Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, Auckland. Founded in 1911, the club has produced 49 New Zealand national rugby league team players. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. Otahuhu has won the Fox Memorial Shield 12 times, the Rukatai Shield 16 times, Roope Rooster 12 times and the Stormont Shield 12 times.
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| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Otahuhu Rovers Rugby League Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Leopards |
| Founded | 1911 |
| Website | otahuhuroversrugbyleague.co.nz |
| Current details | |
| Competition | Auckland Rugby League, New Zealand Rugby League |
| Records | |
| Premierships | 1945, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2010 |
| Runners-up | 2011 |
| Minor premiership | 1942, 1945, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| National Club Champions | 1964, 1983 |
| Roope Rooster | 1957, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1994, 2009, 2010 |
| Stormont Shield | 1965, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2012 |
| Sharman Cup | 1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1950, 2017 |
History
The Otahuhu Leopards were founded in 1911. In 1943, playing in blue and white, Otahuhu produced their first Fox side at Carlaw Park and by 1945 had won their first Fox Memorial title. In that year the team featured four brothers Ivan, Joffre, Mick, and Norm Johnson, along with brothers Dick and Jim Fogarty (also captain). In 1946 their first Kiwi's were selected, Toff Johnson and Claude Hancox who toured Britain and France in 1947–48.
Otahuhu Leopards is where the famous Graham Lowe first made a name for himself coaching U18s in 1974 and becoming a first grade coach in 1977 and winning the Fox Memorial in his first year.
Bartercard Cup
With the creation of the Bartercard Cup in 2000 by the New Zealand Rugby League the Leopards were one of the seven Auckland sides invited to join. They dominated the competition in the inaugural season, finishing up Minor Premiers before going down to the Canterbury Bulls in the Grand Final. More heartbreak was to follow for the club, losing in the Elimination Play-off and the Preliminary Final the next two seasons before missing the final series all together in 2003.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 782 | 440 | 342 | 36 | Minor Premiers (Twelve) | Runner-up |
| 2001 | 22 | 14 | 1 | 7 | 691 | 528 | 163 | 29 | Fourth (Twelve) | Lost Elimination Play-off |
| 2002 | 16 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 636 | 393 | 243 | 20 | Third (Twelve) | Lost Preliminary Final |
| 2003 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 10 | 432 | 594 | −162 | 11 | Ninth (Twelve) | N/A |
Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards
In 2004 the Counties Manukau Jetz replaced the Manurewa Marlins in the competition. As a result, the number of clubs involved with the Eastern Tornadoes increased and the clubs orientation shifted southwards. The Ellerslie Eagles left this franchise and joined with Otahuhu to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards. The club made the finals again, again losing in the Preliminary Final. In 2005 the club missed the finals for the second time in three seasons.
| Season | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Position (Teams) | Finals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 16 | 12 | 0 | 4 | 476 | 321 | 155 | 24 | Second (Twelve) | Lost Preliminary Final |
| 2005 | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 442 | 412 | 30 | 18 | Sixth (Twelve) | N/A |
Tamaki Leopards
In 2006 the number of Auckland Bartercard Cup sides was reduced from eight to five. This resulted in the Otahuhu-Ellerslie Leopards and the Eastern Tornadoes merging to form the Tamaki Leopards franchise. In 2007 the side was renamed the Tamaki Titans and finished fifth.
Fox Memorial
The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by Auckland Rugby League. Otahuhu has won the Fox Memorial Shield 12 times, the Rukatai Shield 16 times, Roope Rooster 12 times and the Stormont Shield 12 times.
As a junior, Richard Blackmore who started his rugby league at Otahuhu became Head Coach from 2006 to 2010 successfully taking ownership of the Stormont Shield and Roope Rooster and leading the team to a Fox Memorial grand final victory over Mt Albert in 2010.
Notable players
The Otahuhu Club has had a long and proud history of producing top quality rugby league players.
Kiwi Captains
To date the Leopards have produced five captains of the New Zealand national rugby league team:
- Roy Christian (1970–1972)
- Mark Graham (1980–1986)
- Hugh McGahan (1985–1990)
- Richard Barnett (1999–2000)
- Ruben Wiki (2003–2005)
Other players
- Leeson Ah Mau
- Tawera Nikau – debuted in 1989
- Manu Vatuvei – debuted in 2005
- Thomas Leuluai – debuted in 2003
- Clinton Toopi – debuted in 2001
- Sam Kasiano – debuted in 2012
- Frank Paul Nuuausala – debuted in 2009
- Elijah Taylor – debuted in 2011
- Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – debuted in 2013
- George Carmont – debuted in 2004
- Cooper Vuna – debuted in 2004