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===The 90's===
===The 90's===
The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.
The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.[[File:Counties Manukau Steelers old logo.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Counties Manukau Steelers former logo]]


Counties finally improved during the mid-1990s. A forward packing containing Errol Brain, [[Jim Coe]], [[Glen Marsh]], and Junior Paramore, with backs including Tony Marsh, George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, [[Jonah Lomu]], [[Joeli Vidiri]] and Dean Sheppard, proved one of the best Counties side ever, making the NPC finals twice, in 1996 and 1997, losing to Auckland and Canterbury respectively. A highlight of that period came in 1997 during the semi-final in Hamilton. Behind at one stage 9–33, and stung by a ground announcement advertising tickets for a home Waikato final next week, Counties fought back with a 43–40 win. They then traveled to Christchurch to play Canturbury in the Final of which they lost, affter losing lock Jim Coe to a later discovered broken ankle early in the match,
Counties finally improved during the mid-1990s with a forward packing containing New Zealand Maori Captain Errol Brain, [[Jim Coe]], New Maori and future Japanese International [[Glen Marsh]], Junior Paramore. The backs including future french international centre Tony Marsh, Samoa's George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, All Blacks [[Jonah Lomu]] and [[Joeli Vidiri]] along with Dean Sheppard, proved one of the best Counties side ever. They made the NPC finals twice. In 1996 beating Canturbury at home in a semi final then losing to Auckland at Auckland in the Final.
In 1997 during the semi-final in Hamilton, behind at one stage 9–33 and stung by a ground announcement advertising tickets for a home Waikato final next week, Counties fought back with a 43–40 win. They then traveled to Christchurch to play Canturbury in the Final of which they lost, affter losing lock Jim Coe early in the match to a later discovered broken ankle.


===2000-2010===
===2000-2010===

Revision as of 04:49, 10 June 2024

Counties Manukau
Rugby Football Union
SportRugby union
JurisdictionFranklin District
AbbreviationCMRFU
Founded1955; 70 years ago (1955)
AffiliationNew Zealand Rugby
HeadquartersPukekohe
Official website
www.steelers.co.nz
New Zealand

The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union (CMRFU) is the governing body of rugby union in Southern Auckland and the Franklin district of New Zealand. Nicknamed the Steelers, their colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The Steelers moniker is a reference to the Glenbrook steel factory, which is in the area. The union is based in Pukekohe, and plays at Navigation Homes Stadium.

History

Beginings

The union was preceded by the "South Auckland" sub-union of the Auckland Rugby Football Union, the sub-union being founded in 1926. This became a full union, with the name "South Auckland Counties", in 1955. The name was shortened to "Counties" just a year later.[2] The history of Counties has been very much about adventurous football and taking risks, and this was certainly the case initially as the team strove to establish an identity and tradition. Their first game (As Counties) was against Auckland in Waiuku in 1955, which they lost 95–3, led by Barry Baxter. In that inaugural year the team defeated a Wellington XV twice, the first 19 – 6 on Bledisloe Park, Pukekohe, where the union's first All Black, Pat Walsh scored twice.

The 60's

Barry Bracewell, coach from 1961–63 and 1967–75, adopted a style in conflict with the ethos of the day of forward dominance and percentage safety from the backs. Bracewell and Tauroa after him, selected mobile forwards and loose forwards with exciting backs that excuted attacking game plans.

The 70's

Winning the NPC, The first Championship was won in 1979, with wins over Waikato, Wellington, North Auckland, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Canterbury and Southland. That same Year Counties also bet Victoria and Argentina.

The 80's

From winning the NPC in 1979, Counties were invited to play in the Inter-Dominion Championships (A pre Super 10 style championship). They bet Queensland 26-18 at Ballymore Stadium, with Brett Codlin being the top points scorer. Counties also played against France at Pukekohe in 1989 losing by 21-24. Stu Holler scored all 21 points with 6 penalty kicks and a drop goal.

The 90's

The name Counties Manukau was adopted in 1995.

