The 1996 New Zealand rugby league season was the 89th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the final season of the Lion Red Cup competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Counties Manukau Heroes won the Cup by defeating the Waitakere City Raiders 34–22 in the Grand Final. With the outbreak of the Super League war the New Zealand Rugby League sided with the Super League organisation.
International competitions
The New Zealand national rugby league team hosted both Papua New Guinea and Great Britain in 1996, winning all five matches. New Zealand were coached by Frank Endacott and included; Richie Barnett, Richard Blackmore, Marc Ellis, Syd Eru, Sean Hoppe, Mark Horo, Tony Iro, Stacey Jones, Stephen Kearney, Gene Ngamu, Quentin Pongia, captain Matthew Ridge, Tyran Smith, Logan and Anthony Swann, John Timu, Joe Vagana, Ruben Wiki and Grant Young. Marc Ellis became the countries 36th dual-code rugby international.Lion Red Rugby League Annual '96, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1996. p. 51
PNG toured first and were defeated 62–8 in Rotorua and 64–0 in Manawatu. They also lost tour matches to the Lion Red Cup XIII, 22–24, and New Zealand Māori side, 14–40. Great Britain then arrived for a three match series. They were defeated 17–12 at Ericsson Stadium, 18–15 in Manawatu and 32–12 at Lancaster Park in Christchurch.New Zealand rugbyleagueproject.org Great Britain drew with the Lion Red Cup XIII but lost to the New Zealand XIII and the New Zealand Māori sides.
The Lion Red Cup XIII also played both sides and embarrassed the Great Britain Lions when they held them to a 22-all draw at Carlaw Park. The team was coached by Graeme Norton and included Boycie Nelson, Tama Hohaia, Marlon Gardiner, Richard Stewart, David Bailey, captain Tukere Barlow, Ben Lythe, Don Stewart, Leamy Tato, Anthony Edwards, Gareth Adams, Jonathan Hughes, Corrie Jamieson, Cheaf Lee Fakavamoeanga, Vilai Kelemete, Vai Afoa and Gus Malietoa-Brown. Another New Zealand combination containing Warriors reserves players then managed to defeat Great Britain 30–22 at Fraser Park. The team was: David Murray, Iva Ropati, Anthony Swann, Whetu Taewa, Richard Stewart; Shane Endacott, Aaron Whittaker, Brady Malam, Denvour Johnston, Hitro Okesene, Tony Tatupu, Bryan Henare, Logan Swann. Subs: Meti Noovao, Mark Faumuina, Jerry Seuseu, Darryn Avery.1996 Tour Match: New Zealand Select XIII 30 Great Britain 22 Cherry and White Tukere Barlow captained the Lion Red Cup XIII against Papua New Guinea.
The New Zealand Māori rugby league team was involved in the 1996 Pacific Challenge, a replacement for the postponed Oceania Cup. New Zealand Māori won both their matches, defeating Tonga 28-18 and Western Samoa 39–16. The Māori side included Frank Watene, Paul Rauhihi and Matthew Sturm. Doc Murray, Whetu Taewa, Gavin Hill, Sonny Whakarau, and Tawera Nikau were all added to the squad for the match against Papua New Guinea, which the Māori won 40–14. The Māori team then finished an undefeated season by upsetting Great Britain 40–28.GB have Long to thank BBC Sport, 5 November 1999 The New Zealand Māori side was: Doc Murray; John Farrar, Ricky Henry, Whetu Taewa, Jason Walker; Jamie Stevens, Paul Howell; Paul Rauhihi, Tukere Barlow, Gavin Hill, David Pearce, Matthew Sturm, Tawera Nikau (capt). Substitutes: Neville Ramsay, Marlon Gardiner, George Milner, Sonny Whakarau.Morley given immediate chance to atone The Independent, 21 October 1996 Coach: Cameron Bell.
Graeme Norton coached the New Zealand Nines team that competed in the Super League Nines tournament in Fiji. The side won the title, New Zealand's first world trophy.Lion Red Rugby League Annual '96, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1996. p. 48 The squad consisted of captain Sean Hoppe, John Kirwan, Stephen Kearney, Nigel Vagana, Gene Ngamu, Tony Tatupu, Gavin Hill, Mark Carter, Stacey Jones, Tony Iro, Richie Barnett, Henry Paul, Ruben Wiki and Latham Tawhai.
