The Manukau Magpies are a rugby league football club based in Māngere, a suburb of Auckland in New Zealand, who compete in the Auckland Rugby League. The club was established in March 1912 after a meeting in Onehunga (where they were originally based). That year they fielded a senior team and two junior teams.
History Established in 1912, the club played as the Manukau Rovers with Jim Rukutai as club captain. The club was officially affiliated with the Auckland Rugby League at their annual meeting on 16 April.
Their first committee selected at that first meeting in March 1912 was Patron: Mr. F.W. Lang, (M.P.); President: Mr. John R. Sceates; Secretary: Mr. H.V. Pattin; Treasurer: Mr. H.E. Reynolds; Committee: Messrs R.W. Sansbury, T.A. George, J.B. Morton, T. Grundy, H.E. Reynolds, A. Patten, E. Pullan, Jim Rukutai, and S. Child (chairman).
In their first season they had 53 registered members. Their senior team squad was made up of the following players: Jim Rukutai, Arthur Hardgrave, Pullen, Strong, Alexander, Targuse, Hughes, Griffiths, McGechan, Clark (2), Kennedy, Tole, Wilson, and Moore (2). They finished the 1912 season with 3 wins and 7 losses. In the 1913 season they struggled to put a full team on the field and pulled out of the senior grade after playing just 5 matches. In 1914 they fielded junior teams only and this continued until 1923 when they amalgamated with the Māngere club to enter a senior team in the competition named "Mangere United".
In 1924 the entire club switched codes and became a rugby union club. They were extremely critical of the Auckland Rugby League and stated that they had been on the end of a number of poor decisions over the previous three seasons particularly to do with player registrations. The details of which were laid out in a letter from the club secretary which was published in the Auckland Star on 12 July 1924. Auckland Rugby League responded stating that the details in the letter were not correct.
Rebirth and first championship The Manukau Rugby League club was reborn at a meeting in Onehunga on 29 September 1932 with Jim Rukutai in attendance .The club was initially mainly active in junior grades until 1936 when a senior team was re-established after Steve Watene, a Kiwi international convinced Auckland Rugby League that the team he had built from scratch would be competitive. Watene had travelled through many parts of the North Island recruiting players, including Jack Hemi, Joe Boughton, and Len Kawe (who had represented New Zealand Māori in 1925), Tom Trevarthan from Otago rugby. History was made that year when they took out the Championship (Fox Memorial), and Roope Rooster knockout competition in their first season back in the top grade since the 1913 season.Manukau Magpies sportsground.co.nz Watene became the first ever Māori player to captain the Kiwi's . Jack Hemi played 14 games and scored 92 points through four tries, 39 goals and a drop goal. Steve Watene played in 17 games and scored six tries and kicked 20 goals, while Angus Gault scored seven tries.
The club celebrated its centenary in 2011.Superleague| volume=5| issue=4, Edition 26 2010. p.22. Dean Bell was named as the Manukau Player of the Century.Superleague| volume=6| issue=4, Edition 28 2011 Given the club moved to the rugby union code in 1924 and wasn't re-established as a league club until 1932 the 2020 season would mark the 100th year of the club playing rugby league.
Notable players
Arthur Hardgrave was Manukau's first New Zealand representative in 1912. He scored their only points in their first ever first grade game against Ponsonby with a try and a penalty on May 11, 1912 at Eden Park 2. He played in all 7 of New Zealand's matches on the 1912 tour of Australia at fullback, kicking 4 goals. In 1913 the Manukau first grade side folded and Hardgrave was granted a transfer to North Shore Albions before joining Otahuhu Rovers in 1914. His son Roy Hardgrave also represented New Zealand in 1928 and played for St Helen's in England.Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League Another notable player in the early Manukau side was Jim Rukutai who had already represented New Zealand Māori, Auckland, and New Zealand. He played four game, scoring two tries for Manukau this season.
