Friday Flashback
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: ‘KIWI ORIGIN’ 1996
The concept of a ‘Kiwi Origin’ series has regularly been floated over the years, with prominent figures confident New Zealand could replicate a competitive version of Australia’s annual State of Origin extravaganza. North Island versus South Island fixtures were a regular part of the New Zealand Rugby League calendar from 1925-65, before being replaced by…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: HORNBY WINS CRL’S FIRST GRAND FINAL
As Hornby Panthers prepare to celebrate their 2023 Club Day on Saturday – and with their sights firmly set on the Pat Smith Trophy amid a tight Massetti Cup race – Flashback Friday relives the club’s victory in the inaugural Canterbury Rugby League men’s premiership grand final. With Linwood at the forefront of lobbying, the…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: LION RED CUP 1994-96
This week’s Flashback Friday revisits a brief, but memorable, pocket of Canterbury Rugby League history – the three-season existence of the Canterbury Country Cardinals and the Christchurch City Shiners in the Lion Red Cup premiership, which kicked off 29 years ago. The ambitious domestic 22-round, 12-team competition – also drawing clubs from Auckland and surrounding…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: CANTERBURY V AUSTRALIA 1965
As the rugby league world turns its focus towards next week’s State of Origin series opener, Flashback Friday revisits the only time Canterbury took on the cream of New South Wales and Queensland – its sole match against Australia, when the provincial side hosted the star-studded 1965 tourists in Christchurch. Previous Australian sides to tour…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: A TRIO OF PAPANUI-HALSWELL GRAND FINALS
With Papanui’s ISC Canterbury Cup clash against Halswell on Saturday a centrepiece of the Tigers’ centenary celebrations this Easter weekend, Flashback Friday revisits the most eventful period of a keen rivalry between the clubs. Papanui and Halswell are intrinsically linked, playing annually for the Kevin Williams Memorial Trophy, named in honour of the Canterbury fullback…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: WARRIORS AND CANTERBURY PLAY TO PACKED SHOW GROUNDS
Ahead of Sunday’s trial match between the One New Zealand Warriors and Melbourne Storm at Rugby League Park (currently Orangetheory Stadium) – the first match between NRL teams in the city for almost four years – our first Flashback Friday of 2023 relives a landmark Christchurch encounter between the Canterbury provincial team and the fledgling…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: ENDACOTT STARS AS NZ XIII SHOCK GREAT BRITAIN TOURISTS
Rockcote Canterbury Bulls stars Tevin Arona, Brad Campbell, Jope Tagicakibau, Ben Ilalio, Alex Todd and Michael Butson will line up for NZ Residents against the England Community Lions in Auckland on Friday night. Arona has been named co-captain of the Residents, who are coached by Bulls mentor Andrew Auimatagi. Flashback Friday revisits a famous victory…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: EAST V WEST 2011
Ahead of the East v West representative fixture tomorrow afternoon at Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Flashback Friday revisits the last time the match was played prior to its return to the Canterbury Rugby League schedule in 2017. East recovered from a 14-point halftime deficit to run out 26-18 winners in the 2011 clash, keeping…
Read MoreFLASHBACK FRIDAY: DUFFIE AND BROWN DEBUT IN ANZAC TEST
This Sunday – at the unlikely venue of Mile High Stadium in Denver – Aranui Eagles junior Jamayne Isaako is set to join the ranks of Canterbury products to pull on the Kiwis jumper. Flashback Friday this week relives the 2011 midyear trans-Tasman Test, when Christchurch-born duo Lewis Brown and Matt Duffie made their Kiwi…
Read MoreFlashback Friday – Warriors’ miracle win in Christchurch
As Christchurch prepares to host its first NRL fixture in six years – the Round 10 clash between the Penrith Panthers and New Zealand Warriors on Saturday at AMI Stadium – Flashback Friday relives the city’s last taste of top-level rugby league, which featured one of the greatest finishes in premiership history. In rainy, freezing…
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