2014 New Zealand Warriors season

Last updated

2014 New Zealand Warriors season
Team information
CEOWayne Scurrah
Coach Andrew McFadden
(19 games since 5 April)
Matthew Elliott (5 games)
Assistant coachRicky Henry
Adam Mogg
Captain
Stadium Mount Smart Stadium
Top scorers
Tries Manu Vatuvei (17)
Goals Shaun Johnson (63)
Points Shaun Johnson (163)
  2013 2015  

The 2014 New Zealand Warriors season was the 20th in the club's history. Coached by Matthew Elliott until he was replaced by Andrew McFadden in Round 6, and captained by Simon Mannering, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2014 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season 9th out of 16 teams, failing to make the finals for the third consecutive year. In the pre-season the Warriors also had competed in the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

Contents

Milestones

Jersey and sponsors

Warriors home 2012.png
In 2014 the Warriors jerseys was again made by Canterbury of New Zealand.
Warriors away 2012.png

Fixtures

Pre-season training

Pre-season training began on 28 October 2013. [3]

Pre-season matches

The Warriors played the Gold Coast Titans at North Harbour Stadium on 9 February and the Brisbane Broncos at Forsyth Barr Stadium on 23 February. [4] [5] The Warriors also played the Wigan Warriors on Wednesday 12 February, in a warm up game before Wigan competes in the 2014 World Club Challenge. [6]

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
9 FebruaryTrial 1 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Loss18-32 Lolohea (2), Ikahifo Lino (3)7,000
12 FebruaryTrial 2 Wigancolours.svg Wigan Warriors Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Loss22-46 Townsend, Tuimavave-Gerrard, Peteru, Friend Townsend (3)
23 FebruaryTrial 3 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Win48-4 Fisiiahi (2), Hurrell (2), Johnson, Gubb, Tuimavave, Fusitua, Tomkins Johnson (4), Townsend (2)

Auckland Nines

The Warriors were coached by Ricky Henry. The squad consisted of Jayson Bukuya, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Glen Fisiiahi, David Fusitua, Charlie Gubb, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata, Ngani Laumape, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sione Lousi, Suaia Matagi, Dominique Peyroux, Sam Tomkins, Carlos Tuimavave. [7] At the conclusion of the weekend Shaun Johnson was named the tournament's MVP and Suaia Matagi was named in the team of the tournament.

PosTeamPldWDLPFPAPDPts
1 New Zealand Warriors 33008041+396
2 North Queensland Cowboys 31025545+102
3 Canberra Raiders 31023253212
4 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 31022553282
Source: [ citation needed ]
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsReport
15 FebruaryNines 1 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Eden Park, Auckland Win25-14 Johnson, Fisiiahi, Matagi, Kata Johnson (3), Tomkins
15 FebruaryNines 2 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Sea Eagles Eden Park, Auckland Win27-4 Johnson, Kata, Peyroux, Fusitua, Lolohea Johnson (3)
16 FebruaryNines 3 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Eden Park, Auckland Win28-23 Ikahihifo (2), Johnson, Tuimavave, Laumape Johnson (3)
16 FebruaryQuarter South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs Eden Park, Auckland Win17-16 Johnson, Fisiiahi, Laumape Johnson, Tomkins
16 FebruarySemi North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Eden Park, Auckland Loss0-8
Quarter-Finals Semi-Finals Final
         
Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 11
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 16
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 18
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 14
Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 6
Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 17
Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 7
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 16
New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 17
South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 16
New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 0
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 8
Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers 12
North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 22

Regular season

The Warriors played eight home matches at Mount Smart Stadium, three at Eden Park and another at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. [8] Their loss to the Panthers in the final round saw the Warriors finish the season in 9th place, only just missing out on the finals. This was an improvement on their 11th-placed finish in 2013 and their 14th-placed finish in 2012.

