Otangarei takes down Mavericks

Te Hiku Mavericks 10 Otangarei Knights 28: The Taitokerau Rugby League premiers beaten by the winners of the Rugby League Northland Premiership in a friendly champion of champions-styled match up at Waipapakauri Domain on Saturday afternoon.

Mavericks coach Vince Rudolph said it was a remarkable and groundbreaking initiative to have a game played between the champions of the two competitions, considering both organisations have a reputation for regarding each other as bitter rivals (ever since the TRL broke away from the governing body of the 13-man game three seasons ago to form its own competition).

Rudolph admitted

the Mavericks were missing a couple of key players who would have made them a more competitive unit. He was grateful to various TRL clubs such as Aupouri Repo, Ngati Kahu Sharks and Taiamai Ohaeawai for loaning players.

“It was a massive day. To have the CEO of Rugby League Northland, Phil Marsh, there was great . . . Awesome day, awesome feed, a really big crowd. Good way to finish our season.”

Mavericks standouts were Reretai Hauiti at prop, Stevie Ray Haenga Croft, and Connor O’Sullivan had a top game. The Whangarei side was captained by Kaitaia ex-pat Daley Johnston.

Rudolph said everyone was keen to make the game an annual event.