Aranui High makes Secondary Schools Rugby League Tournament final tomorrow

2 September 2005

Aranui High School and St Paul’s College, Auckland, will clash in the final of the Secondary Schools Rugby League Tournament in the QEII Park stadium at 11.30am, tomorrow.

Semi-finalists Otahuhu College and Kelston College, both from Auckland, will play for second place at 10am.

Aranui High School coordinated the event with its sports academy coach, John Rangihuna,  to ensure that Rugby League is not lost as a national secondary school sport after  the event was dropped from the NZ Rugby League calendar this year.

Using its standing relationship with the Brisbane Broncos, Aranui High also hosted the premier NRL club’s full coaching and development staff at the tournament to help run coach and player-development clinics.

Broncos development officer, Paul Dyer, says he has been impressed at the attitude of many of the young players at the clinics. “The kids have been a credit to their schools – turning up with really good attitudes in comparison to some of our Australians of the same age. These guys just want to learn as much as they can.
“Our trip here’s been well worth it because there’s certainly kids here with ability and we want to help them step up,” Mr Dyer says.
Broncos recruitment officer Ivan Henjack says he had certainly seen a few players showing potential at the tournament but it was often a question of  whether they had already been approached by other NRL clubs.

Mr Henjack says it is no secret that NRL clubs recruit players out of New Zealand, and the Broncos would continue travelling to New Zealand as part of its ongoing relationship with Aranui High, but its main focus would always be on Queensland and recruiting from its home area.

The event, which started on Wednesday, had been a great opportunity to see rugby league talent from right across New Zealand and it was in very good heart, Mr Henjack says.

Top of Page ~ Media Release index