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ALBUM - West Coast Rugby League.
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Description1 and 2 :CHARLIE MCBRIDE. The last man picked for the 1947 tour to England and France but soon rated the best second rower in the world. Superbly fit and skilled, this Legend of League scored and set up tries.
3:FRANK MULCARE. A Ngahere farmer, who became a police prosecutor in Northland, second rower Mulcare had 16 tests between 1951 and 1956 and became a Legend of League in 2007.
4:The relentless prop, who hailed from the West Coast, played 137 NRL games and 35 tests for the Kiwis during a 13-year career in which he forged a reputation as one of the game's most feared players.
5 :West Coast forward Ray Baxendale played the last of his 16 Tests for New Zealand after moving to Canterbury in 1981.
The Runanga second-rower made his West Coast debut in 1974 and was just 20 when he was drafted into the national side.
6:GORDON SMITH. The Waro-Rakau man was a true all-rounder who could play scrumhalf and standoff and boot goals. Spent six seasons in the UK with Hull Kingston Rovers. Kiwis team-mate Mark Broadhurst claimed he "played like a forward" and would "tackle anyone".
7:REESE GRIFFITHS. A powerfully-built outside back who earned 10 Kiwis caps from 1957-62 and was a key figure in the West Coast's 1960 win over Auckland. Westcoast miner.
8:The Runanga tyro debuted for South Island in 1979 and played in the side’s boilover victory against Australia the following season, before gaining a spot in the New Zealand touring party.
Green debuted in the tour-opening win over Blackpool and scored tries against St Helens and Leigh among eight appearances, but the 21-year-old was not called upon for the Tests.
Extending his South Island representation to 17 matches – netting eight tries – by the end of 1983, Green remained a stalwart for Runanga and West Coast. Runanga’s run of nine straight WCRL titles ended in 1987 but Green stayed on as a player-coach for the faltering club, while he was part of West Coast’s famous 1989 victory over Canterbury.
Green, 47, was killed when a coal mine shaft collapsed on him in the Roa Mine, Blackball, in 2006, devastating the West Coast community.
9:PETER) MOUNTFORD. One of the stars of the win over England in 1946, Mountford made the Kiwis the following year and played six tests on the 1947-48 tour to Europe, sometimes deputising at scrumhalf. Features in a famous photograph, shaking brother Ces' hand when the Kiwis played Wigan on tour. Died with 18 mates in the 1967 Strongman Mine disaster.
10:Peter Mountford Died with 18 mates in the 1967 Strongman Mine disaster.
11:CES MOUNTFORD
Arguably the most influential West Coast rugby personality despite never playing for the Kiwis. The Blackball Bullet was whisked off to Wigan in 1946 and went on to win championship honours and Challenge Cup glory with the English rugby league giants. Coached rival club Warrington for nine years before returning to New Zealand in 1961 as national coaching director. Became Kiwis coach from 1979 to 1982.
12:Tony Coll and John Hibbs.
13:Marist representative, Dwyer first represented the West Coast in 1978.
During the 1980s Dwyer represented both the West Coast and the South Island.He was included in the New Zealand national rugby league team squad in 1982.
14.Gibb played for Runanga in the West Coast Rugby League competition.[3] He was a West Coast and South Island representative.[4] In 1985 Gibb was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team.
15:TONY COLL. A Kiwi for a decade from 1972 to 1982, Butch Coll was the NZ player of the year in 1976 and captained the Kiwis at the World Cup a year later. Fit, fast and skilful, Coll wasn't a big man but never shirked a tackle. The Legend of League ran a sports shop in Greymouth for years.
16:MOCKY BRERETON. The Kumara Express made the Kiwis from the Coast in 1969 before shifting to Christchurch. Played 24 tests through to 1975 and first New Zealander to score 100 first-class tries.
17:MOCKY BRERETON. The Kumara Express made the Kiwis from the Coast in 1969 before shifting to Christchurch. Played 24 tests through to 1975 and first New Zealander to score 100 first-class tries.
18:JACK FORREST. Nippy Forrest had a great strike rate of five tries in 12 tests between 1947 and 1952.
19:GEORGE MENZIES. The skilful standoff from Runanga was a Kiwis fixture for a decade, playing 27 tests between 1951 and 1961 and featured in three World Cups. One of only two Coasters in the New Zealand Team of the Century.
20:BILL MCLENNAN. A Blackball miner, Ginger McLennan played 84 games for NZ, including 25 tests between 1951 and 1957. Also a champion axeman and darts player, the Otago-raised forward was the uncle of All Blacks captain Buck Shelford.
21:JACK NEWTON. Chang Newton was an old-fashioned front row forward from the unlimited tackle era when props pushed in scrums. Took no prisoners in 12 tests from 1946 to 150. Once scored a try in England which was hailed as the best in test rugby league history at that time.