In 1936 the Manukau club travelled around the North Island recruiting players to join their side for a re-entry into the first grade competition in Auckland including Steve Watene who captained the side after having played seven seasons for City Rovers before transferring. They secured the services of an astounding group of talent which ultimately carried them to the first grade Fox Memorial championship in 1936. They included Jack Hemi from the Wairarapa, Frank Pickrang and Len Kawe from the King Country, and Angus Gault who had been born in Scotland but moved to New Zealand aged 16 to farm in the King Country, and Jack Brodrick in August of 1936. Brodrick was 23 years old and had been born in Ruatoke North in the Bay of Plenty. Others included Thomas Trevathan from North Otago, Joe Broughton, Joe Murray, Peter Mahima, and Jack Whye.
Then in 1937 Rangi Chase from Moawhango in Whanganui along with his brother Tommy Chase, came to Manukau, as did Pita Ririnui, Thomas Trevarthan from Otago, and then George Nēpia from All Black fame who had converted to rugby league in 1937 but played for Manukau in 1938 & 1939. In 1938 Walter Brimble joined the Manukau side after transferring from Manukau rugby. His brothers Ted Brimble and Wilfred Brimble all grew up in Onehunga after moving to New Zealand and were of English (father) and South African (mother) origin and also played for New Zealand though were at the Newton club.
The club later had a close association with the Bell family as Dean Bell, Ian Bell and Clayton Friend all played for the club and Cameron Bell coached the club.
The following players have played for Manukau and gone on to make the New Zealand national rugby league team with the year(s):
Arthur Hardgrave 1912 Jack Hemi 1936 Puti Tipene (Steve) Watene 1936 Frank Pickrang 1936 Thomas Trevathan 1936 George Nēpia 1937 Walter Pierrepont Brimble 1938 John Purewa (Jack) Brodrick 1938-39 Rangi Chase 1937–38 Angus Gault 1938-39 Tommy Chase 1939 Pita Ririnui 1939 Lummy Graham 1970 Doug Gailey 1974 Ian Bell 1978–83 Clayton Friend 1982–91 Dean Bell 1983–89 Nick Wright 1983 Kelly Shelford 1989–91
Manukau Senior Team Records (1912-24, 1933-45, 1990, 1992-96, 1998-99, 2001-02, 2004, 2022-26) The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club. SeasonGradeNamePlayedWDLPFPAPDPtsPosition (Teams)1912 1st Grade (Myers Cup)Manukau NUFC1030757139-8265th of 61913 1st Grade (Myers Cup)Manukau NUFC50142156-3516th of 6 (defaulted R5 & R6 & withdrew)1914 3rd GradeManukau NUFC63034553-865th of 10, full results unknown1915 3rd GradeManukau NUFC62042438-1444th of 8, full results unknown1916 5th GradeManukau NUFC7511512427112nd of 7, full results unknown1917 Did not field any teams1918 3rd GradeManukau NUFC430154193562nd of 5, full results unknown1919 3rd GradeManukau NUFC880018016161st of 6, full results unknown1920 3rd GradeManukau NUFC5500642638101st of 6, full results unknown1921 2nd GradeManukau Rovers21011919026th of 10, full results unknown1922 2nd GradeManukau Rovers43013021966th of 13, full results unknown1923 3rd GradeManukau Rovers651087384113rd of 14, full results unknown1924 2nd GradeManukau Rovers22002002048th of 121925-32Joined ARU late in 1924, then reformed the RL club in late 19321933 2nd Grade (Wright Cup)Manukau12001213120-10707th of 71934 3rd Grade IntermediateManukau B Rovers2311111---236th of 131935 2nd GradeManukau--------6th of 71936 Fox MemorialManukau14914223197+26191st of 81937 Fox MemorialManukau1472523318449164th of 81938 Fox MemorialManukau1591522621115194th of 91939 Fox MemorialManukau16718240244-4154th of 91940 Fox MemorialManukau1581621419519174th of 91941 Fox MemorialManukau161303360115245262nd of 9, the 360 points scored was a first