The Auckland Rugby League competition has been competed for since 1909 when the first organised match was played between North Shore and City Rovers (won 44–22 by North Shore). The following year an official champion was crowned for the first time, namely the City Rovers club who won the 1910 1st Grade title and were one of the 4 original teams at that time (City Rovers, Devonport United, Newton Rangers, and Ponsonby United). Over the following 110 years many team and individual trophies have been awarded. The following is a list of the clubs and individuals that they have been awarded to at the premier-grade level.
Trophies
There are approximately 24 trophies which have been competed for in Auckland Rugby League history by clubs. These include the following for teams; Fox Memorial Shield, Rukutai Shield, Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield, Kiwi Shield, A.R.L. Trophy, Sharman Cup, Lawson Cup, Walmsley Shield, ARL Cup, Norton Cup, Gillett Cup and the Autex Award. Several have also been awarded to players including the Lipscombe Cup, Rothville Trophy, Bert Humphries Memorial, Tetley Trophy, Painter Trophy, Hyland Memorial Cup, Doug Price Memorial Medal, Jack Counihand Trophy, Harry Mackwood Trophy and the Simons Scroll.
Explanation of team trophies The Fox Memorial is awarded to the grand final winner of Premier One and is considered the most prestigious trophy in Auckland club rugby league. It was named after Edward Vincent Fox who played for North Shore, and Auckland before going to fight in World War I. He was awarded a medal for bravery but suffered a leg injury ending his playing career. From 1910 to 1919 the first grade trophy awarded was the Myers Cup. In the war years the trophy was not officially awarded. Then from 1920 to 1930 the Monteith Shield was awarded to the first grade champions. It was named after the man who had donated it to the league. The Rukutai Shield is awarded to the Premier One minor or premiership champions at the end of the regular season. It is named after Jim Rukutai who was an early player in Auckland Rugby League and later became the youngest-ever coach of New Zealand at the age of 33. The Roope Rooster was first competed for in 1915. It was named after Dick Roope who donated the trophy when he was Auckland Rugby League Chairman. For the first few decades of its existence it was a knockout competition played after the championship was completed but later moved to being a pre-season competition. In 2006 it changed format when it became a trophy which only changes hand when the holder of the trophy loses a match on their home ground. The Stormont Shield is named after Bill Stormont (William Devanney Stormont), a World War I veteran who played for the Marist club and for the Kiwis.https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world-war-1/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503669&objectid=11459371 The Shield is a champion of champions playoff between the Fox Memorial and Roope Rooster winners and has been competed for since 1925. The Kiwi Shield is awarded to the Premier One club with the most points scored from Premiers and Reserves (x1). Club of the Year. Awarded to the club in Auckland considered to have achieved the most in an all-round sense.
Premier One titles Year Myers Cup/Monteith Shield/Fox Memorial Shield Rukutai Shield Roope Rooster Stormont Shield Kiwi Shield Club of the Year 1910 City Rovers (1) – – – – 1911 City Rovers (2) – – – – 1912 Newton Rangers (1) – – – – 1913 North Shore Albions (1) – – – – 1914 North Shore Albions (2) – – – – 1915 Grafton Athletic (1) – North Shore (1) – – 1916 City Rovers (3) – City Rovers (1) – – 1917 Ponsonby United (1) – Ponsonby United (1) – – 1918 Ponsonby United (2) – City Rovers (2) – – 1919 Ponsonby United (3) – Newton Rangers (1) – – 1920 Maritime (1) – Newton Rangers (2) – – 1921 City Rovers (4) – City Rovers (3) – – 1922 City Rovers (5) – Ponsonby United (2) – – 1923 City Rovers (6) – Ponsonby United (3) – – 1924 Marist Old Boys (1) – City Rovers (4) – – 1925 City Rovers (7) – Ponsonby United (4) Ponsonby United (1) – 1926 Ponsonby United (4) – Richmond Rovers (1) Ponsonby United (2) – 1927 Newton Rangers (2) – Richmond Rovers (2) Newton Rangers (1) – 1928 Devonport United (3) – Marist Old Boys (1) Marist Old Boys (1) – 1929 Ponsonby United (5) – Marist Old Boys (2) Marist Old Boys (2) – 1930 Ponsonby United (6) – Ponsonby United (5) Devonport United (1) – 1931 Marist Old Boys (2) – Devonport United (1) Devonport United (2) – 1932 Devonport United (4) – Marist Old Boys (3) Marist Old Boys (3) – 1933 Devonport United (5) – Richmond Rovers (3) Devonport United (3) – 1934 Richmond Rovers (1) – Richmond Rovers (4) Richmond Rovers (1) – 1935 Richmond Rovers (2) – Newton Rangers (3) Richmond Rovers (2) – 1936 Manukau (1) – Manukau (1) Richmond Rovers (3) – 1937 Richmond Rovers (3) – Marist Old Boys (4) Marist Old Boys (4) – 1938 Marist Old Boys (3) – Richmond Rovers (5) Richmond Rovers (4) – 1939 Mt Albert United (1) – Marist Old Boys (5) Mt Albert United (1) – 1940 Richmond Rovers (4) North Shore Albions (1) Richmond Rovers (6) North Shore Albions (4) – 1941 North Shore Albions (6) North Shore Albions (2) Manukau (2) Manukau (1) – 1942 Manukau (2) City-Otahuhu (merged side) (1) Richmond Rovers (7) Manukau (2) – 1943 Manukau (3) Manukau (1) Manukau (3) Manukau (2) – 1944 City Rovers (8) City Rovers (2) Ponsonby United (6) City Rovers (1) – 1945 Otahuhu Rovers (1) Otahuhu Rovers (2) North Shore Albions (2) North Shore Albions (5) – 1946 Richmond (5) North Shore Albions (3) Marist Old Boys (6) Richmond Rovers (5) – 1947 Mt Albert United (2) Marist Old Boys (1) & Richmond Rovers (1) Mount Albert United (1) Mount Albert United (2) – 1948 Marist Brothers (4) Marist Brothers (2) & Richmond (2) Mount Albert (2) Mount Albert (3) – 1949 Richmond Rovers (6) Richmond Rovers (3) Richmond Rovers (8) Richmond Rovers (6) – 1950 Mount Albert United (3) Mount Albert United (1) Mount Albert United (3) Marist Old Boys (5) – 1951 Richmond Rovers (7) & Mount Albert Lions (4) Mount Albert United (2) & Richmond Rovers (4) Point Chevalier Pirates (1) Point Chevalier Pirates (1) – 1952 Ponsonby United (7) Ponsonby United (1) Ponsonby United (7) Ponsonby United (3) – 1953 Pt Chevalier (1) Mt Albert (3) Ponsonby United (8) not played – 1954 Ponsonby (8) Ponsonby (2) & Mt Albert (4) North Shore Albions (3) North Shore Albions (6) – 1955 Richmond (8) Richmond (5) & North Shore Albions (4) Ellerslie United (1) Ellerslie United (2) – 1956 Richmond (9) Richmond Rovers (6) & Point Chevalier Ellerslie United (2) Richmond Rovers (7) – 1957 Ellerslie United (1) Ellerslie United (1) & City Newton Dragons (1) Otahuhu Rovers (1) not played – 1958 Ponsonby United (9) Ponsonby United (3) Marist Old Boys (7) Marist Old Boys (6) – 1959 Western United (1) Western United (1) Ellerslie United (3) Ellerslie United (3) – 1960 Eastern United (1) & Southern Districts (1) Eastern United (1) Glenora (1) Eastern United (1) & Glenora (1) – 1961 Eastern United (2) Eastern United (2) Eastern United (1) Eastern United (2) – 1962 Eastern United (3) & Glenora (1) Eastern United (3) Eastern United Glenora – 1963 Eastern United (4) Southern Districts (1) Eastern United Eastern United – 1964 Otahuhu (2) Otahuhu (3) Mt Albert Mt Albert – 1965 Marist Brothers (5) Ponsonby (4) Otahuhu Marist Brothers & Otahuhu – 1966 Marist Brothers (6) Otahuhu (4) Marist Brothers Marist Brothers – 1967 Ponsonby (10) Ponsonby (5) Otahuhu Ponsonby – 1968 Mt Albert (5) Ponsonby (6) Ellerslie Ellerslie – 1969 Mt Albert (6) Otahuhu (5) Richmond Mt Albert Otahuhu 1970 Otahuhu (3) Mt Albert (5) Otahuhu Mt Albert Mt Albert 1971 Otahuhu (4) Otahuhu (6) Marist Brothers Otahuhu Otahuhu 1972 Ponsonby (11) Ellerslie (2) Ponsonby Ponsonby Otahuhu 1973 Ponsonby (12) Ponsonby (7) Mt Wellington Warriors Ponsonby Otahuhu 1974 Ellerslie (2) Ellerslie (3) Otahuhu Ellerslie Mt Wellington Warriors & Ponsonby 1975 Otahuhu (5) Otahuhu (7) Otahuhu Otahuhu Northcote 1976 Mt Wellington Warriors (1) Mt Wellington Warriors (1) Richmond Richmond Glenora 1977 Otahuhu (6) Otahuhu (8) Otahuhu Otahuhu