Building craft benches for kids – Jennian Homes (Northland)

The leader board RLN Premiership has had another dramatic change with two regular rounds to play.  The Tiger’s have re-found their form with back to back victories.  The latest, against Otaua Valleys 72–4.  The large points haul leaves them in first place on points difference over the Takahiwai Warriors.

The Warriors 50 – 20 victory over front runners the Northern Wairoa Bulls was the biggest shock of the round.  The Bulls had been the form team, but the Warriors played a complete disciplined match to overpower the Bulls and  confirm their position at the top of the table.  The loss drops the Bulls from first to fourth.

Hikurangi Stags regain third position with a tough fought win over the Horahora Broncos 26 – 14.  The Stags were rescued from a tight encounter by the return from a fractured arm, by player/coach Joe Rau.  Rau was instrumental in guiding his Stags back from the dead to victory.

Hokianga Pioneers continue to be the silent achievers, effectively knocking the Muriwhenua Kuaka out of playoff contention with a 20 – 14 win.  The Pioneers remain in 5^th place.  The Portland Panthers are back in sixth place with a thrilling win over the City Knights 28 – 22.   The Knights drop back to 7^th place.

The last two rounds will decide the Minor premier race with any one of the top five having a chance.  There are just two points the difference from 1^st (22 Points) to 5^th (20 Points).  Sixth place looks likely to be either Portland or City.  City look to have the slightly easier of the draw, with the Bulls away, then they host the Broncos.  Whereas the Panthers travel to the Stags, before hosting the Bulls in the final round.

With all curtain raisers being cancelled at Toll Stadium, Rugby League Northland have decided to move the final Northern Swords home game v Akarana and the Frings Trade of Origin, from Toll Stadium, to Hikurangi Rugby Ground.

“For RLN it’s about trying to create a community event and generate an atmosphere. The curtain raisers are an integral part of this.  In the weekend just gone, we tried to event manage an event split between Old Boys and Toll Stadium and this simply didn’t work, adding to the fact that Old Boys Rugby Ground has also been closed for play, we had no alternative but to move all three games.

We looked at all options –including postponing the Trade of Origin, but given that it is the last home game for the Swords we want to give the boys an atmosphere to play in front of, we need the community support as the Swords have not had a good season,” Alex Smits, RLN General Manager said.

FRINGS Trade of Origin

In a first for Rugby League, RLN is launching the Trade of Origin concept.  The concept will see different trades challenging for the right to call themselves, “ Trade of Origin Champions”.  Tradies love League, but due to the 6 day working week, of many Tradesmen, some of them can’t commit to playing weekend sport.  Competition among Tradies is always rife on building sites, with trades always trying to one-up other trades.  So the Trade of Origin concept will give them an opportunity of gaining real bragging rights, as well as being Mate against Mate, Trade v Trade!

For Rugby League Northland, the game will provide not only an avenue to get more Tradies playing, but it will also potentially provide introductions to new commercial partnerships.

One Trade of Origin game has already been played earlier in the year, with the Builders comfortable winners over the Sparkies.  The concept was the brain child of Andy Liddall, from Attina Electrical.  Andy is currently working with RLN to see how the concept can become an annual event.  “This year is about getting the concept off the ground and seeing what the opportunities come of it.”  Alex Smits, RLN GM said.

Cara Hutchinson has come on board to replace the outgoing Club Development Officer Toni Haldane. Cara hales from Dargaville and is well known in the Sporting circles, with four young boys. The eldest Lathan represented the Northern Swords U14s and 15s as well as Northland Rugby Union U14s South Zone.  Cara never backs away from hard work, getting involved in clubs and committees and is currently involved in organising the 2016 Taniwha Cup.  Cara is also well known in the Swimming circles having being a representative swimmer herself as well as coaching and running her own swim school.  Cara joins RLN after 8 years service with Te Ha Oranga leading their Disability & Aged Care Support Services.

Alex Smits outgoing GM said, “We had an incredibly high calibre of candidates, but Cara stood out for her passion and understanding of the sports environment and her ability to self manage and multi-task.  Cara will be a great asset to the League community!”

Toni Haldane will be sadly missed from RLN and has achieved a great deal of work in her time.  Toni has provided the back bone to the RLN office, supporting the Development team and the GM.  In her time she has fine tuned the Registration system which has seen a paper based system move to the Australasian Leaguenet system.  Her work in communications has seen League become a regular feature in local newspapers – she launched and managed the RLN website www.rln.co.nz and taken our Facebook community from 300 odd likes to over 3000.  Her organisational skills were also instrumental around the RLN Finals Series, where Toni Event Managed the Grand Final as well as her support to all the Northern Sword Teams, not to mention the club development role she has taken with clubs.

“Toni is well known in the Rugby League community for her commitment and empathy in supporting clubs and the game. She has built a great rapport with the clubs during her time with Rugby League Northland and is well respected amongst her peers. We wish Toni the very best” says Walter Wells RLN Chairman.  Toni leaves to take up a role with Dairy NZ, but she won’t be lost entirely to Rugby League as she joins the Northern Wairoa Bulls as a committee member.

With Cara coming on board, RLN have changed the role slightly from Club Development Officer to Competitions, Communications and Admin Manager.  The reality has been that the Club Development component of the role became less as the administration, communication and event management component took more and more time.  Club Development is still a major priority for RLN and NZRL and we are working with funders to secure a fulltime role in this space.  Should this transpire, there will be some exciting development that will help our clubs become key community hubs in their community