League: New shirts make strong statement

Ben Stevens, Kingi Rakete-Tane and Tane Stevens model the new Otaua Valleys strip. Photo / Debbie Beadle

Tautoro Titans and the Otaua Valleys junior and age grade rugby league teams unveiled two sets of new uniforms at the official launch of the Jennian Homes Junior Competition for Mid North clubs in Kaikohe.

Because of economic and social hardships in their communities, the Tautoro Titans Junior Rugby League Club this year accepted the support of the Otaua Valleys Rugby League Club in a collaborative vision to promote youth development.

The plan was for the Tautoro Titans teams in the under-7s, 9s and 11s grades to act as feeder teams for their Otaua Valley counterparts entered in the under-13s, 15s and 18s divisions.

While both will maintain their autonomy, the two clubs will work alongside each other throughout this season and next in a combined attempt to reinvigorate whanau through a shared passion for league.

Johnny Panapa helped design the new Titans uniforms to depict the purakau (legend) of tupuna (ancestor) Rahiri, and the naming of Tautoro (burning of Rahiri's cloak) hence, the flames dominant on the uniforms.

The koru (flowered) patterns illustrate the transition young players make in the development of skills and attitude in sport and also represent the relationship between the Otaua/ Hokianga and Tautoro whanau.

The Otaua Valley uniforms were designed by Gordon Te Awa who wanted to honour the importance of Puhanga Tohora, the maunga (mountain) that stands proud within Te Whare Tapu o Ngapuhi.

The blue component of the tohoraha (whale) tail represents the strength of the people of Otaua, the gold component represents the wash of the land which is the "drive and push" of the people, and the three lines on the belly of the Puhanga Tohora logo acknowledge the three rivers surrounding the maunga being Mangatawa, Otaua and Punakitere.