001
  5. Teams named for French opener AAP Sports News, 1 June 2001
  6. Waikato five to play France Waikato Times, 6 June 2001
  7. Jessup, Peter (13 June 2001). "Battle-weary French maintain hectic schedule". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  8. Sydenham old boy in The Press, 3 July 2001
  9. Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.330.
  10. Orcas fired up to retain league cup The Nelson Mail, 7 September 2002
  11. Round 7 Bartercard Cup teams rleague.com, 26 April 2001
  12. Batercard Cup Round 21 Preview rleague.com, 10 August 2001
  13. Bears' migration adds some bite to clash New Zealand Herald, 8 March 2001
  14. Round 7 Bartercard Cup Teams rleague.com, 26 April 2002
  15. Jessup, Peter (1 September 2001). "Coaches clash over week off". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  16. Beverley gives Bears more bite The Press, 16 June 2001
  17. Bartercard Cup Round 14 Teams rleague.com, 22 June 2001
  18. Warriors' call-up could help Bulls The Press, 21 April 2001
  19. Leopards lose Smith's services The Press, 31 March 2001
  20. Twin Tornadoes cause chaos as they blow past opponents Sunday Star-Times, 16 September 2001
  21. Bulls brace for potent tornado The Press, 5 May 2001
  22. Bulls win Warrior challenge against Marlins The Press, 9 July 2001
  23. Coaching swoop for Falcons The Evening Standard, 7 November 2001
  24. Mamoe makes forward move The Press, 30 June 2001
  25. Brash Bulls to lock horns with Brothers The Press, 14 July 2001
  26. Stokes stands by his men The Press, 5 April 2001
  27. Hemopo back in to face Coastline-Bay Waikato Times, 30 June 2001
  28. Waikato pair set for 50th rep match Waikato Times, 28 July 2001
  29. Sharks ride Mustangs into Super 7 home final Daily News, 8 October 2001
  30. Double incentive for Sharks to net win Daily News, 13 October 2001
  31. "Orcas give Mariners incentive for Challenge Cup". The New Zealand Herald. 22 August 2001. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  32. West Coast league team pulls out The Press, 9 March 2001
  33. Tigers claw way to top finals berth The Press, 21 May 2001
  34. Sponsorship sought for Orcas The Nelson Mail, 5 June 2001
  35. Late field goals send club title east The Press, 28 May 2001
  36. ARL results for June 16 Archived 26 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com
  37. Wellington League News Aug 18-20 rleague.com, 20 August 2001
  38. City Tigers guaranteed top spot with lives to spare heading into league finals Waikato Times, 3 August 2001
  39. Taranaki Grand Final Countdown Archived 15 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine rleague.com, 11 July 2003
Preceded by
2000 Bartercard Cup
Bartercard Cup
2001
Succeeded by
2002 Bartercard Cup
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