2006-2008
special jersey 2008 (Auckland Rugby League centenial jersey)
This is from 2007. Auckland RL was established in 1909.
One of my favourite issues, this jersey was actually made to mark 30 years since the Auckland team of 1977 beat Australia, Great Britain and France all in the space of just 20 days at Carlaw Park! One of the very reasons my father almost cried when they pulled the old girl down because he attended all 3 games and recalls them with great pride, passion and emotion. Great story with some real legendary names from some of NZs great league families. This from a website I found...
WALKING DOWN MEMORY LANERugby league fans with healthy memories will recall the occasion clearly.
It was June 21, 1977.
The lights were on at Carlaw Park and the place was buzzing as Auckland prepared to take on France.
The French, along with Australia and Great Britain, had been in New Zealand for what was then called the international championship (effectively a World Cup).
It wasn't such a golden time for the Kiwis. They lost 12-27 to Australia in Auckland and 12-30 to Great Britain in Christchurch before sneaking past France 28-20 in Auckland on the back of Chris Jordan's 20 points from a try and eight goals.
After each international, the touring teams then faced the dreaded prospect days later of taking on the vaunted Auckland side which, in that era, was such a force against visiting teams. And those sides had no liking for playing at Carlaw Park either.
Former Kiwi Bill Sorensen was the coach then and, with a band of brilliant players, he did what the Kiwis couldn't do - guiding Auckland to wins over each of the major rugby league nations, all in the space of 20 days.
The Australians were the first victims, beaten 19-15 on June 1.
Mark Graham, curiously unwanted by the Kiwi selectors days before, was stupendous while Warren Winter, Lyndsay Proctor, Olsen Filipaina, Gary Kemble and Dennis Williams were all stand-outs as well, Williams scoring a superb try in the second half.
The Australian side that night - coached by Terry Fearnley - included Graham Eadie, Rod Reddy, Mark
Harris, John Peard, Tommy Raudonikis, Denis Fitzgerald, Rod Morris, Greg Veivers and Terry Randall.
On June 14, Sorensen's men were back in business against Great Britain, putting on another breathtaking performance in total contrast to the Kiwis' effort days earlier.
On that night the outstanding fullback Kemble had one of the finest matches of his career, making a thrilling 50-metre break to put Jordan in for a try. The Aucklanders went on to win 14-10.
Included in the Great Britain side were the likes of Jimmy Thompson, Sammy Lloyd, Len Casey, Ken Gill, Steve Nash and George Fairbairn.
And, so, to June 21 - Auckland looking for a place in the history books.
And it delivered, beating the French 17-0 on a cold and wet night with a side down on power through injuries. Dane O'Hara, Dave Sorensen and Williams scored Auckland's tries.
Other players who figured in the campaign included a young Kurt Sorensen, John Smith (one of the most under-rated players in the game), Fred Ah Kuoi and Alan McCarthy.
Great days indeed.
SQUAD:
The full squad used in the 1977 grand slam was:
Gary Kemble (Ellerslie), Dane O'Hara (Glenora), Chris Jordan (Ellerslie), Warren Winter (Mt Wellington), Dave Lepper (Northcote), Olsen Filipaina (Mangere East), Dennis Williams (Te Atatu) captain, Fred Ah Kuoi (Richmond), Dave Sorensen (Glenora), John Smith (Te Atatu), Lyndsay Proctor (Ellerslie), Mark Lowe (Mt Wellington), Stan Napa (Otahuhu), John Wilson (Northcote), Glenn
Taylor (Otahuhu), Kurt Sorensen (Mt Wellington), Luther Toloa (Richmond), Alan McCarthy (Ponsonby), Mark Graham (Otahuhu).
MATCH DETAILS:
June 1
v Australia Won 19-15
Auckland - Olsen Filipaina, Glen
Taylor, Dennis Williams tries; Chris Jordan 3 conversions, 2 penalties.
Australia 15 ? Mark
Harris, Rod Reddy, Greg Pierce tries; Graham Eadie 3 conversions).
June 14
v Great Britain Won 14-10
Auckland - Dane O'Hara, Chris Jordan tries; Chris Jordan conversion, penalty; Gary Kemble 2 penalties.
Great Britain - Jim Thompson, Peter Smith tries; George Fairbairn 2 conversions.
June 21
v France Won 17-0
Auckland - Dane O'Hara, Dave Sorensen, Dennis Williams tries; Chris Jordan conversion, 2 penalties; John Wilson penalty.
Of the 19 players in the squad, 14 were former, current or future Kiwis:
Gary Kemble (Kiwi No 555), 19 tests, 1980-86 (1 try)
Dane O'Hara (Kiwi No 528), 36 tests, 1977-86 (14 tries)
Chris Jordan (Kiwi No 530), 5 tests, 1977-78 (2 tries, 16 goals)
Warren Winter (Kiwi No 538), 1 test, 1978
Olsen Filipaina (Kiwi No 529), 29 tests, 1977-86 (6 tries, 44 goals)
Dennis Williams (Kiwi No 490), 31 tests, 1971-81 (4 tries, 4 goals, 1 field goal)
Fred Ah Kuoi (Kiwi No 522), 28 tests, 1975-85 (5 tries)
Dave Sorensen (Kiwi No 494), 1 test, 1971-72
John Smith (Kiwi No 523), 12 tests, 1975-79 (3 tries)
Lyndsay Proctor (Kiwi No 507), 13 tests, 1974-78 (1 try)
John Wilson (Kiwi No 504), 2 tests, 1972 (3 goals)
Glenn
Taylor (Kiwi No 540), 1 test, 1978
Kurt Sorensen (Kiwi No 524), 27 tests, 1975-89 (4 tries)
Mark Graham (Kiwi No 535), 29 tests, 1977-88 (7 tries)
https://www.rleague.com/content/article.php?id=28965
