The 1977 New Zealand rugby league season was the 70th season of
rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.
International competitions
New Zealand co-hosted the
World Cup with Australia. The Kiwis lost to
Great Britain,
France and
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
. Matches were played at the
Addington Showgrounds and
Carlaw Park. New Zealand were coached by
Ron Ackland
Ronald Charles Ackland (27 December 1934 − 25 October 2013) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and Coach (sport), coached in the 1960s and 1970s, who represented New Zealand nation ...
and consisted of captain
Tony Coll
Anthony Peter Coll ( – 14 May 2020) was a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer and coach who represented New Zealand in three World Cups.
Early life and family
Coll grew up on the West Coast. He was the son of Peter Coll—a West ...
(c),
Fred Ah Kuoi,
,
Ray Baxendale
Ray Baxendale is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1975 and 1977 World Cups.
Playing career
Baxendale began his career playing for Runanga. A Junior Kiwi, Baxendale first made the New Zealand nationa ...
,
Olsen Filipaina
Olsen Orekewa Filipaina (23 April 1957 – 10 February 2022) was a professional rugby league footballer who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa. He played for the Balmain Tigers, Eastern Suburbs, and North Sydney Bears during his New ...
,
Kevin Fisher,
Mark Graham,
Whare Henry,
Whetu Henry,
Chris Jordan,
Michael O'Donnell,
Dane O'Hara
Dane Bradford Mark O'Hara is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. At the time of his retirement he held the record for most international matches for New Zealand.
Early years
O'Hara attended St. Paul's Colle ...
,
Lyndsay Proctor
Lyndsay Proctor is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1975 and 1977 World Cups.
Playing career
Proctor played for the Ellerslie Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League competition and als ...
,
Alan Rushton
Alan Rushton is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1977 World Cup.
Playing career
Originally a second-row, Rushton moved to prop and then to hooker as his career evolved.
Rushton was a Canterbury an ...
,
John Smith
John Smith is a common personal name. It is also commonly used as a placeholder name and pseudonym, and is sometimes used in the United States and the United Kingdom as a term for an average person. It may refer to:
People
:''In chronological ...
,
Kurt
Kurt is a male given name of Germanic or Turkish origin. ''Kurt'' or ''Curt'' originated as short forms of the Germanic Conrad, depending on geographical usage, with meanings including counselor or advisor.
In Turkish, Kurt means "Wolf" and is ...
and
Dane Sorensen,
John Whittaker and
Dennis Williams.
Dane Sorensen became the first New Zealander to be selected for the
New Zealand national rugby league team while based overseas, when he was picked while playing for the
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.
[Coffey and Wood ''The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League'' ]
Coached by
Bill Sorensen
William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954, 1957 Rugby League World Cup, 1957 and 1960 Rugby League World Cup, 1960 World ...
,
Auckland famously completed a "grand slam" when they defeated Australia, England and France in the space of 21 days in June. Auckland defeated Australia 19–15 on 1 June, Great Britain 14–10 on 14 June and France 17–0 on 21 June all at
Carlaw Park. Auckland were captained by
Dennis Williams and included
Gary Kemble,
Warren Winter,
Olsen Filipaina
Olsen Orekewa Filipaina (23 April 1957 – 10 February 2022) was a professional rugby league footballer who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa. He played for the Balmain Tigers, Eastern Suburbs, and North Sydney Bears during his New ...
,
Chris Jordan,
Dave Sorensen Dave may refer to:
Film, television, and theater
* ''Dave'' (film), a 1993 film starring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver
* ''Dave'' (musical), a 2018 stage musical adaptation of the film
* Dave (TV channel), a digital television channel in the ...
,
John Smith
John Smith is a common personal name. It is also commonly used as a placeholder name and pseudonym, and is sometimes used in the United States and the United Kingdom as a term for an average person. It may refer to:
People
:''In chronological ...
,
John Wilson,
Glenn Taylor,
Lyndsay Proctor
Lyndsay Proctor is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1975 and 1977 World Cups.
Playing career
Proctor played for the Ellerslie Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League competition and als ...
,
Kurt Sorensen
Kurt John Sorensen (born 8 November 1956) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Background
He is the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Dane Sorensen, and the nephew of anothe ...
, Alan McCarthy,
Mark Graham, Dave Lepper,
Dane O'Hara
Dane Bradford Mark O'Hara is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. At the time of his retirement he held the record for most international matches for New Zealand.
Early years
O'Hara attended St. Paul's Colle ...
,
Fred Ah Kuoi, Stan Napa, Luther Toloa and Mark Lowe.
[Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009'', 2009. .]
New Zealand also hosted the
Pacific Cup. The
New Zealand Māori side defended their title, beating
Western Australia 35–12 in the final at
Carlaw Park. Coached by Tom Newton, the New Zealand Māori squad included
,
James Leuluai
A'au James Leuluai (born 4 February 1957) is a New Zealand former international rugby league .
Background
He is the father of former Widnes Vikings player Macgraff Leuluai and Wigan Warriors and New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai, and th ...
,
Dennis Key,
Rick Muru
Wiremu Hira Muru ( – 15 May 2020), commonly known as Rick Muru, was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand.
Playing career
From Huntly, Muru played for the Taniwharau Rugby League Club in the Waikato Rugby League co ...
,
John Wilson,
Josh Liavaa and
Ian Bell.
The Pacific Cup was not a financial success and was not held again until
1986
The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations.