Otahuhu 1978 Otahuhu (7) Otahuhu (9) Glenora Otahuhu Otahuhu 1979 Richmond (10) Otahuhu (10) Manukau Richmond Otahuhu 1980 Richmond (11) Richmond (7) Manukau Manukau & Richmond Richmond 1981 Mt Albert (7) Mt Albert (6) Otahuhu Mt Albert Mt Albert 1982 Mt Albert (8) Glenora (1) Otahuhu Otahuhu Otahuhu 1983 Otahuhu (8) Mt Albert (7) Manukau Manukau Otahuhu 1984 Mt Albert (9) Otahuhu (11) Mt Albert Otahuhu & Manukau Otahuhu 1985 Mt Albert (10) Manukau (2) Manukau Mt Albert Manukau 1986 Mt Albert (11) Te Atatu (1) Manukau Manukau Te Atatu 1987 Northcote (1) Mangere East (1) Otahuhu Mt Albert Otahuhu 1988 Te Atatu (1) Glenora (2) Northcote Otahuhu Te Atatu 1989 Northcote (2) Northcote (1) Mangere East Northcote Otahuhu 1990 Otahuhu (9) Northcote (2) Richmond Northcote Northcote 1991 Northcote (3) Northcote (3) Northcote Northcote Northcote 1992 Northcote (4) Mt Albert (8) Northcote Northcote Northcote 1993 Northcote (5) Northcote (4) Northcote Mt Albert Northcote 1994 Northcote (6) Otahuhu (12) Otahuhu Otahuhu Northcote 1995 Otahuhu (10) City-Pt Chevalier (1) not played Otahuhu Otahuhu 1996 Otara (1) Otahuhu (13) Manurewa Otahuhu Otahuhu 1997 Glenora (2) Mangere East (2) Marist Brothers Otara Otahuhu 1998 Glenora (3) Glenora (3) Mangere East not played – 1999 Glenora (4) Glenora (4) Glenora not played – 2000 Otahuhu (11) Richmond (8) not played not played Otahuhu 2001 Northcote (7) Richmond (9) not played not played – 2002 Hibiscus Coast (1) Papakura (1) Hibiscus Coast not played – 2003 Mangere East (1) Mangere East (3) Hibiscus Coast not played – 2004 Mt Albert (12) Mangere East (4) Ellerslie not played – 2005 Manurewa (1) Papakura (2) Mt Albert not played – 2006 Mt Albert (13) Mt Albert (9) Mt Albert, Te Atatu, Richmond, East Coast Bays(*) Mangere East Mt Albert 2007 Manurewa (2) Papakura (3) Papakura(*) Richmond 2008 Mt Albert (14) Otahuhu (14) Mt Albert Richmond Richmond 2009 Mt Albert (15) Otahuhu (15) Mt Albert, Northcote, Otahuhu(*) Otahuhu – 2010 Otahuhu (12) Otahuhu (16) Otahuhu (*) Otahuhu Mt Albert 2011 Howick (1) Howick (1) Otahuhu (*) Glenora Mt Albert 2012 Mt Albert (16) Mt Albert (10) Howick (*) Otahuhu 2013 Pt Chevalier (2) Pt Chevalier (1) Mt Albert (*) Howick Mt Albert Otara 2014 Pt Chevalier (3) Pt Chevalier (2) Pt Chevalier (*) Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier 2015 Pt Chevalier (4) Mt Albert (11) Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier, Mt Albert (shared after a 14–14 draw) Mt Albert New Lynn Stags 2016 Papakura (1) Papakura (4) Papakura Pt Chevalier Mt Albert 2017 Glenora (5) Pt Chevalier (3) Pt Chevalier, Glenora Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier Northcote 2018 Pt Chevalier (5) Glenora (5) Glenora, Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier Glenora Mangere East 2019 Howick (2) Howick (2) Mt Albert, Howick Glenora 2020 Not Awarded Not Awarded Mt Albert Mt Albert Not Awarded 2021 Not Awarded Pt Chevalier (4) Glenora, Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier Not Awarded 2022 Pt Chevalier (6) Pt Chevalier (5), Glenora (6) Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier 2023 Pt Chevalier (7) Richmond Rovers (8) Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier Pt Chevalier 2024 Richmond (12) Richmond (11) Te Atatu Richmond (13) Richmond 2025 Otahuhu (13) Otahuhu (17) Te Atatu, Ponsonby, Mt Albert, Otahuhu Papakura (2) Otahuhu Mt Albert 2026 Otahuhu (14) Otahuhu (18) Otahuhu Otahuhu Otahuhu Otahuhu Year Fox Memorial Rukutai Shield Roope Rooster Stormont Shield Kiwi Shield Club of the Year
Total Fox Memorial First Grade Titles (includes Myers Cup and Monteith Shield) 16: Mt Albert 14: Otahuhu *includes City-Otahuhu side of 1942 12: Ponsonby, Richmond 9: City Rovers *includes City-Otahuhu side of 1942 7: Northcote, Pt Chevalier 6: North Shore Albions/Devonport United, Marist 5: Glenora 4: Eastern United 3: Manukau 2: Newton Rangers, Ellerslie, Howick, Western United, Manurewa 1: Grafton Athletic, Maritime, Mt Wellington, Te Atatu, Otara, Mangere East, Hibiscus Coast, and Papakura.
Roope Rooster