Rugby league is more than just a game for Lisa Reweti.
In fact, the newly-appointed general manager of Mid Central Zone Rugby League lives and breathes the New Zealand Rugby League "more than just a game" motto.
Based in Wanganui, Reweti is responsible for growing the game in a zone that includes Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and Hawkes Bay.
"A couple of years ago when we started the Boxon Rugby League Club under the auspices of the Taurahere Marae, we attended a Kiddies Carnival for under-12s organised by NZRL and the talk turned to appointing someone for a position with the Mid Central Zone and I applied and got the job. Then when the general manager left to return to Australia I was promoted to that position," Reweti, herself an Aussie, said.
"It's all about the kids for me.
"It's about promoting and growing the game from the ground up."
Buoyed by the success of the Boxon experience - the under-15s won Manawatu junior competition just last week, while the Boxon top side are in the hunt for top honours in the Manawatu premier league - Reweti has fought for the zone to host an inaugural tournament in Wanganui later this month.
The Isaac Luke Cup is up for grabs in a Mid Central Zone secondary schools knockout competition on July 27 and 28 in Wanganui.
Isaac Luke, of course, is hooker for the Rabbitohs, the team currently leading the Australian NRL competition and he is from Hawera in the heart of the Taranaki region of the Mid Central Zone.
"Isaac was only too happy to have his name associated with this inaugural tournament,' Reweti said.
"He said he felt privileged and honoured to be involved and he had hoped to be here for the finals on the Sunday, although that's in doubt because he is playing in Australia on the Saturday.
"His family will be here, though."
Six teams have already registered for the tournament including sides from Wanganui City College and Cullinane College in Wanganui. Others include Tu Toa College from Palmerston North, Manawatu College from Foxton, New Plymouth Boys High School and one from a college in Hawke's Bay.
The knockout games will be played on Saturday, July 27, at City College, while the semifinals and finals will by hosted at Cooks Gardens the following day.
"We will also host the Lightning League tournament for secondary school girls at Cooks Gardens on the Sunday and we already have three teams registered from Wanganui, Taranaki and Hawke's Bay," Reweti said.
"We are rapt with the response to these first time tournaments and plan to make them annual events. We are also hosting an NZRL performance camp here in Wanganui for our elite under-15s and under-17s at Jubilee Stadium at the time of the Isaac Luke Cup event. We will have national talent scouts at the tournament.
"The winner and runner-up in the Isaac Luke Cup will be eligible fore the national secondary schools competition in Auckland later this year and that's a huge event.
"Schools have already been turned away from the nationals, so we are extremely lucky to have two spots," Reweti said.
The New Plymouth Boys High team is expected to field a strong side and cannot be taken too lightly with former Kiwi and coach Howie Tamati as coach.