NZ Maori
Wednesday October 9
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Re: New Zealand Maori Invitation XIII to play Murri Queensland Indigenous Side.
New Zealand Maori Rugby League chairman John Devonshire is delighted NRL players Sam Rapira, Bodene Thompson and Charlie Gubb have made themselves available for the NZ Maori side and their two match series against the visiting Murri Queensland Indigenous side. "We also had Adam Blair from the West Tigers and Api Pewhairangi from the Parramatta Eels but Adam needs off season surgery and Api has been selected to play in the world cup for Ireland through his mothers ancestry."
The experience these three bring to the side will be a huge boost and along with New South Wales Cup players Steve Waetford, Kurt Kara and Scott Jones, this too will also help the cause.
It's a good mix with young Warriors Holden Cup player Kouma Samson and Waikato teenager Hamiora Mihaka also being named in the side. Mihaka has had a huge season with his championship winning club side Taniwharau, representing Waikato and his zone Waicoa Bay, attending the Universities World Cup in England with the NZ Students and now the NZ Maori team. The nineteen year old fullback or centre certainly will relish the opportunity to rub shoulders with these higher skilled players.
Maori rugby league has a huge history in New Zealand rugby league plus the numbers that play the game around the country at all levels, especially south of Auckland where the Maori communities exist, places such as Huntly in the Waikato, Waitara in Taranaki, Gisborne Tairawhiti, Te Awa Kairangi in Wellington. It is an awesome opportunity to build relationships with our Aboriginal Indigenous brothers.
The Murri People are part of the Artie Beeston Foundation, named after one of Australia's finest players obviously of Aboringal descent. Beetson's sons along with former NRL stars Tony Currie and Nathan Black lock will be part of the Queensland entourage.
Game One: Davies Park, Huntly 3.00pm Saturday October 19
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Game Two: Puketawhero Park, Rotorua 3.30pm Saturday October 26
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New Zealand Maori Rugby League XIII to play Queensland Murri Indigenous
| No. | Name | Club | Competition | Based |
| 1 | Steve Waetford | Auckland Vulcan's | NSW Cup | Auckland |
| 2 | Thyme Nikau | Howick Hornets | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 3 | Rusty Bristow | Papakura Sea Eagles | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 4 | Zebastion Luisi | Howick Hornets | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 5 | Tee Mahe | Glenora Bears | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 6 | Cody Walker | Mount Albert Lions | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 7 | Jody Henry | Brisbane North Devils | Queensland Cup | Brisbane |
| 8 | Sam Rapira | NZ Warriors | NRL | Auckland |
| 9 | Kurt Kara | Newtown Jets | NSW Cup | Sydney |
| 10 | Charlie Gubb | NZ Warriors | NRL | Auckland |
| 11 | Bodene Thompson | West Tigers | NRL | Sydney |
| 12 | Rulon Nutira | Hornby Panthers | Canterbury | Christchurch |
| 13 | Scott Jones | Canberra Mounties | NSW Cup | Canberra |
| 14 | Hamiora Mihaka | Taniwharau | Waicoa | Hamilton |
| 15 | Tony Tuia | Howick Hornets | Fox Memorial | Auckland |
| 16 | Jay Pukepuke | Halswell Hornets | Canterbury | Christchurch |
| 17 | Kouma Samson | NZ Warriors | Holden Cup | Auckland |
Kaumatua Pokaia Nepia
Coach Daryn Pirini
Manager Anaru Thompson
Trainer Anaru Tara
Physio Arianna Carroll
NZ Maori v England 18 all, October, 2010
NZ Maori line up before the match. All Golds v New Zealand Maori at
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth. Sunday, 12 October 2008
