1934 Auckland Rugby League season

This was easily the strongest set of results of any club at the senior level in Auckland Rugby League's history to this point and arguably to this day.

At the annual meeting of the junior management committee on 20 March the report they received showed that the number of players and clubs had increased by over 11% and 14% respectively.

"The principal of sharing the gate receipts with the clubs competing... has without doubt proved very beneficial in creating the team spirit to improve the standard of play required for No.

1 ground qualification each week-end and also has been reflected in a greater esprit de corps amongst club members, as well as a correspondingly enhanced friendly rivalry between the contestants that in turn excites public patronage to Carlaw Park".

[5] At a board of control meeting in April it was decided that unemployed patrons would be admitted to Carlaw Park with the same concession as the previous season provided they produced their levy book regularly and it was stamped by the Labour Department.

After clarifying the interpretation of the law in England it was established that the attacking team needed to stand five yards from the goal-line when the defending side drops the ball out from between its posts.

[8] At the Auckland Rugby League Board of Control meeting on 23 May chairman Campbell drew attention to the practice of players charging into opponents and using their knees.

The present grandstand would be renovated and the new build would have “glass fronts and sides, to protect spectators from the wet weather... the work is to be commenced immediately, and it may be completed within two weeks of the opening of the 1934 season”.

[16] Work started on the new grandstand on 9 March after the plans and specifications were "perused by the Auckland City Council, which proposed several alterations with a view to improvement of the building".

[24] Lord Bledisloe had said when opening the new stand that "he had always been a firm believer in the advantages of football, both as a means of developing physique, and in forming character and a sense of discipline.

Congratulating the League organisation on its enterprise Lord Bledisloe ventured the hope that the sport would continue and flourish, and be maintained in New Zealand for many years to come".

[33] At the end of the season New Zealand international and long serving Marist Old Boys player Hec Brisbane decided to retire.

The shield was played for by the 4 losing teams from the first round of the Roope Rooster and was won by Newton who defeated Ponsonby in the final by 18 points to 10.

Due to the unavailability of a player they strengthened their side with the addition of Percy Williams of South Sydney, and Jack Lynch of Eastern Suburbs.

White said the side was strengthened by four substitutes "who, in the opinion of State selectors, with the ten regular, brought the tourists well up to full strength".

[39] Just prior to the fourth match with Ponsonby a fire broke out at the Nicholls Brothers Limited premise on Stanley Street with the building being extensively damaged.

Cyril Blacklaws of Newton Rangers received concussion and facial injuries and was taken to Auckland Hospital in a St John's ambulance but his condition was said to be not serious.

[46] R. Sellars the Newton wing left the field injured and it was reported 5 weeks later in The New Zealand Herald that he was still in hospital recovering from his injury.

For the third weekend in a row a player was concussed in a senior match at Carlaw Park and was taken by a St John's ambulance to Auckland Hospital.

Eight of their players had refused to play after taking issue over the clubs finances including Des Herring, Gordon Campbell, Claude List, and Wilf Hassan.

Richmond comfortably beat Ponsonby in the main match with past and future New Zealand internationals Alf Mitchell, Ted Mincham, and Cliff Satherley scoring tries for the victors.

Newton Rangers were undermanned in their match with Devonport with Trevor Hall and Ted Brimble both out suffering from influenza while Claude Dempsey was absent due to the passing of his father.

The Mount Albert side also featured several of the suspended Marist players who were eventually granted transfers including the Schultz brothers, Des Herring, and Claude List.

The four losing teams from round one of the Roope Rooster competition were pitted against each other with Newton Rangers becoming the inaugural Phelan Shield champions.

Richmond Rovers made history by becoming the first team in Auckland Rugby League to win the Fox Memorial, Roope Rooster, and Stormont Shield in the same season.

Māngere had made the final after default wins against Ellerslie and Papakura B, who had entered a side in the competition but ultimately did not field a team.

Ponsonby had beaten Richmond in their previous match to eliminate the champions, while Glen Ora beat Mount Albert in their semi final 13–5.

The players who had transferred from Marist made their debut for Mount Albert with Len and Bert Schultz both scoring tries and Des Herring converting two of their four tries.

Panapa (secretary) of the organisation proposing a Tamaki team, "representative of the isthmus between Auckland and Onehunga" to challenge for the Waitangi Māori Shield.

The following players were part of the touring squad but not named in the match report and they may have played: B Paul, Bill Turei, B Roberts, P Kautoa, L Wilson, P Rewha, A Kelsall, P Daniels, T Rau, K Rawiri, G Heri.