After the disappointment of a short unfinished season in 2020 the players and team management were keen to make 2021 successful. Coaches Joe Kurukaanga and Mike Noble were back with preseason starting in January with many players returning from the 2020 team mixed in with new players from within the club and further afield. Covid 19 interrupted the start of the preseason with a brief Level 3 lockdown. This along with players away with the North Harbour Development team meant a disjointed program. There was however time for a bus trip to Mt Maunganui Rugby Club to introduce the new members to Northcote Culture.

The season proper started on the 2nd of April with a win over Mahurangi and ended on the 10th of July with a Semi-Final Loss against Takapuna. Ranking the Northcote premier team 3rd overall.

In between, there were 16 games with a 12 win and 4 loss record, 521 points scored for and 236 points against. One game on the 3rd of June was the first Premier night game played on Harvey Wright and the first Thursday night Premier game played in North Harbour.

Each Saturday Joe and Mike were assisted by Team Manager Brad Boult, his assistant Conor O’Leary and Jaydog.

One of the reasons we are all here is to develop players and help them achieve higher honours, this year the following players did so -
North Harbour NPC - Teague McElroy, Nick Mayhew, Luteru Tolai, Tim
Sail, Bryn Hall, Murphy Taramai, Shaun Stevenson, Jack Bergin
North Harbour 2nd XV Development - Harry Dods, Jayden Marsters, Maine Kitson, Ryan Kennedy, Jack Bergin
North Harbour U19 – Dylan Chesney, Gavin Barlow
NZ Fiji U21 – Jayden Marsters

During the season 45 players wore the Premier jersey for the club with 16 playing their first game for the Premier team. Playing their first game were -
Gavin Barlow, Alan Bennie, Cardiff Carlton, Peter Drummond, Sebastian Filo, Miles Halvorson, Damian Johnstone, Brett Kingsbury, Jack Mancer, Jayden Masters, Alex Mosegi, Carlos Muru, Paul Richardson, Jacob Ridling, Rory Taylor, and Tau Tohi.

Also, during the season Aaron Tunui played his blazer game with 40 games and Richard Mayhew achieved 100 games to join his father John Mayhew on the centenary wall.

Other team awards were
Premier Supporter of the year – John Mayhew
Slip Inn Trophy for Club Spirit – Aaron Tunui
Steve Carvey Trophy for most points – Ben Searle 149 points
Tries Cub – Shared by Ryan Kennedy and Richard Mayhew with 6 tries each
Snow White Cup for best Team spirit -Richard Mayhew
Dave Wilson Cup for best tackler – Jack Bergin
Most improved Back – Maine Kitson
Most Improved Forward – Jayden Masters
Premier Player of the year – Harry Dods

The Northcote Premier team is known for its culture on and off the field, in 2021 on the field the team was led by Ben Searle as team Captain and off the field he was assisted by a Senior group of players who honoured past teams and players with Cote Culture.

Finally, the 2021 team would like to thank the Club in particular Jodi and Cat for their support and all the club members and family who are there for the team.