grade competition record1942 Fox MemorialManukau151302283110+173261st of 61943 Fox MemorialManukau161402253108+145281st of 91944 Fox MemorialManukau18112519411975243rd of 101945 Fox MemorialManukau145091891881108th of 10 Roope RoosterManukau10011518--L v Mt Albert in R11990Lion Red PremiershipManukau Magpies21511535458560.51%118th of 81992Lion Red PremiershipManukau Magpies18801031639280.61%167th of 101993Lion Red PremiershipManukau Magpies181008408395103.3203rd of 10Playoffs 20021638 L v Richmond 10-16 in min. SF, L v Te Atatū 6-22 in maj. SF 1994Lion Red Rukutai ShieldManukau Magpies18100835256462.411610th of 121995Lion Red Rukutai ShieldManukau Magpies2414010610475128.4284th of 12Playoffs ?-------?1996Lion Red Preliminary RoundManukau Magpies1351725928092.51110th of 14Sharman Cup?-------??1998Super 10Manukau Magpies18601239161763.37127th of 101999Rukutai Shield Super 12Manukau Magpies22501740570157.771010th of 122001Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Top 8Manukau Magpies1464443144297.51164th of 8Playoffs 10012838--L v Otahuhu in prelim. SF after extra time2002Fox Memorial Top 8Manukau Magpies14311031743473.0476th of 82004Sharman CupManukau Magpies141112547318172231st of 8Playoffs 22007046 W v Howick 46-26 in min. F, W v Te Atatū 24-20 in GF2022 Fox MemorialManukau Magpies8413180172895th of 9 in section 1Playoffs 10012228 L v Bay Roskill 22-28 in PO round 2023 Fox QualifiersManukau Magpies320110262164.542nd of 4 in Pool AFox Memorial Shield 11317170268 63.4 10th of 122024 Fox QualifiersManukau Magpies32014476-3242nd of 4 in Pool BFox Memorial Shield 11515264274 -10 11 7th of 122025 Fox QualifiersManukau Magpies330094405461st of 4 in Pool CFox Memorial Shield 12813289202 -87 17 3rd of 12Playoffs 210130282 - W v Bay Roskill 30-28 in QF, L v Mt ALbert 16-22 in SF 2026Fox Memorial Shield 14724348276 +72 17 2nd of 8Playoffs 20022476-52 - L v Otahuhu 12-54 in Maj SF, L v Mt Albert 12-22 in Maj SF1912-2026TOTAL5222622628,9408,982-42 549
Club titles (1912-1945) 1919 Third Grade 1920 Third Grade and Fifth Grade 1922 Second Grade knockout competition 1936 First Grade (Fox Memorial) 1938 Phelan Shield 1939 Phelan Shield 1941 Thistle Cup (highest point scorers in the 2nd round), Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield 1942 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Stormont Shield 1943 First Grade (Fox Memorial), Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield
Manukau Magpies top point scorers and try scorers (1912-1945) The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in the first grade side including organised preseason games, and exhibition type matches.
RankPlayerStartEndGamesTriesConPenDGPts1Jack Hemi193619431083619410687242Tommy Chase19371945126321115714343Tom Butler1940194511052352202704Joe Murray19411945886512512315Puti Tipene (Steve) Watene193619438223191701416George Shilton19381945117380001147Jack Brodrick1936194479350001058Joe Broughton193619427826400869Aubrey Thompson1941194453280008410=Peter Mahima1936194074260007810=Pita Ririnui19381947137260007812Wiremu Te Tai1940194583240007213Rangi Chase1937193817170015314Angus Gault1936193961170005115Peter Awhitu1939194327130104116=Walter Brimble1936194159130003916=R Wilson1937193824130003918Freddie McGuire1938194358120003619Ralph Martin194019459793103520=George (Tiki) Whye1936193945110003320=W Rogers1943194535110003322=Ivan Gregory1939194222100003022=Martin Thompson1943194521100003024=Jack Major194119455380002424=George Nēpia1938193914262124
Manukau Rovers/Magpies Head to Head records (1912-1913, 1936) Head to head records by opponentOpponentStartFinishGamesWinsDrawsLossesForAgainstPts diffEden Ramblers1912191332013519+16Taumarunui1936-11003028+2
References