The 2009 New Zealand rugby league season was the 102nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the second season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and then the premiership by defeating Auckland 26–20 in the Grand Final.
International competitions
The New Zealand national rugby league team defeated Tonga in Rotorua before heading to Europe to compete in the Four Nations where they finished third. By defeating Tonga the Kiwis retained the Peter Leitch QSM Challenge Trophy.Tonga Confirms Team To Face Kiwis In Rotorua voxy.co.nz, 13 October 2009 Coached by Stephen Kearney, the Four Nations squad included; Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, Nathan Fien, Kieran Foran, Bryson Goodwin, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Thomas Leuluai, Jeff Lima, Issac Luke, captain Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Sam Perrett, Frank Pritchard, Junior Sau, Iosia Soliola, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Kevin Locke and Eddy Pettybourne.
Earlier in the year New Zealand lost 10-38 to Australia. Manu Vatuvei, Roy Asotasi, Dene Halatau, David Fa'alogo, Simon Mannering, Jason Nightingale, Sika Manu and Jerome Ropati played in this match but did not tour at the end of the year.
Bartercard Premiership Selection A Bartercard Premiership Selection defeated a Samoan Residents side 62-14 on 10 October 2009.It's just like riding a bike... New Zealand Herald, 11 October 2009 Canterbury coach Brent Stuart coached the Bartercard selection.Lure of home final adds incentive for Canterbury New Zealand Herald, 26 September 2009. Accessed 2009-09-25. Archived 2009-09-27. Ruben Wiki came out of retirement to play in the match and all the proceeds were donated to the Samoan tsunami relief fund.Wiki to make comeback for tsunami benefit NZPA, 4 September 2009 The match was broadcast on Māori Television.
National competitions
Rugby League Cup Canterbury defeated Auckland on 23 August to win the Rugby League Cup.Geoff Longley It's go the South Island, No Bull The Press, 4 June 2010 As in 2008 the New Zealand Rugby League ruled that the Rugby League Cup would be defended in all Bartercard Premiership matches, home and away.
Bartercard Premiership
The 2009 season was the second and final Bartercard Premiership. Auckland were the defending champions. The same six provinces as in 2008 again took part in the competition. The Canterbury Bulls won the minor premiership and defeated Auckland 26–20 in the final.
Auckland included Sala Fa'alogo.Bulls given a scare in making Bartercard Premiership final nzwarriors.co.nz
Television The semi-finals and grand final of the Bartercard Premiership were shown live on SKY Network Television and also delayed on free to air.
Season standings Province Pl W D L For Ag P/D Pts Canterbury 5 5 0 0 210 60 150 10 Auckland 5 4 0 1 202 96 106 8 Waikato 5 3 0 2 130 108 22 6 Wellington 5 2 0 3 142 120 22 4 Taranaki 5 1 0 4 86 212 -126 2 Bay of Plenty 5 0 0 5 70 254 -184 0
Warm Up Matches In a warm up match Canterbury lost to the West Coast 20-14. This was reportedly the first time since 1989 that the West Coast had defeated Canterbury.Coast Go it Alone and Win The Press, 17 August 2009. Accessed 2009-08-27. Archived 2009-09-05.
Fixtures and results
Round 1 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Waikato32-22 Wellington22 August 2009Paterson Park, Ngaruawahia Taranaki40-8 Bay of Plenty23 August 2009Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Canterbury32-30 Auckland23 August 2009Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Round 2 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Waikato22-30 Auckland30 August 2009Davies Park, Huntly Wellington46-12 Taranaki9 September 2009Porirua Park, Porirua Bay of Plenty16-66 Canterbury18 September 2009Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Canterbury vs. Bay of Plenty and Wellington vs. Taranaki matches were originally unable to take place as scheduled due to air travel issues. They were rescheduled to be mid-week games.
