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Otahuhu Leopards

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Otahuhu Leopards
Club information
Full nameOtahuhu Rovers Rugby League Football Club
Nickname(s)Leopards
Founded1911; 113 years ago (1911)
Websiteotahuhuroversrugbyleague.co.nz
Current details
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League, New Zealand Rugby League
Records
Premierships1945, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2010
Runners-up2011
Minor premierships1942, 1945, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010
National Club Champions1964, 1983
Roope Rooster1957, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1994, 2009, 2010
Stormont Shield1965, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2010, 2012
Sharman Cup1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1950, 2017
Stallard Cup1925

The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Ōtāhuhu, 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.

History

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Otahuhu second grade team in 1915.
Otahuhu 1924 second grade champions

The Otahuhu Leopards were founded in 1911. Their first ever Kiwi was selected in 1914 when Arthur Hardgrave played against the touring England side. He had joined Otahuhu at the start of the season after the Manukau side he was with had dropped out of first grade the season prior.

1934 second grade champions.

1930 saw the club win its first ever senior grade trophy when their top side won the Senior B competition. In 1943, playing in blue and white, Otahuhu produced their first Fox Memorial side though they had played as a combined City Rovers-Otahuhu side in the Fox Memorial competition in 1942 due to there being so many players away at World War II. The Auckland Rugby League forced several mergers for that season. By 1945 Otahuhu 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), and Royce and J. Speedy. Their main point scorer was Colin Riley who was the leading goal kicker in the competition in 1944 and 1945. In 1947 their first Kiwi's were selected since Arthur Hardgrave in 1914. They were Joffre Johnson and Claude Hancox who toured Britain and France in 1947–48.

Otahuhu Leopards is where Kiwi coach Graham Lowe first made a name for himself coaching U18s in 1974 and becoming a first grade coach in 1977, winning the Fox Memorial competition in his first year.

Bartercard Cup

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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.

Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards

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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.

Tamaki Leopards

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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

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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

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Otahuhu in the 2010 grand final

The Otahuhu Club has had a long and proud history of producing top quality rugby league players.

Kiwi Captains

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To date the Leopards have produced five captains of the New Zealand national rugby league team:

Other players

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Season records

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Otahuhu Senior Team Records (1912–1945, 1990–2007, 2022–23)

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The season record for the most senior men’s team in the club.

