The New Zealand rugby league season 2010 was the 103rd season of rugby league that was played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the new National Zonal competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The premier teams competed for the Albert Baskerville Trophy, which was won by Auckland when they defeated Counties Manukau 14 - 6 in the Grand Final.
International competitions
Five test matches took place in New Zealand in 2010. First New Zealand hosted Samoa in a warm up match to the 2010 Four Nations, defeating them 50–6. It was the first time the two nations had played each other in a test match. As part of the Four Nations competition New Zealand played England, Australia and Papua New Guinea in Wellington, Auckland and Rotorua respectively. England and PNG also play each other as a curtain raiser to the New Zealand vs Australia match. The match against England celebrated a centenary of international rugby league in New Zealand and the English and Kiwis both wore 1910 style jerseys to mark the occasion.Centenary Test marks first International on home soil rleague.com, 22 October 2010 New Zealand went on to win the tournament, defeating Australia 16 - 12 in the final at Suncorp Stadium.
Coached by Stephen Kearney, the team consisted of: Antonio Winterstein, Bronson Harrison, Greg Eastwood, Adam Blair, Sika Manu, Junior Sa'u, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank Pritchard, Nathan Fien, Jason Nightingale, Jeremy Smith, Issac Luke, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Sam Perrett, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Manu Vatuvei, Benji Marshall (C) and Thomas Leuluai.
The Samoan side featured seven former New Zealand internationals, Tony Puletua, Francis Meli, Ali Lauitiiti, David Faiumu, David Solomona, Harrison Hansen and Ben Roberts.
Earlier in the year New Zealand lost 8–12 to Australia. Aaron Heremaia, Zeb Taia and Steve Matai played in this match but did not make the Four Nations squad.
The Junior Kiwis, originally scheduled to play two matches against the England youth side, instead hosted the Junior Kangaroos in two curtain raisers to Four Nations matches. The team was coached by David Kidwell and included: Pakisonasi Afu, Martin Taupau (C), Glen Fisiiahi, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Mark Ioane, Shaun Johnson, Siuatonga Likiliki, Sam Lousi, Nafe Seluini, Carlos Tuimavave, Bill Tupou, Drury Low, Matthew McIlwrick, Sam Mataora, Isaac Maliota, Kane Morgan, Lama Tasi, Dean Whare and Jason Taumalolo.Nine NYC-winning Warriors named in Jnr Kiwis NRL.com, 6 October 2010 They lost to Australia 16–24 but won the second match 32–20 after trailing 0–20 at halftime.
The New Zealand Māori rugby league team played England in a curtain raiser to the New Zealand v Samoa test match. After trailing 18–0 the Māori came back to draw the match 18-all. The team was coached by Richie Blackmore and Mark Horo and consisted of: Kevin Locke, Sandor Earl, Timana Tahu, Clinton Toopi, Arana Taumata, Rangi Chase, Jeremy Smith, Willie Heta, Aaron Heremaia, Weller Hauraki, Justin Horo, Bodene Thompson, Kevin Proctor, James Tamou, Sam McKendry and Russell Packer.
The Kiwi Ferns played two matches against their English counterparts, winning the series 2–0.Kiwi Ferns end Test series against England with a win New Zealand Rugby League, 18 October 2010
A New Zealand Residents team was expected to compete in an end-of-season international fixture, but the team pulled out at the last minute. The Residents still assembled and took part in an opposed training session with the New Zealand Kiwis.New Zealand Residents New Zealand Rugby League The team was co-coached by Ken McIntosh and Brent Stuart and included James Blackwell (Counties Manukau), Junior Salevao (South Island), Shaun Metcalf (Auckland), Matt Wanoa (Wellington), Bureta Faraimo (Wellington), Matt Everitt (Wellington), Trent Wallace (Auckland), Karl Edmondson (Auckland), Darin Kingi (Counties Manukau), Jaye Pukepuke (South Island), Alfred Penese (Wellington), Tane Hart (Auckland), Saulala Houma (Auckland). Bench: Suaia Matagi (Auckland), George Mafi (Wellington), Hemi Kemp (Wellington) and Pauly Tuuta (Heartland).
At the New Zealand Rugby League awards Shaun Kenny-Dowall was named the International Player of the Year while Lewis Brown won the International Rookie award. Shane Rehm was the Referee of the year, Saulala Houma won the Domestic award and Matt Duffie won the Junior player of the year. Nathan Cayless was given a special recognition award. rleague.com, 23 October 2010 Benji Marshall later won the World Golden Boot Award as best international player while Shaun Kenny-Dowall finished second in the voting and was named at centre in the international team of the year.Marshall wins the 2010 Golden Boot Award nrl.com, 3 December 2010 At the Maori Sports Awards Stephen Kearney won Coach of the Year while Henry Perenara won the umpire/referee award.Kearney & Perenara win at Maori Sports Awards nrl.com, 6 December 2010 Richie Blackmore won the Coach of the Year award at the Counties Manukau Sporting Excellence Awards while the Counties Manukau under 17 side, coached by Blackmore, won the Junior sportsteam award.League Winners at Counties Manukau Sports Awards nzrl.co.nz, 10 December 2010
National competitions
Rugby League Cup Canterbury currently holds the Rugby League Cup, having won it from Auckland in 2009.Geoff Longley It's go the South Island, No Bull The Press, 4 June 2010 The Cup was not defended in 2010.
National Zonal competition
Following the Sparc funded review and restructure of the New Zealand Rugby League, seven new zonal teams competed in the 2010 National Zonal competition.NZRL Zonal District Draw 2010 New Zealand Rugby League Under 15's and Under 17's competitions were also to be held as curtain raisers to the senior matches.Tony Smith Bulls' Name may be Scrapped in Rejig The Press, 25 May 2010 The Premiers competed for the Albert Baskerville Trophy which was won by Auckland, who defeated Counties Manukau 14 - 6 in the Grand Final.
