Top 5 Manly Māori Players

Dr Te Maire Tau, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Upoko, unveiled the unique jersey design during a pōwhiri (welcome) for the Manly representatives at Tuahiwi Marae.

Manly CEO Lyall Gorman praised the design, saying that the custom-designed Ngāi Tahu jersey for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles matches in Christchurch will become a unique sought-after item for sports fans in New Zealand and Australia.

Significance of Ngāi Tahu Involvement

Ngāi Tahu is the South Island iwi (tribe) whose tribal takiwā (territory) extends across the majority of Te Waipounamu (the South Island of New Zealand), and Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri are the hāpū (sub-tribe) of Ngāi Tahu for the Christchurch region.

Lisa Tumahai, Kaiwhakahaere (Chair) of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, said that partnership was a great opportunity to advocate hauora and well-being with our whānau and showcase Ngāi Tahu culture and identity.

“Ngāi Tahu whānau will have a real sense of pride when they see the players take the field with Fayne’s art front and centre,” said Lisa.

Master carver Fayne Robinson explains that the shirt design aims to represent the natural divide between Australia and New Zealand and the eagle crossing the water to make his way to the South Island.

“It is also fitting to have Ellavation on the back of this strip, as they run training and mentoring programmes for Indigenous Australians” said Robinson.

Match promotor Justin Wallace said that it had been a priority for his team to get Ngāi Tahu involved in the event.

“Māori players make up a huge percentage of rugby league players, both locally and in the NRL, so it was important to have a strong Māori flavour to this match, on and off the field,” said Wallace, who himself is proud of his Te Arawa descent.

Five of Lottoland's Favourite Manly Māori Players

To celebrate the involvement of Ngāi Tahu, we've compiled a list of five of our favourite Manly Māori players:

Peta Hiku - 60 games: Peta Hiku played 60 games for Manly from 2013-2015 and has represented New Zealand at an International level. He scored a total of 28 tries during his time with Manly playing fullback, centre and wing.
Dylan Walker - 51 games: Dylan Walker is a current Manly representative who predominantly plays centre and five-eighth. Despite being of Māori descent, Dylan has represented Australia at an International level.
Lewis Brown - 49 games: Lewis Brown - a Christchurch local, made his way through the ranks, showcasing his talents from a young age. He has had a prestigious career and represented New Zealand at an International level on multiple occasions.
Joe Ropati - 21 games: Joe Ropati is a New Zealand rugby league great who represented Manly in 1988-1989. He has played thirteen test matches for New Zealand and his family has a rich Rugby League history.
Dean Whare - 19 games: Whare was born in New Zealand, but moved to Australia at a young age, before playing for Manly from 2010-2012. He is a prolific tryscorer who has represented New Zealand at an International level.