Pit iwi against iwi and there's bound to be a mighty battle.
Iwi from across the country will go head to head in the New Zealand National Maori Rugby League tournament this weekend at Puketawhero in Rotorua.
It is the second year the tournament has been held in the
sulphur city after director of Maori league Howie Tamati gave last year's event the thumbs up.
This year Te Arawa are stepping up into what is considered the harder rohe division.
Last year Te Arawa won the waka section of the New Zealand tournament and there is an inclination to move up into the perceived harder grade.
A recent tournament in Sydney saw Te Arawa and Tuhoe join North, South, East and West New South Wales Maori sides in competition. Neither of the visiting sides were eligible to contest the top prize but they played the first round losers in the plate competition. Te Arawa were unbeaten, edging out East 20-18 and West 17-16 in their two matches. The action at Puketawhero Park will kick off on Saturday with an opening ceremony scheduled for 8.30am. The first game will be played at 10am. On Sunday the finals are expected to begin at 11.45am. Provisional Te Arawa team, with four players to be omitted:
BACKS: Sam Taare, Andrew Gardiner, Shamos Hunter, Wayne Kerrisk, Sonny Putahi, Karora Curtis, Craig Collier, Zachan Herewini, Leon Horn, JJ RAU, Jason Walker (vice captain), Jeremey Gardiner, Joe Flavell, Henry Lingman, Kaiaotea Tahuriorangi.
FORWARDS: Moehewa Armstrong (captain), Vince Whare, Steven Rau, Greg Gillies, Tui Hunt, Rob Komene, Ngarimu Simpkins, Thomas Wharerau, Garum Davis, Peter Pouwhare, Damien Peka, Jason Kameta, Tapeka Umata, Tracy Ormsby.
Teams entered for the New Zealand National Maori League Tournament:
ROHE: Auckland, Waikato, Counties/Manukau, Horowhenua, Taranaki, Ngati Kahungunu, North Harbour, Te Arawa.
WAKA: Tuhoe, Te Arawa, Patuharakeke, Whanganui, Taranaki, Raukawa.
WAHINE: Auckland, Tuhoe, Te Apouri, Ngati Kahungunu, Waikato, Ngati Hine.
RANGATAHI: Auckland, Te Arawa, Counties/Manukau, Taranaki, Ngati Kahangunu, Waikato, Te Tairawhiti, Raukawa.
Pit iwi against iwi and there's bound to be a mighty battle.
Iwi from across the country will go head to head in the New Zealand National Maori Rugby League tournament this weekend at Puketawhero in Rotorua.
It is the second year the tournament has been held in the
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