Counties Manukau rugby league team

The Counties Manukau rugby league team represents the Counties Manukau zone in the Albert Baskerville Trophy. Previously, teams representing Southern Auckland and the Franklin district of New Zealand have competed in the Lion Red Cup and Bartercard Cup. They are nicknamed the Stingrays.^[1]

Counties Manukau in 2010

1994-1996: Heroes

The Counties Manukau Heroes competed in the Lion Red Cup from 1994 to 1996.

Stan Martin coached them in 1994 and 1995 before accepting a contract with the Whitehaven. He was replaced by Cameron Bell for the 1996 season.

Notable players

Notable players included; Duane Mann, Frank Watene, 1995 captain Dean Clark, Whetu Taewa, Clayton Friend, Des Maea, Gus Malietoa-Brown, Solomon Kiri, Jason Temu, Bryan Laumatia, 1994 captain Hitro Okesene and his brother Paul, Esau Mann, Matthew Sturm, Mark Faumuina, Leroy Joe, Richard O'Connell, Te Manawa Loza, Mark Leithbridge. Jerry Seuseu and Willie Wolfgramm.^[2][3]

Season Results

2004-2008: Jetz

Counties Manukau Jetz

Club information
Founded	2004
Departed	2008
Former details
Ground(s)	Mt Smart Stadium Massey Park
Coach(s)	Gary Kemble / Geoff Morton
Competition	Bartercard Cup

The Counties Manukau Jetz were a franchise in the Bartercard Cup.

Notable players

New Zealand Warriors who were assigned to the club included: Sonny Fai, Nathan Fien & George Gatis

History

The Jetz entered the competition in 2004 in the place of the Manurewa Marlins. They finished a disappointing seventh and missed out on the playoffs. 2005 however was a better year with the team performing well, losing to eventual winners Mt Albert in the Preliminary Final. In 2006 they again made the playoffs but were eliminated by Tamaki in the first week. Before the 2007 season long serving head coach Gary Kemble announced his retirement to concentrate on business interests so former Northern Storm coach Geoff Morton was appointed for the season. The teams final season was its worst with it coming second to last.

2010: Zone

The Counties Manukau side lost 14 - 6 in the Albert Baskerville Trophy final

Following the Sparc review of the New Zealand Rugby League the new zonal competition was launched in 2010. Counties Manukau became a stand-alone zone with a team that was separate from Auckland.

Counties Manukau draws players from Mangere East, Howick, Pakuranga, Papakura, Franklin, Tuakau, Waiuku, Pukekohe, Papatoetoe, Otara, Manukau and Otahuhu.^[4]

In the 2010 season, Counties Manukau won the Under 15 and Under 17 tournaments but lost the final of the senior competition, being defeated by Auckland 14 - 6.

References

Rugby league in New Zealand Federations New Zealand Rugby League Representative teams Men's ("Kiwis") Women's ("Kiwi Ferns") Junior Māori Residents New Zealand Kiwis Players Coaches Matches Zones Northern Auckland Counties-Manukau Upper Central Mid-Central Wellington Southern Districts Auckland (team) Bay of Plenty (team) Canterbury (team) Coastline (team) Gisborne Tairawhiti (team) Manawatu (team) Northland (team) Otago (team) Southland (team) Hawke's Bay (team) Taranaki (team) Tasman (team) Waikato (team) Wellington (team) West Coast (team) Australian competition teams New Zealand Warriors (NRL) Auckland Vulcans (defunct) Auckland Lions (defunct) Competitions National Competition Rugby League Cup Bartercard Premiership (defunct) Bartercard Cup (defunct) Lion Red Cup (defunct) New Zealand domestic seasons 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017