The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Ōtāhuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. Otahuhu has won the Fox Memorial Shield 12 times, the Rukatai Shield 16 times, Roope Rooster 12 times and the Stormont Shield 12 times.
History The Otahuhu Leopards were founded in 1911. Their first ever Kiwi was selected in 1914 when Arthur Hardgrave played against the touring England side. He had joined Otahuhu at the start of the season after the Manukau side he was with had dropped out of first grade the season prior. 1930 saw the club win its first ever senior grade trophy when their top side won the Senior B competition. In 1943, playing in blue and white, Otahuhu produced their first Fox Memorial side though they had played as a combined City Rovers-Otahuhu side in the Fox Memorial competition in 1942 due to there being so many players away at World War II. The Auckland Rugby League forced several mergers for that season. By 1945 Otahuhu had won their first Fox Memorial title. In that year the team featured four brothers Ivan, Joffre, Mick, and Norm Johnson, along with brothers Dick and Jim Fogarty (also captain), and Royce and J. Speedy. Their main point scorer was Colin Riley who was the leading goal kicker in the competition in 1944 and 1945. In 1947 their first Kiwi's were selected since Arthur Hardgrave in 1914. They were Joffre Johnson and Claude Hancox who toured Britain and France in 1947–48.
Otahuhu Leopards is where Kiwi coach Graham Lowe first made a name for himself coaching U18s in 1974 and becoming a first grade coach in 1977, winning the Fox Memorial competition in his first year. Bartercard Cup With the creation of the Bartercard Cup in 2000 by the New Zealand Rugby League the Leopards were one of the seven Auckland sides invited to join. They dominated the competition in the inaugural season, finishing up Minor Premiers before going down to the Canterbury Bulls in the Grand Final. More heartbreak was to follow for the club, losing in the Elimination Play-off and the Preliminary Final the next two seasons before missing the final series all together in 2003. Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards In 2004 the Counties Manukau Jetz replaced the Manurewa Marlins in the competition. As a result, the number of clubs involved with the Eastern Tornadoes increased and the clubs orientation shifted southwards. The Ellerslie Eagles left this franchise and joined with Otahuhu to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards. The club made the finals again, again losing in the Preliminary Final. In 2005 the club missed the finals for the second time in three seasons. Tamaki Leopards
In 2006 the number of Auckland Bartercard Cup sides was reduced from eight to five. This resulted in the Otahuhu-Ellerslie Leopards and the Eastern Tornadoes merging to form the Tamaki Leopards franchise. In 2007 the side was renamed the Tamaki Titans and finished fifth. Fox Memorial The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. Otahuhu has won the Fox Memorial Shield 12 times, the Rukatai Shield 16 times, Roope Rooster 12 times and the Stormont Shield 12 times.
As a junior, Richard Blackmore who started his rugby league at Otahuhu became head coach from 2006 to 2010 successfully taking ownership of the Stormont Shield and Roope Rooster and leading the team to a Fox Memorial grand final victory over Mt Albert in 2010.
Notable players
The Otahuhu Club has a history of skilled rugby league players.
Kiwi Captains To date the Leopards have produced five captains of the New Zealand national rugby league team:
Roy Christian (1970–1972) Mark Graham (1980–1986) Hugh McGahan (1985–1990) Richard Barnett (1999–2000) Ruben Wiki (2003–2005)
Other players
Arthur Hardgrave – debuted in 1914 Bill Cloke – debuted in 1917 Leeson Ah Mau Tawera Nikau – debuted in 1989 Manu Vatuvei – debuted in 2005 Thomas Leuluai – debuted in 2003 Clinton Toopi – debuted in 2001 Sam Kasiano – debuted in 2012 Frank Paul Nuuausala – debuted in 2009 Elijah Taylor – debuted in 2011 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – debuted in 2013 George Carmont – debuted in 2004 Cooper Vuna – debuted in 2004 Motootua Gray – debuted in 2001
Season records Otahuhu Senior Team Records (1912–1945, 1990–2007, 2022–26) The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club. SeasonGradeTeamPlayWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition (Teams)1912 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers960394514312Approx 2nd of 8 (incomplete records)1913 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers9711763739152nd of 71914 1st Grade (Myers Cup)Otahuhu Rovers911764115−5136th of 61915 1st GradeOtahuhu Rovers910848111−6326th of 61916 1st GradeOtahuhu Rovers1021762175−11355th of 61917 1st GradeOtahuhu Rovers40041255−4306th of 6 (withdrew after R4 default)1918 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers22002802841st of 5, full results unknown1919 1st GradeOtahuhu Rovers1001328−2508th of 8 (withdrew after R1)1920 4th GradeOtahuhu Rovers42113313205Approximately 4th of 10, full results unknown1921 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers42021824−64Approximately 3rd of 10, full results unknown1922 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers210215592Approximately 9th of 13, full results unknown1923 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers147063517+1814Approximately 3rd of 12, full results unknown1924 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers440060164481st of 12, lost KO final v Kingsland 3–61925 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers116148548+37132nd of 51926 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers1442868124−56105th of 61927 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers1220963123−6047th of 71928 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers12714123115+8152nd of 71929 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers1181222344+179172nd of 61930 B DivisionOtahuhu Rovers13111118381+102231st of 71931 1st Grade (Fox)Otahuhu-Ellerslie12111085237−15237th of 7 (combined side with Ellerslie)1932 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers171205895435242nd of 9 (lost final to Papakura 2–5, lost KO final 11–2 to Māngere United)1933 