22:GRAHAM KENNEDY. Ginger Kennedy was a major part of the Kiwis' early 60s success when they won the Courtney Goodwill Trophy for the best team in the world. After 21 caps from '61-66, he ended his career in Wagga Wagga where he became a school principal. NZ Player of the Year in 1963.
23:A record-breaking pointscorer at club and provincial level, Marist-Western Suburbs and Canterbury fullback Michael O’Donnell played 10 Tests among 28 appearances for the Kiwis from 1977-81.
24:Coaster hardman Whetu Taewa.
25:BRENT STUART
NEW ZEALAND (1992-95)
14 Tests – 1 try (4 points)
6 tour matches – 2 tries (8 points)
-1993 Kiwis tour of Britain and France
-1994 Kiwis tour of Papua New Guinea
-1995 Kiwis World Cup.
26:A presentation to Bill Glynn (centre), Kiwis forward 1935-1938.
Front row from left: Ian Speakman, Kevin Murcott, Bill Glynn, Barbara Monk, Rosalin Murcott.
Back row; Ronnie Gibb, Bernard Green, Barney O'Connell, Geordie Menzies, Reese Griffiths, Ross Murcott.
27:Ces Mountford.
28:Trevor Kilkelly.
29:West Coast Rugby League vs Canterbury.1963.
back from left Mel Cooke, Geoff Cooper, Gavin Tavendale, Jim Fisher,. Chas Preece (try), Mita Mohi (two goals), Coach Eddie Butts, Randel Turton (headgear). Behind John Flanagan and Eddie Tavendale. Front Brian Langton, Pat White,John Walshe (rear), John Bray (front), Henry Harding, Gary Clarke. Missing Bob irvine + reserve back. In grandstand next Pat Taylor (timekeeper) Bill Whitehead. 1963. WC team included Jock Butterfield Fred Kennedy, Robin Scholefield, Kevin Dixon, Trevor Kilkelly, Ces Clark (try), Nick Nahu, Cliff Hibbs (goal), Bruce Mann, Allan Tibbles, Mike Casserley Coach Alphonsus (Skip) O'Donnell Mgr Bill Mountford Sec Jack Mosley .
30:Brent Stuart (left) with fellow Canterbury-based Coaster and 1992 Kiwis debutant Quentin Pongia.
31:Great Coasters family names here
J.Forrest
L. Forrest
R.Nuttall
G. Menzies
J.Lee
A. O'Donnell
C. McGougan
J. Mundy
J. Newton
R.Neilson
F. Thompson
C. McBride
R.O'Donnell
31:Griffin Neame.
32:Kevin Dixon
Dixon was born in Greymouth and was educated at, and first played rugby league for, Marist Brothers High School, Greymouth.
Playing career
A West Coast representative, Dixon made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1965 in the second test match against Australia.[3] He went on to play in ten test matches for New Zealand, including at the 1968 World Cup.
In 1971 Dixon moved to Sydney and played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NSWRL Premiership.
33:Bernie Wood .
34:Kiwis and West Coast wonder-boot Ladner
The former Kiwis fullback, who played eight tests in 1969-70 and scored 76 points, all from goal kicking, was 60-years-old. He died on Monday.
Ladner possessed a prodigious boot, having the ability to kick long-range goals. During his international career he landed 28 goals and 10 field goals.
Although the Kiwis lost to Australia in the first test at Auckland's Carlaw Park in 1969, Ladner marked his debut by scoring all of New Zealand's points in the 10-20 loss with four goals and a field goal. At the time, Ladner was working in the mine near Reefton and was noticed by national selectors after his deeds for West Coast.
The second test was to prove even more memorable, with the Kiwis causing an upset by bowling over the Kangaroos 18-14 and Ladner contributing with six goals. Although one Australian scribe said the Aussies were sending a second-rate team to face a second-rate rugby league country, it is worth noting the side still contained players such as John Sattler, Graeme Langlands and Ron Coote.
Afterwards, the Australians were effusive in their praise of the Kiwis' deeds and New Zealand's supporters were euphoric that the Kiwis had broken a sequence of 14 losses and a draw in their previous 15 tests. Ladner was named by one Sydney commentator as the Kiwis' "man of the match.
35:Peter MacDonald.
36:Big Jim Calder.
William James Calder was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. His grandson, Quentin Pongia, also played for New Zealand.
Calder first played in the West Coast Rugby League competition and represented the West Coast and the South Island.
He made his debut for New Zealand in 1930 and played in his first test match in 1932. Calder went on to play in eight test matches for New Zealand.
