Wellington rugby league team

The Wellington Rugby League Team (also known as the Wellington Orcas) are a rugby league team that represents the Wellington Rugby League in New Zealand Rugby League competitions. They currently compete in the National Competition.

Wellington rugby league team

Club information
Nickname(s)	Orcas
Colours	Black   Yellow
Founded	1908
Website	http://websites.sportstg.com/assoc_page.cgi?assoc=4979
Current details
Ground(s)	Porirua Park Fraser Park
CEO	Phil Roache
Coach	Peter Rikiriki
Competition	National Competition
NZRL Competition	N/A
Records
Premierships	1970
Rugby League Cup	1947–49, 1952, 1971, 1980, 1982–84, 1990, 1992

History

1908–1988: Early years

Wellington played its first game on 24 August 1908 when they took on Auckland at Victoria Park, Auckland in the first provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand.[1]

The following All Golds played for Wellington in that first match: Edward Tyne, Hercules Richard Wright, Tom Cross, Conrad Byrne, Daniel Gilchrist, Daniel Fraser and James Barber.

During 1909, 1910 and 1911 Wellington continued to play a number of provincial games, and in 1909 defeated Auckland, in Auckland 22–19, the first of only five victories over Auckland in over 100 years.[2]

In 1912 Wellington played in its first international match, losing to the touring New South Wales side, 45–13.[2]

They defeated Auckland 33–18 on 27 September 1913. It was not until 1988 that they were again victorious over an Auckland side. The 1913 side was: A.Anderson, B.Whitley, W.Kelly, A.House (Petone), G.Bradley (Athletic), K.George, J.Barber, Jim Parker (Petone), J.Spencer, T.Turner, A.Bensmann, L.Campbell (Newtown), W.Wilson (Athletic). Bench: H.McGuire, B.Childs.[3]

During the 1951 French rugby league tour of Australasia the Wellington side hosted a match against the tourists.

During the 1988 Great Britain Lions tour, Wellington defeated the Britons 18 – 24 at Porirua Park before a crowd of 4,428.

1989–1990: Rugby League Cup

On several occasions Wellington has held the Rugby League Cup (previously known as the Northern Union Cup 1910–1969) for interprovincial competition played on a challenge basis. Wellington won it off the West Coast in 1947 for the first time and held it for three years. Wellington held it last in 1990.

1990–1994: Great Britain Tour

In 1990 Wellington defeated the touring Great Britain side 30–22.[4] This was Wellington's first, and to date only, win over a touring side.[2]

1994–1996: Lion Red Cup

Between 1994 and 1996, Wellington was represented by the Wellington City Dukes and Hutt Valley Firehawks in the Lion Red Cup. One player from the Dukes, Earl Va'a, later went on to represent Samoa in Rugby union. Both teams folded along with the competition in 1996.

Team	Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position	Finals
Hutt Valley	1994	22	9	0	13	458	489	−30	18	Eighth	N/A
Wellington City	1994	22	8	0	14	470	508	−38	16	Ninth	N/A
Hutt Valley	1995	22	13	0	9	544	443	101	26	Fifth	Lost Elimination Play-off
Wellington City	1995	22	10	2	10	440	514	−74	22	Seventh	N/A
Hutt Valley	1996	22	11	2	9	444	469	−25	24	Sixth	N/A
Wellington City	1996	22	9	0	13	536	532	4	18	Eighth	N/A

2002–2007: Bartercard Cup

Wellington Orcas

Club information
Founded	2002
Exited	2008
Former details
Ground(s)	Basin Reserve Porirua Park Hutt Recreation Ground
Coach	Paul Bergman

In 2000 and 2001 the region was represented in the Bartercard Cup by the Porirua Pumas and Wainuiomata Lions. However, in 2002 it was decided that one team was needed in the competition. They narrowly missed out on a finals spot in 2002, being on equal points but with a lower For and Against than the Marist Richmond Brothers. Unfortunately this was a high point for the franchise with the team never making the play-offs.

The Orca nickname was adopted for the 2006 season, adopting the name from the Southern Orcas consortium – a group attempting to gain an expansion National Rugby League competition licence that was instead granted to the Gold Coast Titans group. Previously they were known as Wellington Franchise.

Notable players included Ben Matulino and Simon Mannering.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
2002	16	9	1	6	547	449	98	19	Sixth (Twelve)	N/A
2003	16	4	1	11	460	646	−186	6*	Eleventh (Twelve)	N/A
2004	16	8	1	7	465	409	56	17	Sixth (Twelve)	N/A
2005	16	5	3	8	418	459	−41	13	Eighth (Twelve)	N/A
2006	18	6	0	12	452	549	−97	12	Seventh (Ten)	N/A
2007	18	10	0	8	509	529	−20	20	Sixth (10)	N/A

*Wellington were docked three points for registration infringements.

2008–2009: Bartercard Premiership

Wellington Rugby League were awarded a place in the new six-team National Provincial Competition. The team plays its home matches at Porirua Park.[5]

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position	Finals
2008	5	2	1	2	146	138	8	5	Fourth	N/A
2009	5	2	0	3	142	120	22	4	Fourth	Lost Semi-final

2010–present: NZRL National Competition

Wellington was put in the NZRL National Competition after the Bartercard Premiership disbanded. Wellington were called the "Wellington Orcas" through the competition.

References

1. John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
2. History Of Wellington Rugby League Association Wellington Rugby League
3. Lion Red 1988 Rugby League Annual, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1988. p.p.151-159
4. Coffey and Wood The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League ISBN 1-86971-090-8
5. "O'Brien heralds new era". The Dominion Post. 30 May 2008. Retrieved 2 December 2011.