From having no senior rugby league team in the district, to reaching a grand final in their first season, the Waitak Warriors have made an impressive impact in their debut year.
The idea for the squad began more than a year ago, when Andrew Connaughton saw an opportunity to give local rugby league players a team of their own, without having to travel out of the Hauraki.
“We had so many local lads playing rugby union who were keen to play league, but they were having to travel all the way to places like Tairua just to get a game. I thought, ‘why not build something right here in Waitakaruru?’” Andrew told The Profile.
“Second, through my involvement with Ngatea Youth Rugby League, where we have over 150 kids playing each week, I saw a clear gap. Once our kids age out of the youth division, if there isn’t a senior pathway, they tend to drop out of sport altogether. Establishing the Waitak Warriors gives our young people a clear progression pathway so they can stay active, competitive, and connected to their community.”
To make it happen, Andrew approached Hauraki North Rugby Club – well-known in the rohe for backing women’s rugby by creating the Hauraki North Diamonds in 2023.
“They were the obvious choice, and thankfully, they jumped straight on board. The Hauraki North committee has been incredibly supportive, giving us a home by letting us use their pitches and top-tier facilities.”
The team has adopted the nickname the WaWahs, a play on Waitak Warriors and the popular “Up the Wahs” catchphrase associated with New Zealand’s national rugby league team.
“It caught on instantly with the boys and our supporters, and it’s stuck ever since!” Andrew said.
The WaWahs grew from an initial muster of about 10 players to a squad of 32 men, ranging from 18-year-olds to experienced players in their 40s.
They had a strong start on the field, opening their season with a 22-8 away win against the Te Aroha Cobras before a hard-fought 32-21 loss to the Whangamatā Whai.
They then made history with the first senior rugby league match at Hauraki North’s grounds, beating the Manaia Makos 64-8 in front of their home crowd.
From there, the team continued to build momentum, eventually securing a 36-20 semi-final win against the Tairua Taniwhas to secure a place in the grand final in their inaugural season.
The final was held in Thames on October 10, with the WaWahs up against the Mercury Bay Boars.
“Our boys started exceptionally well, heading into halftime with a 12-10 lead,” Andrew said. “While we weren’t quite able to hold off a classy, experienced Boars side – who have been running for 17 years – we fought right to the final whistle in a thrilling, tightly contested match that ended 38-26.”
Despite coming up just short of the silverware, Andrew said it had been a “truly remarkable” inaugural season.
“To put it into perspective, out of our starting 13 for the final, 10 players had never played rugby league before this year,” he said. “The character, determination, and heart these players have shown to go from scratch to grand finalists is a massive testament to this group of lads. We set out to bring the senior league to our district, create a pathway for our local young blokes, and build a brotherhood, and we have done just that. I couldn’t be prouder.”
The Waitak Warriors are already looking ahead to next season, with plans to return even stronger after setting such a high benchmark in their first year.
Andrew thanked the club’s sponsors, coaches, management team, and supporters for helping establish the team and backing it throughout the season, saying their contribution had been instrumental in bringing senior rugby league to the district.
BY KELLEY TANTAU
The Waitak Warriors, aka the WaWahs, made an impressive debut season, reaching the grand final in their first year as a senior rugby league team. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