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
9 MarchRound 1 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Pirtek Stadium, Sydney Loss16-36 Vatuvei, Tuimavave, Fisiiahi Johnson (2)14,397
15 MarchRound 2 St. George colours.svg St George Illawarra Dragons Eden Park, Auckland Loss12-31 Tomkins, Ropati Johnson (2)14,392
22 MarchRound 3 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville Win20-16 Fisiiahi (2), Lousi, Hurrell Johnson (2)12,738
30 MarchRound 4 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Westpac Stadium, Wellington Win42-18 Fisiiahi (4), Johnson, Vatuvei, Bukuya, Tomkins Johnson (5)22,512
5 AprilRound 5 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Remondis Stadium, Sydney Loss6-37 Vatuvei Johnson (1)11,307
13 AprilRound 6 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Eden Park, Auckland Loss20-21 Tomkins, Vatuvei, Hurrell, Mannering Johnson (2)22,160
19 AprilRound 7 St. George colours.svg St George Illawarra Dragons WIN Jubilee Oval, Sydney Loss10-20 Tomkins, Vatuvei Johnson (1)10,559
25 AprilRound 8 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm AAMI Park, Melbourne Win16-10 Fusitua, Mateo, Johnson Johnson (2)28,716
10 MayRound 9 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Eden Park, Auckland Win54-12 Johnson (2), Vatuvei (2), Matulino, Hurrell, Laumape,
Tomkins, Bukuya
Johnson (9)18,165
18 MayRound 10 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Loss12-16 Matulino, Henry Johnson (2)17,673
24 MayRound 11 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans Robina Stadium, Gold Coast Win24-16 Fusitua (2), Matulino, Johnson, Mannering Townsend (2)18,753
1 JuneRound 12 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win38-18 Mannering (2), Vatuvei (2), Tomkins, Townsend, Hurrell Johnson (5)19,068
7 JuneRound 13 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs nib Stadium, Perth Loss18-34 Fusitua, Johnson, Mannering, Hurrell Johnson (1)20,267
Round 14Bye
21 JuneRound 15 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win19-10 Henry, Hurrell, Townsend Johnson (3 & FG)16,025
29 JuneRound 16 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win30-20 Hurrell (2), Vatuvei, Mannering, Johnson Johnson (5)12,801
Round 17Bye
12 JulyRound 18 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win48-0 Tomkins (2), Fusitua, Johnson, Hurrell, Mannering,
Henry, Townsend
Johnson (8)14,087
19 JulyRound 19 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Loss22-28 Henry (2), Mannering, Tomkins Johnson (3)37,082
27 JulyRound 20 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss12-22 Hurrell, Mannering Townsend (2)19,199
3 AugustRound 21 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium, Canberra Win54-18 Vatuvei (3), Rapira (2), Lousi, Tomkins, Hurrell,
Matulino, Laumape
Townsend (7)7,094
10 AugustRound 22 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win16-12 Laumape (2), Vatuvei Townsend (2)13,939
16 AugustRound 23 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Hunter Stadium, Newcastle Loss22-28 Fusitua (2), Vatuvei (2), Friend Townsend (1)12,733
23 AugustRound 24 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss12-46 Tomkins, Laumape Johnson (2)19,676
30 AugustRound 25 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win42-0 Tomkins (2), Henry, Peyroux, Friend, Hurrell, Johnson Johnson (7)13,540
6 SeptemberRound 26 Penrith colours.svg Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Sydney Loss6-22 Vatuvei Johnson (1)13,551

Ladder

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 2416082615385+23036
2 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2416082502399+10336
3 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs (P)2415092585361+22434
4 Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers 2415092506426+8034
5 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 24140102596406+19032
6 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm 24140102536460+7632
7 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 24130112446439+730
8 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 24120122549456+9328
9 New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 24120122571491+8028
10 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 24120122477580−10328
11 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons 24110132469528−5926
12 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 24100142463571−10824
13 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers 24100142420631−21124
14 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans 2490152372538−16622
15 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 2480162466623−15720
16 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2450192334613−27914

Squad

No.NamePositionWarriors Debut App TGFGPts
105 Thomas Leuluai HB2 May 2003120000
108 Jerome Ropati CE31 August 200331004
115 Manu Vatuvei WG23 May 200423170068
125 Simon Mannering SR26 June 20052490036
131 Sam Rapira PR20 May 2006182008
142 Ben Matulino PR14 June 20082040020
146 Jacob Lillyman PR14 March 2009240000
152 Kevin Locke FB31 May 200920000
159 Sione Lousi SR14 March 2010112008
163 Glen Fisiiahi FB12 March 2011570028
164 Feleti Mateo SR12 March 2011191004
168 Shaun Johnson HB4 June 2011219631163
171 Ben Henry SR4 March 20121660024
172 Nathan Friend HK4 March 2012242008
173 Konrad Hurrell CE4 March 201219120048
175 Sam Lousi SR21 July 201210000
176 Sebastine Ikahihifo LK28 July 2012180000
177 Carlos Tuimavave FE5 August 201211004
178 Dane Nielsen CE9 March 2013130000
180 Ngani Laumape WG24 March 20131650020
181 Suaia Matagi PR11 May 2013240000
182 Dominique Peyroux CE3 June 201341004
183 Charlie Gubb PR7 July 201350000
185 Sam Tomkins FB9 March 201424130052
186 Chad Townsend HB9 March 201419314040
187 Jayson Bukuya SR9 March 2014182008
188 John Palavi PR9 March 201420000
189 David Fusitua WG15 March 20141270028
190 Siliva Havili HK13 April 201460000
191 Agnatius Paasi PR19 July 201410000
192 Tuimoala Lolohea HB27 July 201430000

