Rugby League Northland is pleased to announce the following appointments for the Northern Swords Representative teams.
15s:
Coach: Te Tuhi Tipene
Asst Coach/Trainer: Murray Smart
Manager: Hine Pireroa
17s:
Coach: John Radovanovich
Manager: Marty Brown
Premiers:
Coach: Jon Renes
Asst Coach: Jack Walker
Manager: Ed Irving
Congratulations on your appointments and we are looking forward to competitive performances from the best of our Northland players.
Kani Epiha and son Rehua Martin are all smiles about the opening of an early childhood playgroup at Takahiwai Rugby League Club rooms. Photo / Michael Cunningham
A Northland rugby league clubrooms normally reserved for after match celebrations and commiserations will make room for a new team of young players.
New Zealand Rugby League officially opened the playgroup at Takahiwai Rugby Clubrooms this week, the first of its type in Northland.
Twice a week mums and their bubs will meet at the clubrooms to participate in early childhood programmes.
One of the parents already on the team is Kani Epiha, who took her 18-month-old son Rehua Martin, to the opening. She has been nominated as the “Parent Champ” and her aim is to encourage as many locals with young children to use the programme.
“There are a lot of young kids out here in the community that don’t get to daycare.
“This gives them the opportunity to play with other kids and socialise and just gives them opportunities.”
Her links to the club are strong with her grandfather, brothers and cousins involved in the Takahiwai club.
The programme is also designed to help parents as well. Some activities would be driven by government agencies with messages on domestic violence, health and safety in the home. New Zealand rugby league has been involved in creating eight playgroups in Auckland league clubrooms since 2013 and said Takahiwai fitted the bill when it came to hosting a playgroup in Northland.
NZRL community playgroups manager Marissa Holland said the playgroups had become an integral feature of the NZRL community plan, helping government agencies communicate with people they had struggled to reach previously. In 2014, Ministry of Education, Accident Compensation Corporation, Health Promotion Agency and NZ Police entered the “More Than Just A Game” partnership with NZRL.
“They already have lots of children around their facilities, so there’s an opportunity for us to work with them to make it a safer environment for them. They will qualify for funding to achieve that,” Ms Holland said.
Studies have shown that infants attending early-childhood playgroups learn more effectively when they enter the schools system.
The club has undergone scrutiny by the Ministry of Education before opening which included health and safety, curriculum, communication with parents and adequate resources to run the group.
Register through playgroups@nzrl.co.nz or the NZRL Community Playgroups Facebook page.
Takahiwai and Hokianga remain unbeaten and the season front runners. Takahiwai defeated the Northern Wairoa Bulls 54 – 34 in a high scoring match while Hokianga defeated Horahora 32 – 18. They are joined at the top of the table by Hikurangi who having played the season launch, have played an extra game.
Portland follow up in fourth place with two wins out of three and look to be serious contenders for the 2014 RLN Multikai Cooker Premiership. Their 40 – 10 win against Muriwhenua was impressive as it was an away victory. The rest of the table has only the one win to their credit with the exception of the Kerikeri Makos who have yet to notch their first win.
The Makos went through all of 2013 without a win, however their 32 – 6 loss to Hikurangi demonstrated some potential. They are a big, fit looking team, and with a new coach in Benson Selwyn they should improve throughout the season and win a few games.
The biggest surprise in 2014 is the lack of form of the Moerewa Tigers who are currently sitting at one win out of four games. The Tigers were the 2013 minor premiers and in 2013 started their season with 9 straight wins. They have had a change in coach with Tawio Davis stepping up as a player coach. However their 28 – 12 loss to the Otangarei Knights should come at no surprise as the Knights have been under-performing in 2014. The Knights played with discipline for 80 minutes and the result was a confident win over the Tigers.
It’s still early in the season for all teams involved, but the 10 team Premiership looks likely to be a closely fought competition from 1st place to 10th place.
