League: New comp for top teams

Ngongotaha and Pikiao will compete in a new premier competition this season. Pictured is Pikiao's Raureti Grace (with ball).

Rotorua's two best rugby league clubs Ngongotaha and Pikiao will take part in a new premier competition this season, featuring the best clubs from Waikato and Bay of Plenty.

The new club competition has been two years in the making and will kick-off tomorrow in Tokoroa.

Nine clubs will compete in the Wai-Coa-Bay Premiership including two sides from Hamilton, two from Rotorua and one each from Tokoroa, Taupo, Tauranga, Ngaruawahia and Huntly. The last time a combined competition like this was staged was 2012, before the Bay of Plenty district broke away and ran their own competition in 2013.

Upper Central Zone Rugby League general manager Sash Stosic said they had been consulting with clubs for the past 24 months to re-establish a combined competition.

"Bringing the best of the zone's clubs together back under the Cross Country Rentals Wai-Coa-Bay Premiership has been a whole lot of work for everyone, but it's all worth it," Stosic said.

"A competition at this level is what the clubs wanted and we're rapt to get it across the line."

Last season, the Bay of Plenty district (Rotorua, Tokoroa and Taupo) and Coastline district (Tauranga and Whakatane) combined to make a stronger competition.

This season, the Waikato district has also come on board to complete the unification of the zone.

Long-standing Pikiao player Percy King said he was really looking forward to the new competition.

"I'm just glad that the level of league is going to pick up this year. I expect to see some beautiful games," King said.

"Every team that we're going to come up against, we can't say whether we are going to win or not, whereas in the past we probably could.

"Having the Hamilton sides come in, it's going to lift us as a team."

All matches in round one are being played at Tokoroa's Memorial Park as part of a grand opening round.

Every premier team must field a reserve grade side this year. Taupo and Ngongotaha have joined up with Reporoa Razorbacks and Central Lions (Rotorua) as their reserve teams.

The reserve grade competition will run alongside the premier competition, with matches played at the same venue before each premier game.

The BOP/Coastline Division One competition will return this year with five teams taking part - Papamoa Bulldogs, Mangakino Hawks, Taneatua Warriors, Putauaki Stags, and Tauhara Te Maunga. The division one competition also begins in Tokoroa this weekend.

A Wai-Coa-Bay under-15 and under-17 competition will also be staged this year called the Burger King Wai-Coa-Bay Youth Championship.

Round one draw tomorrow (all games in Tokoroa):

Wai-Coa-Bay Premiership: Pacific v Hamilton City Tigers (4.15pm), Ngongotaha v Turangawaewae (2.30pm), Taupo v Taniwharau (12.45pm), Otumoetai v United (2.30pm), Pikiao bye.

Wai-Coa-Bay Reserve Grade: Pacific v Hamilton City Tigers (2.30pm), Central v Turangawaewae (12.45pm), Reporoa v Taniwharau (11am), Otumoetai v United (12.45pm), Pikiao bye.

Division One (11am): Papamoa v Mangakino, Taneatua v Putauaki, Tauhara bye.