Battle lines drawn in league civil war

The Rugby League Northland Board has fired a broadside at Far North clubs planning to break away and form their own competition [League faultline splits wide open, November 12].

In a statement last Thursday, the board noted the New Zealand Rugby League mother ship had reinforced it was fully committed to ensuring RLN remained as a delegated authority to govern league in the Northland region.

"Recently the Far North District Rugby League (FNDRL) group communicated the 'Decision of the Far North Districts Rugby League' to play rugby league as a separate zone," the statement began, noting the FNDRL group had sought support for their decision from NZRL.

"NZRL has advised the FNDRL group that RLN has the mandate to rule on matters within the zone and believes the appropriate and correct decision has been reached by RLN. NZRL will not sanction or recognise another entity within the zone and advised the group that playing in a non-sanctioned competition may have consequences to players and volunteers, such as players not being eligible to play representative football, teams will not be sanctioned to tour overseas, clubs and the proposed organisation will not be eligible for gaming trust funding and other community funding, official referees will not be provided by NZRL or RLN, (and) coach and referee development will not be provided by NZRL or RLN.

" Rugby league as a game has come a long way from 2010 and has much more that can be achieved. Doing so, would be best served with a united Northland rugby league community that celebrates and appreciates everyone's contribution and 'spirit of generosity'.

"RLN encourage all rugby league clubs in Northland to continue to work with RLN to grow the game and engage in a planned and inclusive approach to supporting aspirations. A registration of interest to all clubs to confirm a commitment to the RLN competitions for 2016 season will be forthcoming. Once responses are to hand RLN can finalise a rugby league calendar to all clubs for 2016," the statement from the RLN Board concluded

In response, Hone Harawira, the spokesperson for FNDRL, appeared determined to stay the course since Jacob Cameron representing the NZRL sent his letter rejecting the proposal. Harawira said he has been consulting with a number of powerbrokers in league from all over the country over the past few weeks including Tawera Nikau, on the NZRL board, and John Devonshire, the chairman of New Zealand Maori Rugby League, along with various officials from Maori league strongholds on the east coast.

"Everywhere I have gone, the support for what we are doing has been huge, except for the NZRL who I suspect are feeling threatened by the growth of Maori Rugby League. NZRL even tried to block the Maori Tournaments this year (unsuccessfully)."

He noted Nikau had disagreed with the way NZRL had treated the breakaway proposal and was supporting the organisation's request for an NZRL official to come north to hear the FNDRL's case. He also noted Devonshire had invited the FNDRL to affiliate with NZMRL whilst noting more and more Maori teams were wanting to play in the various national Maori tournaments, competitions which were well attended by NRL scouts.

Elsewhere, Harawira said he was working with Les Hokianga from the Hawke's Bay and Peter Cross (East Coast Maori Rugby League) with the trio committed to maintaining existing pathways as much as opening new ones. Other options open to the breakaway organisation included picking rep teams to play in Maori rugby league tournaments in NSW and Queensland.

While noting that a return by Far North clubs to the RLN was not totally out of the question, Harawira said the RLN had done "nothing to remedy the situation" which had led to the establishment of the breakaway group in the first place.

"Rugby League Northland's rejection of our proposals in favour of a structure that has always favoured Whangarei clubs over Far North clubs is disappointing, but not surprising given that the board is essentially made up of people who live in and around Whangarei.

"The cost of travel means there has never been a level playing field for rugby league in Northland. RLN has done nothing to remedy the situation. Even when we offered solutions, RLN rejected them," said Harawira, firmly of the opinion the formation of FNDRL has only benefited and helped raise the profile of the 13-man game in the province.

"But at this stage, I ask clubs to support the FNDRL as we look to build a better and brighter future for rugby league in the Far North. It's great to see more people in the Far North wanting to come back to league ... And it's great to see the Far North doing its bit to grow the game."

-The RLN Board's full and official reaction to news of the Far North club's intended breakaway released last Thursday, and Hone Harawira's subsequent reply on behalf of the FNDRL, issued yesterday, can be viewed below.