Otahuhu Leopards

Otahuhu Leopards

Club information
Full name	Otahuhu Rovers Rugby League Football Club
Website	otahuhurugbyleague.co.nz
Founded	1911
Current details
Coach(s)	Peter Caccioppoli
Competition	Auckland Rugby League
Records
Premierships	1945, 1964, 1970, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1983, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2010
Runners-up	2011
Minor premiership	1942, 1945, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1994, 1996, 2008, 2009, 2010
National Club Champions	1964, 1983
Roope Rooster	1957, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1974, 1975, 1977, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1994, 2009, 2010
Stormont Shield	1965, 1971, 1975, 1977, 1978, 1982, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2010
Sharman Cup	1935, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1950

The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.

The team are the current holders of both the Rukutai Shield (minor premiers) and Roope Rooster (Challenge Shield). The Leopards have held the Roope Rooster since defeating the Northcote Tigers 20-14 on 16 August 2009.

Notable players

Otahuhu in the 2010 grand final

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

Kiwi Captains

To date the Leopards have produced five captains of the New Zealand Kiwis:

• Roy Christian (1970 - 1972)
• Mark Graham (1980 - 1986)
• Hugh McGahan (1985 - 1990)
• Richard Barnett (1999 - 2000)
• Ruben Wiki (2003 - 2005)

Other players

Thomas Leuluai Richard Blackmore Paul Goodwin Tawera Nikau

Gary Prohm Tea Ropati Clinton Toopi Jonathan Smith[1]

Paul Atkins Manu Vatuvei Cooper Vuna George Carmont Isaac John

Bartercard Cup

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.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
2000	22	18	0	4	782	440	342	36	Minor Premiers (Twelve)	Runner Up
2001	22	14	1	7	691	528	163	29	Fourth (Twelve)	Lost Elimination Play-Off
2002	16	10	0	6	636	393	243	20	Third (Twelve)	Lost Preliminary Final
2003	16	5	1	10	432	594	-162	11	Ninth (Twelve)	N/A

Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards

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.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
2004	16	12	0	4	476	321	155	24	Second (Twelve)	Lost Preliminary Final
2005	16	9	0	7	442	412	30	18	Sixth (Twelve)	N/A

Tamaki Leopards

See also: Tamaki Leopards

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 re-named the Tamaki Titans and finished fifth.

References

1. ^ Leopards lose Smith's services The Press, 31 March 2001

External links

• Official Site
• Auckland Rugby League