Season Grade Team Play W D L PF PA PD Pts Position (Teams)
1912 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 9 6 0 3 94 51 43 12 Approx 2nd of 8 (incomplete records)
1913 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 9 7 1 1 76 37 39 15 2nd of 7
1914 1st Grade (Myers Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 9 1 1 7 64 115 −51 3 6th of 6
1915 1st Grade Otahuhu Rovers 9 1 0 8 48 111 −63 2 6th of 6
1916 1st Grade Otahuhu Rovers 10 2 1 7 62 175 −113 5 5th of 6
1917 1st Grade Otahuhu Rovers 4 0 0 4 12 55 −43 0 6th of 6 (withdrew after R4 default)
1918 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 2 2 0 0 28 0 28 4 1st of 5, full results unknown
1919 1st Grade Otahuhu Rovers 1 0 0 1 3 28 −25 0 8th of 8 (withdrew after R1)
1920 4th Grade Otahuhu Rovers 4 2 1 1 33 13 20 5 Approximately 4th of 10, full results unknown
1921 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 4 2 0 2 18 24 −6 4 Approximately 3rd of 10, full results unknown
1922 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 2 1 0 2 15 5 9 2 Approximately 9th of 13, full results unknown
1923 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 14 7 0 6 35 17 +18 14 Approximately 3rd of 12, full results unknown
1924 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 4 4 0 0 60 16 44 8 1st of 12, lost KO final v Kingsland 3–6
1925 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 11 6 1 4 85 48 +37 13 2nd of 5
1926 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 14 4 2 8 68 124 −56 10 5th of 6
1927 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 12 2 0 9 63 123 −60 4 7th of 7
1928 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 12 7 1 4 123 115 +8 15 2nd of 7
1929 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 11 8 1 2 223 44 +179 17 2nd of 6
1930 B Division Otahuhu Rovers 13 11 1 1 183 81 +102 23 1st of 7
1931 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) Otahuhu-Ellerslie 12 1 1 10 85 237 −152 3 7th of 7 (combined side with Ellerslie)
1932 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 17 12 0 5 89 54 35 24 2nd of 9 (lost final to Papakura 2–5, lost KO final 11–2 to Māngere United)
1933 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 12 9 1 2 130 42 88 19 2nd of 7 (lost final to Māngere United 8–11)
1934 2nd Grade Otahuhu Rovers 14 11 2 1 82 34 48 24 1st of 6
1935 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 9 8 0 1 135 16 +119 16 1st of 4
1936 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 8 5 0 3 77 67 +10 10 2nd of 5
1937 3rd Grade Otahuhu Rovers - - - - - - - - 1st of 13 (won final over Richmond 13–6)
1938 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 12 9 1 2 85 61 +24 19 1st of 6
1939 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 8 6 1 1 83 21 +62 13 1st of 6
1940 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 9 7 0 2 105 54 +51 14 1st of 5
1941 Senior B (Sharman Cup) Otahuhu Rovers 7 7 0 0 97 26 +71 14 1st of 9 Competed in Roope Rooster. W v Papakura 25–5 in R1, L v City 13–12 in R2. L v Richmond 18–14 in Phelan Shield
1942 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) City-Otahuhu 15 10 0 5 247 132 115 20 2nd of 6 (combined side with City Rovers due to loss of senior players during World War 2)
1943 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) Otahuhu Rovers 15 4 2 9 122 204 −82 10 6th of 9
1944 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) Otahuhu Rovers 18 10 0 8 222 159 63 20 7th of 10
1945 1st Grade (Fox Memorial) Otahuhu Rovers 14 11 1 2 266 103 163 23 1st of 10
Playoffs Otahuhu Rovers 2 1 0 1 29 33 L 18–28 v Ponsonby in Major SF, W 11–5 v Richmond in Major Championship Final
1990 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 21 11 0 10 484 336 132.2 22 3rd of 8
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 3 3 0 0 67 32 W v 39–18 Glenora in SF, W v Northcote, W 28–14 v Te Atatū in GF
1991 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 18 12 2 4 492 307 160.3 26 2nd of 10
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 3 1 0 2 - - -
1992 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards - - - - - - - -
1993 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 18 8 2 8 359 357 100.6 18 6th of 10
1994 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 22 16 1 5 561 464 120.9 33 1st of 12
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 3 1 0 2 46 52 L 10–20 v Northcote, W 24–0 v Hibiscus Coast, L 12–32 v Northcote
1995 Lion Red Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 24 18 1 5 814 457 178.1 41 2nd of 13
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 1 1 0 0 32 0 W 32–0 v Marist in the Grand Final
1996 Lion Red Preliminary Otahuhu Leopards 13 9 1 3 392 211 185.8 19 3rd of 14
Lion Red Rukutai Shield Otahuhu Leopards 7 6 0 1 182 108 168.5 12 1st of 8
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 1 0 0 1 28 36 L 28–36 v Otara in GF after triple over time
1997 Lion Red Super 10 Otahuhu Leopards 18 12 0 6 631 381 165.6 24 2nd of 10
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards - - - - - -
1998 Super 10 Otahuhu Leopards 18 9 0 9 501 485 103.3 18 5th of 10
1999 Rukutai Shield Super 12 Otahuhu Leopards 22 15 0 7 737 455 162 30 4th of 12
2000 Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Top 8 Otahuhu Leopards 14 11 2 1 589 216 272.7 24 2nd of 8
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 2 2 0 0 47 24 W 26–10 v Richmond in minor SF, W 21–14 v Richmond in GF
2001 Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Top 8 Otahuhu Leopards 14 8 0 6 390 408 95.6 16 5th of 8
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 3 2 0 1 62 66 W 32–28 v Manukau in prelim SF, W 16–10 v Ponsonby in minor SF, L 14–28 v Northcote in major SF
2002 Fox Memorial Top 8 Otahuhu Leopards 14 9 0 5 402 337 119.3 18 3rd of 8
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 4 2 0 2 98 129 L 10–42 v Hib. Coast in prelim SF, W 22–19 v Marist in minor SF, W 26–24 v Papakura in major SF, L 40–44 v Hib. Coast in GF in double extra time
2004 Mad Butcher Fox Memorial Otahuhu Leopards 14 2 1 11 378 586 64.51 5 8th of 8
2000 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Leopards 22 18 0 4 782 440 342 36 1st of 12, L v Canterbury Bulls in the GF
2001 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Leopards 22 14 1 7 691 528 163 29 4th of 12, lost elimination play off
2002 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Leopards 16 10 0 6 636 393 243 20 3rd of 12, lost preliminary final
2003 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Leopards 16 5 1 10 432 594 −162 11
2004 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards 16 12 0 4 476 321 155 24 2nd of 12
2005 Bartercard Cup Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards 19 9 0 7 442 412 30 18 6th of 12
2006 Bartercard Cup Tamaki Leopards 18 9 2 7 546 440 106 20
2007 Bartercard Cup Tamaki Titans 18 10 1 7 526 464 62 21 5th of 10
2022 1st Grade, (Fox Memorial) Otahuhu Leopards 9 8 0 1 504 140 364 16 2nd of 9 in sect. 2, W v Richmond 20–12 in Fox QF, L v Glenora in Fox SF
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 2 1 0 1 38 38 0 W 20–12 v Richmond in QF, L 18–26 v Glenora in SF
2023 Fox Memorial Qualifying Otahuhu Leopards 3 3 0 0 96 62 154.8 6 1st of 4
Fox Memorial Premiership Otahuhu Leopards 11 7 0 4 368 128 287.5 14 5th of 12
Playoffs Otahuhu Leopards 1 0 0 1 10 14 L 10–14 v Papakura in QF
1912–45, 1990–2007, 2022–2023 TOTAL - 756 448 34 270 15985 11876 - 906

