About Us

Chief Executive Officer
Jim Doyle
PH: +64 9 525 5592
EMAIL: jim@nzrl.co.nz

Hailing originally from Scotland, Jim and his family made their way to NZ via South Africa arriving in 1994. Starting life as an apprentice electrician and working his way up combining work with university studies, Jim became COO and then CEO of Navman in NZ, taking the organisation from a $3 million company to a $500 million worldwide brand. Jim has extensive business experience with a number of well recognised NZ companies and is the architect of and driving force behind the widely respected NZRL "Game Plan". Believing it is more than just a game, Jim is determined to see rugby league become a respected sport of choice within NZ.

ADMINISTRATION

.

Administration Manager
Carmen Taplin
PH: +64 9 571 3871
EMAIL: carmen@nzrl.co.nz

Carmen, a passionate league fan, game day volunteer for the Warriors and social touch player, was previously Administration Manager with Counties Manukau Sport. Earlier roles include Active Schools Coordinator and lengthy terms with Genesis Power and Roadshow Entertainment. Her whole family is involved in Rugby League, her husband once a player is now an Assistant Trainer for the Manurewa Marlins Premiers and her son is a player and Warriors ballboy. Carmen has put her administration skills to good use managing senior rugby league teams for a number of years, and the mother of two also manages to play Premier netball in her spare time.

Administration Support
Katie Perkins
PH: +64 9 571 3878
EMAIL: katie@nzrl.co.nz

Katie is a passionate sportswoman and in 2010 completed a Sport & Recreation and Business conjoint degree at AUT University. During the summer that followed Katie focused on playing cricket, and once the season ended she took on the new role of NZRL Administration Support. Although cricket is Katie's number one sport, she has also become a great league fan in the last few years, following the Warriors and Kiwi's as much as possible. Katie has a real passion for her community and helping others. In 2012 Katie was named a member of the White Ferns and made her debut against Australia.

HIGH PERFORMANCE

.

General Manager High Performance
Tony Kemp
PH: +64 9 571 3858
EMAIL: tony@nzrl.co.nz

Tony is a former international and experienced professional player, and has a background in top-level coaching, serving as a national selector and working in the high performance area for the NZRL. Taranaki-raised he appeared in 25 Tests for the Kiwis from 1989-1995 and played for several clubs in Australia and England including Newcastle, Castleford and Leeds. He later joined the Vodafone Warriors' as Assistant coach going on to fill the head coach's position in 2004-2005. Tony heads the NZRL High Performance department, and leads an experienced team committed to further developing pathways to excellence.

High Performance Manager
Ruben Wiki ONZM
PH: +64 9 571 3856
EMAIL: ruben@nzrl.co.nz

Ruben is probably the most well known and easily recognisable member of the NZRL staff.  He ended his international playing career in 2006 after a world record 55 Tests including 18 as Kiwi captain. He finished his playing career at the end of the 2008 season after a total of 312 NRL appearances for the Canberra Raiders and the Warriors, the most in the competition by a New Zealander. After working as a trainer for the Kiwis in 2008, including their successful Rugby League World Cup campaign, he pursued a range of other projects before joining NZRL. Ruben has always really enjoyed working in the community and is looking forward to the opportunity to give something back.

COMMUNITY

.

General Manager Community Development
Dain Guttenbeil
PH: +64 9 571 3873
EMAIL: dain@nzrl.co.nz

With a long family history in the game of Rugby League, Dain came to the role of GM Community Development Manager after a diverse work and educational history. With a background in Sports & Exercise Science he worked as a Sports Trainer, Secondary Education in Health and Physical Education at Northcote College in Auckland, and Injury Prevention and Risk Management throughout Australia, eventually returning to New Zealand with the Accident Compensation Corporation and arriving at New Zealand Rugby League in October 2007.

Referees Manager
TBC
PH: +64 9 571 3855
EMAIL:

This position is currently being filled.

.

National Coaching Officer
Dean Watkins
PH: +64 21 284 6975
EMAIL: dean@nzrl.co.nz

Dean joined NZRL after four years with North Harbour Rugby. There his role incorporated player and coach development across the spectrum - junior club, Secondary School & Senior Club. He developed and managed the North Harbour U16 and U18 Development Academies, and coached at U14 and U18 representative levels. During his rugby career he represented Manawatu and Canterbury before heading overseas to take up contracts in Ireland, Scotland and South Africa. On finishing his playing career he completed a teaching degree at Auckland College of Education and taught for 5 years before returning to sport with the North Harbour Rugby Union. Dean lives on the North Shore with wife Christina and two children, Luther and Alexandra

National Development Officer
Andy Flint
PH: +64 9 571 3872
EMAIL: andy@nzrl.co.nz

Flying in from London, Andy worked for nearly 6 years with the London Broncos formerly known as Harlequins Rugby League.  Andy worked as a Development Officer for the club for two and a half years before he was asked to move into the performance department where he was a Trainer to the First Grade team and Academies.  Paths crossed with the NZ Kiwis team and coaching staff when he was recommended as a London liaison officer for the Four Nations tournament in 2009 and 2011.  Andy has a BA in English, Sports Science and Physical Education.

Football Operations Manager
Sash Stosic
PH: +64 9 571 3876
EMAIL: sash@nzrl.co.nz

Sash has returned from the UK where he lead the Wales Rugby League as General Manager. Sash has previously worked as the General Manager for Taranaki Rugby League and the Sponsorship and Marketing Manager for the New Zealand Maori Rugby League over the past five years. Sash hails from Taranaki where he played Midhirst Magpies juniors and his senior grade footy for the Waitara Bears until further pursuing Rugby League in Canberra and Sydney. Sash has a Bachelor of Sport and Leisure.

