Auckland Rugby League Centennial Awards Dinner

May I begin by greeting everyone in the languages of the realm of New Zealand, in English, Māori, Cook Island Māori, Niuean, Tokelauan and New Zealand Sign Language. 

Greetings, Kia Ora, Kia Orana, Fakalofa Lahi Atu, Taloha Ni and as it is the evening (Sign)

May I specifically greet you Cameron McGregor, Chairman of the Auckland Rugby League and your fellow board and committee members; Scott Carter; New Zealand Rugby League Board members; Mr Rugby League, Peter Leitch; Your Worship Len Brown; Award recipients; Distinguished Guests otherwise; Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is with great pleasure that my wife Susan and I accepted the invitation to attend the Auckland Rugby League Centennial Annual Awards Dinner tonight. It is really good from this side to be attending this occasion for the third time to celebrate the achievements of players and teams during the course of the past season, but notably, this time, one hundred years of Rugby League in Auckland.

I would like to highlight the significance of Rugby League in New Zealand, and in particular the contribution that the Auckland Rugby League has made to the game over the course of a hundred years.

In my role, as Governor- General for all New Zealanders, like most people in our country I take great pride in the achievements of our sportsmen and women, regardless of the sport or code in which they are participating.  But it is also reasonably well known in the community, that there is a special slot in my schedule for Rugby League.

Rugby League dominates the sporting scene in Northern England, and the eastern states of Australia. In Papua New Guinea, where Susan and I recently completed a formal Governor General State visit, it is very much their national sport.  In New Zealand however, it is Auckland, whose city and province over the past 100 years has made New Zealand competitive against the strongest international opposition.

As others have already spoken of the game’s history, I will be brief on that.  But it suffices to mention the meeting in Yorkshire in 1895 which saw the formation of the Northern Union.  It was very much a blue collar working class person’s game with matches being played on Saturdays. 

The game caught on, as we know, and 10 years later, after the tour by the All Golds, it spread to New Zealand and Australia.   One hundred years later, whilst Central Park, Wigan and Wembley are famous League grounds, so too are Suncorp and the SCG in Australia and likewise Ericsson and before it Carlaw Park in Auckland, the Addington Showgrounds in Christchurch and Wingham Park in Greymouth.

While there is one set of rules, there remain differences in the styles of play and even the atmosphere of matches in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.  For one example, one might compare the way the game is commentated on in the Northern Hemisphere with the way it is covered on radio and television in New Zealand and Australia.  Here as we know, game commentators are upbeat and hugely quick to point out indiscretions – both on and off the field! In the Northern Hemisphere however, commentary is far more understated and humorous because of that.

I recently saw a British game on television where a monster tackle took place crumpling the ball holder to which the commentator said, tongue firmly in his cheek, “That’s why they call Rugby League the family game”.  In another incident, there was a blatant tackle before the ball was received, this receiving the ironic understatement of it being an example of a “Hull Kingston Rovers ‘anticipatory tackle’”!

I digress.  Since the Auckland Rugby League’s founding in 1909, it has become the largest affiliate of the New Zealand Rugby League and I am advised of its 33 constituent clubs spread across the Auckland region. This organisation constitutes a significant ongoing influence within the world of rugby league.

An example of this can be seen in the Kiwi’s victory in last years Rugby League World Cup played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on 22 November 2008 –all recorded in John Coffey and Bernie Woods excellent history of which I have had the privilege of a pre-read.

It is said there that of the opposing squads, there were eleven Auckland-born players, five born in Sydney and four born in Brisbane.  Does this not make it just sense that The World Cup makes its home, at least for the time being, in Auckland .

The Rugby League World Cup symbolises the ultimate goal that those young players can aspire to.  It represents the culmination of the tremendous effort of New Zealand’s youngest and finest rugby league players.  Not only is it the first time New Zealand has ever held the cup, but it is a fine achievement to have wrenched it from Australia where the cup had been held since 1975 and when all the pundits were expecting yet another Kangaroos win.

That achievement reflects the work of associations and clubs like yours that support the code at the grassroots.  World Cup winning teams don’t just spring up out of the ground. 

When thinking about Auckland Rugby League’s achievements, it brings to mind two respected and key players I have had the privilege in my time thus far as Governor General, to invest with New Zealand honours – Tawera Nikau and Ruben Wiki.

Finally, may I offer my congratulations on the ARL reaching its centenary. It has been a wonderful journey over that time and, I am sure, will continue to be full of excitement and challenges in the years ahead.

During my read of the Auckland Rugby League Centennial Book, I found an essential kernel in a poem called “Ode to Carlaw Park” printed on 16 May 1925 in the Auckland Rugby League News, and attributed to F C Parnell.  In the poem’s second to last paragraph there is a succinct description of the game which goes as follows:-

“Rugby League is the game that they play,
Rugby League is the game come to stay,
Where the public of sports,
By the thousands resort,
And get full measure for all that they pay. ”

On that uplifting note, I will close in New Zealand’s first language Māori, by offering everyone greetings and wishing you all good health and fortitude in your endeavours.

No reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, kia ora, kia kaha, tēnā koutou katoa.