Words by NZ Police Rugby League
An outstanding day of rugby league and community connection took place on Wednesday 27 May at Otahuhu Rugby League Club, truly living up to the event’s name, Hui Taurima o Riki – Festival of Rugby League.
The day kicked off with the Masters Station of Origin clash, with Counties Manukau securing a hard-fought victory over Auckland. The match showcased that the “OGs” still possess plenty of skill and passion for the game, even if the hard knocks are felt a little more after full-time. It was an entertaining contest, with Jordan Brown (Counties Manukau) and Christian Iogha (Auckland) named Players of the Day.
The Masters fixture was a fitting way to open the festival and highlighted the rich history of the game within NZ Police. Mark Clayton, Chairman – NZ Police Rugby League reflected, “With our Masters supporting the day, we are incredibly proud to maintain the whakapapa of NZ Police Rugby League, which began several decades ago.”
The second fixture was the Wāhine match, a historic occasion as the first-ever internal NZ Police women’s rugby league game. The players delivered a wholehearted performance, featuring powerful defence and impressive attacking flair that thrilled spectators throughout. The Southerners claimed the inaugural silverware with a 28-12 victory. Eden Cherrington (Northland) and Kaci James (Bay of Plenty) were recognised as their teams’ Players of the Day.
The final match of the day was the traditional Station of Origin encounter, with Counties Manukau taking on Auckland/Waitematā for the Kali Cup. The trophy is named in honour of Constable Kali Fungavaka, who was tragically killed in Tonga in 2012 and was a driving force behind Police Rugby League in the years leading up to his passing.The match featured some massive hits and no shortage of skill from either side, creating plenty of highlight-reel moments.
The match featured some massive hits and no shortage of skill from either side, creating plenty of highlight-reel moments. Counties Manukau ultimately prevailed 44-8, although the scoreline did not fully reflect the competitiveness of the contest enjoyed by those in attendance. Outstanding performances came from Tala Teisi (Otahuhu), Barrie Pine (Counties Manukau DPU), and Simon Luafalealo (Henderson), while Danya Aleni (Counties Manukau DPU) and Sione Paea (Auckland PSU) were named Players of the Day. The match was recorded and will be available to view on YouTube in the coming weeks.
The event received support from the Police Preparation Course at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa, NZ Police Recruitment, Otahuhu Rugby League Club, Auckland Rugby League and Counties Manukau Rugby League. A huge thank you goes to all those who contributed to the success of the day, including referees, coaches, volunteers, committee members and support staff.
A significant mention was also given to Police Sport for their continued contribution and support to the code. Clayton added “We are always incredibly grateful to Police Sport for their continued support of Police Rugby League – they have created a foundation for us to be able to build our sport upon.”
It was also a privilege to welcome Commissioner Richard Chambers, Auckland Rugby League CEO Duane Mann and Warriors NRLW Head Coach Ronald Griffiths, who were on hand to witness the action and celebrations throughout the day.
Attention now turns to the selection of the NZ Police Rugby League touring squads, with both the men’s and women’s teams set to be named in the coming weeks. The squads will travel to the Gold Coast in October to compete in a tri-series against the Australian Police and Fijian Police men’s and women’s teams. Given the talent and depth on display throughout the day, selectors will have no easy task ahead of them, with a number of standout performances making the selection process highly competitive.
Attention now turns to the selection of the NZ Police Rugby League touring squads, with both the men’s and women’s teams set to be named in the coming weeks. The squads will travel to the Gold Coast in October to compete in a tri-series against the Australian Police and Fijian Police men’s and women’s teams. Given the talent and depth on display throughout the day, selectors will have no easy task ahead of them, with a number of standout performances making the selection process competitive.
The strength of competition and quality displayed across all three matches highlighted the continued growth of Police Rugby League and provided selectors with plenty to consider ahead of the October campaign. The depth of talent on show was a testament to the commitment of players and the ongoing development of the game throughout NZ Police.