The 2026 season was the 118th season since the founding of the Auckland Rugby League in 1909. The men's and women's senior season began on April 25. The Fox Memorial Shield competition featured just eight teams for the first time in over a decade with a second division (Sharman Cup) also featuring just eight sides. A third division of five teams was also formed for the first time in over a decade. Richmond, the Fox Memorial winners of 2024, were in the Phelan Shield competition after being unable to field two senior sides which was a requirement to play in the Fox or Sharman competitions. The Steele-Shanks womens premiership competition featured six sides with a Championship featuring three sides (Waitemata, Otara, and a second Richmond side).
On August 16 the Steele-Shanks Womens Premiership final was played at North Harbour Stadium with the Otahuhu Leopards winning a see-sawing contest 32-26 over Mangere East who had twice held the lead. The Otahuhu club completed the double with their mens side defending their title, once again completing an unbeaten season when they beat Mount Albert Lions 20-16 in a tight final. Mt Albert had led with 10 minutes remaining following three second half tries to over turn a 0-14 halftime deficit before a late penalty and try to Otahuhu saw the game swing back their way. The win meant they had won 33 consecutive games and was now just two first grade championship wins behind Mt Albert with 14 to Mt Alberts 16. The Sharman Cup was won for the third time by the Hibiscus Coast Raiders following wins in 1998 and 2001. They defeated Howick Hornets 24-18 in an even contest at North Harbour Stadium on August 15. The win meant they were promoted to the Fox Memorial competition for the 2027 season, replacing Marist Saints who were relegated after finishing last in the Fox competition. Richmond Rovers defeated Pakuranga Jaguars 26-12 in the final of the Phelan Shield. At the conclusion of the club season on August 22 a promotion/relegation match was played between Ponsonby Ponies who had finished second to last in the Fox Memorial Mens Premiership and Hibiscus Coast Raiders who had finished runners up in the Sharman Cup. Ponsonby came back from 10-6 down at halftime to win 24-16 to remain in the Fox Memorial competition for the 2027 season.
Contents
News
Premier competitions
The Fox Memorial Shield competition began on April 25. Due to covid disrupted seasons from 2020 to 2022 the Auckland Rugby League decided that “2023 and 2024 will work as a bridge between the 2022 shortened season and by 2025 will see a return to a more exclusive Fox Memorial Premiership competition”, with the 2025 season seeing only 10 teams in the Fox Memorial premiership, down from the 12 teams of 2023 and 2024. And then it was reduced once more to eight teams for the 2026 season. Te Atatū and Ponsonby were the two teams relegated, though Richmond were unable to field both a premier and reserve grade team meaning they were ineligible for the Fox and Sharman competitions for 2026 and were relegated to the Phelan Shield competition, with Ponsonby taking their place in the Fox Memorial competition for the season. The 2026 season also saw the reintroduction of the Phelan Shield competition, effectively the 3rd division after it had been removed during the covid and post-covid years with all teams being placed in 2 divisions.
The opening round of senior games took place on Anzac Day, April 25. It was announced by Auckland Rugby League that they had formed a partnership with BarTV to show all Fox Memorial and Steele-Shanks games live (streamed). BarTV is an Australian based site which live streams rugby league games across Australia with this being their first move into New Zealand domestic rugby league. It is a subscription site meaning viewers pay to watch the games with a portion of the money going back to the organisations involved.
Death of Eugene Hanna
On Tuesday, May 12, Glenora reserve grade player passed away in Auckland Hospital. He had spent two weeks there before succumbing to "an unsurvivable head injury" suffered in their April 25 match with Te Atatu Roosters at Jack Colvin Park. He had collapsed near the conclusion of the match by the Glenora dugout area. The premier match was delayed while an ambulance was called at 2.17pm and they took Hanna to Auckland City Hospital. Glenora chairwoman, Janet Hunt said that "Eugene was a valued player in our Premier Reserves squad and although a new Bears member had good friends within the club". He had also played for several West Auckland football clubs including Lynn-Avon and West Auckland based in Kelston.
Clubrooms
Northcote Tigers opened their new clubrooms at the Birkenhead War Memorial. They had been without one for several years after their original clubrooms were demolished as they were beneath the condemned grand stand at the same location. The new clubrooms feature a relatively small indoor seated area but a large deck for entertaining which opens out on to the main field.