Events January
* January 1
** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles.
**Spain and Portugal ente ...
.
The Auckland under 21 side toured New South Wales.
John Smith
John Smith is a common personal name. It is also commonly used as a placeholder name and pseudonym, and is sometimes used in the United States and the United Kingdom as a term for an average person. It may refer to:
People
:''In chronological ...
won the
New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year award.
[
]
National competitions
Rugby League Cup
Taranaki held the Rugby League Cup
The Rugby League Cup is a New Zealand rugby league trophy that is contested between districts on a challenge basis. The trophy used to be known as the Northern Union Challenge Cup.
It is the oldest rugby league competition in New Zealand.
Histo ...
at the end of the season.
Inter-district competition
Auckland won the Rothmans trophy, defeating Wellington 36–22 at Carlaw Park in the final.[Sky Rugby League Annual '98 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1998]
John Smith
John Smith is a common personal name. It is also commonly used as a placeholder name and pseudonym, and is sometimes used in the United States and the United Kingdom as a term for an average person. It may refer to:
People
:''In chronological ...
, Warren Winter, Dennis Williams, Mark Graham, Joe Karam
Joseph Francis Karam (born 21 November 1951), also known by the nickname of "Clock", is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most ...
and Dane O'Hara
Dane Bradford Mark O'Hara is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. At the time of his retirement he held the record for most international matches for New Zealand.
Early years
O'Hara attended St. Paul's Colle ...
played for Auckland, who were coached by Bill Sorensen
William Sorensen was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand in the 1954 Rugby League World Cup, 1954, 1957 Rugby League World Cup, 1957 and 1960 Rugby League World Cup, 1960 World ...
.[
]
Australasian competition
Auckland were eliminated in Round one of the Amco Cup when they lost 2–23 to a Northern Division side. The match was held at the same time as the Kiwis trial, meaning Auckland was without fourteen of its top players.
Club competitions
Auckland
Otahuhu dominated, winning the Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League (ARL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region, including both club and school rugby league. It began in 1910 when the fi ...
's Fox Memorial Trophy, Rukutai Shield, Roope Rooster, Stormont Shield and the Kiwi Shield.[Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1990. p. 72] They defeated the Richmond Bulldogs 11–3 in the Fox Memorial grand final.[ Manukau won the Sharman Cup and Glenfield won the Norton Cup.
John Wilson (Northcote) won the Lipscombe Cup, Dennis Williams (Te Atatu) won the ]Rothville Trophy
The Auckland Rugby League competition has been competed for since 1909 when the first organised match was played between North Shore and City Rovers (won 44–22 by North Shore). The following year an official champion was crowned for the first tim ...
, Lyndsay Proctor
Lyndsay Proctor is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1975 and 1977 World Cups.
Playing career
Proctor played for the Ellerslie Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League competition and als ...
(Ellerslie) and Olsen Filipaina
Olsen Orekewa Filipaina (23 April 1957 – 10 February 2022) was a professional rugby league footballer who represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa. He played for the Balmain Tigers, Eastern Suburbs, and North Sydney Bears during his New ...
(Mangere East) won the Bert Humphries Memorial, Nick Wright (Otahuhu) won the Tetley Trophy, Joe Karam
Joseph Francis Karam (born 21 November 1951), also known by the nickname of "Clock", is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most ...
(Glenora) won the Painter Rosebowl Trophy and Graham Lowe (Otahuhu) won the Hyland Memorial Cup.
The East Coast Bays club was founded in 1977.
Otahuhu were coached by Graham Lowe while Joe Karam
Joseph Francis Karam (born 21 November 1951), also known by the nickname of "Clock", is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most ...
played for Glenora.[
]
Wellington
St George won the Wellington Rugby League
Wellington Rugby League is the local sporting body responsible for the administration of Rugby league in the Greater Wellington region. It is responsible for the local competition of the same name, as well as its representative team, the Wellingto ...
's Appleton Shield.[
]Kevin Tamati
Kevin Ronald Tamati (born 21 September 1953) is a New Zealand former rugby league representative player and coach. He played at representative level for New Zealand, New Zealand Māori, Auckland, Central Districts and Wellington, and professio ...
played for Upper Hutt.
Canterbury
Papanui won the Canterbury Rugby League's Pat Smith Challenge Trophy.[
]Wigram
Wigram is a suburb in the southwest of Christchurch, New Zealand. The suburb lies close to the industrial estates of Sockburn and the satellite retail and residential zone of Hornby, and has undergone significant growth in recent years due to h ...
and Woodbourne met in the first rugby league match between Royal New Zealand Air Force
The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) ( mi, Te Tauaarangi o Aotearoa, "The Warriors of the Sky of New Zealand"; previously ', "War Party of the Blue") is the aerial service branch of the New Zealand Defence Force. It was formed from New Zeala ...
bases.[Coffey, John. ''Canterbury XIII'', Christchurch, 1987.]
The Parklands club joined the Rugby League in 1977.[
]Mocky Brereton
Maurice "Mocky" Patrick Brereton is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in the 1970 and 1972 World Cups and one match in the 1975 World Championship Series.
Playing career
Brereton was origin ...
was the player-coach of Marist-Western Suburbs.
Other Competitions
The Waitara Bears won the Taranaki Rugby League championship. Marist were the runners upTaranaki Grand Final Countdown
''rleague.com'', 11 July 2003
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:1977 New Zealand Rugby League Season
New Zealand rugby league seasons
New Zealand rugby league season