Community Programmes Manager
Jordan Friend
PH: +64 9 571 3869
EMAIL: jordan@nzrl.co.nz

Jordan Friend came to NZRL from Auckland Rugby League, where he was working as a Football Administration Officer since July 2010. Prior to that, he graduated from the Auckland University with a Bachelor of Commerce in Management & International Business. He has a strong rugby league background, his father Clayton played 24 tests for the Kiwis, grandfather Joe Gwynne was a former Kiwi Selector and his younger brother Jethro is with the Vodafone Warriors NYC squad. He currently plays predominately for the Manurewa Marlins Premier reserves and has a genuine passion for all facets of the game. With his experiences with the game, he understands the ability for Rugby League to empower the people and the wider community involved.
 

Competitions Commissioner
Kevin Bailey
PH: +64 9 571 3859
EMAIL: kevin@nzrl.co.nz

Kevin played league for 16 years for the Marist and Mt Albert clubs, then went on to referee for 18 years, reaching International status. He started working for the NZRL as National Referees Convenor in 1994 and held that position to 1999 though the title changed to Operations Manager. From 1995 to 2005, he managed both the Lion Red Cup and Bartercard Cup competitions. The role was renamed Competitions Commissioner in 2005 and Kevin was responsible for all NZRL competitions and associated matters such as judicial, appeals and drug hearings. In 2012 Kevin 'retired' and now works for the NZRL two days a week.

MARKETING, SPONSORSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS

.

Marketing and Sponsorship Manager
Trina Tamati
PH: +64 9 571 3870
EMAIL: trina@nzrl.co.nz

Her career began at NIKE New Zealand back in the mid 90's and can now lay claim to marketing some of the largest sporting and entertainment events around the world. Trina's experience includes working with companies such as Air NZ, PlayStation UK, BP Global, Telstra, L'Oreal Professional and the Canterbury Crusaders.  Trina holds a double degree in Psychology and Communications and brings her vast experience and skills to the position of Marketing & Sponsorship Manager.

Communications Officer
Philippa Ivory
PH: +64 9 571 3863
PH: +64 21 532 483 
EMAIL: philippa@nzrl.co.nz

After years working as an IT specialist, Philippa took time out to have her two children, and in partnership with her husband started a business which manufactured and exported products worldwide. She was then invited to deliver exporter education programmes, elected to positions on the Regional and National Boards of Export NZ, asked to judge Regional and National Export Awards and has spent over 10 years as a business mentor. Her passion for rugby league saw her writing a weekly internet blog and a regular column in Superleague magazine. The position of Communications Officer allows her to combine her passion with her profession.

Media Manager
Caley Wilson
PH: +64 9 571 3868
PH: +64 21 804 004
EMAIL: caley@nzrl.co.nz

Caley has worked with the media in international marketing roles in Auckland and London, as well as on some of the UK and Australia's largest sporting events.  He has also managed entertainment events for Dave Dobbyn, Tiki Taane, Don McGlashan, Greg Johnson and others. Caley was a regular at Carlaw Park as a kid. His father, Gary, who played for Ellerslie, toured as a journalist with the Kiwis to Britain, France and Australia in the 1970s.  After a number of years in rugby union, Caley played rugby league for the Manurewa Marlins, before a fourth shoulder reconstruction suggested he might be better placed doing other things.  He has a marketing degree from Otago University and a post-grad diploma in physical education.

Marketing Assistant
Chloe McKenzie
PH: +64 571 3866
EMAIL: chloe@nzrl.co.nz

Chloe has been with NZRL since the start of 2011. Her first year in the organisation was as an AUT University student, completing her work placement, while gaining a Bachelor of Sport & Recreation. Chloe proved herself to be of outstanding value to NZRL and she was offered a full time role. Although Chloe's study focused on exercise science she has moved into the Marketing department as Marketing Assistant. Chloe has an extensive and highly successful sporting background, with a particular passion for dance and netball. Chloe is also doing post-graduate studies through AUT, working towards a Masters in Sport & Exercise Science. 

COMMERCIAL

.

Commercial Manager
Alex Hayton
PH: +64 9 571 3851
EMAIL: alex@nzrl.co.nz

After a three month contract which lasted two years, Alex joined NZRL as a permanent employee in November 2009. Alex is a sports nut with a passion for football, but has a pedigree in league being a Glenora Bear-Cub. Following a successful career in business he moved into sport working with NZ Football. While there he was involved in a review of their football competition and the creation of the NZ Football Championship which saw Auckland City travel to the UAE to compete. He has a son and a daughter who both play the round ball game and he coaches his daughter's team.

Accounts Administration
Linley Hutchinson
PH: +64 9 571 3852
EMAIL: linley@nzrl.co.nz

Linley is a long serving member of the NZRL team, having spent the last eight years as Accounts Administrator. Prior to this she worked as a data analyst for Research Solutions for ten years. Linley successfully completed a BA majoring in French while raising her children. Both she and her husband are passionate supporters of their children's various summer and winter sporting interests. Linley also manages her daughter's netball team.

Zone Accounts Administration
Ruth Harknett
PH: +64 9 571 571 3879
EMAIL: ruth@nzrl.co.nz