Awen Guttenbeil
Encyclopedia
Awen Guttenbeil is a New Zealand former rugby league
footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television
and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code. In 2010 he coached his schoolboy club Point Chevalier Pirates
in the Auckland Rugby League
's Phelan Sheild
alongside former team mate and childhood friend Stacey Jones
. He represented both the Tongan
and New Zealand national sides in his long career and played in two World Cups
. His position of preference was in the Second-Row. He was an integral part of the 2002 New Zealand Warriors squad
, noted for being the first team in the club's history to make the NRL Grand Final.
and playing for the Point Chevalier Pirates
alongside future Warriors teammate, Stacey Jones
. Guttenbeil was chased by several professional clubs after an Auckland Development Tour of Australia in 1993 and ended up moving to Sydney at the age of 17 to sign for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
under the then Australian coach, Bob Fulton
.
, playing eleven seasons with the club and became the second player to ever receive a testimonial from the club, the first being Stacey Jones
. Guttenbeil is the only player in the club's history to have a playing jersey designed for him.
for the 2006 season, expecting to play in the Super League
. However Castleford were relegated, leaving doubts about Guttenbeils future. He decided to uphold his contract and help the Tigers seek promotion. He moved to England to join the club as a player and assistant coach to Terry Matterson
Guttenbeil played in the National League 1 Grand Final in 2007 and scored 2 tries to help promote Castleford back to the Super League. In 2008 he was named one of the clubs co-captains, alongside Brent Sherwin
. Guttenbeil decided to retire after the 2008 season.
in the 1995 World Cup
. He then switched his allegiance to New Zealand and was in line to play for the Kiwis in 1996 but injury ruled him out of his Kiwis debut that year. It was not until 2002 that Guttenbeil finally played in his first Test match for New Zealand. He then went on to play in ten Test matches for the Kiwis, playing his last in 2005. In 2008 Guttenbeil again played for Tonga, competing in the 2008 World Cup
where he captained the squad in the game against New Zealand.
and for Maori Television's sports show, Code. In 2010 he coached the Point Chevalier Pirates
alongside Stacey Jones
.
led to news articles claiming that Guttenbeil was joining the AMNRL.
Awen's Blog at Yahoo! Xtra NZ
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
footballer. Since retiring after a playing career spanning fifteen years, he now works as a broadcaster for Sky Network Television
SKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
and as a presenter on Maori TV sports show, Hyundai Code. In 2010 he coached his schoolboy club Point Chevalier Pirates
Point Chevalier Pirates
The Point Chevalier Pirates are an Auckland rugby league club based in Point Chevalier. The Pirates currently compete in the Phelan Shield competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.-History:The club was founded in 1920....
in the Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
's Phelan Sheild
2010 Auckland Rugby League season
The 2010 Auckland Rugby League season was the 2010 season of senior rugby league in Auckland. The Auckland Rugby League ran the various competitions. The season commenced on the 13 of March, with the start of the Phelan Shield, and finished on the 28 August with the three senior grand finals...
alongside former team mate and childhood friend Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
. He represented both the Tongan
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
and New Zealand national sides in his long career and played in two World Cups
Rugby League World Cup
The Rugby League World Cup is an international rugby league competition contested by members of the Rugby League International Federation . It has been held nearly once every 4 years on average since its inaugural tournament in France in 1954...
. His position of preference was in the Second-Row. He was an integral part of the 2002 New Zealand Warriors squad
2002 New Zealand Warriors season
The New Zealand Warriors 2002 season was the New Zealand Warriors 8th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Stacey Jones was the club captain...
, noted for being the first team in the club's history to make the NRL Grand Final.
Early years
Guttenbeil started his career playing for the Portland Panthers at age 3 in Northland before moving to AucklandAuckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
and playing for the Point Chevalier Pirates
Point Chevalier Pirates
The Point Chevalier Pirates are an Auckland rugby league club based in Point Chevalier. The Pirates currently compete in the Phelan Shield competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.-History:The club was founded in 1920....
alongside future Warriors teammate, Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
. Guttenbeil was chased by several professional clubs after an Auckland Development Tour of Australia in 1993 and ended up moving to Sydney at the age of 17 to sign for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles are an Australian professional rugby league club based on the Northern Beaches of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League's Telstra Premiership, the premier rugby league competition of Australasia...
under the then Australian coach, Bob Fulton
Bob Fulton
Robert "Bob" Fulton AM is an Australian rugby league football identity. Fulton played, coached, selected for and has commentated on the game with great success at the highest levels and has been named amongst Australia's greatest rugby league players of the 20th century.As a player Fulton won...
