General Auckland Rugby League

Looks like arsonist dealt to Marist Saints clubrooms. Can't read the Herald article this morning because it is behind a pay wall.
Headline suggests all was not well within the club, at least the administration and management.
Arsonist may be someone connected to the club?
An Auckland rugby league club that burned down in a suspected arson last month was uninsured and had failed for years to file required financial returns, a Herald investigation has revealed.

The Mt Albert home of the storied Marist Saints Rugby League Club in Murray Halberg Park was engulfed by fire early on November 16 in what police are treating as an arson.

More than a century of irreplaceable club treasures were lost.

Four days earlier, another fire had erupted in the rear stairwell of the clubrooms, but did not go on to consume the building.

A fire investigation report is still being prepared and a concurrent police investigation has not yet yielded any arrests.

Multiple sources close to the club have confirmed its insurance had lapsed before the fire.

Adding to the club’s woes is the fact it was dissolved as an incorporated society in April for failing to file financial statements.

Firefighters examine the smouldering remains of the Marist Saints clubrooms on November 16. Photo / Hayden Woodward
Public records show it last filed a financial statement in 2020 for the year ended September 30, 2019.

Financial records show it ran a deficit of $22,172, with total expenses of $132,917 and income of $110,795. The largest source of income was grants - nearly $40,000 - followed by souvenirs and clothing ($14,645) and subscriptions and gear sales ($12,605). Net assets were $232,309 with liabilities of $18,735.

Bolen Ng, the business registries national manager for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, said the incorporated club was dissolved on April 3 this year “as a result of the club failing to file its financial statements despite several reminders to do so”.

Ng said there are no penalties under the Incorporated Societies Act for continuing to operate while dissolved.

“However, societies’ officers and assets may be placed at financial risk if their society continues to operate while dissolved due to the loss of its incorporated status,” Ng said.

No further enforcement action was taken against the club, he said.

The club is now facing a steep financial hill to climb to rebuild its clubrooms and get reincorporated onto the Incorporated Societies Register. It is raising funds via a Givealittle page.

New club chair Hengi Fusitua, who took over in April after the club was dissolved, declined to comment ahead of its Annual General Meeting on Sunday.

It is understood the club’s CCTV did not function but the fire was captured by the camera of a nearby house.


The Herald has obtained a Fire and Emergency NZ incident report logging all messages and calls recorded by firefighters as the blaze erupted and progressed to consume the club.

The log shows the building was totally involved in fire when crews arrived.

It also shows some of the fire was captured on a motorway camera some distance from the park, which shows its progression.

The log said the origin of the fire was on the ground level but otherwise unable to immediately classify at the scene, before it was turned over to investigators.

At 3.36am, a caller reported seeing a bin on fire near the club, and seconds later told the call-taker the side of the building was alight.
 
Viking what do you think now?
What that article doesn't tell us is that there'd been a spate of other fires in the surrounding area leading up to the Marist fire so I think it's probably just a firebug. You could join dots by reading that article and come to the conclusion that it was an inside job. dean asked the question and so will many others. Typical of the Heralds shit journalism IMO.

As far as the financial difficulties go, it represents the sad state of Auckland league unfortunately, especially for the smaller clubs. I'm not surprised that Marist weren't insured and if you opened the books of all the clubs in Auckland, I think you'll see difficulties everywhere. It'll probably take 10 years to recover from the 2 years lost to COVID. The mini grades are stronger than ever and will be even stronger next year thanks to the Warriors (and the ABs choking??), but there's a massive drop off in playing numbers from the u15s up and very few teams left by the U18s. Having Warriors talent in the Matts is awesome but where do those players go after April.....school rugby.
 
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What that article doesn't tell us is that there'd been a spate of other fires in the surrounding area leading up to the Marist fire so I think it's probably just a firebug. You could join dots by reading that article and come to the conclusion that it was an inside job. dean asked the question and so will many others. Typical of the Heralds shit journalism IMO.

