Marist Saints Rugby League clubrooms in Auckland destroyed in fire, police investigating

The Auckland Rugby League CEO says the clubrooms fire at Marist Saints is devastating for the community as police investigate the cause.

Emergency services responded to reports of the fire around 3.30am.

“We are gutted by what has occurred. Marist Saints has a long history so this is devastating for our community,” said Auckland Rugby League CEO Rebecca Russell.

Russell said they are working with Fire and Emergency New Zealand to investigate the cause of the fire and could not comment further.

“At this early stage, Police are treating the fire as unexplained, and a scene examination is due to be carried out later today,” said a police spokesperson.

Fire and Emergency assistant commander Chris Delfos said the clubrooms on Range View Rd in Mt Albert were well involved when they arrived.

Visibly upset members of the Marist Rugby League Club gathered on the field in front of the gutted remains of their club building this morning.

Club president Victoria Malone said everyone is in shock.

”Family and friends have been calling and texting,” she said.

”The Marist community is such a massive community – it’s a family.”

Club member Rua Kimiora said everyone was upset and devastated.

”Especially because this building has been here for over 100 years.”

Multiple people called emergency services and crews arrived quickly from Avondale and then other surrounding stations as they called in assistance.

The two-storey, 15m x 30m structure is in Murray Halberg Park. The fire had gone to a second alarm, which meant about eight appliances had been called.

A police spokesperson said no injuries have been reported.

Fenz northern shift manager Karen Larking said as of 5.30am an aerial appliance had left the scene and the remaining crews were dampening down hot spots.

A fire investigator was set to arrive shortly.

“Unfortunately the building has virtually collapsed now,” Delfos told a Herald photographer before 5am.

“It’s a great loss to the Mt Albert rugby league community. I think there’s over 100 years of history in this building.”

Anyone with footage or information that may assist police is asked to contact them on 105, quoting the file number P056740658.

Information can also be provided anonymously via Crime Stoppers on 0800 555 111.

Marist Saints was founded in 1919 and has been the home of many famous rugby league names including a young Sonny Bill Williams, former Kiwis captain Roy Asotasi and Warriors legend Jerome Ropati.

Other well-known former Warriors such as Francis Meli and Motu Tony also got their start at the club.

Many fans of the club have posted on social media about their sadness at the clubrooms being destroyed, calling it “tragic” and “devastating”.

The Penrose-based Marist Softball Club said it was sending “all our thoughts and aroha to our Marist Rugby League whanau as their beloved Clubrooms are destroyed in a fire”.

The Richmond Rovers rugby league club, based in nearby Grey Lynn, expressed its “thoughts and prayers” for the Marist Saints in a Facebook post.

“No words can comprehend what you will all be feeling right now, please know your family here at Richmond are only a phone call away!

“You will rise from this and we will be by your side to navigate through it all,” the post said.

‘The memories and history of the club are gone’

Life member and former coach of double international Sonny Bill Williams Hans Wulf could barely look at the gutted remains of the clubhouse.

“Photos of my family, my son, all gone, it’s all gone, it’s very tough.”

Originally from Samoa, Wulf played for Marist up until 1970, but still comes to the club.

All of his children, nephews, nieces haveplayed for Marist, while his grandchildren currently play for the club.

“My brother was playing league over here, my first game I got knocked out, this is a better game than rugby,” he said.

“I’m still here, still surviving.”

Clutching a crucifix the firefighters gave him, the life member promised to return it to the club when the building is rebuilt.

“I will look after it. It will come back to the club before I die.”

Wulf said the club isn’t just a club, but a family.

“I got no kids playing in the club now, I still come and watch. Because I love the club, I love the team,” he said.

“You call it a family because everybody looks after each other.”