Named Match Official of the Year at last nights NZRL Awards, the year just keeps getting better for former Kiwi turned rugby league referee Henry Perenara.
Benji Marshall is in line for the top title while four of his Four Nations Kiwi team-mates are also short-listed for positional accolades at the Rugby League International Federation International Player of the Year Awards.
Auckland Pride followed their win in the Premier grade of the NZRL National Competition (on October 15) with wins in both the Nathan Cayless Cup 15s and the Mark Graham Cup 17s finals.
The Kiwis were left empty-handed but put together a vastly-improved performance in their 12-26 loss to Australia in Friday night's opening match of the 2011 Gillette Four Nations.
English referee Phil Bentham and New Zealand match official Henry Perenara will referee the opening fixtures of the 2011 Gillette Four Nations.
Vodafone Warriors prop Ben Matulino and Wigan utility Thomas Leuluai are both back in the Kiwis' line-up for Friday night's Gillette Four Nations opener against Kangaroos at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
Locals maintained the weather was actually quite mild for this time of year but Kiwi captain Benji Marshall couldn't agree as he completed a string of media commitments at the official launch of the 2011 Four Nations in Leeds today.
Coach Stephen Kearney and captain Benji Marshall singled out the home side for special mention soon after the Kiwis arrived in England for the defence of the Four Nations title they won last year.
The Prime Minister John Key and Australian league legend Andrew 'Joey' Johns joined a host of politicians, sports stars and other well known faces for the opening of Sir Peter Leitch's Sports Museum at Manurewa today.
NZ Resident 16s played the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) rugby league team in a one off game today in front of a good crowd gathered at Massey Park in Papakura.