On April 24 the Howick Hornets opened their new bar in their clubrooms at Paparoa Park in Howick. The same day they played Arataki Bears and drew 11-11. The Marist club began producing an online newsletter with the first edition in April giving an update on the process of building a new club room following their original clubroom at Murray Halberg Park in Ōwairaka being burned down on November 16, 2023. The newsletter said that the committee was exploring two options “1. Moving an existing building on site and renovate fit for purpose. 2. Complete rebuilding.” Following this they would look at costs and then make recommendations, working with funders to proceed.
Fox Memorial Competition
The competition featured eight teams who would play a home and away round robin meaning 14 rounds. The competing sides were Bay Roskill, Marist, Manukau, Mt Albert, Otahuhu, Papakura, Pt Chevalier, and Ponsonby.
Fox Memorial
The match at Bert Henham Park between Otahuhu and Mt Albert was for the Stormont Cup as they were the grand finalists from the previous season. The trophy was first played for in 1925 and at that time was between the winner of the Fox Memorial and winner of the Roope Rooster however in recent decades it was changed to the present match up. Otahuhu added the trophy to their collection with a 32 to 12 win after trailing at halftime 10-12. Phoenix Hunt, the Otahuhu hooker crossed for two tries, while forwards Sebastine Ikahihifo and Connor Taurua-Purcell used their size to crash over for a try each. William Fakatoumafi converted four of their six tries. For Mt Albert hooker and captain Navajo Doyle scored a try and added two conversions.
Bay Roskill continued their strong start to the season with a comfortable win over Papakura at Blockhouse Bay Reserve. The features of the match were the very poor handling of Papakura who rarely got to a last tackle kick and the attackign attitude of the home side who moved the ball around in their characteristic style. Vinny Vogel opened the scoring in the 19th minute after an even contest to that point. It opened the floodgates with 18 points in 6 minutes. Josh Tanielu who had started the season in the NZ Warriors NSW Cup side scored a spectacular try when he broke through the defence and stood up Jese Qaraniqo before running another 50 metres to score in the corner and minutes later Justus Leaoseve scored and the conversion gave them an 18-0 lead. Brodie Strickland pulled one back for Papakura 6 minutes before half time. But any hint of a comeback with extinguished by tries to Jarvis Leaoseve and Zion Tanielu. Lorenzo Filimaua scored a long range try for Papakura after he scooped up a loose ball to make it 28-10 before Jarvis Leaoseve finished the scoring for the Vikings. At Fowlds Park the home side, Mt Albert broke out to an early 12-0 lead before Pt Chevelier worked back into the game with tries to Patrick Sipley (23m) and Lani Graham-Taufa (34m). The teams exchanged tries in the second half with Paaua Papanui-Abbott (43m, 56m) and Matagi-Blade Collins-Kamuhemu (44m, 75m) each scoring a double for Mt Albert and Pt Chevalier respectively with Collins-Kamuhemu's second try securing the win with less than five minutes remaining. Wiremu Makea converted all four of Mt Albert's tries while Trujon Nomani-Brown kicked four from five for the Pirates. Manukau bounced back from their opening round defeat to thrash Marist 50-14 at Moyle Park. The teams traded early tries to Ah Fook Ah Fook (3m), and Isileli Ula (8m) before Manukau began to take control with prolific try scorer Kahn Munokoa scoring two tries with the Magpies leading 20-8 at the break. With Takaia Williams scoring in the 48th minute, Tama-Teahorangi Darlington's conversion gave Marist hope at 2014 before the Magpies ran in five tries to blow the score out. Munokoa scored his third while Leti Muller converted all five of them to go with two in the first half. At Prince Edward Park the visiting Ponsonby side, playing in their alternative City-Newton style strip threatened a big upset, going down 18-16 to the Otahuhu side which has now won nineteen consecutive premier games. Saula Solomona scored in the corner for the Ponies after a clever cross field kick from captain Dylan Tavita. Otahuhu replied through tries to Jamel Hunt (19m) and Phoenix Hunt (26m) who pushed through from dummy half. William Fakatoumafi scored from scrappy play and his conversion gave them an 18-4 halftime lead. The second half so an even contest with Ponsonby the only side to score, with a try to Dylan Tavita in the 56th minute and another to Levi Helleur-Atiga (66m) after Jeremiah Poutu had spilled the ball taking a hitup. Tavita converting both. However the Leopards held on for the narrow win to defend the Roope Rooster.
