The Northcote Tigers are a

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 ...

club based in Northcote, New Zealand. The club was founded in 1910 as the Northcote Warriors though they became known as the Northcote Ramblers shortly afterwards.John Haynes ''From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers'', Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. The Tigers compete in the Fox Memorial competition run by 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 ...

. Between 2000 and 2002 the Northcote Tigers competed in the national

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 ...

before being replaced by the North Harbour Tigers for three seasons. In 1994–1996 the

North Harbour Sea Eagles The North Harbour Sea Eagles were a New Zealand rugby league club that represented North Harbour in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996. For the first two seasons they were coached by Graeme Norton. There two main feeder clubs were the Northcot ...

in the

Lion Red Cup The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994 to 1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being a ...

were also based at the Birkenhead War Memorial.

History

1909 Events January–February * January 4 – Explorer Aeneas Mackintosh of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition escaped death by fleeing across ice floes. * January 7 – Colombia recognizes the independence of Panama. * Januar ...

some members of the North Shore rugby were so impressed with the new type of football they had seen that they decided to found a club for the 1910 season. Thus in 1910 the Northcote "Ramblers" League Football Club was born. It wasn't until 1948 however that the club qualified for the first grade and earned 'senior' status. In 1987 they finally won the Fox Memorial championship, under the coaching of David Harding.

Notable players

Probably the club's greatest product was former Kiwi's halfback Gary Freeman. Other famous players to play for the Tigers include

Sean Hoppe Sean, also spelled Seán or Séan in Irish English, is a male given name of Irish origin. It comes from the Irish versions of the Biblical Hebrew name ''Yohanan'' (), Seán (anglicized as ''Shaun/ Shawn/ Shon'') and Séan (Ulster variant; anglici ...

Jason Lowrie Jason Anthony Lowrie (born 22 January 1970) is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New Zealand. Background He is the grand-nephew of fellow international Sam Lowrie.Coffey ...

Gene Ngamu Gene Robert Ngamu (born 27 January 1974) is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer. He played mainly as a or , and is probably best known for his combination with Stacey Jones at the Auckland Warriors and the Kiwis. Early years Ngamu s ...

Paul Rauhihi Paul Rauhihi (born 3 July 1973) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. Rauhihi played in both the National Rugby League and Super League as a . Background Rauhihi was born in Porirua, New Zeal ...

Tony Tuimavave Antonio (Tony) Emil Tuimavave is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, who was the head coach of the Ponsonby Ponies from 2010, primarily as a also as a . He was nicknamed The Chief because he ...

and former New Zealand Warrior

Kevin Locke Kevin Locke may refer to: * Kevin Locke (musician) (born 1954 - passed October 1, 2022), Native American musician *Kevin Locke (rugby league) (born 1989), New Zealand rugby league footballer See also * Kevin Lock (born 1953), English former footba ...

Kiwi representatives

Thirteen players have played for the

New Zealand national rugby league team The New Zealand national rugby league team (Māori: Tīma rīki motu Aotearoa) has represented New Zealand in rugby league since 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of ...

:Northcote and Birkenhead Tigers Rugby League and Sports Club Inc Historical Information
''Auckland Rugby League, 2009 *

Tom Conroy Thomas P. Conroy (born July 7, 1962) is an American politician who served as a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives for the 13th Middlesex district from 2007 to 2015. Early life and education Conroy was born in New York City, New ...

: 1975 * Gary Freeman: 1986-92, 1994-95 * Tom Hadfield: 1956-61 *

Frank Halloran Frank Halloran (13 December 1912 – 1 July 1966) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Halloran played in just two VFL seasons. He started and finished his career at ...

: 1937 *

: 1992-99, 2002 * Len Jordan: 1946-49 *

Josh Liavaa Tu'iono Siosiua "Josh" Liava'a (10 May 1948 – 13 July 2014) was a Tongan-born rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1975 World Cup. Playing career A Northcote Tigers player in the Auckland Rugby League competition, Liava'a pl ...

: 1975 *

: 1993-95, 1999-2000 *

: 1993-99 *

John O'Sullivan John O'Sullivan may refer to: Sports *John O'Sullivan (cricketer) (1918–1991), New Zealand cricketer *John O'Sullivan (cyclist) (born 1933), Australian cyclist *John O'Sullivan (footballer) (born 1993), Irish footballer for Accrington Stanley *J ...

: 1971-72, 1974-75 *

: 2002-04 *

Paddy Tuimavave Paddy Tuimavave is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a in the 1980s and 1990s and represented both New Zealand and Western Samoa. Background He is related to Evarn and Tony, who have both also played for the New Zea ...

: 1990 *

: 1995 *

Alex Glenn Alex Glenn (born 31 July 1988) is a former professional rugby league footballer who captained and played as a and for the Brisbane Broncos in the NRL. He has played for both the and at international level. Background Glenn was born in Auckl ...

: 2012 *

: 2011 The club has also had many

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

representatives, including

Shane Horo Shane Horo is a New Zealand rugby league player who represented New Zealand in the 1988 World Cup. His brother, Mark, was also a New Zealand international and his nephew, Justin, currently plays in the NRL. Playing career Horo originally playe ...

, Stuart Galbraith,

Brian McLennan Brian "Bluey" McClennan (born 16 February 1962) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team (with whom he won the 2005 Tri-nations) and then England' ...

, Logan Campbell,

Latham Tawhai Latham Tawhai (born 23 August 1972) is a rugby league coach and former player from New Zealand. He has also represented his country in softball. Playing career A Northcote Tigers junior, Tawhai played in the Auckland Rugby League competition be ...

Mark Elia Mark Wycliffe Elia (born 25 December 1962)ELIA, Mark Wycliffe 1985 - 89 - Kiwi ...

Ken McIntosh Kenneth McIntosh is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who currently coaches the East Coast Bays Barracudas. He played professionally with the Penrith Panthers. Playing career McIntosh began his career with the Northcote Tigers ...

, and

Willie Poching Willie Poching is a New Zealand professional rugby league football coach and former player. He is the former head-coach of Wakefield Trinity in the Super League. When he was appointed head coach of Wakefield, he became the first Samoan head coa ...

Bartercard Cup

With the creation of the

in 2000 by 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 ...

the Tigers were one of the seven Auckland sides invited to join. However they did not experience that much success, failing to make the top five in three successive attempts. *two points for a Bye 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 ...

dropped out of the competition.

North Harbour Tigers

In 2003 the Bartercard Cup Franchise was renamed the North Harbour Tigers. The new side represented all of the North Shore teams and not just the Northcote club. It experienced a some success in its three-year history, making the top five twice, both times losing in the Elimination Semi-final.

Harbour League

In 2006 the number of Auckland Bartercard Cup sides was reduced from eight to five. This resulted in the North Harbour Tigers and the

Hibiscus Coast Raiders The Hibiscus Coast Raiders are a rugby league club based on the Hibiscus Coast, New Zealand. They compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition and between 2000 and 2005 were also involved in the Bartercard Cup competition. History ...

leaving the competition and being replaced by the

Harbour League Harbour League were a franchise in the now defunct Bartercard Cup rugby league competition in New Zealand. They represented Aucklands North Shore City. They were formed in 2006 to take over from the Hibiscus Coast Raiders and the North Harbour ...

franchise.

Northcote and Birkenhead Senior Team Records (1910-1943 +2022)

The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

References

External links

Official website

Auckland Rugby League
{{OldBartercard Rugby clubs established in 1910 1910 establishments in New Zealand