The 1983 New Zealand rugby league season was the 76th season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand.

International competitions

New Zealand drew a series with

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 ...

1-all and defeated Papua New Guinea 60–20. New Zealand were coached by Graham Lowe and included; Fred Ah Kuoi,

Dean Bell Dean Bell, also known by the nicknames of "Mean Dean", and "Deano", is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer, and coach. A New Zealand international representative centre, he played his club football in England, Australia a ...

, Ian Bell,

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 ...

, first Test captain Mark Graham, Gary Kemble,

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 ...

Ron O'Regan Ronald Phillip O'Regan is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer, and coach who represented New Zealand between 1983 and 1986. His nephew, Daniel, played for the New Zealand Warriors. Playing career As a young boy he idolised players such ...

, Gary Prohm, Joe Ropati,

Gordon Smith Gordon Smith may refer to: In politics *Gordon H. Smith (born 1952), former U.S. Senator from Oregon, and current Area Authority for the LDS Church * Gordon Elsworth Smith (1918–2005), Canadian politician * Gordon Smith (academic) (1927–2009), ...

Dane Dane or Danes may refer to: People Pertaining to Denmark * Dane, somebody from Denmark * Danes, an ethnic group native to Denmark * Danes (Germanic tribe) Other people * Dane (name), a surname and a given name (and a list of people with the nam ...

and

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 ...

, PNG Test captain

Howie Tamati Howard Kevin Tamati (born 3 January 1953), generally known as Howie Tamati, is a New Zealand politician and former professional rugby league footballer and coach who played for New Zealand. He is the cousin of fellow international Kevin Tamati. ...

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 ...

, second Test captain Graeme West, Nick Wright,

Robin Alfeld Robin Leonard Alfeld is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Alfeld played for the Hornby Panthers in the Canterbury Rugby League competition between 1976 and 1985, scoring 116 tries for his club - a Ho ...

Marty Crequer Martin (Marty) Paul Crequer (born 28 June 1965) is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. Playing career A Hornby junior in the Canterbury competition, Crequer was a Schoolboy Kiwi in 1979 and a Junior Kiwi ...

, Clayton Friend, Frank Tinitelia,

Hugh McGahan Hugh Joseph McGahanMcGAHAN, Hugh Joseph 1982 - 90 - Kiwi #566

Dean Orr Dean Orr is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. Playing career Orr grew up in Te Atatū Peninsula, attended Matipo Primary School and played for the Te Atatu Roosters in the Auckland Rugby League The ...

and John Ackland. In the match against Papua New Guinea, McGahan scored a world Test record six tries. First Division champions Hull FC, who included

and Gary Kemble, drew 16-all with Auckland at Carlaw Park. New Zealand Māori toured the United Kingdom. Coached by

Andy Berryman Andrew Nuki Berryman was a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand. Playing career Originally an Otahuhu junior, Berryman moved to Huntly and joined Taniwharau. He once scored ten tries for Taniwharau in a single game. He ...

, the side included

Nolan Tupaea Nolan John Kotahitanga o te Hau Tupaea is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s. He played at representative level for New Zealand ( Heritage № 557), and Wellington, as a , i.e. number 6. Playing ...

, Pat Poasa,

Riki Cowan Areariki Arthur Cowan "Riki" Cowan (born 28 December 1963) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Playing career Cowan represented Auckland and the New Zealand Māori side before being select ...

, Russell Tuuta, Owen Wright,

Hugh McGahan Hugh Joseph McGahanMcGAHAN, Hugh Joseph 1982 - 90 - Kiwi #566

, Kevin Schaumkell, Cedric Lovett,

, Mark Roiall,

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

, Tom Waitai, Joe Ropati, Lou Kupa, Trevor Clark, Charles Paki, Clayton Friend,

(vice-captain), Ian Bell (captain), Nick Wright and Anthony Murray.

won the New Zealand Rugby League's player of the year award.

National competitions

Rugby League Cup

Wellington again 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 Inter-Districts competition.Sky Rugby League Annual '98 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1998 Auckland defeated Central Districts 52–2 at Carlaw Park. Auckland were coached

Bob Bailey Bob Bailey may refer to: *Bob Bailey (actor) (1913–1983), American radio actor *Bob Bailey (baseball) (1942–2018), American third baseman in Major League Baseball *Bob Bailey (ice hockey) (1931–2003), Canadian ice hockey right winger *Bob Bai ...

and included

, John Ackland,

, Owen Wright,

Mark Bourneville Mark Trevor "Horse" Bourneville (born 30 June 1963) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer. He represented both New Zealand and France in international rugby league and is the only dual-international the two countries share. ...

and Nick Wright. Auckland also defeated New Zealand Māori 44–2.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909–2009'', 2009. .

District competition

The

West Coast West Coast or west coast may refer to: Geography Australia * Western Australia *Regions of South Australia#Weather forecasting, West Coast of South Australia * West Coast, Tasmania **West Coast Range, mountain range in the region Canada * Britis ...

defeated Canterbury 28–8 at

Wingham Park Wingham Park is a rugby league stadium in Greymouth, New Zealand. The ground is owned by the West Coast Rugby League. History Wingham Park is the home of rugby league on the West Coast and hosts the West Coast Rugby League grand final each year. ...

.Coffey, John. ''Canterbury XIII'', Christchurch, 1987. Their biggest win since 1948. Canterbury B defeated

Otago Otago (, ; mi, Ōtākou ) is a region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local government reg ...

- Southland 20–16.

National Club competition

Otahuhu won the Tusk Cup, defeating Randwick 30–22. Otahuhu had eliminated the Mount Albert Lions 14–8 in a quarterfinal.

Australasian competition

Central Districts were eliminated in Round one of the KB Cup when they lost 50–0 to the Newtown Jets at Leichhardt Oval.

Club competitions

Auckland

Otahuhu won 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 and Kiwi Shield.Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1990 ''New Zealand Rugby League'', 1990. p. 72 They defeated the Mount Albert Lions 14–11 in the Fox Memorial Grand Final. Mount Albert won the Rukutai Shield while Manukau won the Roope Rooster and Stormont Shield.

Richmond Richmond most often refers to: * Richmond, Virginia, the capital of Virginia, United States * Richmond, London, a part of London * Richmond, North Yorkshire, a town in England * Richmond, British Columbia, a city in Canada * Richmond, California, ...

won the Sharman Cup while Glenora/Kelston won the Norton Cup. Owen Wright (Otahuhu) won the Best and Fairest award. Darryl Morrison (Otahuhu) won the Lipscombe Cup,

(City Newton) again 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 ...

, John Ackland (Mt Albert) and Joe Ropati (Otahuhu) won the Bert Humphries Memorial, Paul Sorich (Ellerslie) won the Tetley Trophy, Phil Harrison(Northcote) won the Painter Rosebowl Trophy and Ian Gorden Otahuhu) won the Hyland Memorial Cup.

played for Mount Albert while Otahuhu included

Hugh McGahan Hugh Joseph McGahanMcGAHAN, Hugh Joseph 1982 - 90 - Kiwi #566

, Frank Tinitelia and Owen Wright.

Wellington

Randwick 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.

Canterbury

Hornby won the Canterbury Rugby League's Pat Smith Challenge Trophy.

Other Competitions

The Waitara Bears defeated Western Suburbs 16–12 in the Taranaki Rugby League grand final.Taranaki Grand Final Countdown
''rleague.com'', 11 July 2003

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1983 New Zealand Rugby League Season New Zealand rugby league seasons Rugby league season New Zealand rugby league season