Full season top try scorers and point scorers
On August 22 Ponsonby who had finished second to last in the Fox Memorial played against Howick who had finished runner up in the Sharman Cup. The match was a promotion-relegation game to find the eighth side to play in the Fox Memorial premiership for the 2027 season. It was the first time such a game had been played in well over a decade. The match was played at Victoria Park, Ponsonby's home ground. Ponsonby won 24-16 after scoring two late tries to seal victory and ensure that they stayed in the Fox Memorial competition. Howick opened the scoring in the 17th minute when Darius Niumata cut through a gap 40 metres out and ran in untouched to give the Hornets a 4-0 lead. The Ponies responded minutes later when they scored a try from close range and Dylan Tavita's conversion put them two points ahead. In the 34th minute Howick broke away on halfway and the final pass sent Justin Reynolds in to run round and score behind the posts with the conversion Howick took a 10-6 lead into half time. The second half saw the sides trade tries with Ponsonby the first to score when Ben Wharton-Beneict drove through some goal line defence to score under the posts, but then veteran prop, Tony Tuia bounced out of a tackle ten metres out and then powered over. Tuia had come out of retirement during the season to bolster Howick along with Jethro Friend who was playing at hooker. Niumata's conversion put Howick back up 16-12 with 30 minutes remaining. However Ponsonby were finishing the stronger of the two sides with their bigger forwards beginning to get on top. A right side shift saw a flat pass reach Saula Solomona and he ran in to level the scores with Tavita's conversion putting them in front 18-16. Then a minute from full time Soana Hufanga used his weight to force himself down on the tryline to seal the win before Tavita added the extras.
Steele Shanks Women's Premiership
Manurewa moved out to a 12-8 halftime lead following close range converted tries to Freesia Pokaia (7m), and Maitua Feterika (16m). Jewel Bowen dived over under the posts in the 48th minute for Mt Albert to narrow Manurewa's lead to 18-14 following Hanae Vito-Toleafoa's conversion. A Sharnyze Pihema try converted by Platinum Masters restored Manurewa's lead and then Wati Delailoloma scored on the right edge and MJ Finau scored an individual try which stared on halfway to push the result beyond doubt. Amber Kani then finished off the scoring with a try from halfway.
Otahuhu dominated Mt Albert in the first half and led 30-0 at the break at Fowlds Park. Mt Albert Lionesses proved more resilient in the second half and actually outscored Otahuhu 2 tries to 1. For Otahuhu Dayna Moon scored twice while Tiana Thomson converted all of their five tries, with Onjeurlina Hunt adding an unconverted try in the second half.
Manurewa were too strong for the Mt Albert Lionesses securing a 22 point win. They opened the scoring after Mt Albert spilled a kick and Platinum Marsters went over from close range. Mt Albert replied when Amber Kani dropped the ball and Mafi Faukafa picked it up and carried defender Dellis Tuitupou over the line to score. The teams traded tries with Manurewa leading 18-12 at the break. They ran away with the win in the second half with a hat trick to Freesia Mokaia and Florence Sai scoring her second. Marsters converted six of their seven tries. At Walter Massey Park the home team led 16-4 at halftime but Otahuhu had levelled the scores by the 51st minute with three quick tries. They took the lead when Lourdes Tuiala scored her second try in the 69th minute and added another to Jeyla Ropati when she scored her second. At Moyle Park the home side could only manage a last minute consolation try to Josinah Filisi Tauliili and the visiting Richmond Roses ran out 46-6 winners. Genesis Atai scored a double as did Elisapeci Matanatabu with Mikayla Suluape scoring a try and kicking four conversions.
Mt Albert dominated the first half of their match with Manukau, leading 20-0 at halftime and 34-0 when Joana Waqa was on the end of the backline shift to score in the 74th minute, before Manukau scored their only points of the game when Moonlight Moala dummied and went over in the last minute and May Fueina Sasa converting. Many of Mt Albert's tries came from close range following Manukau errors. For Mt Albert, Kiera-Marie Sekene and Johreena Sekene both scored doubles with Sekene's second coming after an intercept and 20 metre run early in the second half. Otahuhu ran out comfortable 36-0 winners over Manurewa after doubling their 18-0 lead from halftime. They had six different try scorers with the competitions leading point scorer Tiana Thomson converting all of them.
Sharman Cup
In Northcote's 18-34 loss to Manurewa, Bronson Kapi was sent off in the 38th minute when the score was 6-14 in favour of Manurewa. Manurewa went on to confortably win 34-18 with Duane Samuel scoring three tries. Hauriri Harvey scored a try and converted one try and also added a penalty near full time. For Northcote veteran Nicholas Lythgo, well known for his fine goal kicking converted all three of their tries with Hamiora Boyed-Hemopo scoring two of them. At Walter Massey Park the home side, Mangere East had a tough draw with Howick 20-20.