Teams The seven zones are; Northland Zone (Northern Swords): Consisting of the Northland and Whangarei districts, the Northern Swords were coached by Revell Neal. The Zone was initially to also include North Shore clubs but the Auckland Rugby League went to court to reduce the financial impact of a three-way split.Auckland gulps up Shore league The Aucklander, 25 August 2010 Auckland Zone: Consisting of players from West, Central, North Harbour and Eastern Auckland, the Auckland team were coached by Northcote Tigers coach Ken McIntosh and included Sala Fa'alogo and Malo Solomona. The manager was Mick Lacey from the Ellerslie Eagles. Counties Manukau Zone: Consisting of players from South Auckland, including Otahuhu, Counties Manukau was coached by Rusty Matua with Richie Blackmore coaching the under 17's.Best of two for league The Aucklander, 27 August 2010 Upper Central Zone (Waicoa Bay Stallions): Consisting of players from the Waikato, Coastline, Gisborne and Bay of Plenty districts the Waicoa Bay Stallions were coached by Tahe Morunga. Mid-Central Zone (Heartland): Consisting of players from the Taranaki, Wanganui, Hawkes Bay and Manawatu districts the Heartland premiers were coached by Mike Graham. Manawatu and Taranaki played a trial match before the squad was announced, with Manawatu victorious. Wellington Zone (Wellington Orcas): Drawn from the Wellington Rugby League competition the Wellington Orcas were coached by Trevor Clark while David Lomax coached the under 17s.* The side included Bureta Faraimo. Southern Zone (South Island): Drawn from the Tasman, West Coast, Canterbury, Otago and Southland districts the South Island team was coached by Brent Stuart with Mike Doreen coaching the under 17s. The premiers team included Jaye Pukepuke and Blair Sims. Sims later lost his life in the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster. Otago defeated Southland 26–20 in August. Gisborne and Hawkes Bay are included in Wellington Zone for administration purposes but their players play in the Upper Central and Mid-Central representative teams respectively.
Season standings TeamPldWDLBPFPAPtsAuckland650112328612Counties Manukau6402123214210Wellington Orcas6402118810010South Island6402119612610Waicoa Bay Stallions630311861728Heartland610511321464Northern Swords60061464402 Source:nzrl.co.nz
Schedule
Round 1 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueSouth Island28-6Heartland29 AugustRugby League Park, ChristchurchWellington22-8Waicoa Bay29 AugustFraser Park, WellingtonAuckland28-16Counties-Manukau15 SeptemberMt Smart Stadium No.2, Auckland Bye: Northern
Round 2 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueNorthern10-86Counties-Manukau5 SeptemberLindvart Park, KaikoheAuckland18-24Wellington4 SeptemberCornwall Park, AucklandWaicoa Bay36-18Heartland5 SeptemberResthills Park, Hamilton Bye: South Island
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueSouth Island34-36Waicoa Bay11 SeptemberBurnham Military CampHeartland14-24Auckland12 September Clifton Park, WaitaraWellington74-0Northern12 SeptemberPorirua Stadium, Wellington Bye: Counties-Manukau
Round 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueNorthern16–64South Island19 SeptemberJubilee Park, WhangareiCounties Manukau42–12Waicoa Bay19 SeptemberBruce Pulman Park, PapakuraHeartland10–18Wellington19 SeptemberArena Manawatu, Palmerston North
Bye: Auckland
Round 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueAuckland28-4South Island25 SeptemberCornwall Park, AucklandWaicoa Bay72-8Northern26 SeptemberBlake Park, TaurangaCounties Manukau34-30Wellington26 SeptemberBruce Pulman Park, Papakura Bye: Heartland
Round 6 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueSouth Island36-20Counties Manukau3 OctoberRugby League Park, ChristchurchHeartland58-6Northern3 OctoberYarrow Stadium, New PlymouthWaicoa Bay22-48Auckland3 OctoberPuketawhero Park, Rotorua Bye: Wellington
Round 7 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueWellington20-30South Island10 OctoberPorirua Stadium, WellingtonCounties Manukau34-26Heartland10 OctoberBruce Pulman Park, PapakuraNorthern6-86Auckland10 OctoberOkura Park, Whangarei Bye: Waicoa Bay
Grand final HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenueAuckland14 - 6Counties Manukau17 OctoberMt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Mark Graham Cup The Under 17 competition was named after Mark Graham. Counties Manukau beat Auckland 22 - 12 in the final to become the inaugural holders of the Mark Graham Cup.
Nathan Cayless Cup The Under 15 competition was named after Nathan Cayless. Counties Manukau beat Wellington Orcas 30 - 16 in the final to become the inaugural holders of the Nathan Cayless Cup.
Australian competitions
New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition, finishing fifth in regular season before being eliminated after losing their Qualifying Final. The Warriors also fielded an under-20 side in the Toyota Cup who finished second in the regular season before going on to win the Toyota Cup Grand Final. This was the club's first grand final win at any level. The club also won the Club Championship for being the best performing club during the regular season (combined NRL and Toyota Cup results).
Auckland Vulcans The Auckland Vulcans competed in the NSW Cup competition finishing ninth out of twelve teams and missing the finals by just one point.
Club competitions
Auckland
Eight teams competed in the Lion Red Fox Memorial first division which was won by the minor premiers Otahuhu Leopards after they defeated the defending champions, the Mount Albert Lions, 22–18.
East Coast Bays won the Sharman Cup while the Point Chevalier Pirates, coached by Awen Guttenbeil and Stacey Jones, won the Phelan Shield.
Wellington