The undefeated Te Atatu Roosters have gotten off to a hot start through the first five rounds of competition, but success for the club started well before the season kicked off.
Community initiatives have been spearheaded by chair Craig Godfrey, who has been working alongside players and members of the club to build a whānau and community-oriented environment.
“It’s about introducing people that otherwise wouldn’t play. You don’t have to be an athlete; you don’t have to be big and powerful. There’s so much more that you can learn”, Godfrey said.
Craig Godfrey understands the intangible benefits that come from being a part of a rugby league team, club, and the wider community.
In pre-season, the Premier side would go for runs around the community where they had to carry a tackle bag and keep it up on their shoulders. “The only reprieve they could get while they were running through the main road was if they saw a local, they would stop and introduce themselves”, Godfrey said.
The club has also partnered with Te Whānau O Waipareira, an organisation that supports the wider Waitakere community. Earlier this year, the team at the Roosters assisted with packing RAT packs for the community amidst the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Aotearoa.
Craig Godfrey and the leadership committee at Te Atatu have demonstrate their role supporting the community and keeping what matters most and creating perspective for players. “We believe that service is important”, Godfrey said.
At the 2022 Auckland Rugby League Conference of Clubs, the Te Atatu Roosters were awarded the 2021 Club of the Year Award in recognition of their off-field successes.
This weekend, the Te Atatu Roosters face arguably their biggest test of the season so far when they host the second place Glenora Bears at Jack Colvin Park.