# 2010 Auckland Rugby League season

The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on 13 March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on 28 August with the three senior grand finals. This was the 101st season of the competition, which began in 1910.
The season followed the same format as 2009, with a qualification series in the first half of the year giving sixteen teams the opportunity to enter the Fox Memorial competition.

## Fox Memorial Qualification Series

The Appliance Shed Fox Memorial Qualification Series involved sixteen teams divided into two pools, with the top eight teams entering the Fox Memorial competition. It started on 20 March and concluded on 2 May. The bottom eight teams instead entered the Sharman Cup.

### Teams

* Papakura were coached by Dean Clark.
* Otahuhu were coached by Richie Blackmore.
* Mt Albert were coached by Steve Buckingham with Ben Lythe as his assistant coach. The team included Matthew Sturm.
* East Coast Bays were coached by Willie Swann & Joe Vagana.
* Te Atatu included former Warrior Malo Solomona.
* The Bay Roskill Vikings were coached by Duane Mann and featured Willie Wolfgramm.

### Standings

| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
| Otahuhu Leopards | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| Howick Hornets | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
| Mt Albert Lions | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Te Atatu Roosters | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 |
| Richmond Bulldogs | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Marist Saints | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Bay Roskill Vikings | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Pakuranga Jaguars | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | Pts |
| Northcote Tigers | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Glenora Bears | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| Manurewa Marlins | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Papakura Sea Eagles | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| East Coast Bays Barracudas | 7 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 7 |
| Manukau Magpies | 7 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 |
| Mangere East Hawks | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 |
| Ponsonby Ponies | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |

## Phelan Shield

The Mandron Masonry Phelan Shield began on 13 March and featured eleven teams. The Manukau Magpies were the 2009 champions, but in 2010 they were promoted into the Fox Memorial Qualifying series at the expense of the Hibiscus Coast Raiders. The Pukekohe Pythons also replaced the Waiheke Rams.
After finishing last in 2009 the Point Chevalier Pirates received the help of old boys Awen Guttenbeil and Stacey Jones who were able to attract some high-profile players to the club such as Wairangi Koopu, Monty Betham and Karl Te Nana. They went on to win the minor premiership in their 90th season, losing only two games in the round robin, before beating the Otara Scorpions 37–12 in the grand final.
| Team Pld W D L B Pts Pt Chevalier Pirates 221802238 Otara Scorpions 221415233 Papatoetoe Panthers 221415233 Glenfield Greyhounds 221127230 Ellerslie Eagles 221127228 New Lynn Stags 221019225 Mt Wellington Warriors 229011222 Hibiscus Coast Raiders 229011222 Navy/North Shore Dolphins 224115213 Waitemata Seagulls 222018210 Pukekohe Pytons 223215210 | SemifinalsPreliminary FinalGrand FinalPt Chevalier Pirates22Pt Chevalier Pirates37Otara Scorpions20Otara Scorpions12Otara Scorpions34Papatoetoe Panthers28Papatoetoe Panthers22Glenfield Greyhounds20 |

## Sharman Cup

The bottom eight teams in the Fox Memorial Qualification Series took part in the SAS Sharman Cup. The Howick Hornets were the defending champions but in 2010 they earned a place in the Fox Memorial. The Cup was won by the minor premiers, the East Coast Bays Barracudas, who defeated the Bay Roskill Vikings 34–4.
| Team Pld W D L Pts East Coast Bays Barracudas 14120224 Bay Roskill Vikings 14100420 Marist Saints 1491419 Richmond Bulldogs 1481517 Mangere East Hawks 1461713 Manukau Magpies 1451811 Ponsonby Ponies 1420124 Pakuranga Jaguars 1420124 | SemifinalsPreliminary FinalGrand FinalEast Coast Bays16East Coast Bays34Bay Roskill Vikings0Bay Roskill Vikings4Bay Roskill Vikings24Marist Saints10Marist Saints27Richmond Bulldogs24 |

## Fox Memorial

The top eight teams in the Fox Memorial Qualification Series took part in the Appliance Shed Fox Memorial. The Mt Albert Lions were the defending champions. Round One began with the Otahuhu Leopards and Northcote Tigers playing off for the Stormont Shield and Roope Rooster Challenge Trophy. Otahuhu won this contest and also finished the season as minor premiers to claim to Rukutai Shield.
Otahuhu defeated Mt Albert 22–18 in the grand final to claim the Fox Memorial.
| Team Pld W D L Pts Otahuhu Leopards 1493221 Mt Albert Lions 1491419 Howick Hornets 1490518 Te Atatu Roosters 1480616 Glenora Bears 1472516 Northcote Tigers 1471615 Papakura Sea Eagles 1420124 Manurewa Marlins 1411123 | SemifinalsPreliminary FinalGrand FinalOtahuhu Leopards18Mt Albert Lions18Mt Albert Lions26Otahuhu Leopards22Otahuhu Leopards28Te Atatu Roosters14Howick Hornets8Te Atatu Roosters26 |

## Auckland Rugby League Referees Association

The ARL Referees Association celebrated 100 years in 2010 after being founded on 24 May 1910. The referees wore a special centenary strip to celebrate the year.

## High school

St. Paul's College won the University Cup as first XIII champions. Tamaki College won the under 85 kg division while St Paul's College won the Graeme Lowe Cup for Under 15's.

## Awards

| Player of the Year: Phillip Kahui- Mt Albert Coach of the Year: Richard Blackmore – Otahuhu Club of the Year: Bay Roskill Vikings Volunteer of the Year: Maude Morunga – Papakura Top Goal Kicker: Nickolas Lythgo – Marist Top Try Scorer: Phillip Kahui- Mt Albert Referee of the Year: Craig Pascoe Rookie of the Year: Phillip Pese – Te Atatu | Team of the Year: Fullback – James Blackwell (Otahuhu) Winger – Phillip Kahui (Mt Albert) Centre – Jonathan Carl (Te Atatu) Stand-off – Gavin Bailey (Glenora) Halfback – Trent Wallace (Mt Albert) Prop – Freddie Turuwhenua (Otahuhu) Hooker – Darrin Kingi (Manurewa) 2nd Row – Setu Matafeo (Northcote) Lock – Roman Hifo (Papakura) |