# 2008 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2008 New Zealand rugby league season was the 101st season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the inaugural season of the Bartercard Premiership competition that was run by the New Zealand Rugby League. Auckland won the title by defeating the Canterbury Bulls 38–18 in the Grand Final.

## International competitions

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.
* 12 October 2008
| All Golds | 44 – 10 | Māori |
| Try: Vatuvei (2) Hohaia (2) Sa Inu Perrett Wiki Goal: Luke (3) Inu (2) Swann | (report) | Try: Kenny-Dowall Nightingale Goal: Locke |
* Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth Referee: Leon Williamson
* 18 October 2008
| New Zealand | 56 – 8 | Tonga |
| Try: Ropati (3) Nightingale (2) Marshall (2) Sa Leuluai Mannering Goal: Inu (6) Matai (2) | (report) | Try: Vuna Leo-Latu |
* Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Referee: Jason Robinson
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. 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. 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.

## National competitions
### Rugby League Cup

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.

### Bartercard Premiership

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

#### Teams

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.
Auckland were coached by Sam Panapa and included Pita Godinet, Jeremiah Pai and Wayne McDade.
Bay of Plenty were coached by Graham Lowe.

#### Season standings

| Province | Pl | W | D | L | For | Ag | P/D | Pts |
| Canterbury | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 242 | 96 | 146 | 10 |
| Auckland | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 204 | 92 | 112 | 7 |
| Waikato | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 110 | 138 | -28 | 6 |
| Wellington | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 146 | 138 | 8 | 5 |
| Bay of Plenty | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 114 | 186 | -72 | 2 |
| Taranaki | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 96 | 262 | -166 | 0 |

#### Fixtures and results
##### Round 1

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Auckland | 70-0 | Bay of Plenty | 24 August 2008 | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
| Wellington | 18-38 | Canterbury | 24 August 2008 | Porirua Park, Porirua |
| Taranaki | 22-24 | Waikato | 24 August 2008 | Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth |

##### Round 2

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Canterbury | 94-10 | Taranaki | 30 August 2008 | Rugby League Park, Christchurch |
| Waikato | 30-24 | Bay of Plenty | 31 August 2008 | Davies Park, Huntly |
| Wellington | 30-30 | Auckland | 31 August 2008 | Porirua Park, Porirua |

##### Round 3

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Canterbury | 34 - 22 | Bay of Plenty | 6 September 2008 | Rugby League Park, Christchurch |
| Wellington | 56 - 20 | Taranaki | 7 September 2008 | Porirua Park, Porirua |
| Waikato | 10 - 34 | Auckland | 8 September 2008 | Resthills Park, Hamilton |

##### Round 4

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Waikato | 30 - 18 | Wellington | 13 September 2008 | Davies Park, Huntly |
| Bay of Plenty | 48 - 28 | Taranaki | 13 September 2008 | Puketawhero Park, Rotorua |
| Canterbury | 36 - 30 | Auckland | 14 September 2008 | Rugby League Park, Christchurch |

##### Round 5

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Bay of Plenty | 20 - 24 | Wellington | 20 September 2008 | Puketawhero Park, Rotorua |
| Taranaki | 16 - 40 | Auckland | 20 September 2008 | Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth |
| Canterbury | 40 - 16 | Waikato | 21 September 2008 | Rugby League Park, Christchurch |

##### Grand final

| Home | Score | Away | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information | Match Information |
| Home | Score | Away | Date | Venue |
| Canterbury | 18 - 38 | Auckland | 28 September 2008 | Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland |
| Tries (Auckland) | 3: Sione Tongia |
| | 1: Savinata Hafoka, Sunita Laiseni, Raymond Ioane, Wayne McDade, and Pita Godinet |
| Tries (Canterbury) | 2: Nathan Sherlock |
| | 1: Chris Bamford |
| Goals (Auckland) | 2: Jeremiah Pai |
| | 1: William Heta |
| Goals (Canterbury) | 3: Scott Hurrell |
| Broadcast | Māori Television |

## Australian competitions

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.

## Club competitions
### Auckland

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.

### Wellington

The Porirua Vikings won the Wellington Rugby League title.

### Canterbury

Linwood won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

### Other Competitions

The Taniwharau Rugby League Club defeated Hamilton City Tigers to win the Waikato Rugby League competition.
Taniwharau defeated Otumotai to win the WaiCoa Bay championship.
Pacific won the Baywide premier competition. This was a joint competition run by the Coastline and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's.