Carlaw Park Die Hards

In this explosive sixth episode of the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast, we sit down with a man whose name is synonymous with the grit, the glory, and the pure "old school" soul of Auckland Rugby League: Ron O’Regan.

Known in his prime as "Ronnie the Rogue," O’Regan wasn’t just a player; he was a standard-bearer for an era when pulling on the jersey meant war. This week, we go on a deep-dive journey from his early days at Mt Albert to the hardened "winter league" fields of Northern England, and back home to make history.

Inside this episode, we tackle:

From Lions to Dragons: Ron opens up about the tough decision to leave the legendary Mt Albert Lions to become the cornerstone of the City Newton Dragons, leading to back-to-back Rothville Trophy wins (1981 & 1983).

The Barrow Frontier: At just 21, Ron headed to the North of England to captain the Barrow Raiders. Hear raw, unfiltered stories of earning respect in the brutal British packs.

Auckland’s Iron Man: We break down the stats of a true legend. Ron holds the record for the most appearances for Auckland (60+ caps), achieved when Auckland didn't just play international touring sides—they beat them.

Kiwis & The Fox: From debuting alongside Dean Bell against the Aussies in '83 to his 8 Test appearances, Ron shares the pinnacle of his playing days and his transition to coaching the Te Atatu Roosters to a famous Fox Memorial title in 1988.

Prepare for plenty of laughs, a fair bit of nostalgia, and a masterclass in what it takes to be an Auckland League legend.

Career Stats at a Glance

Milestone Detail
Auckland Caps 60+ (All-time Record Holder)
Kiwi Tests 8 (Debut vs Australia, 1983)
Barrow Raiders 44 Appearances (Captain at 21)
Individual Honours 2x Rothville Trophy Winner

 

#CarlawParkDieHards #AucklandRugbyLeague #Kiwis #BarrowRaiders #MtAlbertLions #CityNewtonDragons #TeAtatuRoosters #MaoriRugbyLeague #RugbyLeagueLegends #RonRegan #TheFoxMemorial

🎙️Carlaw Park Die Hards: Christmas Special
Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast Episode 5 Christmas Special:
KIWIS REUNION EXCLUSIVE: Sir Peter Leitch, Sir Graham Lowe & Hugh McGahan | Die Hards Christmas Special

🚨 KIWIS LEGENDS UNLEASHED! Your hosts Gordy Gibbons and Troy Hardy crash the New Zealand Kiwis Reunion 2025 for an unforgettable Christmas Special! This is the ultimate, unfiltered, behind-the-scenes access to the legends of NZ Rugby League. We sit down with TWO SIRS and a Kiwi Captain to hear their greatest stories, share a few laughs, and down some cold ones. HIT PLAY for an absolute goldmine of league history!

Welcome to the spiritual home of Kiwi league! The Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast is live from the monumental New Zealand Kiwis Reunion 2025 to deliver a Christmas Special packed with pure gold.

This is the only place you'll hear raw, authentic interviews with these legendary figures:

Sir Peter Leitch (The Mad Butcher): Hear his famous, unfiltered take on the game, the Kiwis, and the moments that defined his career as one of the game's greatest ambassadors.

Sir Graham Lowe: The legendary coach and administrator opens up about the pressure, the pride, and the emotional impact Carlaw Park had on his life.

Hugh McGahan (Kiwi Captain): Get the true captain's perspective on what it means to lead the Kiwis and the stories from the dressing room you've never heard before.

 

Important Die Hards Update:
We caught up with Bears Legend and Kiwi International Fred Ah Koui, but sadly, the recording was lost. We are committed to the Die Hards faithful and will be bringing you a FULL, dedicated interview with Fred Ah Koui in the New Year!

 

🔗 CONNECT & SUPPORT THE DIE HARDS! 🔗
 

This podcast runs on the passion of our listeners! If you want more epic league stories, we need your help:

SUBSCRIBE: Follow the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast on your app right now so you never miss a legend!

REVIEW: Leave a 5-star rating and a review—it’s the single best way to help us grow and reach more Kiwi league fans.

WATCH: Find the full video episode on our YouTube channel ([Your YouTube Channel Name/Link])!

CONNECT: Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes content and throwbacks!

#NZRugbyLeague #KiwisReunion #CarlawParkDieHards #SirPeterLeitch #SirGrahamLowe #HughMcGahan #RugbyLeagueLegends #PodcastNZ #ChristmasSpecial

CLAYTON FRIEND — THE MAGNIFICENT #7**

Kia ora whānau — welcome back to the Carlaw Park Die Hards Podcast!
I’m Troy Hardy, joined by my co-host, the walking rugby-league almanac himself… Gordon “Gordy” Gibbons.

