The Eastern Tornadoes were a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

franchise that competed in the

New Zealand Rugby League The New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. SPARC, 2009: 13 The NZRL was founded on 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year.Coffey and Wood ''T ...

Bartercard Cup The Bartercard Cup (successor of the Lion Red Cup) was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zeala ...

and

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 Super 12 competitions. They were formed to represent the

clubs of East Auckland.

History

The Eastern Tornadoes were formed in 1999 to compete in the

's Super 12 competition. They were a merger of the Mt Wellington, Otara and

Pakuranga Pakuranga is an eastern suburb of Auckland, in northern New Zealand. Pakuranga covers a series of low ridges and previously swampy flats, now drained, that lie between the Pakuranga Creek and Tamaki River, two estuarial arms of the Hauraki Gu ...

senior sides. In 2000 they joined the new national

competition. The team originally included players from the

Ellerslie Eagles The Ellerslie Eagles are a rugby league club based in Ellerslie, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1912 and competes in Auckland Rugby League competitions. Its premier team competes in the Sharman cup. The club celebrated its centenary Queen ...

but in 2004 they joined the

Otahuhu Leopards The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby Leagu ...

to form the

Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. ...

, being replaced by the

Manurewa Marlins The Manurewa Marlins are a rugby league club based in Manurewa, New Zealand. In 2018 the Marlins will compete in Auckland Rugby League's Sharman Cup competition. Between 2000 and 2003 they competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition. N ...

.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood ''Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009'', 2009. . In 2006 the competition was revamped and they were merged with the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards to form the

Tamaki Leopards The Tamaki Titans (originally Tamaki Leopards) were a franchise in the now defunct New Zealand rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact spor ...

Notable players

Notable players included:

Jeremiah Pai Jeremiah Pai is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates. Early years He was first noticed when playing for the Eastern Tornadoes in the Bartercard Cup before making his National Rugby League debut for the ...

, Gary Tupou,

Herewini Rangi Herewini Rangi is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who played one match in the NRL. He played as a or , who could also kick goals. Early years Rangi grew up in Huntly and played for the Taniwharau Rugby League Club. In 2001 ...

Zebastian Lucky Luisi Zebastian Lucky Luisi (born 22 December 1984), also known by the nicknames of "Lucky", "Zeb", "Zebba", is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who has competed in the Auckland Rugby League competition, his most recent club being the Howick Horne ...

David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

and Paul Fisiiahi and Hare Te Rangi. They were coached by

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 ...

.Bulls brace for potent tornado
''The Press'', 5 May 2001

Bartercard Cup

The team was always a force in the early years, losing the Grand Final in 2001. However, in 2004 and 2005 the club was a shadow of its former self and failed to qualify for the playoffs. *Two points for a bye awarded as the

Ngongotaha Chiefs The Ngongotaha Chiefs are a New Zealand rugby league club. They are from Ngongotahā in the Bay of Plenty. In 2000 and 2001 they competed in the Bartercard Cup but now they compete in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition. Notable players ...

left the competition.

References

{{Rugby League in Auckland Auckland rugby league clubs Rugby clubs established in 1999 Defunct rugby league teams in New Zealand Mount Wellington Warriors 1999 establishments in New Zealand 2006 disestablishments in New Zealand Sports clubs disestablished in 2006