The 2023 NRFL Leagues was the 59th and 57th seasons respectively of the NRFL Championship and NRFL Conference, football competitions in New Zealand. Established in 1965, currently twelve teams compete in the Championship while 8 teams compete in the Northern and Southern sections of the Conference League.
Northern League
The Northern League sits above the two NRFL Divisions and is also overseen by Northern Region Football, despite being run by New Zealand Football as part of the New Zealand National League.
Twelve teams competed in the league – the top ten teams from the previous season and the two teams promoted from the 2022 NRFL Division 1. The promoted teams are West Coast Rangers and Manurewa. This was both Manurewa's first season in the Northern League. West Coast have returned at the first time of asking after being relegated in 2021. They replaced Waiheke United (one season) and North Shore United (two seasons).
Northern League table
Championship
Each team can field a maximum of five foreign players as well as one additional foreign player who has Oceania Football Confederation nationality. Over the course of the season, each team must also ensure players aged 20 or under account for 7% of available playing minutes.
Following their 7–1 win over Mount Albert-Ponsonby on the final day, Tauranga City were crowned champions. They were promoted alongside East Coast Bays a week earlier.
Championship teams Twelve teams competed in the league – eight teams from the previous season, the two teams relegated from the 2022 Northern League and two teams promoted from the 2022 NRFL Division 2. The relegated teams were Waiheke United and North Shore United, while the promoted teams are Hibiscus Coast and Ngaruawahia United. West Coast Rangers were promoted alongside Manurewa, while Albany United and Waitemata were relegated.
TeamLocationStadium2022 seasonEast Coast BaysNorthcross, AucklandBay City Park 4thEllerslieEllerslie, AucklandMichaels Avenue 7thFencibles UnitedPakuranga, AucklandRiverhills Domain 9th Hibiscus Coast Stanmore Bay, Auckland Stanmore Bay Park 1st in Division 2 (promoted)MetroMount Albert, AucklandPhyllis Street 8thMount Albert-PonsonbyMount Albert, AucklandAnderson Park 5th Ngaruawahia United Ngāruawāhia Centennial Park 2nd in Division 2 (promoted) North Shore United Devonport, Auckland Allen Hill Stadium 12th in Northern League (relegated)Northern RoversGlenfield, AucklandMcFetridge Park 6thOnehunga-Mangere UnitedMāngere Bridge, AucklandMāngere Domain 10thTauranga CityMount Maunganui, TaurangaLinks Avenue 3rd Waiheke United Waiheke Island, Auckland Onetangi Sports Park 11th in Northern League (relegated)
Championship personnel and kits Team Manager Captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor East Coast Bays Joe Hall Louie Caunter Lotto Sport Italia NoneEllerslie Ben Fletcher Seb PoelmanLotto Sport ItaliaTrillian TrustFencibles United Marty Rodwell NikeNew World HowickHibiscus Coast Ryan Faithfull Lotto Sport Italia RNB TransportMetro Scott MacKay Mount Albert-Ponsonby Darren White Lewis Black Lotto Sport Italia Woodview ConstructionNgaruawahia UnitedKyle Park Joma None North Shore United Dylan Burns Nike Atlas ConcreteNorthern Rovers Paul Gothard Dion Buckingham Lotto Sport Italia NoneOnehunga-Mangere United Tim Ragg Nike NoneTauranga City Barry Gardiner AdidasNone Waiheke United Sam Negash Nike Fullers 360
Championship table
Metro won 3–0 against Northern Rovers, but Metro fielded an ineligible player. Result upgraded to a 3–0 win for Northern Rovers. Metro drew 1–1 with Onehunga-Mangere United, but Metro fielded an ineligible player. Result upgraded to a 3–0 win for Onehunga-Mangere.