Map[1] ContributorGlen Hewison
3:FRANK MULCARE. A Ngahere farmer, who became a police prosecutor in Northland, second rower Mulcare had 16 tests between 1951 and 1956 and became a Legend of League in 2007.
4:The relentless prop, who hailed from the West Coast, played 137 NRL games and 35 tests for the Kiwis during a 13-year career in which he forged a reputation as one of the game's most feared players.
5 :West Coast forward Ray Baxendale played the last of his 16 Tests for New Zealand after moving to Canterbury in 1981.
The Runanga second-rower made his West Coast debut in 1974 and was just 20 when he was drafted into the national side.
6:GORDON SMITH. The Waro-Rakau man was a true all-rounder who could play scrumhalf and standoff and boot goals. Spent six seasons in the UK with Hull Kingston Rovers. Kiwis team-mate Mark Broadhurst claimed he "played like a forward" and would "tackle anyone".
7:REESE GRIFFITHS. A powerfully-built outside back who earned 10 Kiwis caps from 1957-62 and was a key figure in the West Coast's 1960 win over Auckland. Westcoast miner.
8:The Runanga tyro debuted for South Island in 1979 and played in the side’s boilover victory against Australia the following season, before gaining a spot in the New Zealand touring party.
Green debuted in the tour-opening win over Blackpool and scored tries against St Helens and Leigh among eight appearances, but the 21-year-old was not called upon for the Tests.
Extending his South Island representation to 17 matches – netting eight tries – by the end of 1983, Green remained a stalwart for Runanga and West Coast. Runanga’s run of nine straight WCRL titles ended in 1987 but Green stayed on as a player-coach for the faltering club, while he was part of West Coast’s famous 1989 victory over Canterbury.
Green, 47, was killed when a coal mine shaft collapsed on him in the Roa Mine, Blackball, in 2006, devastating the West Coast community.
9:PETER) MOUNTFORD. One of the stars of the win over England in 1946, Mountford made the Kiwis the following year and played six tests on the 1947-48 tour to Europe, sometimes deputising at scrumhalf. Features in a famous photograph, shaking brother Ces' hand when the Kiwis played Wigan on tour. Died with 18 mates in the 1967 Strongman Mine disaster.
10:Peter Mountford Died with 18 mates in the 1967 Strongman Mine disaster.
11:CES MOUNTFORD
Arguably the most influential West Coast rugby personality despite never playing for the Kiwis. The Blackball Bullet was whisked off to Wigan in 1946 and went on to win championship honours and Challenge Cup glory with the English rugby league giants. Coached rival club Warrington for nine years before returning to New Zealand in 1961 as national coaching director. Became Kiwis coach from 1979 to 1982.
12:Tony Coll and John Hibbs.
13:Marist representative, Dwyer first represented the West Coast in 1978.
During the 1980s Dwyer represented both the West Coast and the South Island.He was included in the New Zealand national rugby league team squad in 1982.
14.Gibb played for Runanga in the West Coast Rugby League competition.[3] He was a West Coast and South Island representative.[4] In 1985 Gibb was selected for the New Zealand national rugby league team.
15:TONY COLL. A Kiwi for a decade from 1972 to 1982, Butch Coll was the NZ player of the year in 1976 and captained the Kiwis at the World Cup a year later. Fit, fast and skilful, Coll wasn't a big man but never shirked a tackle. The Legend of League ran a sports shop in Greymouth for years.
16:MOCKY BRERETON. The Kumara Express made the Kiwis from the Coast in 1969 before shifting to Christchurch. Played 24 tests through to 1975 and first New Zealander to score 100 first-class tries.
17:MOCKY BRERETON. The Kumara Express made the Kiwis from the Coast in 1969 before shifting to Christchurch. Played 24 tests through to 1975 and first New Zealander to score 100 first-class tries.
18:JACK FORREST. Nippy Forrest had a great strike rate of five tries in 12 tests between 1947 and 1952.
19:GEORGE MENZIES. The skilful standoff from Runanga was a Kiwis fixture for a decade, playing 27 tests between 1951 and 1961 and featured in three World Cups. One of only two Coasters in the New Zealand Team of the Century.
20:BILL MCLENNAN. A Blackball miner, Ginger McLennan played 84 games for NZ, including 25 tests between 1951 and 1957. Also a champion axeman and darts player, the Otago-raised forward was the uncle of All Blacks captain Buck Shelford.
21:JACK NEWTON. Chang Newton was an old-fashioned front row forward from the unlimited tackle era when props pushed in scrums. Took no prisoners in 12 tests from 1946 to 150. Once scored a try in England which was hailed as the best in test rugby league history at that time.
22:GRAHAM KENNEDY. Ginger Kennedy was a major part of the Kiwis' early 60s success when they won the Courtney Goodwill Trophy for the best team in the world. After 21 caps from '61-66, he ended his career in Wagga Wagga where he became a school principal. NZ Player of the Year in 1963.
