The 1979 New Zealand rugby league season was the 72nd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.

International competitions

New Zealand lost a series to Great Britain 1–2. New Zealand were coached by

Ces Mountford Cecil Ralph Mountford (16 June 1919 – 19 July 2009), also known by the nickname of "The Blackball Bullet", was a New Zealand rugby league footballer and Coach (sport), coach. Mountford was one of ten siblings, he and four of his brothers pl ...

and included;

Mark Broadhurst Mark Broadhurst (20 June 1974 in Barnsley, Yorkshire, England) is a former English right arm fast bowler and right-handed batsman, who played for Yorkshire from 1991 to 1994. He also appeared for Nottinghamshire in 1996. Broadhurst took pa ...

, third Test captain Fred Ah Kuoi,

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 ...

, Warren Collicoat, Barry Edkins,

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, Lewis Hudson,

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 ...

, Dane O'Hara, Paul Ravlich, Gordon Smith,

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 ...

, Dane Sorensen, Howie and Kevin Tamati,

Dick Uluave Stephen Jeffery "Dick" UluaveUluave, Stephen Jeffery (Dick) 1979 ...

, first and second Test captain Graeme West and

Shane Varley Shane Varley is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Varley played for Richmond and the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League competition and represented Auckland.Coffey, John and Bernie ...

. The Lions match against Canterbury was cancelled due to flooded fields at the Addington Showgrounds and the need to get the ground prepared for the second Test.Coffey, John. ''Canterbury XIII'', Christchurch, 1987. Auckland lost to Great Britain 10–18 in the Lions final match on tour in front of 12,500 fans at Carlaw Park. Auckland included Gary Kemble,

, Ken Andersson,

Toa Fepuleai Gasetoa Fepuleai (known as Toa or Gus Fepuleai) is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand . Early years Fepuleai was born in Western Samoa and attended Seddon High School where he played at fullback in the scho ...

, captain Fred Ah Kuoi,

, Wayne Robertson, Murray Netzler, Doug Gailey, Alan McCarthy, Owen Wright (rugby league), Owen Wright and Gary Prohm. The Otahuhu Leopards defeated the New South Wales Rugby League's Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 8–2 at Carlaw Park. The Auckland under 19 side toured New South Wales.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009'', 2009. . Fred Ah Kuoi won the New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year award.

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

Taranaki rugby league team, Taranaki held the Rugby League Cup at the end of the season.

Inter-district competition

Central Districts rugby league team, Central Districts won the Inter-Districts competition, defeating Auckland 26–18, the South Island rugby league team, South Island 21-16 and Northern Districts rugby league team, Northern Districts 22–12.Sky Rugby League Annual '98 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1998 The South Island rugby league team, South Island defeated Auckland 11–10 at Carlaw Park. Auckland defeated Northern Districts 22–12. The South Island defeated Northern Districts 42–8. Central Districts included Howie and Kevin Tamati, Graeme West, Bruce Gall and Warren Collicoat.

Seasons Standings

District competition

Auckland won the Rothmans trophy, defeating the West Coast rugby league team, West Coast 43–19 at Carlaw Park in the final. The West Coast rugby league team, West Coast defeated Canterbury at Wingham Park. Fred Ah Kuoi,

and Gary Kemble played for Auckland, who were coached by Don Hammond (rugby league), Don Hammond. Canterbury included Robin Alfeld, Lewis Hudson, Michael O'Donnell (rugby league), Michael O'Donnell, Bob Jarvis (rugby league), Bob Jarvis, captain Wally Wilson (rugby league), Wally Wilson, Alan Rushton, Wayne Wallace, Barry Edkins and

Australasian competition

Auckland failed to make the semi-finals of the 1979 Amco Cup, Amco Cup after losing 5–12 to the Penrith Panthers, 3–12 to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and 10–30 to the Cronulla Sharks. Canterbury 12 (McCartney, McDonald tries, McDonald 3 goals) d Auckland 3 (Varley try) at Leichhardt Oval. Wednesday 30 May 1979. Crowd: 3,000. Referee – Gary Cook.

Club competitions

Auckland

Richmond Bulldogs, Richmond won the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial Trophy and Stormont Shield.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1990. p. 72 They defeated Otahuhu Leopards, Otahuhu 16–15 in the Fox final. Otahuhu won the Rukutai Shield and Kiwi Shield while Glenora Bears, Glenora won the Roope Rooster, Northcote Tigers, Northcote won the Sharman Cup and Glenora Corona won the Norton Cup. Wayne Robertson (Te Atatu) won the Best and Fairest award. Paul Bridges (Mt Albert) won the Lipscombe Cup, Fred Ah Kuoi (Richmond) won the Rothville Trophy, Alan McCarthy (Ponsonby Marist) and

(Mt Wellington) won the Bert Humphries Memorial,

(Mangere East) won both the Tetley Trophy and Painter Rosebowl Trophy and Joe Gwynne (Richmond) won the Hyland Memorial Cup. The Mt Roskill Red Devils and the Blockhouse Bay Cougars started discussion in 1979 on amalgamation (under direction of the Auckland Rugby League) and in October 1979 the amalgamation papers were signed, forming the Bay Roskill Vikings. Richmond were coached by Joe Gwynne. Eastern United, a combined senior team from the Howick Hornets, Howick and Pakuranga Jaguars, Pakuranga, finished the season undefeated in the second division with only three draws. The team was coached by Murray Eade and included Paul Matete.

Wellington

Upper Hutt won the Wellington Rugby League's Appleton Shield. Kevin Tamati played for Upper Hutt.

Canterbury

Eastern Suburbs won the Canterbury Rugby League's Pat Smith Challenge Trophy. Halswell played its first season in premier grade.

Other Competitions

The Waitara Bears won the Taranaki Rugby League championship. Hawera were the runners upTaranaki Grand Final Countdown
''rleague.com'', 11 July 2003 Runanga defeated Eastern Suburbs 10–6 in Greymouth to win the Thacker Shield. Eastern Suburbs were so upset with the refereeing that they relinquished the right to challenge in 1980.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1979 New Zealand Rugby League Season New Zealand rugby league seasons 1979 in New Zealand rugby league, Rugby league season