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RUGBY LEAGUE NORTHLAND STAFF

ROBBIE JOHNSON

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

M:  021 432 757

E:  robbie@rln.co.nz

Having played the game locally and at a professional level, Robbie Johnson is acutely aware of what it takes to grow rugby league in Northland as he beds down in his new role at the sport’s governing body in the region. As the CE of Rugby League Northland (RLN), Johnson has outlined his plans to raise the game’s profile, growth and club competition, and to open up pathways for aspiring Northlanders to play at the highest level. Born and bred in Whangārei, Johnson played most of the junior grades for Takahiwai Warriors and made the Junior Kiwis side that toured Great Britain and France in 1993. He then went on trial for the Manly Sea Eagles in the NRL and spent four seasons at the club before returning to Whangārei. He felt league, at that stage, had probably lost a bit of its strength, so he dabbled in rugby. With his knowledge of the local communities and people this will hugely contribute in achieving growth and support of the game of Rugby League in Northland.

CORI PAUL

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER/ SCHOOLS LEAD

M:  021 775 392

E:  corip@rln.co.nz

Born and raised in Papatoetoe, South Auckland, from a family of two sisters and one brother. Like most families involved in sport, growing up playing weekend sport in the morning and following Dad around the Rugby League fields of Auckland were the main activities in the household for many years. I have been living in the Northland region for close to 27 years and come from Wainui Bay in the Bay of Islands. Northland is my home. My partner Gemma is a Venue and Events coordinator at Whangarei District Council incorporating the operations of Semenoff Stadium, our daughter Calais is a radiation therapist at Auckland hospital and our three boys (Deon – 18, Cobe – 17 and Chase 15)  keep busy with an apprenticeship, tertiary aspirations and getting through high school exams respectively. I have been involved in a multitude of industries in my working life ranging from quality control processing to mechanical repairs to disability sport and secondary school sport administration. This experienced has allowed me to develop different skills around planning and managing projects and people. Coaching began for me in 2006 when my daughter decided she wanted to play netball for Whangarei Primary School and although I had no idea about the sport, I enjoyed every aspect of it which lead me to become accredited in the Sport industry through the NorthTec Sports and Recreation programme. While I have coached junior Rugby League, Rugby, Football and Netball teams I have recently been heavily involved in coaching Rugby at Club and Representative age group level. I am passionate about Northland and junior sport. I am excited to have the opportunity to develop and grow Rugby League in Northland and a challenge I am looking forward to. I believe growing our players holistically is the key in making sure that we not only have fantastically talented players representing our region but also developing our players as good people.

TERI TITO

COMPETITION, COMMUNICATION AND ADMINISTRATION MANAGER

M: 021 242 6975

E:  admin@rln.co.nz

My journey in Rugby League began with my parents, whose lifelong dedication to sports inspired a legacy that continues through my whānau. Born and raised in Northland, I grew up in a loving, humble, and hardworking family of nine siblings, guided by values of respect, resilience, and commitment. These principles have shaped who I am and remain central to my personal and professional life.

As a proud parent of two active boys, aged 18 and 8, I draw inspiration from them daily. They teach me patience, appreciation, and how to overcome challenges—lessons that fuel my personal growth and drive my passion for making a positive impact.

My connection to Rugby League deepened in 2013 when my dad and whānau established the HoraHora Broncos junior rugby league club. Since then, I’ve been actively involved in various roles, supporting the growth of our tamariki and fostering a love for the game in Northland. This experience has ignited a passion for community development and strengthened my commitment to nurturing opportunities for our whānau in Te Tai Tokerau.

I am excited to contribute to the growth and development of Rugby League while empowering our community and tamariki to thrive on and off the field.

*PHOTO TO COME*

PELE WHARAWHARA-PHILLIPS

DEVELOPMENT OFFICER - REPRESENTATIVE/ONE NZ WARRIORS ACADEMY LEAD

M: 022 070 9167

E:  pelewp@rln.co.nz

Kia ora e te whānau,

I was born and raised in Wellington, the middle child of five siblings, where sport was always a big part of our family life. My brother and I played hockey for most of our childhood, but eventually found our way into other codes that better reflected our Pasifika roots. Throughout high school, I played a range of sports including Sevens, Volleyball, Hockey, and Netball, but my heart has always been drawn to rugby league.

My whānau have always been avid league lovers, and over the years I’ve been involved in the game in many ways — as a manager, coach, and committee member — particularly within women’s and girls’ sport. Being part of team environments and community sport has become a huge part of our family life, with weekends often spent travelling across Northland for different competitions.

My husband, Jeremy, recently completed his concussion specialist training and, as a nurse, often supports our teams as the on-call medic. We have one son, Kaiārahi, who is seven years old and already showing the competitiveness of a seasoned athlete. In our downtime, you’ll usually find our whānau by the water or in Kerikeri, where we spend time with my family and enjoy a game of squash.