Club titles (1912–43)

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21 championship titles

  • 1913 Fourth Grade
  • 1916 Second Grade
  • 1918 Second Grade and Fifth Grade
  • 1921 Fourth Grade
  • 1924 Second Grade
  • 1926 Schoolboys (Senior)
  • 1927 Schoolboys (Senior)
  • 1930 B Division (Norton Cup)
  • 1934 Second Grade (Wright Cup)
  • 1935 Senior B (Sharman Cup)
  • 1936 Seventh Grade
  • 1937 Third Grade and Fifth Grade
  • 1938 Senior B (Sharman Cup)
  • 1939 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open)
  • 1940 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open)
  • 1941 Senior B (Sharman Cup) and Third Grade (Open)

All time top point scorers (1914–17, 1919, 1931, 1942–45)

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The point scoring lists are compiled from matches played in matches from the first grade championship, the Roope Rooster, Phelan Shield, and Sharman Cup only. One off matches and exhibition matches are not included. The matches and point scorers includes the combined Otahuhu-Ellerslie side of 1931, and the combined Otahuhu-City side of 1942.

Top point scorers
No Player Start End Games Tries Con Pen DG Mark Pts
1 Colin Riley 1943 1945 - 4 76 48 0 0 260
2 Alan Donovan 1942 - - 8 25 12 0 0 98
3 Ray Halsey 1942 1945 - 24 0 0 0 0 72
4 K Simons 1942 1945 - 20 0 0 0 0 60
5 Mick Johnson 1942 1945 - 17 0 0 0 0 51
6 H Brady 1944 1945 - 11 3 5 0 0 49
7= J Speedy 1943 1945 - 16 0 0 0 0 48
7= Cliff Wellm 1943 1945 - 16 0 0 0 0 48
9 Jimmy Mullins 1942 1943 - 2 7 10 0 0 40
10 Norm Johnson 1942 1945 - 11 0 0 0 0 33
11 George Cook 1914 - 7 7 2 2 0 0 29
12 Bernard Farrelly 1915 1916 21 0 4 8 0 1 26
13 Royce Speedy 1945 - - 8 0 0 0 0 24
14= John Fischer 1915 1916 - 7 0 0 0 0 21
14= Jim Fogarty 1944 1945 - 7 0 0 0 0 21
16 Stan Webb 1931 - 13 4 4 0 0 0 20
17= Arthur Hardgrave 1914 1916 15 2 0 6 0 0 18
17= Seymour 1945 - - 4 2 1 0 0 18
19 Hickey 1931 - - 5 0 1 0 0 17
20 Joffre Johnson 1942 1945 5 0 0 0 0 0 15
21 R Keat 1944 1945 4 0 1 0 0 0 14
22 Montrose (Monty) Stanaway 1914 1917 29 2 1 2 0 0 12

References

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