As far as the financial difficulties go, it represents the sad state of Auckland league unfortunately, especially for the smaller clubs. I'm not surprised that Marist weren't insured and if you opened the books of all the clubs in Auckland, I think you'll see difficulties everywhere. It'll probably take 10 years to recover from the 2 years lost to COVID. The mini grades are stronger than ever and will be even stronger next year thanks to the Warriors (and the ABs choking??), but there's a massive drop off in playing numbers from the u15s up and very few teams left by the U18s. Having Warriors talent in the Matts is awesome but where do those players go after April.....school rugby.
Hmmm I was more thinking just about the club. Do you think police will keep investigating?


You would think there would be enough community spirit to help rebuild the club and donate goods. It's really about who runs it now and what kind of relationship they have with the community.

As I said before, hopefully some ex Warriors players come out and support, get this club running again. Where you at Mad Butcher? Autex? ARL?
 
Hmmm I was more thinking just about the club. Do you think police will keep investigating?


You would think there would be enough community spirit to help rebuild the club and donate goods. It's really about who runs it now and what kind of relationship they have with the community.

As I said before, hopefully some ex Warriors players come out and support, get this club running again. Where you at Mad Butcher? Autex? ARL?

There's a givealittle page that's been up for month and has received $2700 so yeah....they won't get enough from community donations to rebuild and I don't see how donated goods will help unless it's building materials. No builder I know would used donated materials anyway.

The Mad Butcher is just a chain of franchised shops, Autex already support plenty and aren't a bottomless pit of money. And they've got 2 years of COVID losses to claw back. As does the ARL without factoring in their 2nd big loss from owning the Warriors. Marist might get some token donations from the three of them and ex Marist boys playing professionally now but most of the money will have to come from grants. Bad books will seriously dampen the grants pipeline.

I met a guy that is involved in the rebuild as one of the builders, I didn't ask if or how it was getting funded though. There's been hopeful plans around for new clubrooms for years. There was never going to be enough money raised for it to happen.
 
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Des White, RIP.

A Kiwi legend, a great radio commentator and a successful supermarket NW owner.

As a young fella I spend a lot of time listening to his commentary from Carlaw Park.
I remember him as a very classy fullback who also kicked goals extremely well.
I think I am right when I say he suffered a major injury from illegal play by the French team in a test match.
Kicked in the back(iirc)


Our old mate Bruce would remember more but alas...:cry:
 
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I remember him as a very classy fullback who also kicked goals extremely well.
I think I am right when I say he suffered a major injury from illegal play by the French team in a test match.
Kicked in the back(iirc)


Our old mate Bruce would remember more but alas...:cry:
Might be up to you to take over sharing Bruce type historical stories for the forum!
 
This is a wild story.

Some of the property bordering the club rooms is now in the $4 - 5m range.
The clubs been there over 100 years.

Sounds like only one complainer among the neighbours. Sadly, their are people like that. As long as the club is not breaking the law in anyway, they will be okay. Also, I thought Richmond had gone alcohol free a few years back?
 
This is a wild story.

Some of the property bordering the club rooms is now in the $4 - 5m range.
The clubs been there over 100 years.

Nearly as bad a story I read about a guy who brought land between two gun ranges. He then put a house on it and made noise complaints about the gun ranges. Some people just live there lives to complain I feel sorry for club.
 
Sad to hear that the oldest surviving member of the Point Chevalier Rugby League club has passed away.
Bruce Thompson held just about every position in his beloved Pirates.
Great clubman
Was also a contract driver for Lion breweries.
Never let a spoiled keg go to waste.
RIP BRUCE
 
Sad to hear the passing of Norm Stephens
Former Auckland junior representative who went on to coach Point Chevalier reserves and then FG for Glenora.
Has lived on Waiheke for many years.
Really good guy and great coach.
RIP Norm
 
Who are you picking for the Fox this year? Another one for Point Chev?
Watch out for Mt Albert - word is that they're looking good for 2024.
Pt and Mt will get the Lion's share of the Warriors SG Ball talent that doesn't play Flegg.

Those two should be in the final with Richmond as smokeys again.
 
What sort of money would the average Fox player be on?
I guess it won't me much, maybe a win bonus or petrol vouchers?
Gavet and Locke would be worth more but it is harder for clubs to raise money now to support a premier team unless they have a decent sponsor.
 
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