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers129121304288192nd of 7 (lost final to Māngere United 8–11)1934 2nd GradeOtahuhu Rovers141121823448241st of 61935 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers980113516+119161st of 41936 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers85037767+10102nd of 51937 3rd GradeOtahuhu Rovers--------1st of 13 (won final over Richmond 13–6)1938 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers129128561+24191st of 61939 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers86118321+62131st of 61940 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers970210554+51141st of 51941 Sen. B (Sharman)Otahuhu Rovers77009726+71141st of 9, Roope Rooster: W v Papakura 25–5, L v City 13–12, Phelan Shield: L v Richmond 18–141942 1st Grade (Fox)City-Otahuhu151005247132115202nd of 6 (combined side with City due to loss of players during WW2)1943 1st Grade (Fox)Otahuhu Rovers15429122204−82106th of 91944 1st Grade (Fox)Otahuhu Rovers18100822215963207th of 101945 1st Grade (Fox)Otahuhu Rovers141112266103163231st of 10 PlayoffsOtahuhu Rovers21012933 L 18–28 v Ponsonby in Major SF, W 11–5 v Richmond in Major Championship Final1990 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards2111010484336132.2223rd of 8 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards33006732 W v 39–18 Glenora in SF, W v Northcote, W 28–14 v Te Atatū in GF1991 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards181224492307160.3262nd of 10 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards3102--- 1992 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards--------1993 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards18828359357100.6186th of 101994 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards221615561464120.9331st of 12 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards31024652 L 10–20 v Northcote, W 24–0 v Hibiscus Coast, L 12–32 v Northcote1995 Lion Red PremOtahuhu Leopards241815814457178.1412nd of 13 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards1100320 W 32–0 v Marist in the Grand Final1996 Lion Red PrelOtahuhu Leopards13913392211185.8193rd of 14 Lion Red Rukutai ShieldOtahuhu Leopards7601182108168.5121st of 8 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards10012836 L 28–36 v Otara in GF after triple over time1997 Lion Red Super 10Otahuhu Leopards181206631381165.6242nd of 10 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards------ 1998 Super 10Otahuhu Leopards18909501485103.3185th of 101999 Rukutai Shield Super 12Otahuhu Leopards221507737455162304th of 122000 Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Top 8Otahuhu Leopards141121589216272.7242nd of 8 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards22004724 W 26–10 v Richmond in minor SF, W 21–14 v Richmond in GF2001 Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Top 8Otahuhu Leopards1480639040895.6165th of 8 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards32016266 W 32–28 v Manukau in prelim SF, W 16–10 v Ponsonby in minor SF, L 14–28 v Northcote in major SF2002 Fox Memorial Top 8Otahuhu Leopards14905402337119.3183rd of 8 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards420298129 L 10–42 v Hib. Coast in prelim SF, W 22–19 v Marist in minor SF, W 26–24 v Papakura in major SF, L 40–44 v Hib. Coast in GF in double extra time2004 Mad Butcher Fox MemorialOtahuhu Leopards14211137858664.5158th of 82000 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Leopards221804782440342361st of 12, L v Canterbury Bulls in the GF2001 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Leopards221417691528163294th of 12, lost elimination play off2002 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Leopards161006636393243203rd of 12, lost preliminary final2003 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Leopards165110432594−162112004 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Ellerslie Leopards161204476321155242nd of 122005 Bartercard CupOtahuhu Ellerslie Leopards1990744241230186th of 122006 Bartercard CupTamaki Leopards18927546440106202007 Bartercard CupTamaki Titans18101752646462215th of 102022 1st Grade, (Fox Memorial)Otahuhu Leopards9801504140364162nd of 9 in sect. 2, W v Richmond 20–12 in Fox QF, L v Glenora in Fox SF PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards210138380 W 20–12 v Richmond in QF, L 18–26 v Glenora in SF2023 Fox Memorial QualifyingOtahuhu Leopards33009662154.86 1st of 4 Fox Memorial PremiershipOtahuhu Leopards11704368128287.514 5th of 12 PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards10011014 L 10–14 v Papakura in QF2024 Fox Memorial QualifyingOtahuhu Leopards330011628-6 1st of 4 Fox MemorialOtahuhu Leopards11704340239-14 4th of 10 Fox Memorial PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards10011623-0 L v Pt Chevalier 16-232025 Fox Memorial QualifyingOtahuhu Leopards330027210-6 1st of 4 Fox MemorialOtahuhu Leopards12120052288-24 1st of 12 Fox Memorial PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards2200291811- W v Papakura 21-14 in SF, W v Mt Albert 8-4 in the GF 2026 Fox Memorial PremiershipOtahuhu Leopards141400576138+43828 1st of 8 Fox Memorial PlayoffsOtahuhu Leopards22007428+46- W v Manukau 44-12 in Maj. SF, W v Mt Albert 20-16 in GF1912–45, 1990–2007, 2022–2026TOTAL-804491342751793012448+5482984
Club titles (1912–43)
21 championship titles 1913 Fourth Grade 1916 Second Grade 1918 Second Grade and Fifth Grade 1921 Fourth Grade 1924 Second Grade 1926 Schoolboys (Senior) 1927 Schoolboys (Senior) 1930 B Division (Norton Cup) 1934 Second Grade (Wright Cup) 1935 Senior B (Sharman Cup) 1936 Seventh Grade 1937 Third Grade and Fifth Grade 1938 Senior B (Sharman Cup) 1939 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open) 1940 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open) 1941 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open)
All time top point scorers (1914–17, 1919, 1931, 1941–45) The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in matches from the first grade championship, the Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, and Sharman Cup only. One off matches and exhibition matches are not included. The matches and point scorers includes the combined Otahuhu-Ellerslie side of 1931, and the combined Otahuhu-City side of 1942.