Players Challenged At National Secondary Schools Awards Night
Thursday, September 6, 2012 - It was an inspirational, entertaining and moving NZRL National Secondary Schools Awards night which showcased all
that is great about the game of rugby league. Hosted by Te Arahi Maipi, the event featured speakers including Paula
Bennett, MP, Vic Tamati from It's Not OK!, Vodafone Warriors and Kiwis train-on squad members Shaun Johnson, Ben Henry
and Elijah Taylor, and past Kiwis Ruben Wiki and Jerry Seuseu who wasted no time in laying down a challenge to the
approx 600 young men in the room.
They applauded them for taking the first steps into their future, for taking part in the tournament itself and for
making the most of all the off field opportunities they’d been offered. Ms Bennett then asked them to take it a step
further and to get out into life itself, to not only work on their rugby league but at school and to be the very best
they could be. She told them not to let anyone tell them they were too short, fat, rich or poor to do anything they
wanted, and she finished by suggesting that as well as the next NRL or Kiwi player there could be the next Prime
Minister in the room.
Her comments were echoed by the other speakers who asked the young men to think about their lives outside of football
and to be as good off the field as they are on it. Ruben Wiki and Jerry Seuseu, along with Ben Henry and Elijah Taylor
also supported her comments and warned of just how tough it can be to make it as a professional league player. Jerry
gave the players of some sobering statistics, saying that in 2012 240 players trialled for the Warriors and only 3 – 4
were picked up, and only one in ten NYC players will go on to the NRL.
They all asked the players to do their best in school to ensure they had a future no matter what happened with their
league career and Kevin Bailey suggested that they could consider becoming match officials should a full time playing
career not be in their future.
Papakura Local Board Deputy Chair Brent Catchpole received a framed Rugby League pledge as a thank you for the support
they have given the tournament to date and for their continued support, with the tournament confirmed at Bruce Pulman
Park for a further two years.
It wasn’t all serious though with the Vodafone Warriors providing some light relief in the form of a Q & A session lead by Johnson. Taylor and Henry spoke about their upbringings and the challenges they faced making the step
up to NYC and NRL with Taylor saying that when he was young all he’d wanted to do was play league ‘on TV’ and that until
he played NYC he’d never even been to Australia. Hurrell stole the show however talking about growing up in Tonga and
the difficulties he faced then and now, especially the challenge of having to speak English. His love of his family
shone through when he spoke and the tournament players really warmed to him.
Dan Parsons of Watties, who'd supplied the players with food and drink as part of their after match recovery along with
sponsoring the Most Valuable Player award spoke briefly and congratulated the players on their wonderful performances,
despite the sometimes challenging weather conditions.
The players were hugely supportive of all the prize winners, including those from schools other than their own. The
winners of the Cultural Salute, James Cook High School performed their very impressive haka for the audience and when
Billie Maea of Tokoroa High School won Manager of the Tournament his team gave him a rousing haka in acknowledgement.
With the finals matches to find the overall tournament winners in both the Developing and Premiership grades being held
tomorrow Friday September 7, winners of two awards are yet to be confirmed (Most Valuable Player and Golden Boot) and
will be made at Bruce Pulman Park tomorrow after the finals matches.
And the winners are:
It’s Not Okay Fairplay Award Developing Grade: Richard Timoti, Tamaki College
It’s Not Okay Fairplay Award Premier Grade: Michael Uluakiola, Tangaroa College
Samurai Match Official of the Tournament: Kena Waikai
Samurai Sideline Official Award: Peter McGregor
Best Cultural Salute: James Cook High School
Golden Boot 2012: To be announced on the final day of tournament
Trainer of the Tournament: Kameli Delana, Southern Cross Campus
Manager of the Tournament: Billie Maea, Tokoroa High School
Coach of the Tournament: Mike Wilson, St John’s College
National Secondary Schools Merit Team (1 – 17)
1. Josh Minhinnick, Auckland Grammar
2. Patricio Taafua, Taita College
3. Reubenn Rennie, Howick College
4. Ariel Tusiane, Otahuhu College
5. Semisi Vea, St Paul's College
6. Tuimoala Lolohea, Kelston Boys High School
7. Suni Sami, St Paul's College
8. Tavi Mariota, Otahuhu College
9. Kalolo Saitaua, Otahuhu College
10. Toafofoa Sipley, St Paul's College
11. Josh Aloiai, Kelston Boys High School
12. Michael Ki, Papatoetoe High School
13. Semisi Tyrell, Sir Edmond Hillary
14. Semisi Havili, St Paul's College
15. Sisa Manu, Tokoroa High School
16. Bunty Afoa, St Paul's College
17. Michael Uluakiola, Tangaroa College
NZRL Emerging Talent Award: Arthur Crichton, Papakura High School
Vodafone Warriors Best Forward Award: Michael Ki, Papatoetoe High School
Vodafone Warriors Best Back Award: Joshua Minhinnick, Auckland Grammar
Watties MVP award: To be announced on the final day of tournament
NZRL More Than Just a Game Award: Tokoroa High School
ENDS