Wellington Rugby League

The Senior WRL competition involves 9 teams in the Premier Grade with most fielding a Reserve Grade team also: • Petone Panthers (Lower Hutt) • Porirua Vikings (Porirua) • Randwick Kingfishers (Lower Hutt) • St George Dragons (Porirua) • Te Aroha Eels (Lower Hutt) • University Hunters (Wellington City) • Upper Hutt Tigers (Upper Hutt) • Wainuiomata Lions (Lower Hutt) • Whiti Te Rā (Otaki) • TOA Rugby league (Porirua) The 5 other clubs that aren't in the Senior WRL are: • Harbour City Eagles (Wellington City) • Kapiti Bears (Kapiti Coast) • Porirua City Phoenix (Porirua) • Titahi Bay Marlins (Porirua) • Trentham Titans (Upper Hutt) The winner is awarded the Appleton Shield, which has been in use since 1940. In 1912 four teams played for the Seigel Cup; Petone, Hutt, Athletic and Newtown. Petone won the first ever Wellington club competition. ==History==

Wellington played its first game on 24 August 1908 when they took on Auckland at Victoria Park, Auckland in the first provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand. During 1909, 1910 and 1911 Wellington continued to play a number of provincial games and, in 1909, defeated Auckland in Auckland, 22-19, the first of only five victories over Auckland in over 100 years. The founding committee was chaired by W J Riorden and included Daniel Fraser. Post War years Will Appleton was president of the Wellington Rugby Football League between 1940 and 1958 and presented the Appleton Shield, which is used to this day as the premier club trophy. 1990-1994 :Touring teams In 1990 Wellington defeated the touring Great Britain side 30-22. This is Wellington's only victory over a touring side. 2010-present: NZRL National Competition Wellington Rugby League was then placed in the NZRL National Competition as the replacement competition for the Bartercard Premiership, known as the "Wellington Orcas". ==NRL Bid==

In 2004, working with the Wellington Rugby League, a consortium called the Southern Orcas was involved in bidding for a National Rugby League franchise to be based in the city. The franchise ultimately went to the Gold Coast who joined the NRL for the 2007 season. In 2007 reports emerged that the consortium was looking at the possibility of joining Super League however nothing ever eventuated. ==Notable juniors competed in the NRL==

Petone Panthers • Vince Mellars • Issac Luke Randwick Kingfishers • Mose Masoe • Sika Manu • Ben Matulino • Danny Levi • Sione Katoa Upper Hutt Tigers • Nelson Asofa-Solomona • Jordan Pereira Wellington Orcas • Simon Mannering (New Zealand Warriors) • Jahrome Hughes (Melbourne Storm) ==References==