The Manawatu rugby league team are a rugby league

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...

 team that represents the Manawatu Rugby League

Manawatu Rugby League

Manawatu Rugby League was formed in 1957. They are currently part of the Mid-Central zone along with Taranaki Rugby League.-Kiwi Players:Only one player from Manawatu has ever made the New Zealand Kiwis. This was Kiwi number 456, Dick Uluave, who played two tests in 1979.-National Competitions:In...

 in New Zealand Rugby League

New Zealand Rugby League

The New Zealand Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league football in New Zealand. The NZRL was founded on the 25 April 1910 in preparation for a tour of Great Britain that same year....

 competitions. They have previously been nicknamed the Mustangs and between 2002 and 2007 competed in the Bartercard Cup

Bartercard Cup

The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 as the Central Falcons.

Manawatu has a strong domestic scene and clubs compete in the "Western Alliance" region alongside Taranaki clubs.

History

Rugby league in the region was first recorded in 1957. However it was not until 1971 that Manawatu had its first ever registered win, against Bay of Plenty 24 - 19. The season remains the teams most successful.

Lion Red Cup

In 1996 a Manawatu team was entered into the Lion Red Cup

Lion Red Cup

The Lion Red Cup was a New Zealand domestic rugby league competition that ran from 1994-1996 sponsored by brewers Lion Nathan. It was created due to the increase in public awareness of domestic rugby league due to the Auckland Warriors being accepted into the Winfield Cup. The competition was a...

, replacing the Auckland Warriors' Colts

New 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...

. They were called the Manawatu Mustangs. This team was coached by Peter Sixtus.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
1996	22	5	0	17	404	732
10	Eleventh (Twelve)	N/A

Bartercard Cup

The Central Falcons were a franchise in the now defunct Bartercard Cup

Bartercard Cup

The Bartercard Cup was the top level rugby league club competition in New Zealand from 2000 until 2007. For the entire life of the tournament it was sponsored by Bartercard. The cup was administered by the New Zealand Rugby League...

 rugby league

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...

 competition. They represented the Central North Island of New Zealand, playing home games in Palmerston North

Palmerston North

Palmerston North is the main city of the Manawatu-Wanganui region of the North Island of New Zealand. It is an inland city with a population of and is the country's seventh largest city and eighth largest urban area. Palmerston North is located in the eastern Manawatu Plains near the north bank...

 and Levin

Levin, New Zealand

Levin is a town in the Manawatu-Wanganui region of New Zealand, and is the largest town in the Horowhenua district. It is 90 kilometres north of Wellington, 50 kilometres south of Palmerston North, and two kilometres to the east of Lake Horowhenua....

 and were run by the Manawatu Rugby League

Manawatu Rugby League

Manawatu Rugby League was formed in 1957. They are currently part of the Mid-Central zone along with Taranaki Rugby League.-Kiwi Players:Only one player from Manawatu has ever made the New Zealand Kiwis. This was Kiwi number 456, Dick Uluave, who played two tests in 1979.-National Competitions:In...

. They were coached by former Kiwis international David Lomax

David Lomax

David Walter Lomax is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who represented his country. He is the brother of another international, John Lomax.-Early years:...

.

They entered the competition in 2002 alongside the Taranaki Wildcats. They had a close relationship with the New Zealand Army

New Zealand Army

The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...

 and its base at Waiouru

Waiouru

Waiouru is a small town in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, 25 kilometres south-east of Mount Ruapehu, and in the Ruapehu District....

. In 2006 two New Zealand Warriors

New 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...

 were assigned to the club; Micheal Luck

Micheal Luck

Micheal Luck is a professional rugby league player who currently plays for the New Zealand Warriors. Micheal Luck's position of choice is as a lock or in the second-row.-Queensland:...

 & Steve Price.

Notable players included: Jesse Royal

Jesse Royal

Jesse Te Ahukaramu Royal is a former professional rugby league player from New Zealand who played for the Newcastle Knights and New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League. Jesse Royal's position of choice was as a prop....

, Ricky Thorby

Ricky Thorby

Ricky Thorby is a rugby league player for the North Queensland Cowboys in the National Rugby League. He previously played for the St. George Illawarra Dragons.His positions of choice are in the second-row or at Prop....

 and Russell Packer

Russell Packer

Russell Packer is a New Zealand professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors of the National Rugby League competition...

.

The side never made the finals and in the final season collected the wooden spoon

Wooden spoon (award)

A wooden spoon is a mock or real award, usually given to an individual or team which has come last in a competition, but sometimes also to runners-up. Examples range from the academic to sporting and more frivolous events...

. The clubs best result was in 2005 when it finished Ninth out of Twelve teams.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
2002	16	3	1	12	330	586
7	Eleventh (Twelve)	N/A
2003	16	4	0	12	374	578
8	Tenth (Twelve)	N/A
2004	16	4	2	10	376	508
10	Tenth (Twelve)	N/A
2005	16	4	3	9	299	531
11	Ninth (Twelve)	N/A
2006	18	6	0	12	415	678
12	Ninth (Ten)	N/A
2007	18	1	1	16	384	868
3	Tenth (10)	Wooden Spoon