.
Warriors
Guttenbeil was set to star for Manly but his decision to sign with the yet to be formed Super League competition saw him out of favour with the club and so he returned to New Zealand to play for the Auckland Warriors in 1996. He made his first grade debut in round four of that year. In his early years Guttenbeil was plagued by injury but he went on to become one of the longest serving WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, playing eleven seasons with the club and became the second player to ever receive a testimonial from the club, the first being Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
. Guttenbeil is the only player in the club's history to have a playing jersey designed for him.
Castleford
Guttenbeil signed with the Castleford TigersCastleford Tigers
Castleford Tigers are a professional rugby league club based in Castleford in West Yorkshire, England. They participate in the professional European competition Super League. They are sometimes known as 'Cas', 'Cas Tigers', 'Classy Cas' or the 'Black & Amber'...
for the 2006 season, expecting to play in the Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. However Castleford were relegated, leaving doubts about Guttenbeils future. He decided to uphold his contract and help the Tigers seek promotion. He moved to England to join the club as a player and assistant coach to Terry Matterson
Terry Matterson
Terry Matterson is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player. He has been the coach for the Castleford Tigers of Europe's Super League since 2005....
Guttenbeil played in the National League 1 Grand Final in 2007 and scored 2 tries to help promote Castleford back to the Super League. In 2008 he was named one of the clubs co-captains, alongside Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin
Brent Sherwin is an Australian professional rugby league player. Sherwin currently plays in the Illawarra Carlton League which is an indirect feeder league to the St George Illawarra Dragons. His position of choice is at half-back...
. Guttenbeil decided to retire after the 2008 season.
Representative career
In 1995 Guttenbeil made his international debut, playing for TongaTonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
in the 1995 World Cup
1995 Rugby League World Cup
The 1995 Rugby League World Cup was held during October in the United Kingdom. It was the eleventh staging of the Rugby League World Cup and was marketed as the Halifax Centenary World Cup, reflecting the tournament's sponsorship and the fact that 1995 marked the 100th birthday of the sport...
. He then switched his allegiance to New Zealand and was in line to play for the Kiwis in 1996 but injury ruled him out of his Kiwis debut that year. It was not until 2002 that Guttenbeil finally played in his first Test match for New Zealand. He then went on to play in ten Test matches for the Kiwis, playing his last in 2005. In 2008 Guttenbeil again played for Tonga, competing in the 2008 World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
where he captained the squad in the game against New Zealand.
Later years
Guttenbeil currently works as a broadcaster for SKY Network TelevisionSKY Network Television
Sky Network Television Limited , , is a New Zealand pay television service. On 30 June 2011, Sky had 829,421 subscribers, which comprises:*808,617 digital subscribers*20,840 other subscribers...
and for Maori Television's sports show, Code. In 2010 he coached the Point Chevalier Pirates
Point Chevalier Pirates
The Point Chevalier Pirates are an Auckland rugby league club based in Point Chevalier. The Pirates currently compete in the Phelan Shield competition run by the Auckland Rugby League.-History:The club was founded in 1920....
alongside Stacey Jones
Stacey Jones
Stacey William Jones, ONZM is a professional rugby league footballer, who has been named amongst the greatest New Zealand has ever produced. He currently plays for the Point Chevalier Pirates in the Auckland Rugby League's Phelan Shield...
.
Charity Work
Guttenbeil has been an ambassador for White Ribbon New Zealand since 2010. White Ribbon is campaign led by men who condemn violence against women and take action.Identity Theft
In 2010 a prankster posing as Wairangi KoopuWairangi Koopu
Wairangi Koopu is a professional rugby league player for the Pt Chev Pirates in New Zealand. Koopu primarily plays in the second row, although he also can play in the centres.-Early years:...
led to news articles claiming that Guttenbeil was joining the AMNRL.
Fight For Life 2011
Guttenbeil is named in the line up for the 2011 Charity Boxing match Fight for Life which pits retired and current rugby league players against players from the rugby union code. The match will be held in Auckland on 3 December at the The Trusts Stadium with proceeds going to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.External links
Awen's Blog at Yahoo! Xtra NZ