Sir Peter Leitch did it again bringing together a cavalcade of New Zealand rugby league identities for Friday’s League 4 Life luncheon at the Ellerslie Convention Centre.
The room was heaving with great names from the past plus a handful from the present.
A special guest was Australian rugby league legend Ricky Stuart, in Auckland as Canberra coach for Saturday’s ninth-round NRL clash against the Vodafone Warriors at Eden Park (5.00pm kick-off).
There were former Kiwi coaches in Graham Lowe, Bob Bailey, Frank Endacott and Brian McClennan along with so many legendary ex-Kiwis, too many to list in fact.
Among them was a healthy collection of the 50-plus Vodafone Warriors who have appeared in Tests for the Kiwis including current NRL players Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati and Thomas Leuluai; also there were Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones, strength and conditioning coach Ruben Wiki, development coach Duane Mann, welfare and education manager Jerry Seuseu and general manager football Dean Bell.
Among the many group photos captured on the day was the one above of 18 Vodafone Warriors who have played for the Kiwis (official club numbers in brackets):
Back row: Logan Swann (#42), Richie Blackmore (#26), Wairangi Koopu (#64), Joe Vagana (#18), Tony Tuimavave (#13), Jerry Seuseu (#50), Terry Hermansson (#60), Sam Rapira (#131), Awen Guttenbeil (#33), Jerome Ropati (#108), Frano Botica (#27), Iva Ropati (#35).
Front row: Ruben Wiki (#123), Marc Ellis (#29), Stacey Jones (#24), Monty Betham (#61), Duane Mann (#9), Thomas Leuluai (#105).
