The 1990 New Zealand rugby league season was the 83rd season of rugby league that had been played in New Zealand. The main feature of the year was the National Provincial Competition that was won by Auckland.
Before the Lions arrived a Probables v Possibles trial match was played. The Probables won the match 68–14. The Lions then arrived after five matches in Papua New Guinea and opened the tour with a 23–22 victory over a Presidents XIII. Great Britain then lost to Canterbury 18–10 and Auckland 24–13 before defeating the Kiwi Colts 22–10. Great Britain then defeated New Zealand 11–10 in the first Test before slumping to a 30–22 loss to Wellington. The Lions then defeated the New Zealand Māori side 20–12 and a Taranaki Invitation XIII 24–0 before winning the second Test, and the series, 16–14. The Kiwis came back to win the third Test, defeating Great Britain 21–18 to claim the two World Cup points.
The Kiwis then hosted the Australian Kangaroos. The squad was Ridge, Edwards, Watson, Williams, Panapa, Kelly Shelford, Freeman, Brown, Mann, Todd, Longergan, Nikau and captain McGahan. The substitutes, Paddy Tuimavave, Mark Nixon, Mark Horo and George Mann were all unused. The Test was played at Athletic Park and featured the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders as the half time entertainment. Australia won the match 24–6 with Sam Panapa scoring New Zealand's only try and Matthew Ridge converting it. Captain Hugh McGahan announced his retirement from international football after the match.
Auckland, who had held the Rugby League Cup since 1986, lost the trophy to Canterbury when they lost 25–22 at the Showgrounds on 29 April. Wellington then defeated Canterbury 25–20 in Christchurch to claim the trophy. They defended it once in the remainder of the season, defeating the Bay of Plenty 70–14.[4]
National Provincial Competition
First Division
Auckland won the competition, despite losing to Canterbury 25–22 in Christchurch.[5] Auckland won its other five games, defeating Wellington 24–4 and 38–18, Bay of Plenty 62–8 and 64–0 and Canterbury 40–18. Wellington defeated Canterbury 42–2.
On 25 April, before the Zone competition, Manawatu defeated Taranaki for the first time since 1960.[7] After the competition was over they played Queensland, losing 76–2 despite the Queensland side lacking their NSWRL Premiership players.
Peter Edwards played for the Wellington Emerging Players.
The national club competition, called the Lion Red League Nationals for sponsorship reasons, was won by the Wainuiomata Lions who defeated the Otahuhu Leopards 34–12 to win the National Club Final at Carlaw Park.
Hornby won a record 18th Canterbury Rugby League title when it defeated Addington 24–14 to lift the Pat Smith Challenge Trophy in the club's 75th year.
Hornby also won the Thacker Shield for Canterbury, defeating Marist.
The Takahiwai Warriors, who included Jason Mackie, won the Northland Rugby League title, defeating the Moerewa Tigers 34–20 in the final. The Warriors then defeated the Far North's Te Paatu Warriors in a champion of champions play off.
Turangawaewae defeated Ngaruawahia 13–12 to win the Waikato Rugby League grand final. Tukere Barlow played for the Hamilton City Tigers. The Midland and Bay of Plenty Rugby League's merged before the season began and the clubs competed in a single competition. The Ngongotaha Chiefs, who included Russell Stewart, won the newly combined competition, defeating Pikiao 33–6. The Repongaere Eels defeated the Kaiti Devils 24–4 in the Gisborne-East Coast grand final. The Gisborne-East Coast under 13 representative team included Rico Gear.[8]
The Waitara Bears won the Taranaki Rugby League's Lile Shield, being taken to extra time by the Western Suburbs Tigers before winning 24–16. Kia Ora dominated the Manawatu Rugby League season, winning the grand final 26–0 over Wanganui.
Marist won the West Coast Rugby League title, defeating Suburbs 9–4 in the grand final. Marist were coached by Tony Coll and led by Wayne Dwyer. The West Coast Rugby League also ran a Women's competition for the first time, which was also won by the Marist club.
