The Papakura Sea Eagles are an Auckland rugby league club based in Papakura. The Sea Eagles currently compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.
History The Papakura Rugby League Club formed in 1931. On March 26 they had 60 players enroll to play. They applied to the Papakura Town Board for the use of the reserve at Papakura. This was granted as the entire club had switched over from Rugby Union meaning they had no competition for the field. The council said that if a representative rugby game was being played on the field then the league team could use Prince Edward Park (which later became their home ground and remains so to this day). On Saturday, 18 April they played a practice match with Mount Wellington at Papakura. The match was won by Mt Wellington by 8 points to 5. Papakura's points came from an unconverted try to Johnstone, and Ivan Wilson kicked a penalty goal.
Their first ever grade wins were in the 1931 and 1932 second grade which was essentially the modern day equivalent of the second division. Some of their early notable players from the early 1930s were Cyril Blacklaws and Mortimer Stephens who both played their junior rugby league for Papakura. They later moved to Newton Rangers to play senior league and were signed by St Helens in England. Blacklaws played 35 games for St Helens from 1935–36 and then signed with Rochdale Hornets, while Stephens played 56 games for St Helens from 1935–37 and also moved to Rochdale Hornets before returning to New Zealand.
They won the Sharman Cup in 1936 by winning the Senior B grade having finished runner-up in 1935. They won the Walmsley Shield in 1936 also. In 1937 they once again won the Sharman Cup.
In 2016, the premiers went on a solid run throughout the season, only losing 2 games and winning the clubs first ever Fox Memorial Premiership. They also went on to another grand final in 2024, and unfortunately fell short in hard fought match in very tough conditions, losing in extra time to a drop goal.
Kiwi representatives To date, seven players from the club have represented the New Zealand national rugby league team. The first New Zealand player to represent Papakura was Harold Milliken who joined the club in 1940 after playing for New Zealand in 1939 however he did not represent the national side whilst at Papakura.Papakura Sea Eagles Club Historical Information Auckland Rugby League, 2009 Bevin Hough: 1950, 1953 Brian Lee: 1961–1963 Reg Cooke: 1961, 1964 Roger Tait: 1965–1967 Lyndsay Proctor: 1974, 1975 Gary Kemble: 1980–1986 Kelly Shelford: 1989–1991 Jason Taumalolo: 1997
Notable juniors Billy Ngawini Jazz Tevaga
Papakura senior team records (1931–1943 + 2022) The season record for the most senior men's team in the club. SeasonGradeNamePlayedWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition (teams)1931 2nd GradePapakura1510141078324213rd of 8 (won KO final 26-0 v Mt Albert)1932 2nd Grade Papakura17130424391152261st of 9 (won the final 5-2 v Otahuhu), lost KO SF v Mt Albert 8-17.1933 2nd GradePapakura127231435390163rd of 71934 2nd GradePapakura1411121374196232nd of 6, won the KO final over Māngere United 26-3.1935 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Papakura97021335083142nd of 41936 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Papakura880012323100161st of 51937 Senior B (Sharman Cup)Papakura15140130474230281st of 91938 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Papakura152013153279-12649th of 91939 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Papakura162212132256-12469th of 91940 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Papakura151014131387-25629th of 91941 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Papakura161015130392-26229th of 91942 Schoolboys (Senior)Papakura---------1943 4th GradePapakura---------2022 1st Grade (Fox Memorial)Papakura91086855012.36%29th of 10 in section 2, lost to Papatoetoe in the elimination game of the Sharman Cup1931-41, 2022TOTAL1617767818042279-475160
References
External links Official Website Official ARL Site