In reply to the article re Pawarenga Broncos applying for entry to the RLN league. I take this time to explain our thoughts and why we are taking this step.
Because we are rurally isolated we're a pretty tight community. We have quite a few youth inour community who have no sporting facilities, the nearest being Broadwood, which has two gyms, two good rugby fields and astrocourts for netball, basketball and tennis. Pawarenga has waka ama. Pawarenga Broncos have a proud history when it comes to rugby league.
Our club was there in the heyday, fielding premiers, reserves and junior grades. Throughout those years all of the junior competition were held in Kaitaia, and still we made the commitment to field our junior teams.
Pawarenga Broncos were one of the last teams who played in the Far North Competition when there were enough teams to hold a competition in the Far North. We applied to Northland to be given permission to play in the Bay competition. They approved this application, Bay Rugby League accepted us so we played our league in the Bay competition that year, being runners-up.
The sons of our past players have been champing at the bit to be able to pull on a Bronco jersey and be able to say, 'I am a Bronco.'
Whatever the outcome of the RLN our spirit will never be broken. We have the premier players, plus the juniors, great grounds and facilities. We also host like no other team.
The korero about Broadwood being further than Kaitaia is wrong. Broadwood is closer.