Counties Manukau Steelers former logo

Counties finally improved during the mid-1990s with a forward packing containing New Zealand Maori Captain Errol Brain, Jim Coe, New Maori and future Japanese International Glen Marsh, Junior Paramore. The backs including future french international centre Tony Marsh, Samoa's George Leaupepe, Blair Feeney, All Blacks Jonah Lomu and Joeli Vidiri along with Dean Sheppard, proved one of the best Counties side ever. They made the NPC finals twice. In 1996 beating Canturbury at home in a semi final then losing to Auckland at Auckland in the Final.

In 1997 during the semi-final in Hamilton, behind at one stage 9–33 and stung by a ground announcement advertising tickets for a home Waikato final next week, Counties fought back with a 43–40 win. They then traveled to Christchurch to play Canturbury in the Final of which they lost, affter losing lock Jim Coe early in the match to a later discovered broken ankle.

2000-2010

2010 onwards

General notes

Counties Manukau Steelers former logo


The Counties team of this era had many highlights. The first was winning the NPC championship in 1979, with wins over Waikato, Wellington, North Auckland, Thames Valley, Bay of Plenty, Poverty Bay, South Canterbury, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago, Canterbury, and Southland, also beating Victoria and Argentina that year. Winning the Inter-Dominion Championship (forerunner to the Super 10) against Queensland in Brisbane was another achievement, while the 1982 team beat Australia 15 – 9, which included greats such as David Campese.[citation needed]

In 1982, playing Canterbury not only for the Ranfurly Shield but also the NPC championship, with Counties ahead 15 – 12 with only minutes remaining, Robert Kururangi intercepted a Canterbury pass and was about to score when the referee dubiously judged him offside, awarding Canterbury the penalty which Robbie Deans successfully kicked to win the championship and retain the shield. The previous season the shield challenge against Waikato also ended in a draw (21 all) after Counties conceded two late and controversial penalties. The third Ranfurly Shield agony came three years later in 1985 against Auckland, when Counties, down 3 – 12, were denied what appeared to be a perfectly legitimate try to Dave Trombik after the referee received some subtle persuasion by Auckland skipper Andy Haden. Later in the game Warren McClean scored a try for Counties, making the final score 9–12, with Counties on the losing side.[citation needed]

After a steady decline since then, Counties lost a promotion-relegation match in 2001, and dropped to the second division, where Counties could not retain their best players and lost the likes of Stephen Donald, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Casey Laulala, and Kieran Read to other unions.[citation needed]

In 2006 Counties was selected to rejoin the top sides in the new Air New Zealand Cup Premier Division, and they still retain their exciting attacking style of rugby. Success has been limited, a win over Auckland in 2008 being a highlight. Former All Black captain Tana Umaga joined Counties as player/coach in 2010 and was appointed head coach in December 2011. In 2013, after 24 previous unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenges – including two draws – the Umaga-coached Counties-Manukau team gave Steelers fans something to celebrate when captain Fritz Lee lifted the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the province's history following a dramatic 27–24 win over Hawkes Bay.[3]

All Blacks and centurions

All Black represenatives
Players who have played 100 or more games for the union
  • Alan Dawson
  • Andy Dalton
  • Bob Lendrum
  • Ean McRobbie
  • Graham Taylor
  • Henk Harbraken
  • Henry Maxwell
  • Jim Coe
  • John Spiers
  • John Hughes
  • Lee Lidgard
  • Lindsay Raki
  • Mark Moore
  • Paul Tuoro
  • Peter Clotworthy
  • Rod Ketels
  • Roy Craig
  • Warren McLean
  • Errol Brain
  • Bruce Robertson
  • Grant Henson

Clubs

The Counties Manukau union does not include all clubs in the area of the former Manukau City. Clubs such as Manukau Rovers RFC and the Papatoetoe RFC are members of the Auckland Rugby Union.[4]

The clubs in the Counties Manukau union are:

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup

The teams in the Counties Manukau Premier Grade Club rugby competition play for the T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup. Club finals are usually held in the month of July at Pukekohe Stadium.