23:A record-breaking pointscorer at club and provincial level, Marist-Western Suburbs and Canterbury fullback Michael O’Donnell played 10 Tests among 28 appearances for the Kiwis from 1977-81.
24:Coaster hardman Whetu Taewa.
25:BRENT STUART
NEW ZEALAND (1992-95)
14 Tests – 1 try (4 points)
6 tour matches – 2 tries (8 points)
-1993 Kiwis tour of Britain and France
-1994 Kiwis tour of Papua New Guinea
-1995 Kiwis World Cup.
26:A presentation to Bill Glynn (centre), Kiwis forward 1935-1938.
Front row from left: Ian Speakman, Kevin Murcott, Bill Glynn, Barbara Monk, Rosalin Murcott.
Back row; Ronnie Gibb, Bernard Green, Barney O'Connell, Geordie Menzies, Reese Griffiths, Ross Murcott.
27:Ces Mountford.
28:Trevor Kilkelly.
29:West Coast Rugby League vs Canterbury.1963.
back from left Mel Cooke, Geoff Cooper, Gavin Tavendale, Jim Fisher,. Chas Preece (try), Mita Mohi (two goals), Coach Eddie Butts, Randel Turton (headgear). Behind John Flanagan and Eddie Tavendale. Front Brian Langton, Pat White,John Walshe (rear), John Bray (front), Henry Harding, Gary Clarke. Missing Bob irvine + reserve back. In grandstand next Pat Taylor (timekeeper) Bill Whitehead. 1963. WC team included Jock Butterfield Fred Kennedy, Robin Scholefield, Kevin Dixon, Trevor Kilkelly, Ces Clark (try), Nick Nahu, Cliff Hibbs (goal), Bruce Mann, Allan Tibbles, Mike Casserley Coach Alphonsus (Skip) O'Donnell Mgr Bill Mountford Sec Jack Mosley .
30:Brent Stuart (left) with fellow Canterbury-based Coaster and 1992 Kiwis debutant Quentin Pongia.
31:Great Coasters family names here
J.Forrest
L. Forrest
R.Nuttall
G. Menzies
J.Lee
A. O'Donnell
C. McGougan
J. Mundy
J. Newton
R.Neilson
F. Thompson
C. McBride
R.O'Donnell
31:Griffin Neame.
32:Kevin Dixon
Dixon was born in Greymouth and was educated at, and first played rugby league for, Marist Brothers High School, Greymouth.
Playing career
A West Coast representative, Dixon made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby league team in 1965 in the second test match against Australia.[3] He went on to play in ten test matches for New Zealand, including at the 1968 World Cup.
In 1971 Dixon moved to Sydney and played for the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in the NSWRL Premiership.
33:Bernie Wood .
34:Kiwis and West Coast wonder-boot Ladner
The former Kiwis fullback, who played eight tests in 1969-70 and scored 76 points, all from goal kicking, was 60-years-old. He died on Monday.
Ladner possessed a prodigious boot, having the ability to kick long-range goals. During his international career he landed 28 goals and 10 field goals.
Although the Kiwis lost to Australia in the first test at Auckland's Carlaw Park in 1969, Ladner marked his debut by scoring all of New Zealand's points in the 10-20 loss with four goals and a field goal. At the time, Ladner was working in the mine near Reefton and was noticed by national selectors after his deeds for West Coast.
The second test was to prove even more memorable, with the Kiwis causing an upset by bowling over the Kangaroos 18-14 and Ladner contributing with six goals. Although one Australian scribe said the Aussies were sending a second-rate team to face a second-rate rugby league country, it is worth noting the side still contained players such as John Sattler, Graeme Langlands and Ron Coote.
Afterwards, the Australians were effusive in their praise of the Kiwis' deeds and New Zealand's supporters were euphoric that the Kiwis had broken a sequence of 14 losses and a draw in their previous 15 tests. Ladner was named by one Sydney commentator as the Kiwis' "man of the match.
35:Peter MacDonald.
36:Big Jim Calder.
William James Calder was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. His grandson, Quentin Pongia, also played for New Zealand.
Calder first played in the West Coast Rugby League competition and represented the West Coast and the South Island.
He made his debut for New Zealand in 1930 and played in his first test match in 1932. Calder went on to play in eight test matches for New Zealand.
Map[1] ContributorGlen Hewison
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Location (city or town)West Coast Organisation (eg business)West Coast Rugby LeaguEventWest Coast Rugby Leagu
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Category TagRugby League
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Date Created16th October 2024
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West Coast New Zealand History (16th Oct 2024). ALBUM - West Coast Rugby League.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 24th Mar 2026 02:01, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/34133