2023 New Zealand rugby league season explained

NZRL National Competition 2023
League:National Competition
No Of Teams:12
Tv:Sky Sport
Premiers:Auckland Vulcans
Count:1st

The 2023 New Zealand rugby league season was the 116th season of rugby league played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Competition, run by the New Zealand Rugby League.[1]

National Premiership

Select matches were broadcast live by Sky Sport.[2]

Teams

Six teams contested the National Premiership, all in a single division round robin followed by a final.[3]

TeamCity/RegionHome Grounds
Akarana FalconsAucklandMount Smart Stadium, AucklandSunnynook Park, Auckland
Auckland VulcansAucklandCornwall Park, Auckland
Canterbury BullsChristchurchNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub, Christchurch
Counties Manukau StingraysSouth AucklandMassey Park, South Auckland
Otago WhalersDunedinForsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Waikato ManaHamiltonFMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton

Regular Season

Round 1

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Auckland Vulcans48 – 22 Waikato2 September 2023 12:00 noonCornwall Park
Canterbury Bulls0 – 44 Counties Manukau2 September 2023 2:00pmNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub
Otago Whalers22 – 42 Akarana Falcons3 September 2023 12:00pmForsyth Barr Stadium

Round 2

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Akarana Falcons30 – 20 Waikato9 September 2023 2:00pmSunnynook Park
Counties Manukau36 – 20 Otago Whalers10 September 2023 12:00pmMassey Park
Canterbury Bulls8 – 56 Auckland Vulcans10 September 2023 2:00pmNgā Puna Wai Sports Hub

Round 3

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Auckland Vulcans22 – 20 Akarana Falcons16 September 2023 2:00pmCornwall Park
Waikato10 – 62 Counties Manukau16 September 2023 2:00pmResthills Park
Otago Whalers32 – 14 Canterbury Bulls17 September 2023 12:00pmForsyth Barr Stadium

Ladder

!Pos!Team!Pld!W!L!PF!PA!PD!Pts
Pool A
1 Auckland Vulcans33012650766
2 Akarana Falcons3219264284
3 Waikato30352140-880
Pool B
1 Counties Manukau330142301126
2 Otago Whalers3127492-182
3 Canterbury Bulls30322132-1100

Finals

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Semi Finals
Akarana Falcons8 – 26 Counties Manukau23 September 202312:00pmThe Trusts Arena
Auckland Vulcans50 – 6 Otago Whalers23 September 20233:00pmThe Trusts Arena
Relegation Match
Canterbury Bullsvs Waikato1 October 202312:00pmNavigation Homes Stadium
Grand Final
Counties Manukau4-70[4] Auckland Vulcans1 October 20232:00pmNavigation Homes Stadium

Chart

National Championship

North Island Championship

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Coastline Mariners28 – 42 Northern Swords10 September 202312:00pmMitchell Park
Northern Swords24 – 40 Bay of Plenty Lakers17 September 20231:00pmUnknown
Bay of Plenty Lakers22 – 0 Coastline Mariners23 September 202312:00pmPuketawhero Park

South Island Championship Pool 1

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Hawke's Bay Unicorns36 – 6 Manawatu Mustangs10 September 202311:00amCoronation Park
Hawke's Bay Unicorns18 – 42 Wellington Orcas10 September 20231:00pmCoronation Park
Manawatu Mustangs16 – 32 Wellington Orcas10 September 20233:00pmCoronation Park

South Island Championship Pool 2

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Aoraki Eels46 – 16 West Coast Chargers16 September 20231:30pmAshbury Park
West Coast Chargers24 – 20 Aoraki Eels23 September 20231:00pmWingham Park

Ladder

PosTeamPldWLPFPAPDPts
Pool A
1 Bay of Plenty Lakers2206224384
2 Northern Swords2116668-22
3 Coastline Mariners2022864-360
National Men's Championship (South Island)
1 Wellington Orcas2207434404
2 Hawke's Bay Unicorns211544862
3 Manawatu Mustangs2022268-460
National Men's Championship (South Island)
1 Aoraki Eels2116640262
2 West Coast Chargers2114066-262
3 Southland Rams (withdrew)0000000

Finals

HomeScoreAwayDate and TimeVenue
Semi Finals
Bay of Plenty Lakers Wellington Orcas
Aoraki EelsBye
Grand Final
Bay of Plenty Lakers62-16[5] Aoraki Eels7 October 2023Trusts Arena

Chart

Club Competitions

Auckland

See main article: 2023 Auckland Rugby League season.

The 2023 season was the 115th season of the Auckland Rugby League Premiership.

Other Competitions

Australian Competitions

See main article: 2023 New Zealand Warriors season.

The New Zealand Warriors played in their 29th professional first grade season in the Australian National Rugby League competition.

The Warriors finished 4th after the regular season with a 16–8 record for the season. In the Qualifying Final, the Warriors lost 32–6 to the Penrith Panthers. As a result, they faced the Newcastle Knights in the second week of the finals at home at Go Media Stadium and won 40–10. The side then travelled to play the Brisbane Broncos in the Preliminary Final, where they lost 42-12 and were eliminated from the competition a game short of the Grand Final.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NZ Rugby League . 24 September 2023 . www.sporty.co.nz.
  2. Web site: National Competition Archives . 22 November 2022 . New Zealand Rugby League . en-NZ.
  3. Web site: New Zealand Rugby League Official Page . 22 November 2022 . New Zealand Rugby League . en-NZ.
  4. Web site: Auckland Vulcans crowned NZRL National Premiers . 1 May 2024 . en-NZ.
  5. Web site: Bay of Plenty Men & Waikato Women Claim National Championship Titles . 1 May 2024 . en-NZ.

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