2008 New Zealand rugby league season

{{see also|List of New Zealand Kiwis matches|New Zealand at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup}}

The New Zealand national rugby league team played two matches in New Zealand in 2008 as build up to the World Cup. As the All Golds they played a match against the New Zealand Māori in New Plymouth. They also defeated Tonga in a test match in Auckland. The Kiwis went on to win the World Cup for the first time, defeating Australia 34 - 20 in the Final. Coached by Stephen Kearney the World Cup squad was captain Nathan Cayless, Adam Blair, Greg Eastwood, David Fa'alogo, Nathan Fien, Dene Halatau, Bronson Harrison, Lance Hohaia, Krisnan Inu, David Kidwell, Thomas Leuluai, Issac Luke, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall, Steve Matai, Jason Nightingale, Sam Perrett, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Setaimata Sa, Jeremy Smith, Evarn Tuimavave and Manu Vatuvei.

{{rugbyleaguebox |

bg = #eeeeee |

date = 12 October 2008 |

team1 = All Golds {{flagicon|NZ}}|

score = 44 – 10 |

report = [http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/10/13/all-golds-defeat-new-zealand-maori.aspx (report)]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} |

team2 = {{rl|New Zealand Māori}}|

points1 = Try: Vatuvei (2)
Hohaia (2)
Sa
Inu
Perrett
Wiki
Goal: Luke (3)
Inu (2)
Swann|

points2 = Try: Kenny-Dowall
Nightingale
Goal: Locke|

stadium = Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth |

attendance = |

referee = Leon Williamson {{flagicon|NZ}}|

}}

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{{rugbyleaguebox |

bg = #eeeeee |

date = 18 October 2008 |

team1 = {{rl-rt|New Zealand}} |

score = 56 – 8 |

report = [https://web.archive.org/web/20081025083345/http://www.rlwc08.com/news/news/archive/2008/10/19/new-zealand-beat-tonga-56-8.aspx (report)] |

team2 = {{rl|Tonga}} |

points1 = Try: Ropati (3)
Nightingale (2)
Marshall (2)
Sa
Leuluai
Mannering
Goal: Inu (6)
Matai (2)|

points2 = Try: Vuna
Leo-Latu |

stadium = Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland |

attendance = |

referee = Jason Robinson {{flagicon|AUS}} |

}}

Earlier in the year New Zealand had lost 12-28 to Australia. Roy Asotasi, Iosia Soliola, Sonny Bill Williams, Frank Pritchard and Brent Webb played in this match but were not included in the World Cup squad.

As part of the Festival of World Cups New Zealand sent teams to the University Rugby League World Cup, International Police Rugby League World Cup, Women's Rugby League World Cup and Defence Forces World Cup. New Zealand, coached by Frank Endacott, won the Women's World Cup while the New Zealand Police lost the final of the Police World Cup.

The New Zealand Māori side were coached by Luke Goodwin with Richie Blackmore and Chris Anderson providing assistance.[http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2105545/2422021.xhtml Big name help for All Golds, Māori] TVNZ, 25 September 2008 The squad to face the All Golds was Kevin Locke, Jordan Rapana, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Wairangi Koopu, Jason Nightingale, Arana Taumata, Rangi Chase, Sam McKendry, Ben Ellis, Weller Hauraki, Bronson Harrison, Anthony Cherrington, Lee Te Maari, Jared Kahu, Joseph Cahill, Chance Bunce, James Tamou and Kevin Proctor.[http://tvnz.co.nz/content/2173183/2422021.xhtml NZ Māori loaded with experience] TVNZ, 3 October 2008 Bronx Goodwin, Chase Stanley, Craig Smith, Charlie Herekotukutuku and Karl Johnson were added to the team for the World Cup opening match against the Indigenous Dreamtime Team.

The New Zealand Rugby League ruled that the Rugby League Cup would be defended in all Bartercard Premiership matches, home and away. The Cup changed hands in the Final, when Auckland defeated the holders, Canterbury, 38–18.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-86969-366-4}}, p.p.350-357.

{{Infobox sports season

| title =Bartercard Premiership 2008

| league =Bartercard Premiership

| sport =Rugby league

| logo =Nzrlbcp.png

| pixels =100px

| duration =

| no_of_teams =6

| attendance =

| TV =Māori Television

| season =

| league_champs =Canterbury

| league_champ_name=Minor Premiership

| season_champs =Auckland

| season_champ_name=Major Premiership

| seasonslist =

| seasonslistnames =NZRL

| prevseason_link =Bartercard Cup season 2007

| prevseason_year =2007

| nextseason_link =2009 Bartercard Premiership

| nextseason_year =2009

}}

The 2008 season was the inaugural Bartercard Premiership. It replaced the Bartercard Cup as the top division of rugby league in New Zealand.

Canterbury were co-coached by Brent Stuart and Dave Perkins with Phil Prescott as the director of coaching. Mike Dorreen and Logan Edwards were the co-coached of the age group side.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-16353630.html Bulls score Prescott ]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} The Press, 13 May 2008

Auckland were coached by Sam Panapa and included Pita Godinet, Jeremiah Pai and Wayne McDade.

Bay of Plenty were coached by Graham Lowe.[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/sport/news/bay-league-draw-criticised/3784194/ Bay league draw criticised] Daily Post, 9 September 2008

{{main|2008 New Zealand Warriors season}}

The New Zealand Warriors competed in the National Rugby League competition. They finished 8th out of 16 teams before winning in the Qualifying and Semi finals before losing to eventual premiers Manly.

The Junior Warriors finished third in the Toyota Cup, making the finals before losing to the Brisbane Broncos in a Preliminary Final.

The Auckland Vulcans also competed in the NSW Cup.

{{see also|Auckland Rugby League club trophies}}

The Mt Albert Lions won the Fox Memorial, defeating Otahuhu 24–22 in the final. The Otahuhu Leopards won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership) while Richmond won the Stormont Shield. Richmond also won the Sharman Cup (second division) while the New Lynn Stags won the Pheland Shield (third division).

Mt Albert were coached by Brent Gemmell and included Steve Buckingham, Sala Fa'alogo, Paul and David Fisiiahi, Anthony Swann and Matthew Sturm.Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. {{ISBN|978-1-86969-366-4}}, p.350.

The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.[http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/rugby-league/5906004/Porirua-Vikings-true-champions Porirua Vikings rugby league's true champions] The Press, 4 November 2011

Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club defeated Hamilton City Tigers to win the Waikato Rugby League competition.[http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-25386568.html Tigers stand in way of Taniwharau's four-peat ]{{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Waikato Times, 19 July 2010

Taniwharau defeated Otumotai to win the WaiCoa Bay championship.[http://i.stuff.co.nz/waikato-times/sport/576390/Its-all-gold-for-champions-Taniwharau It's all gold for champions Taniwharau], i.stuff.co.nz, 31 January 2009

Pacific won the Baywide premier competition.[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/sport/news/falcons-make-bay-league-debut/3800224/ Falcons make Bay league debut] The Daily Post, 3 April 2009 This was a joint competition run by the Coastline and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's.[http://www.rotoruadailypost.co.nz/local/news/first-game-back-close-for-centre/3774378/ First game back close for centre] The Daily Post, 2 June 2008

• 2008 in rugby league

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.nzrl.co.nz/ NZRL Website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20080821035848/http://www.leaguenet.co.nz/ Bartercard Premiership Website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20121021185824/http://www.freewebs.com/newzealandrugbyleague/nzpc2008.htm Fan site]

{{Rugby League in New Zealand}}

{{2008 in rugby league}}

{{BartercardPremiership}}