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup Winners Roll of Honour

1955- City Ramblers (1)

1956- Papakura (1)

1957- Papakura (2)

1958- Papakura (3) /Waiuku (1)

1959- Onewhero Utd (1)

1960- Ardmore(1)/Pukekohe (1)

1961- Manurewa (1)

1962- Manurewa (2)

1963- Manurewa (3)

1964- Pukekohe (2)

1965- Manurewa (4)

1966- Manurewa (5)

1967- Manurewa (6)

1968- Papakura (4)

1969- Manurewa (7)

1970- Manurewa (8)

1971- Manurewa (9)

1972- Papakura (5)

1973- Papakura (6)

1974- Papakura (7)/Manurewa (10)

1975- Manurewa (11)

1976- Manurewa (12)

1977- Manurewa (13)

1978- Manurewa (14)

1979- Ardmore (2)

1980- Manurewa (15)

1981- Ardmore (3)

1982- Papakura (8)

1983- Ardmore (4)

1984- Manurewa (16)

1985- Bombay (1)

1986- Manurewa (17)

1987- Bombay (2)

1988- Manurewa(18)

1989- Bombay (3)

1990- Manurewa (19)

1991- Manurewa (20)

1992- Manurewa (21)

1993- Manurewa (22)

1994- Manurewa (23)

1995- Manurewa (24)

1996- Papakura (9)

1997- Manurewa (25)

1998- Manurewa (26)

1999- Pukekohe (3)

2000- Waiuku (2)

2001- Ardmore Marist (1)

2002- Ardmore Marist (2)

2003- Waiuku (3)

2004- Pukekohe (4)

2005- Pukekohe (5)

2006- Patumahoe (1)

2007- Pukekohe (6)

2008- Ardmore Marist (3)

2009- Patumahoe (2)

2010- Waiuku (4)

2011- Pukekohe (7)

2012- Patumahoe (3)

2013- Ardmore Marist(4)

2014- Bombay (4)

2015- Bombay (5)

2016- Bombay (6)

2017- Bombay (7)

2018- Ardmore Marist (5)

2019- Bombay (8)

2020- Season abandoned

2021- Karaka (1)

2022 - Manurewa (27)

2023 - Manurewa (28)

Club Championship Titles by Club

T.P. McNamara Memorial Cup Winners
Club Number of Titles
Manurewa 28
Papakura 8
Bombay 8
Pukekohe 7
Ardmore Marist 5
Ardmore 4
Patumahoe 3
Waiuku 3
Karaka 1
Onewhero 1
City Ramblers 1
A previous logo of the union

Wonder years

Counties Manukau rugby enjoyed its heyday in the 1980s. From 1995 till 1999, captain Errol Brain led another successful era. The "player drain" of stars such as Lomu (Wellington), Vidiri (Auckland), Lee (Otago), and Marsh (France), signalled a downturn in the fortunes of Counties.

From 2013 to 2019 Counties Manukau played in the top division of New Zealand's national championship. Counties Manukau were more than competitive winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in 2013 (defending it 6 times), and making the semi-finals on two occasions. Again the bulk of the team and coaching staff moved on, and so ended the good fortunes of the team.

Counties Manukau in Super Rugby

When Super Rugby began, Counties Manukau was associated with the Blues; but since 1999 it has been aligned to the Chiefs.

Women's Rugby

Counties Manukau has a women's team that is part of Women's Provincial Championship. Counties were crowned champions for the first time in 2016 taking down the eight time defending champs Auckland 41-22. Counties made it to the final of the 2017 competition after finishing top of the table for the second year running. They were defeated 13-7 in the final by Canterbury.

References

  1. ^ Staff on Steelers website
  2. ^ https://nzhistory.govt.nz/culture/regional-rugby/counties
  3. ^ Cochrane, P. (2005). Enterprise and Agony. 50 years of Counties Rugby, New Zealand.
  4. ^ "Club directory". Auckland Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
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