The Eastern Tornadoes were a New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

 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...

 franchise that competed in the 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....

's 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...

 and 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 Super 12 competitions. They were formed to represent the 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...

 clubs of East Auckland

East Auckland

East Auckland is an area of Auckland, New Zealand characterised in the popular mind as a socio-economically mixed urban area with a relatively large multi-cultural population. The name East Auckland is not an official placename but is in popular use by New Zealanders. It is also used in the names...

.

History

The Eastern Tornadoes were formed in 1999 to compete 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 Super 12 competition. They were a merger of the Mt Wellington, Otara and Pakuranga senior sides.

In 2000 they joined the new national 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...

 competition. The team originally included players from the Ellerslie Eagles but in 2004 they joined the Otahuhu Leopards

Otahuhu Leopards

The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...

 to form the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards, being replaced by the Manurewa Marlins

Manurewa Marlins

The Manurewa Marlins are a rugby league club based in Manurewa, New Zealand. The Marlins compete in Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition. Between 2000 and 2003 they competed in the national Bartercard Cup competition.-Notable players:...

. In 2006 the competition was revamped and they were merged with the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards to form the Tamaki Leopards

Tamaki Leopards

The Tamaki Titans were a franchise in the now defunct New Zealand rugby league Bartercard Cup competition. They represented Eastern Auckland, this area was previously represented by the Otahuhu Ellerslie Leopards and the Eastern Tornadoes...

.

Notable players

Notable players included: Jeremiah Pai

Jeremiah Pai

Jeremiah Pai is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the Auckland Vulcans and the Northcote Tigers.-Early years:He was first noticed when playing for the Eastern Tornadoes in the Bartercard Cup before making his National Rugby League debut for the New Zealand Warriors in...

, Gary Tupou, Herewini Rangi

Herewini Rangi

Herewini Rangi is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player who played one match in the National Rugby League. He was a hooker/back rower who could also kick goals.-Early years:...

, Zebastian Lucky Luisi

Zebastian Lucky Luisi

Zebastian Lucky Luisi, born 22 December 1984 in Auckland, New Zealand, is an New Zealand rugby league player.Lucky Luisi played for Doncaster in National League Two having signed in February 2008 from Harlequins RL.At the start of the 2009 Season he joined championship club Barrow RaidersLuisi's...

, David

David Fisiiahi

David Fisiiahi is a Tongan rugby league player who represented his country at the 2000 World Cup and currently plays for the Ellerslie Eagles. He is the identical twin of fellow Tongan International Paul.-Playing career:...

 and Paul Fisiiahi

Paul Fisiiahi

Paul Fisiiahi is a Tongan rugby league player who represented his country at the 2000 World Cup and currently plays for the Howick Hornets. He is the identical twin of fellow Tongan International David.-Playing career:...

 and Hare Te Rangi

Hare Te Rangi

Hare Te Rangi is a New Zealand former rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand Māori at the 2000 World Cup.-Playing career:Te Rangi started his career with the Piako Warriors, who won the Bay of Plenty Rugby League grand final in 1995...

.

They were coached by James Leuluai

James Leuluai

A'au James Leuluai is a New Zealand former international rugby league player. His favoured position was centre. He is the father of Wigan Warriors and New Zealand international Thomas Leuluai. He is also the uncle of Leeds Rhinos prop Kylie Leuluai....

.Bulls brace for potent tornado The Press, 5 May 2001

Bartercard Cup

The team was always a force in the early years, losing the Grand Final in 2001. However in 2004 and 2005 the club was a shadow of its former self and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

Season	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts	Position (Teams)	Finals
2000	22	15	0	7	584	516	68	30	Third (Twelve)	Lost Elimination Semifinal
2001	21	13	3	5	641	490	151	31*	Second (Twelve)	Lost Grand Final
2002	16	10	0	6	512	465	47	20	Fourth (Twelve)	Lost Elimination Play-off
2003	16	11	1	4	675	381	294	23	Fifth (Twelve)	Lost Elimination Semifinal
2004	16	6	1	9	378	584
13	Eighth (Twelve)	N/A
2005	16	3	1	12	339	558
7	Eleventh (Twelve)	N/A

*Two points for a bye awarded as the Ngongotaha Chiefs

Ngongotaha Chiefs

The Ngongotaha Chiefs are a New Zealand rugby league club. They are from Ngongotaha in the Bay of Plenty. In 2000 and 2001 they competed in the Bartercard Cup but now they compete in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League competition.-Notable players:...

left the competition.