Last Thursday representative squad members, team officials, and supporters piled into Royal Oak Bowls. The evening was all about connection, setting expectations and celebrating the upcoming season with a united front.   

The night kicked off with a lively Q&A session with experienced and decorated players Tony Grantham, Lisa Prideaux and Gavin Brown. Each shared awesome insights into their journey, what it means to represent Auckland, and how they plan to tackle the season ahead.

Headlining the evening was the unveiling of the squad’s performance culture and values, developed by a player-led working group (Linda Fenton, Hemoata Brown, Steve Fisher, Nick Thompson, and Lesley McLinden). The mantra ‘Find a Way’ was introduced and supported by values of trust, belonging and accountability—all grounded by the belief in “Enjoy the Journey.” The group delivered their presentation with flair, with Nick Thompson treating everyone to an impromptu song!

1-5 Year Head Coach Robyn Reihana summed up the evening: “It was a great night for all, and we had lots of feedback on how all the players enjoyed the evening!”.

The representative season kicks off on 28 & 29 September, with Auckland taking on Bay of Plenty, Northland, and North Harbour in the first quad event.