NZ rugby league club, based in Māngere
Mangere East Hawks Full name Mangere East Rugby League Club Founded 1963; 61 years ago (1963 ) Ground(s) Coach Richard Blackmore 2020 Premierships 2003 Minor premierships 1987, 1997, 2002, 2004 Roope Rooster 1989, 1998 Stormont Shield 2006 Sharman Cup 1975, 1982, 2012
The Mangere East Hawks are a rugby league club based in Māngere , New Zealand . The Hawks compete in Auckland Rugby League 's Fox Memorial competition.
The club was formed in 1963, the first fourteen junior teams took the field in 1964.[ 1] Before this, teams from the area had been attached to the Otahuhu club .
In 1969 the club won the Senior B championship and the Norton Cup and were promoted to play in the Auckland Rugby League 's premier grade the following season.
In 1971 the club was able to afford a $50,000, 6000sq ft club house which was built at Walter Massey Park, the club's home ground since its foundation.[ 1]
The club adopted the nickname "The Hawks" in 1973, after forming a sister club partnership with the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in Sydney.[ 1] They were one of the first clubs in Auckland to adopt a nickname.
In 1977 Olsen Filipaina became the first Hawks junior to represent his country and in 1978 the club, coached by Ernie Wiggs , made its first Fox Memorial grand final , being defeated by Otahuhu.[ 1]
OPn 29 June 1991 five of the Ropati brothers; Tea , Iva , John, Joe and Peter all played together for the Mangere East senior side.[ 1]
In 2003, the club's 40th jubilee season, the Hawks won their first Fox Memorial title.[ 1]
Other notable former players include;[ 1] [additional citation(s) needed ]
Olsen Filipaina (1980-87 Balmain Tigers , Eastern Suburbs & North Sydney Bears )
Joe Ropati (1986-89 Warrington Wolves & Manly Sea Eagles )
Shane Cooper (1987-97 St. Helens & Widnes Vikings )
George Mann (1988-00 Newcastle Knights , St. Helens & Leeds Rhinos )
Tea Ropati (1988-98 Newcastle Knights , Auckland Warriors & Leeds Rhinos )
Brian Laumatia (1995-97 Cronulla Sharks )
Iva Ropati (1994-97 Parramatta Eels & Auckland Warriors )
Lesley Vainikolo (1997-07 Canberra Raiders & Bradford Bulls )
Jerry Seuseu (1997-06 New Zealand Warriors & Wigan Warriors )
Ali Lauitiiti (1998-2014 New Zealand Warriors , Leeds Rhinos & Wakefield Trinity )
Jonathan Smith (2000-01 New Zealand Warriors )
Jeff Lima (2004-17 West Tigers , Melbourne Storm Wigan Warriors South Sydney Catalan Dragons & Canberra Raiders )
George Tuakura (2005-07 New Zealand Warriors )
Kim Uasi (2006-09 Tonga )
Frank-Paul Nu'uausala (2007-17 Sydney Roosters , Wigan Warriors & Canberra Raiders )
Sonny Fai (2008 New Zealand Warriors )
Sam Moa (2008- Cronulla Sharks , Hull F.C. & Sydney Roosters )
Sebastine Ikahihifo (2012- New Zealand Warriors )
Mataupu Poching (2010 New Zealand Warriors )
Nafe Seluini (2010-13 Penrith Panthers & Sydney Roosters )
Jason Taumalolo (2010- North Queensland Cowboys )
Marvin Filipo (2011- 12 Newcastle Knights )
Peni Terepo (2013- Parramatta Eels )
Agnatius Paasi (2014- New Zealand Warriors , Gold Coast Titans & St Helens R.F.C. )
Albert Vete (2014- New Zealand Warriors Melbourne Storm )
Herman Ese'ese (2015- Canterbury Bulldogs , Brisbane Broncos , Newcastle Knights Gold Coast Titans )
Ken Maumalo (2015- New Zealand Warriors , New Zealand Kiwis & Toa Samoa )
Francis Tualau (2016-17 Canterbury Bulldogs )
Zane Musgrove (2016- South Sydney , West Tigers )
Marata Niukore (2018- Parramatta Eels )
Ofahiki Ogden (2018- Canterbury Bulldogs ), Parramatta Eels
Edward Kosi (2021- New Zealand Warriors )
Greg Marzhew (2021 - Gold Coast Titans )
Falakiko Manu (2021 - Canterbury Bulldogs )
Leka Halasima (2024 - New Zealand Warriors )
Peter Leitch aka "The Mad Butcher" is a noted fan of the club.
Representative Teams 2016 Fox Memorial Teams: 2016 Sharman Cup/ Phelan Shield Teams: Defunct Teams: Other: