2004 New Zealand rugby league season

The 2004 Bartercard Cup was the fifth season of the Bartercard Cup competition run by the New Zealand Rugby League. There were two major team changes before the start of the season. In Auckland, the Manurewa Marlins were replaced by the Counties Manukau Jetz franchise. Some clubs who had previously been aligned with the Marlins became affiliated with the Eastern Tornadoes. Due to the changing boundaries, the Ellerslie club left the Tornadoes and joined with the Otahuhu Leopards to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards. Outside of Auckland the Taranaki Wildcats dropped out of the competition after two dreadful seasons. In their place the Waicoa Bay Stallions were formed, representing the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Coastlines districts. The Canterbury Bulls were again the only non-Auckland team to make the playoffs.

• Coached by Tony Benson, Hibiscus Coast included Odell Manuel, Daniel Floyd, Shannon Stowers, Iafeta Paleaaesina and Vinny Dunn.[18][19] Tony Martin and Karl Temata were assigned to the club by the New Zealand Warriors.[20]
• North Harbour were coached by Karl Benson and Ken McIntosh and included Brent Webb, Jared Trott, Karl Johnson and Daniel Vasau.[21][22][23] Louis Anderson was assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Glenora had Sione Faumuina and Epalahame Lauaki assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20] They were coached by Geoff Morton and included Lee Tamatoa and Karl Edmondson.[21]
• Marist Richmond were coached by Bernie Perenara and included Karl Guttenbeil, Marcus Perenara, Tangi Ropati, Ricky Henry, Evarn Tuimavave and Misi Taulapapa.[18][21] Tevita Latu, Francis Meli and Jerome Ropati were assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Mount Albert were coached by Brian McClennan and included Gus Malietoa-Brown, Fabian Soutar, Andreas Bauer, captain Steve Buckingham, Anthony Swann and Tony Tuimavave.[18][21][24] Vinnie Anderson and Mark Tookey were assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Eastern were coached by Boss Cecil and included Justin Murphy, Zebastian Lucky Luisi, Richard Piakura and Herewini Rangi.[18][21] Matt Jobson and Herewini Rangi were assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Otahuhu-Ellerslie were coached by James Leuluai and included Thomas Leuluai, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, Toshio Laiseni, Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Metcalf, Paul Atkins and David and Paul Fisiiahi.[18][25]
• Counties Manukau were coached by Dean Hunter and included Lee Finnerty and Sala Fa'alogo.[21][26] Henry Fa'afili was assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Waicoa Bay were co-coached by Tawera Nikau and Len Reid and included Sam Rapira.[18] Lance Hohaia and Wairangi Koopu were assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]
• Central included David Lomax as player-coach, Peter Sixtus as co-coach and Sonny Whakarau.[27]
• Wellington, coached by Paul Bergman, included Simon Mannering, Earl Va'a, Vince Mellars and Issac Luke.[21][28][29]
• Canterbury were coached by Phil Prescott and included Charlie Herekotukutuku, Kaine Manihera, Vince Whare, Corey Lawrie and Kane Ferris.[18][21] Brent Stuart was the assistant coach.[7] Richard Villasanti was assigned to the club by the Warriors.[20]

The final was held at Ericsson Stadium, with the Fox Memorial Grand Final as a curtin raiser.[10]

The Mt Albert Lions won the Fox Memorial trophy, defeating the Mangere East Hawks 14–10 in the final.[10] Mangere East won the Rukutai Shield (minor premiership). The Ellerslie Eagles won the preseason Roope Rooster trophy.

Riccarton won the Canterbury Rugby League title.

The Ngongotaha Chiefs defeated Ngaruawahia in Rotorua to win the Waicoa Bay championship.[30]