14 October 2008
By WO1 Louise Waiariki
The NZ Army Rugby League Team retained its title as NZDF Rugby League champions at the recent Rugby League Services Tournament held at Ohakea Airbase in September.
The team gathered at Ohakea over the weekend 13-14 Sept for a training camp. With eight new caps in the team it was always going to be a hard fought competition, but then there were the experienced old hands who returned for another shot at the title.
The first game, Navy Vs Air, is usually the hardest fought competition, but this year with Air missing a few experienced players they couldn’t manage a win and went down 20 – 26. Day two was Army’s first game and always the nerve racking one, but Army held its head and demolished Air 42-20. With some good runs, hard hits and major break- throughs the Army team showed the other two Services who were the ones to beat.
On the final day of play Army met Navy. This is always a well contested game with Navy usually making the upset against either Service. The game started off well, but as the weather deteriorated so did the score line. Navy weren’t going to let Army have it easy and Army were hungry for the win. Nerves were high on the side line and with Army just ahead at half time it was still anyone’s game.
Navy came out fast after the half to start strong, capitalising on some errors by the Army team. It was neck and neck and at the full time whistle it was 22 all, but with no golden rule played Army retained the trophy for another year.
The Army Team took out the Sportsman Trophy, which was selected by the referees and a good indication of the tight knit team of 2008, LBDR Warren Puha proudly accepted the trophy on behalf of the 2008 NZ Army Rugby League Team and NZDF Rugby League Champions for 2008.
LBDR Noble was named Forward of the Tournament 2008. LBDR Puha also accepted the Mad Butcher Trophy for another year on behalf of the 2008 NZ Army Rugby League Team.
Eleven players from the 2008 NZ Army Rugby League Team were named in the squad for the Defence Forces World Cup to be held in Australia in November this year. All credit to the coaches for 2008 - SSGT Joe Taipari and SSGT Baz Henry - and the strapper, SSGT Nicky Hansen who kept the players mended to get them on the field in one way or another, along with a dedicated team who knew what the goal was and went for it. It was also said that the new coach for 2008 (Joe T) didn’t want to be the first coach to lose the title, since Army have held it for so long.
Special thanks go to the Army Rugby League major sponsor “Liquorland Feilding” for their continued support of our great game.