The Kiwis Are Rising | Thebigtip

Momentum and history are things you cannot fight or argue with. They are two things that when put together, make an unstoppable force. For the time being, that unstoppable force is rugby league in New Zealand.

With almost 90 years of history with them, the Auckland Warriors rugby league club debuted in the then Australian Rugby League competition in 1995. Nobody said it would be easy but the groundswell of support and the fact they had so many players to choose from had them expecting big things.

Those big things never came. Until 2002 that is.

A throng of talented Kiwi’s with a blend of experienced Australians saw the Warriors claim the minor premiership for the first and although they didn’t win the grand final, success was implanted in the juniors coming through. Those juniors included Manu Vatuvei.

But like many times before, New Zealand rugby league couldn’t capitalise on what they had created. They fell back into the pack of clubs fighting for supremacy.

Then came the 2008 rugby league World Cup Final and the victory over Australia at Suncorp Stadium that many believed couldn’t happen. It wouldn’t happen.

A team with players like Benji Marshall, Manu Vatuvei, Adam Blair, Issac Luke and Jeremy Smith. Men that respected the past but didn’t care for Australia’s supposed dominance over them.

They stacked up all the record books, lit a match and watched it all burn. No longer would New Zealanders play second fiddle to the Australians.

2010 saw the rise of the Warriors Toyota Cup team and the beginning of their stranglehold on the Toyota Cup National Youth competiton.

They punished the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the decider by 42 points to 28. Boom rookies like Ellijah Taylor, Siuatonga Likiliki, Glen Fisiiahi, Sam Lousi, Elijah Niko and Nafeatalai Seluini scored tries that day while Shaun Johnson kicked five goals.

2010 also saw the national team return to Suncorp Stadium for the Four Nations final against Australia. Most experts expected the Kangaroos to give the Kiwi’s a right and proper serve of revenge for the World Cup boilover in 2008.

It simply didn’t happen as the World champions once again triumphed in a 16-12 win. The domination Australia once held so dear was once and for all gone.

Now it is grand final week and the Warriors have a team in all three grades playing on Sunday. If this isn’t a sign of change, nothing is.

The Warriors Toyota Cup side won their preliminary final on the weekend by 64 points. That just doesn’t happen.

The Central Coast Bears have done a valiant job in garnering publicity for their bid. Brisbane Bombers look nice and flashy and well spoken and the Perth Reds probably have one foot in the door already.

But if ever there was a time for a second team in New Zealand it was now. Wellington is right for the picking. Do it now while we have momentum and history on our side.