The 2024 ARL annual awards celebrate the Auckland Rugby League Men’s and Women’s Premiership competitions and pays tribute to ARL legends, both past and present.
Included in this year’s inductees are some of Pasifika’s biggest names in Rugby league.
Don Mann Snr, will be inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame. Don represented NZ Kiwis between 1971 and 1974 and played in Four Test matches, including the 1972 Rugby League World Cup.
The former prop was born in Vava’u Tonga and recognised as a trailblazer across the Auckland rugby league scene from the 1960s. And along with his brother George Mann Snr, started the Mate Ma’a Tonga Rugby League team.
Another Tongan great, the late Bill Sorensen will be recognised with the ‘ARL Immortal’ posthumous award. The legend played 24 tests for the NZ Kiwis, including seven games at the 1954, 1957 and 1960 World Cups.
After the 1957 World Cup Sorensen played for the Rest of the World against Australia. Sorensen was the Auckland coach when they competed in the grand slam in 1977, defeating Australia, France and Great Britain in a three-week period.
Bill also served as a selector for the NZ Kiwis and was made a NZRL Life Member in 1991. He was inducted into the New Zealand Rugby League & Legends of League in 2000.
Bill launched a family dynasty, with brother Dave, and nephews Dane and Kurt also becoming Kiwi legends and his son Bill (William junior) making a NZ XIII.
It will be a big night for the Sorenson family. Dave Sorensen will also be inducted into the ARL Hall of Fame. Dave played standoff in all three of Auckland’s wins during their 1977 grand slam. Dave scored a pivotal try seconds before halftime in the final game against the French, which ignited a struggling Auckland attack confirming their grand slam.
Dane Sorensen will be inducted as an ‘ARL Immortal’. He is the brother of fellow Kiwi international, Kurt Sorensen. He first made the NZ Kiwis in 1972 and also represented New Zealand Māori. Dane became the first New Zealander to be selected for the Kiwis while based overseas. At the time of his retirement, Sorensen held the club record for most appearances.
Kurt Sorensen will also be inducted as an ‘ARL Immortal’. Kurt spent 14 years playing for the Kiwis, which is still the longest spanning Kiwis career today. In 1976 Kurt won the Rothville Trophy, which is given to the premier Player of the Year. He made his Kiwi debut in 1975 and was a member of the 1977 Auckland grand slam team. In 2000 he was inducted as one of the NZRL Legends of League.
While the ARL Immortals will be held as the greatest honour in the grassroots game, the ARL Hall of Fame is a wider acknowledgment of those that have made contributions and achieved success on and off the field, a highlight of NZ sports news.
The awards will take place this Saturday in Auckland.