The New Zealand University side competed in the Student World Cup and finished third behind Samoa and Australia.International Competition 1996 The Vault
The Junior Kiwis played five matches as curtain raisers to the five test matches. They won all five matches. Coached by Lex Clarke and managed by Ross Taylor, the Junior Kiwis included Joe Galuvao, Lesley Vainikolo, David Kidwell, Hare Te Rangi, Robert Henare, Frank Watene, Matthew Rua, Monty Betham, Kylie Leuluai and Phillip Leuluai.
A New Zealand under-18 team coached by Trevor McLeod bet Fiji under 18s in a two match series. The squad included Joe Galuvao, Lesley Vainikolo, captain David Solomona, Odell Manuel and Kyle Leuluai.
A New Zealand under-16 team played a three match series in Australia, winning all three. The team was coached by Jeff Whittaker and included David Vaealiki, Mark Leafa, Wairangi Koopu and David Fa'alogo.
Matthew Ridge won the New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year award.
National competitions
Inter Zone Challenge A North Zone, representing the Waitakere City, Counties Makukau, North Harbour, Waikato and the Bay of Plenty franchises played a three match series against South Zone, representing the Taranaki Rockets, Manawatu Mustangs, Hawkes Bay Unicorns, Hutt Valley Dolphins, Wellington City Dukes, Christchurch City Shiners and the Canterbury Country Cardinals.New Zealand Competitions 1996 The Vault
North Zone won the three matches 22–16, 21-14 and 38–16.New Zealand Inter Zone Challenge 1996 The Vault
North Zone were coached by Brian McClennan and included Willie McLean, Brian Jellick, Boycie Nelson, Ben Lythe, captain Clayton Friend, Jerry Seuseu, Stuart Lester, Matthew Sturm and Frank Watene.Lion Red Rugby League Annual '96, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1996.
South Zone were coached by Andy Moore and included Earl Va'a, Blair Harding, Denvour Johnston and Yogi Rogers.
Rugby League Cup Auckland defeated the West Coast 48–10 in a Rugby League Cup challenge to retain the cup. Auckland included Esau Mann, Stuart Lester and Matthew Sturm.
Auckland defeated Canterbury 24–20 at Carlaw Park to retain the Rugby League Cup.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009, 2009. . Auckland were coached by Dominic Clark and included Ben Lythe, Boycie Nelson, Duane Mann, Donald Stewart, Matthew Sturm, Willie McLean and Frank Watene. Canterbury included Blair Harding, Mark Nixon and Paul Koloi.
Lion Red Cup Due to the postponement of Super League in Australia several top Australian referees were available to referee matches in the Lion Red Cup. These included Steve Clark.
Teams The North Harbour Sea Eagles had a new coach in Dominic Clark. The squad included Paki Tuimavave, Paul Rauhihi, Mike Setefano, Artie Shead, Don Stewart and Latham Tawhai. The Waitakere City Raiders finished the year as minor premiers and went on to make the final but could not over come Counties Manukau. The side was coached by Del Hughes and included Boycie Nelson, Willie McLean, Ben Lythe, Brian Jellick, Julian O'Neill and David Bailey. The champion Counties Manukau Heroes side was coached by Cameron Bell and included Clayton Friend, Esau Mann, Matthew Sturm, Charlie Kennedy, Stuart Lester, Meti Noovao, Francis Leota, Duane Mann, Frank Watene, Dean Clark, Gus Malietoa-Brown and Jerry Seuseu. The Waikato Cougars played their last game at Trust Bank Park in July. The team was coached by Joe Gwynne and included Darryl Fisher, Tama Hohaia and captain Tukere Barlow. Mark Woods played the first two rounds for Waikato before transferring to Bay of Plenty. The Bay of Plenty Stags were the big improvers of the competition, making the finals after coming last in the previous two years. They were coached by Lawrence Brydon who took over near the end of the 1995 season. During the season its business manager, former Kiwi coach Tony Gordon, was suspended and investigated by the New Zealand Rugby League. He was later cleared of all charges. The team was captained by Mark Woods and included Patrick Kuru. The Taranaki Rockets were coached by former Kiwi Howie Tamati. The squad included Denvour Johnston and Willie Talau. The Manawatu Mustangs replaced the Auckland Warriors Colts. They were coached by Peter Sixtus. the Hawkes Bay Unicorns were coached by Mark Elia who also played in one match. The Hutt Valley Dolphins abandoned the Hawks name altogether in 1996. The team were coached by Ken Laban included Earl Va'a, who moved over from Wellington, Zane Clark, Arnold Lomax and Yogi Rogers. The Wellington City Dukes were coached by Mike Edmonds. The Christchurch City Shiners were coached by Geoff Carr. Carr was sacked mid season and replaced with Mark Vincent. The Canterbury Country Cardinals were coached by Gerard Stokes and included Paul Koloi, Blair Harding, Lusi Sione, Mark Nixon and Paul Johnson.
