Taranaki Rugby League

(Redirected from Waitara Bears)

Taranaki Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. The TRL are represented by the Taranaki rugby league team. They are in the Mid-Central zone along with the Manawatu Rugby League.

Taranaki Rugby League
Club information
Nickname(s)Sharks
Wildcats
Rockets
Current details
Ground(s)

Regional senior competition

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Five Taranaki senior clubs compete in the Western Alliance, alongside five clubs from the Manawatū-Whanganui region. Taranaki clubs in the Western Alliance include:

  •   Bell Block Marist Dragons
  •   Coastal Cobras
  •   Hawera Hawks
  •   Normanby/Okaiawa Knights
  •   Waitara Bears
  •   Western Suburb Tigers

History

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The Taranaki representative team of 1914 featuring New Zealand players James Parker and Gordon Hooker.

The Taranaki Rugby League was founded with the help of Adam Lile, one of the members of the 1907-1908 "All Golds" tour.[1]

In 2008 the Taranaki Rugby League named its Team of the Century: Dave Watson; Babe Hooker; Ron McKay; Willie Talau; Ernest Buckland; Tony Kemp; Issac Luke; Bruce Gall; Howie Tamati; Wille Southorn; Graeme West; Adam Lile; Barry Harvey. Bench: Jack McLeod; Fred White; Lance Moir; Jim Parker; Charles Hunt.

Referee of the century: Graham Church. Coach of the century: Alan Marshall. Player of the century: Wille Southorn.[2]

Lion Red Cup

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Between 1994 and 1996, the Taranaki region was represented by the Taranaki Rockets in the Lion Red Cup competition. The Rockets were notable for having Willie Talau, John Farrar on their roster, both players played for their Club Western Tigers Wille who now competes in the Super League with St. Helens.and John Farrar who was selected and played for the New Zealand Maori Rugby league team against Great Britain and Papua New Guine.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
1994 22 10 1 11 481 536 -55 21 Sixth N/A
1995 22 2 1 19 339 770 -431 5 Eleventh N/A
1996 22 11 0 11 516 438 33 22 Seventh N/A

Bartercard Cup

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Taranaki was represented in the Bartercard Cup competition for two years by the Taranaki Wildcats. They finished in last place both seasons, before folding at the completion of the 2003 season.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams) Finals
2002 16 2 2 12 334 636 -302 6 Wooden Spoon (Twelve) N/A
2003 16 1 0 15 262 932 -670 2 Wooden Spoon (Twelve) N/A

National provincial competition

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Taranaki Rugby League were awarded a place in the new six-team National Provincial Competition which began in 2008. In the first season the team finished in sixth place.

Season Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Position Finals
2008 5 0 0 5 96 262 -116 0 Sixth N/A
2009 5 1 0 4 86 212 -126 2 Fifth N/A

References

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  1. ^ John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
  2. ^ "Dream team of century is named". Taranaki Daily News. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
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  • Bellblock Marist Dragons
  • [1]
  • [2]
  • Coastal Cobras
  • [3]
  • Western Suburbs Tigers
  • [4]
  • Waitara Bears
  • [5]
  • Normanby Okaiawa Knights
  • [6]
  • Hawera Hawks
  • [7]
  • Inglewood Sea Eagles
  • [8]