After starting the pre-season in February with just three players, the Tauranga Whalers have made it all the way to the finals of the championship round of the BOP Rugby League 2023 season.

They will be playing Te Puke-based Te Paamu, at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua on Saturday afternoon.

Whalers Seniors manager Jordan Taite says they had no senior teams last year, but have grown this year to three senior teams, with two full men’s squads and a women’s squad. They also have an under-17 team, and 12 junior teams ranging from under-six year olds to under-11s.

“We have the biggest established juniors in the area.”

Playing out of the Arataki Community Centre, due to not having their own clubrooms, the teams train on Tuesdays and Wednesdays on Field three at Arataki Park. So far, the men’s squad has played nine games since the season started at the end of June, winning seven and losing two.

“We lost in one of our rounds to Te Paamu by six points so looking for redemption on Saturday.”

There are five Tauranga teams in the Coastline Rugby League district – Tauranga Whalers, Te Paamu, Pāpāmoa, Otūmoetai and Bay Pirates with Pāpāmoa, Te Paamu and Tauranga Whalers playing in the BOP Rugby League rounds.

Being part of a team is to be part of a close-knit culture, with the squad, kids and supporters all going on the team bus to the away games.

“It’s really family-based,” says Jordan. ‘We won our semi-final against Tūrangi Dam Busters on Saturday [August 26] with a 16-30 win, playing at Mangakino. It was a 12.45pm kickoff, so we left on the bus at 9.30am, got home around 6pm.

“Our captain and core group drive a good culture, and are the driving force of everything.”

Making the finals for rugby league in BOP after starting with three players at trainings to three full senior teams is a noteworthy achievement and the squad is looking forward to going head to head with Te Paamu.

Also hungering to win the Championship Final, the Te Puke team has been making a serious comeback, with Te Paamu last playing in the BOP competition back in 2000 when they won the Premiership.

The grand Championship Final on Saturday, September 2, will be held at Puketawhero Park in Rotorua with Te Paamu and Tauranga Whalers kicking off at 12.45pm. The Premiership grand final between Pikiao Warriors and Forestland Falcons kicks off at 2.30pm.