Standings TeamPldWDLPFPAPDPtsWaitakere City22190369734235538Counties Manukau22180476639936736North Harbour22150762439323130Waikato2213185154724327Bay of Plenty221138440441-125Hutt Valley221129444469-2524Taranaki22110115164383322Wellington City229013536532418Hawkes Bay227114377583-20615Canterbury226115365555-19013Manawatu225017404732-32810Christchurch City223019360643-2836
The playoffs Two time defending champions the North Harbour Sea Eagles were eliminated in the second round when they lost 14–20 to Waikato, despite the Cougars having twelve men for most of the second half.
MatchWinnerLoserVenue Elimination Play-off Waikato Cougars 35 Bay of Plenty Stags 18Rotorua International Stadium Preliminary Semifinal Counties Manukau Heroes 14 North Harbour Sea Eagles 10Carlaw Park Elimination Semifinal Waikato Cougars 20 North Harbour Sea Eagles 14Davies Park Qualification Semifinal Waitakere City Raiders 26 Counties Manukau Heroes 8Carlaw Park Preliminary Final Counties Manukau Heroes 22 Waikato Cougars 6Carlaw Park
Grand Final Waitakere CityPositionCounties Manukau Willie McLean FB Te Manawa Loza Brian Jellick WG Charlie Kennedy Boycie Nelson CE Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga David Bailey CE Richard O'Connell Robert Ofanoa WG Gus Malietoa-Brown Dean Broomfield (C) FE Duane Mann (C) Ben Lythe HB Duane Mackwood Carl Findlay PR Malu Autagavia Junior Fiu HK Esau Mann Greg Ashby PR Frank Watene Gareth Adams SR Jerry Seuseu Anthony Edwards SR Steve Ekepati Jonathan Hughes LK Matthew Sturm Alan Li'o Bench Neville RamsayGeorge Milner Bench Francis Leota Graham Fafuiti Bench Mark Lethbridge Wayne Kohlhase Bench Ray Barchard Del Hughes Coach Cameron Bell The Grand Final was played in front of a disappointing crowd of just under 2,000 fans at Carlaw Park.Lion Red Rugby League Annual '96, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1996. p. 65 Jim Stokes refereed the match which Waitakere City led 16–8 at halftime. However Counties Manukau came back to win 34-22 and claim their first Lion Red Cup. Team HalftimeTotal Counties Manukau Heroes 634 Waitakere City Raiders 1822
Tries (Counties Manukau) 2: G Malietoa-Brown 1: D. Mann, E. Mann, N. Ramsay, F. Watene, C. Kennedy Tries (Waitakere City) 3. B. Nelson 1: D. Bailey Goals (Counties Manukau) 3: T. Loza Goals (Waitakere City) 3: B. Lythe Venue Carlaw Park
Awards Player of the Year: Jerry Seuseu (Counties Manukau) Coach of the Year: Cameron Bell (Counties Manukau) Rookie of the Year: Darryl Fisher (Waikato) Captain of the Year: Mark Woods (Bay of Plenty) Best and Fairest: Paul Howell (Wellington City) Most Tries: Cheaf Lee Fakavamoenga (21 – Counties Manukau) Most Goals: Ben Lythe (109 – Waitakere City) Most Points: Ben Lythe (240 – Waitakere City) Referee of the Year: Jim Stokes (Canterbury)
Inter-Club Knockout Series Cobden-Kohinoor defeated the Kaikohe Lions 40–22 in the Inter-club knockout series. The series was for provinces which did not have a team in the Lion Red Cup.
Australian competitions
The Auckland Warriors competed in the Australian Rugby League competition finishing 11th out of 20 teams.