Championship results table
Championship scoring Championship top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1 Jonty Bidois Tauranga City 22 2 Stjepan Kovacic Ngaruawahia United 14 3 Dylan Stansfield East Coast Bays 12 4 Reuben Henderson Ngaruawahia United 11 Gilberto Souza Metro 6 Colby Brennan Tauranga City 10 7 Thomas Page North Shore United 9 Brennen Priestley Fencibles United 9 Nick Petherick North Shore United 8 Sam Tutton Mt Albert Ponsonby
Northern Conference
Northern Conference teams Nine teams are competing in the league – the top six northern teams from Division 2 last season, the two teams relegated from the 2022 NRFL Division 1 and the champions of the 2022 NRF Championship. The relegated teams are Albany United and Waitemata. Originally, although Central United won the 2022 NRF Championship, they were unable to be promoted due to their MoU with Auckland City. As a result, Oratia United were reprieved of relegation. However, after Central United successfully appealed to the Sports Tribunal of New Zealand, they were entered into the competition three weeks after it commenced. As a result NRF decided the league would restart, voiding all previously played matches.
TeamLocationStadium2022 seasonAlbany UnitedAlbany, AucklandRosedale Park11th in Division 1 (relegated)Beachlands MaraetaiBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park7thBucklands BeachPakuranga HeightsLloyd Elsmore Park4thCentral UnitedSandringhamKiwitea Street1st in NRF Championship (promoted)Franklin UnitedDruryDrury Sports Grounds5thNorthlandMorningside, WhangāreiMorningside Park6thOratia UnitedOratia, AucklandParrs Park10thWaitemataBeachlands, AucklandTe Puru Park12th in Division 1 (relegated)West AucklandKelston, AucklandBrains Park3rd
Northern Conference table
Northern Conference results table
Round 1 Albany United 3–0 Waitemata Bucklands Beach 2–1 Northland Franklin United 1–2 Beachlands Maraetai Oratia United 0–4 West Auckland
Round 2 Beachlands Maraetai 2–2 Albany United Oratia United 0–1 Franklin United Waitemata 1–1 Bucklands Beach West Auckland 2–0 Northland
Round 3 Albany United 3–1 Oratia United Bucklands Beach 3–1 Beachlands Maraetai Franklin United 1–0 West Auckland Northland 1–1 Waitemata
Northern Conference scoring
Northern Conference top scorers Rank Player Club Goals 1Sander WaterlandBucklands Beach 16 2Jack BeguelyAlbany United 15 3Aaron ParryBeachlands Maraetai 12 4Mohammed ShahFranklin United 10 5Tim RichardsonFranklin United 8Haylen WestWest Auckland 7Alex ThurbonBeachlands Maraetai 7Kyle LevellNorthlandThomas JacobsonOratia UnitedAndy KapetynMohammed HajWest AucklandJordan Hearn
Southern Conference
Southern Conference teams Eight teams are competing in the league – the top two southern teams from Division 2 last season, and the top 6 from the 2022 WaiBOP Premiership.
TeamLocationStadium2022 seasonCambridgeCambridgeJohn Kerkhof Park 8thClaudelands RoversClaudelands, HamiltonGalloway Park 9th Ngongotahā Lakes Ngongotahā, Rotorua Tamarahi Reserve 6th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted) Otumoetai Matua, Tauranga Fergusson Park 2nd in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted) Papamoa Papamoa Beach, Papamoa Gordon Spratt Reserve 4th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted) Taupo Tauhara, Taupō Crown Park 3rd in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted) Te Awamutu Te Awamutu The Stadium 5th in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted) Waikato Unicol Silverdale, Hamilton Jansen Park 1st in WaiBOP Premiership (promoted)
Southern Conference table
Southern Conference results table
Southern Conference scoring
Southern Conference top scorers Rank Player Club Goals1Joshua ClarkinCambridge312Joe O'DonoghueTaupo213Krishaant SinghCambridge194Bailey WebsterWaikato Unicol165Harry Christensen-RoseWaikato Unicol14Dominick Edwards7Chaz PictonOtumoetai118Jack BolandOtumoetai109Levi ClarkWaikato Unicol910Charles YoungClaudelands Rovers7Andrew CooperPapamoaJack ConnorTe Awamutu
Conference play-offs
Women's Premiership
The NRFL Women's Premiership acts as a qualifier for the New Zealand Women's National League.
Eight teams are competing in the league – the top seven teams from the previous season and the promoted side from the 2022 NRF Championship. The promoted team is Hibiscus Coast as winners of the NRF Championship.
Women's Premiership table
Women's Championship
Women's Championship table
References