Jim Larkin hangs up his rugby league coaching cap

Jim Larkin, a very humble man has decided to hang up his rugby league coaching cap due to his swimming coaching commitments. This man needs to receive some recognition for what he has done for Rugby League in the Te Tai Tokerau district since coming up to the area in 1991.

Jim started playing league when he was 11! That’s 46 years of being involved in a sport that is his passion (aside from a break of 4 years after suffering a major stroke in 2016). It all started in 1977 at Mount Albert league club in Auckland. In his playing career he played for Marist, Bay Roskill and Te Atatū. He played rep for Auckland from 1982 to 1985.

Jim has been instrumental in giving many young men in the area an opportunity to go and play league in the Australian NRL. Some current and former names are James Fisher-Harris, Corey Harawira- Naera, Sam McKendry and Linton Price.

Jim has never put his hand out and lives a very humble existence, his stroke and subsequent marriage break up has been financially challenging. A givealittle page has been set up so that Jim can purchase a more reliable vehicle to continue his work with club swim coaching in the district, work on some health goals (this alone is $5k) and take a trip to Australia to visit his favourite clubs.