And today… mate… we have cooked up an absolute beauty.

This is Episode Four, and we’re sitting down with one of the great entertainers of New Zealand rugby league —
Clayton “The Magician” Friend.

A Kiwi icon.
A North Sydney Bear.
A UK journeyman who carved up at Carlisle Rugby League and tore it up at Whitehaven.
A man who lit up tests, tour matches, and club footy with the kind of natural flair you just cannot coach.

Clayton didn’t just wear the seven —
he made it sparkle.

Today, me and Gordy dive deep with him into:
• His unforgettable days in the New Zealand Kiwis jersey
• The old-school Carlaw Park battles where the terraces shook
• His time with the North Sydney Bears and why that era was so special
• Life and league in the UK with Carlisle and Whitehaven
• The test matches where Clayton was on fire, carving up edges with those dummies, steps and pure instinct
• The players he rated, the moments he lived, and the magic only he could produce

This is pure rugby league gold —
the stories that shaped the game on both sides of the world.

So buckle up, settle in, and let Troy & Gordy take you back to the places and moments that made Clayton Friend a name etched forever in league history.

Episode 4 — Clayton Friend
Where legends were born…
and warriors were made.

Let’s go.

He personifies our tagline —
Carlaw Park: Where Legends Were Born and Warriors Are Made. 🏟️

This week, we sit down with the one and only Dean “Deano” Bell — a true Kiwi Rugby League legend.
From Manukau to Wigan, from the roar of Carlaw Park to wearing the New Zealand Kiwis jersey, and then helping build the NZ Warriors legacy — Deano has done it all. ⚫️⚪️

In this powerful, emotional, and unfiltered episode, Dean opens up about the pride, the passion, and the pain behind his journey through some of the game’s most defining eras. 💪🔥

🎧 On Air Now!
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and iHeartRadio.

💥 Do us a solid — hit LIKE, drop a COMMENT, SHARE it with your mates, and smash that 🔔 BELL ICON so you never miss another classic yarn from the legends of league!

Let’s remind everyone…
🏉 Carlaw Park — Where Legends Were Born & Warriors Were Made.

⸻

🎯 Tags:
New Zealand Rugby League Museum • Wigan Warriors • Wigan Warriors Fan Group • One NZ Warriors • Aotearoa NZ Māori Rugby League • New Zealand Kiwis • Manukau Rugby League Football & Sports Club Inc • Auckland Māori Rugby League Inc • Auckland Rugby League • Sydney Roosters • Carlaw Park Die Hards • Access Railway & Concrete Stand Carlaw Park Die Hards • New Zealand Rugby League Kiwis Assoc • Sky Sport NZ • The Crowd Goes Wild • Rugby League Week

#carlawparkdiehards #deanbell #RugbyLeagueLegends #nzkiwis #wiganrl #nzwarriors #aucklandrugbyleague #manukaurugbyleague #easternsuburbsroosters #CarlawPark #wherelegendswereborn #leaguepodcast #nzrugbyleague #TroyHardy #GordyGibbons #leagueheritage #PodcastNZ #RugbyLeagueFans

In this episode, we sit down with one of New Zealand rugby league’s true greats — Dane O’Hara.

Originally from the Bay Roskill Vikings before joining the Glenora Bears, Dane carved out a remarkable career that took him from the heart of Auckland club footy to the grand stage of English Super League.

In 1981, Dane joined Hull FC, where he went on to play 271 games, scoring 116 tries and becoming a fan favourite across Yorkshire. He later played for Doncaster RLFC, rounding out an incredible professional journey.

Between 1976 and 1980, he represented Auckland six times and proudly wore the black and white of the New Zealand Kiwis in 36 tests, crossing the line 15 times as one of the game’s most electrifying wingers.

Join us as Dane shares stories from his Carlaw Park days, memories of his club footy roots, and the incredible moments that shaped his career — from teaming up with Gary Kemble, James Leuluai, and Fred Ah Kuoi at Hull FC to the legendary Wembley Challenge Cup Final, and his 1989/1990 testimonial year — the first ever awarded to an overseas player by Hull FC.

It’s a nostalgic, emotional, and inspiring trip through time with one of league’s finest ambassadors.

Welcome to the Carlaw Park Die Hards — where legends were born and warriors are made.