Te Atatu snatched a late draw with Otara at Jack Colvin Park when co-captain Shaun Tempest crashed through a tired defence and Steven Perryman's conversion tied the scores at 16-16. A draw was probably a fair reflection of the game which was characterised by solid defense and a steady stream of handling errors. Otara's strength was their ability to break tackles and get offloads away but they lacked finish at times while Te Atatu had a poor day with their last tackle kicks. Rico Toeava Ward scored twice for Otara with Makalani Hakolo kicking a penalty and a conversion but crucially missed a handy conversion in the second half. Hibiscus Coast continued their unbeaten start to the year to remain in first place with a comfortable 50-16 win over Northcote after leading 28-12 at halftime. Kavan Te Kiri-Ryan scored twice for Hibiscus Coast with Notana Snowden converting seven of their nine tries. Mangere East beat Manurewa at Walter Massey Park 32-18. Jayson Taefu scored twice while John Taupau scored a try and kicked three conversions. Manurewa threatened to make it a close finish with Jeremiah Tamatimu scoring his second try in the 6th minute to narrow the score to 26-18 but they got not score again and Taupau ran in an 80th minute try to push the margin out. Howick ground out a 16-0 win against winless Glenora at Paparoa Park with Tony Tuia who will turn 40 later in the year playing in his 250th game for Howick. He joined Howick in 2010 and had in fact played over 300 premier club games in Auckland all up. he had begun playing rugby league for the Mt Wellington Warriors before later joining Mt Albert and then Marist before then arriving at Howick. Tuia said winning the two Fox Memorial Championships with Howick are a career highlight. “I absolutely loved 2011. It was a different stage of my life. It was the first time for the town, and the town jumped on, it was crazy. It was such an awesome team to be part of. “Then we had some tough years, which is how it goes, right? A lot of people stuck around, thanks guys. And so, we won it again in 2019. It showed that we could fight back.
Te Atatu threatened to win easily against Manurewa at Jack Colvin Park when Dante Henry's conversion of Sakaria Paea's try in the 29th minute gave them a 16-0 lead but poor discipline and a lopsided penalty count in the second half saw Manurewa work their way back into the game with tries to Anaru Thomson and Harvest Tulafili. Te Atatu was forced to defend their try line multiple times through penalties and poor handling but managed to hang on to win. Captain Shaun Tempest was the standout player for the Roosters while Hauriri Harvey proved a handful when running with the ball for the Marlins. Hibiscus Coast further secured their position at the top of the standings with a 28-10 win over second placed Mangere East. Cody Jones scored a hat trick with the second and third tries sealing the match after they only led 16-10 with 7 minutes to play. Notana Snowden converted four of their five tries. At Harold Moody Park the home Glenora side threatened a big upset when they led 16-6 at halftime after being strengthened by the addition of Zak Tippins and Anthony Goulten who both scored tries. However Otara took the lead in the 50th minute when Makalani Hakalo converted Galuafi Sega's try. They added five more tries with Sam Tufue and Filipo Utai scoring doubles and Hakalo converting seven of their eight tries.
Full season top try scorers and point scorers
The points details were taken from the Auckland Rugby League website scoring which had some matches with unknown scoring details. They included 36 unattributed points to Mangere East, 6 for Te Atatu, 82 for Howick, 40 for Manurewa, 40 for Northcote, and 20 for Glenora and as a result the below statistics are not 100% accurate for those six teams.
Phelan Shield
Ellerslie outscored Pauranga 6 tries to 5 however their inability to convert a single one of them cost them at least a draw.
Round 8 of the Phelan Shield saw two close matches. Waitemata led Richmond 20-18 after Moko To'angutu scored in the 61st minute but the unbeaten Richmond side scored three tries in 11 minutes to move out to a 32-16 lead before the home side scored a consolation try on full time. East Coast Bays secured an upset win over Ellerslie when they won 22-18 after trailing 6-8 at halftime.
Full season top try scorers and point scorers
The points details were taken from the Auckland Rugby League website scoring which had some matches with unknown scoring details. Unknown points are Richmond (34), Ellerslie (4), Waitemata (54), and East Coast Bays (18).
Championship Women
The standings recorded byes as default wins which distorted the win records.
Under 18 Boys
These included carry over points after Mt Albert and Marist teams dropped out of the competition after a few rounds.
Under 16 Girls (Fanamanu Davies Cup)
The grand final was live streamed by bartv.
Under 13 Girls
The grand final was live streamed by BarTV.