New side aims for the top
FROM PAGE 24 campaign in emphatic fashion, with a 90-6 thrashing of the Pawarenga Broncos in the opening round, the result sounding off a warning siren to the other teams and was no flash in the pan.
Only two losses were recorded from the estimated 20 games played by Mavericks this year; the only one on the field by the Kaikohe Lions, the other in the boardroom where that win against Pawarenga was reversed following disputable technicality over an unregistered player.
It was a disappointing decision but the Mavericks shrugged it off and comfortably progressed to the grand final in Kaikohe at the end of August where they convincingly beat (2016 champions and 2017 grand finalists) Kaikohe by 44-20, the biggest margin ever recorded in a grand final in the three year history of the TRL.
■ The establishment of a team by O’Sullivan and a handful of close friends was to “bring together old and new mates who shared a love of league”, noted Mavericks manager Jade Wikitera.
“They wanted to bring forward-thinking, and a new age and progressive style to the game here,” she said, noting the team also made a collective decision to think outside of the box and challenge existing beliefs and cultures surrounding the sport.
“We committed to three main kauapapa round youth development, healthy lifestyles and Maoritonga. We started pre-season in December, committed to a noalcohol policy for the home games and also ran workshops to support those who wished to quit smoking,” she said. “The support for each other was reflected on the field.”
■ The TRL premiers held their end-of-season prizegiving on Saturday night where the main awards were as follows.
Top Tryscorer: Isaac Ashley, Supporter of the Year: Marcus Barker, Most Dedicated Player: Kevin Jobe and Sean Covich, Rookie of the Year: Tamahae Waitai Henare, Players’ Player of the Year/ Best Back and Most Games Played: Josh Davis, Best Forward: Xavier Lasike, Defensive Player of the Year: Conor O’Sullivan, Player of the Year: Te Puhi Rudolph, and, Maverick of the Year (the team’s most prestigious award): Te Reretai Hauiti.