Round 3 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Bay of Plenty12-52 Auckland5 September 2008Puketawhero Park, Rotorua Taranaki14-36 Waikato5 September 2009Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Canterbury32-0 Wellington6 September 2009Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Round 4 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Bay of Plenty10-36 Waikato12 September 2009Puketawhero Park, Rotorua Taranaki10-48 Canterbury13 September 2009Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Wellington14-16 Auckland13 September 2009Porirua Park, Porirua
Round 5 HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Wellington60-24 Bay of Plenty19 September 2009Porirua Park, Porirua Auckland74-16 Taranaki20 September 2008Mt Smart Stadium Number 2, Auckland Waikato4-32 Canterbury20 September 2008Davies Park, Huntly
Semi finals HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Auckland60-4 Waikato26 September 2009Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Canterbury20-17 Wellington27 September 2009Rugby League Park, Christchurch
Grand final HomeScoreAwayMatch InformationDateVenue Canterbury26-20 Auckland4 October 2009Rugby League Park, ChristchurchAuckland, Canterbury in final New Zealand Herald, 28 September 2009. Accessed 2009-09-27. Archived 2009-09-30.
Tries (Canterbury) 2: Jonny Aranga 1: Junior Salevao, Craig Smith, Jermahl Carroll Tries (Auckland) 1: William Heta, James Blackwell, Henry Heta, Sione Taka Goals (Canterbury) 3: Simon Mounga Goals (Auckland) 1: Cody Walker, William Heta Referee Leon Williamson Broadcast SKY Network TelevisionCanterbury Bulls clinch comeback league win The Press, 5 October 2009
Junior Grades Each of the Bartercard Premiership matches was preceded by a National Junior Competition Under 16 and Under 18 game. These two competitions ran in parallel with the senior competition.Bartercard National Provincial Premiership Kicks Off - 21 August 2009 NZRL.co.nz, 21 August 2009. Accessed 2009-08-27. Archived 2009-09-05. Auckland won the Under-16s final 11-10 over Taranaki while the Auckland under 18s defeated Wellington 34-10 to win that competition. Both finals were held in Cornwall Park, Auckland.
Australian competitions
The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 14th out of 16 teams and failed to make the playoffs.
The Junior Warriors finished seventh before losing their Qualifying Final match.
The Auckland Vulcans competed in the NSW Cup and finished 11th out of eleven teams.
Club competitions
Auckland
The Mt Albert Lions defeated the Papakura Sea Eagles 32–10 in the Grand Final to win the Fox Memorial. As minor premiers, the Otahuhu Leopards were awarded the Rukutai Shield. Papakura were coached by Dean Clark and included Toshio Laiseni.Thriller showdown expected Papakura Courier, 13 May 2009
Howick won the Sharman Cup while the Manukau Magpies won the Phelan Shield.
Wellington The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions The Press, 4 November 2011
Canterbury Hornby won the Canterbury Rugby League title.
Shane Endacott was the Celebration Lions' assistant coach while Phil Prescott coached Halswell.Shane Endacott continues league family tradition The Press, 16 June 2011
The Timaru Warriors rejoined the CRL competition, after being in recess for four years.Timaru Warriors reflect on loss at home Timaru Herald, 20 April 2009
Other Competitions The Taniwharau Rugby League Club won the Waikato Rugby League competition.
Tokoroa's Pacific won the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition while Otumoetai won the combined Coastline-Gisborne premiership, defeating the Paikea Whalers 34–8.Otumoetai Eels 'fall over' in crucial game Bay of Plenty Times, 18 July 2011Make-over revamps local league The Daily Post, 21 January 20102009 results Coastline Rugby League The Hawke's Bay's Flaxmere Falcons competed in the Bay of Plenty competition.Falcons make Bay league debut The Daily Post, 3 April 2009 Matthew Spence was the Turangi Dambusters' player-coach.Star Spence in roving Dambusters role The Daily Post, 13 July 2009
The Paikea Whalers won the Gisborne Tairawhiti Rugby League competition, defeating the Kaiti Devils 76–14 in the grand final.Paikea champions The Gisborne Herald, 30 September 2009
Blair Sims was named the West Coast Rugby League's player of the season.Blair Sims New Zealand Herald, 24 November 2010
See also 2009 in rugby league
References
External links NZRL Website Bartercard Premiership Website