The 2024 NRFL Championship (formally NRFL Div 1) looks to be one of the most competitive for years - with no obvious frontrunner (although there are a few who look like they will be putting their hands up for this tag) and no obvious relegation fodder we could see a season full of mid table dogfights.
Another key thing to note in this years addition is almost every team has a new coach:
Franklin Utd - was Mark Holt in 2022, was then one of the Day brothers and then now is Tashreeq (who left Manukau Utd last week)
Manukau United - was several coaches in 2022, they appointed Tashreeq for 2023 who last week left and joined Franklin.
Fencibles Utd - was Marty in 2022 who is also the DOF, he has stepped aside from coaching and the reins have been given to ex Manurewa coach Rhys Ruka
Hibiscus Coast - last year they started off with ex OM/Fencibles/Melville coach Brian Murphy and then the DOF Nathan Cranney stepped up, he was joined for the second half of the season by ex Springs Women's coach Ryan Faithful, but Ryan is now coaching in Wellington (at North Wellington?), I think Nathan Cranney is back in the Coast hot seat.
Northern Rovers - had Gothard last season, but simular to Fencies he stepped aside to concentrate on DOF roles (which he is now leaving to be replaced by Chris Milicich) and the new coach for 2024 is Danny Donnegan, who used to coach Taka and Glenfield and is in my eyes most famous for Nailgate - fingers crossed we see a Northern Rovers vs Birkenhead Cup game rematch!
Onehunga Mangere - last years Coach and DOF Tim Ragg has also stepped aside from the dugout, to allow ex OM coach Paul Marshall to come back to the mountain men, he was last in charge of Rewa after allegedly forcing out Rhys Ruka - pencil in the OM vs Fencies game as interesting!
Metro - last year they had Rangers superfan Scott McKay in the dugout but this year they have turned to a bit of a name of the past as Neil Sykes takes the reins.
Takapuna - one of the more interesting coaching appointments, replacing Chris Milicich is ex player Daniel Semp, a young coach with a good reputation for the relegated premier team - will be interesting to see how he goes.
North Shore - they went young last season with Dylan Burns who to be fair had a tough job infront of him to steady the Shore ship which had run aground in the covid seasons, not sure what played out there but the new coach is ex Player and fitness guru Dave Fahy.
That leaves Ellerslie, Mt Albert Ponsonby and Ngaruawahia with the same coaches as 2022 with Ben Fletcher, Darren White and I think Kyle Park respectively.
Another key thing to note in this years addition is almost every team has a new coach:
Franklin Utd - was Mark Holt in 2022, was then one of the Day brothers and then now is Tashreeq (who left Manukau Utd last week)
Manukau United - was several coaches in 2022, they appointed Tashreeq for 2023 who last week left and joined Franklin.
Fencibles Utd - was Marty in 2022 who is also the DOF, he has stepped aside from coaching and the reins have been given to ex Manurewa coach Rhys Ruka
Hibiscus Coast - last year they started off with ex OM/Fencibles/Melville coach Brian Murphy and then the DOF Nathan Cranney stepped up, he was joined for the second half of the season by ex Springs Women's coach Ryan Faithful, but Ryan is now coaching in Wellington (at North Wellington?), I think Nathan Cranney is back in the Coast hot seat.
Northern Rovers - had Gothard last season, but simular to Fencies he stepped aside to concentrate on DOF roles (which he is now leaving to be replaced by Chris Milicich) and the new coach for 2024 is Danny Donnegan, who used to coach Taka and Glenfield and is in my eyes most famous for Nailgate - fingers crossed we see a Northern Rovers vs Birkenhead Cup game rematch!
Onehunga Mangere - last years Coach and DOF Tim Ragg has also stepped aside from the dugout, to allow ex OM coach Paul Marshall to come back to the mountain men, he was last in charge of Rewa after allegedly forcing out Rhys Ruka - pencil in the OM vs Fencies game as interesting!
Metro - last year they had Rangers superfan Scott McKay in the dugout but this year they have turned to a bit of a name of the past as Neil Sykes takes the reins.
Takapuna - one of the more interesting coaching appointments, replacing Chris Milicich is ex player Daniel Semp, a young coach with a good reputation for the relegated premier team - will be interesting to see how he goes.
North Shore - they went young last season with Dylan Burns who to be fair had a tough job infront of him to steady the Shore ship which had run aground in the covid seasons, not sure what played out there but the new coach is ex Player and fitness guru Dave Fahy.
That leaves Ellerslie, Mt Albert Ponsonby and Ngaruawahia with the same coaches as 2022 with Ben Fletcher, Darren White and I think Kyle Park respectively.
