Paul Atkins (rugby league)
 | ||||||
| Atkins playing for the Auckland Vulcans | ||||||
| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Auckland, New Zealand | |||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Position | fullback, wing | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 2004 | New Zealand Warriors | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| As of 09:03, 14 September 2008 (UTC) | ||||||
| Source: RLP | ||||||
Paul Atkins is a former New Zealand rugby league player. He played for the Otahuhu Leopards from 2002–2003, the Otahuhu-Ellerslie Leopards from 2004–2005, the Tamaki Leopards in 2006 and the Howick Hornets from 2007-2009.4
Playing career
In 2004 Atkins made his National Rugby League debut for the New Zealand Warriors. His single game from the interchange bench was against the Sydney Roosters in a brief but impressive debut.
Atkins came on midway through the second spell and was subsequently smashed in two massive tackles from Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley with his first two touches. The lightweight winger or fullback made the mistake of carting the ball straight up at one of the hardest hitters in the NRL but got straight to his feet on both occasions to his credit. Earning the praise of coach Tony Kemp. "Kids come out of the Bartercard Cup and the one thing I know they have in abundance is courage," Kemp said. "He has got the courage of a lionheart. I knew he has been one of the toughest kids I have been watching for two years so he obviously relished his opportunity but he left his step on the bench". "He definitely gave the players a lift when he went on,' Kemp said. "They took one look at him - the kid's only 80kgs - and he didn't take a backward step. This is what we are trying to build."[1]
Later that year he also represented both Auckland and New Zealand 'A' against a Jim Beam Selection.[2]
In 2005 he was part of the New Zealand Universities side that won the Student World Cup in Australia. Paul attended AUT University.[3]
In 2006 he represented New Zealand Maori at the Pacific Cup.[4]
In 2008 he joined the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.
Personal
He taught at Alfriston College in Manurewa as a Physical Education Teacher and belongs to the Whanau... Tirohanga
Currently teachers at Okaihau College,Northland as also as Physical Education Teacher.
One of three brothers to parents Velda and Clifford (Cliff) Atkins, Paul was considered the least favoured child of the three for the majority of his adolescence. It wasn't until his elder brother, Kurt, decided to see the world that Paul's ranks within the family rose. His younger brother, Ryan, whom many now consider to be the idiot of the family, idolises Paul and has on his life time bucket list at number 1 that he wishes to follow in Pauls footsteps some day.
More recently, Paul was asked to M.C at his brother Kurt's wedding, although Paul's a well educated individual some of the big words that he chose to use on this day left the majority of the attendees scratching at their heads and asking "what the heck is he trying to say"? Needless to say, the M.C honours got palmed off to his younger brother, Ryan, who performed one of the worst M.C speeches in New Zealand wedding speech history.
References
- ↑ "Kemp pleased with baby Warriors". Television New Zealand. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ Jessup, Peter (29 June 2004). "Rugby League: Aucklanders must back up after NSW Country clash". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
- ↑ New Zealand wins Student World Cup University Sport New Zealand
- ↑ Rugby League International Federation - New Zealand Rugby League 2006 Pacific Cup NZRL.co.nz