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JASON DORDAY / Stuff
The Otahuhu Leopards – the club that produced more warriors than any other.
In a small valley off the Mt. Wellington Highway, in the heart of Ōtāhuhu, lies a tired 50-year-old building. Blink your eyes and I will miss you.
But the exhausted structure has long been a conveyor belt, along which the rugby league's talents travel from the humble southern suburbs of Auckland to the brilliant lights of the NRL, in unmatched numbers .
The Ōtāhuhu Leopards, founded in 1911, produced more warriors than any other rugby club in the country – as well as five kiwi captains.
Richie Blackmore, Logan Swann, Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, and Clinton Toopi have all gone through the years to Ōtāhuhu.
PHOTOTEK
Emeliano Mikaele of Otahuhu Leopards celebrates his try at the Sharman Cup Grand Final last year at Mt Smart Stadium.
More recently, Leeson Ah Mau, Isaac John, Charlie Gubb, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and current Warrior captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck made the transition from Ōtāhuhu to professional ranks.
The last graduate was the warrior Joseph Vuna, who was named to make his second NRL appearance this Sunday against the Broncos.
The local prodigy, who still lives at his parents' home a stone's throw from his junior club, said it's the people who make the club and their support that pushes young players to get the best out of their kids. ;themselves.
] Former Junior Warrior coach, John Ackland, is now the coach – Otahuhu Chief
"I have a lot of good memories in Ōtāhuhu, it's a real club for people," Vuna said. be it now, it's flash but people are always the same. "
Vuna's first taste for what rugtāhuhu meant for rugby was like a little boy for the side of his big brother
" George (Vuna) and I would run around, pick up the bullets and help with the scoreboar he said.
"But the community that came to watch week after week, win or lose, gave me a real sense of what it meant to them and it is probably what kindled the fire for me and"
The 19-year-old said the steep hills that surround the park were also part of the success of so many juniors Ōtāhuhu
GETTY
Otahuhu junior Joseph Vuna will play in his second match of the NRL this Sunday.
"Man, some of these pre-seasons have been difficult in the hills, it's one thing that helps put Ōtāhuhu on the map, it's our conditioning," he said . for their brother next to them and it was all the sweeter when you finally hit the sheds at the end of a session. "
The man who opened the clubrooms and swept these sheds while changing while Vuna ran With his teammates every week, Bruce Shaw was a loyal club.
For over 60 years, Shaw has spent every Saturday morning at his popular Leopards club, first as a player and now as club president.I started playing here in 1957. I think the reason we So many good players were the proximity of the club and before Manurewa and Papakura emerged, we were the southernmost club. "
The Polynesian community of the region, in particular, was behind much of the talent in the early years, and continues to be today, said Shaw
John Ackland, former coach of the Junior Warriors, the best club team in its quest for a Fox Memorial Championship.
If jam Someone needed to be sold on the rugby pitch, a Saturday afternoon in Othuhu was the biggest showcase of the city, Shaw said.
Saturdays at the club were a rugby "festival" with kids He said, "You really can not beat him, we're back in the best grades this year (after winning the second division last year) and we have a good young side, full of local talent.
"It's an exciting time to be involved in the country's best rugby league club." [19659034] – Stuff