Staff

Coaching staff

Strength and conditioning

Transfers

Gains

PlayerPrevious ClubLengthNotes
Sam Tomkins Wigan Warriors 3 years World Record Transfer fee [10]
Chad Townsend Cronulla Sharks
Jayson Bukuya Cronulla Sharks

Losses

PlayerClubNotes
Russell Packer Newcastle Knights
Elijah Taylor Penrith Panthers
Steve Rapira Salford Red Devils
Sio Siua Taukeiaho Sydney Roosters
Bill Tupou Canberra Raiders Left mid-2013
Alehana Mara Released
Todd Lowrie Brisbane Broncos
Pita Godinet Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Other teams

The Warriors entered a team into the NSW Cup for the first time. The team replaced the Auckland Vulcans, who the club previously helped to fund. [11] The Junior Warriors again competed in the Holden Cup.

NSW Cup squad

The NSW Cup side were coached by Rohan Smith. It was the first time that the team had a full-time coach. [9] In June the team took a match to Gisborne's Rugby Park. [12]

The side finished eighth in regular season and made the finals, defeating the Mount Pritchard Mounties 36-28 in the elimination finals. They were eliminated the next week, losing 12-29 to the Illawarra Cutters. [13]

Raymond Faitala-Mariner was named in the NSW Cup team of the year. [14]

Qualifying and elimination finalsSemi-finalsPreliminary finalsGrand final
1 Penrith Panthers 42
4 Illawarra Cutters 6
Illawarra Cutters 29
NZ Warriors 12
5 Mounties 28 Penrith Panthers 31
8 NZ Warriors 36 Wentworthville Magpies 12
Penrith Panthers 48
Newcastle Knights 12
6 Wests Tigers 6 Newcastle Knights 34
7 Wyong Roos 28 Illawarra Cutters 10
Wentworthville Magpies 29
Wyong Roos 16
2 Newcastle Knights 24
3 Wentworthville Magpies 12

Holden Cup Squad

The Junior Warriors won the Holden Cup by defeating the Brisbane Broncos 34-32 in the grand final. [15] [16] The Junior Warriors had finished eighth in the regular season, just qualifying for the finals series. In the finals they defeated the Sydney Roosters 44-30 in the elimination finals. [17]

The Grand Final team was: Brad Abbey, Ngataua Hukatai, Nathaniel Roache, Solomone Kata, Paul Ulberg, Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino (c), Sam Lisone (c), Kurt Robinson, Kouma Samson, Michael Ki, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: James Bell, Toafofoa Sipley, Ken Maumalo, Iulio Afoa. Coach: Stacey Jones.

Sam Lisone was named at prop in the Holden Cup team of the year. [18] Solomone Kata won the Jack Gibson Medal as the grand final player of the match. [16]

Awards

Simon Mannering was named the NRL Player of the Year and also received a Legacy award. Konrad Hurrell won the People's Choice Award while Manu Vatuvei was the Club Person of the Year and the Players' Player of the Year. David Fusitu’a was the NRL Rookie of the Year. [19]

The NSW Cup Player of the Year was Agnatius Paasi, who also won the NSW Cup Players' Player of the Year award. Tuimoala Lolohea was the NSW Cup Rookie of the Year. [19]

Sam Lisone won the NYC Player of the Year and NYC Players' Player of the Year awards while Brad Abbey was the NYC Rookie of the Year. [19]

References

  1. Elliott quits as Warriors coach nzherald.co.nz, 7 April 2014
  2. Changes to Spine warriors.co.nz, 24 August 2014
  3. Your club's pre-season guide nrl.com, 1 November 2013
  4. Ben Barba to debut for Broncos in Dunedin stuff.co.nz, 19 November 2013
  5. 2014 NRL trial game details nrl.com, 9 December 2013
  6. Warriors to play Wigan in Hamilton nrl.com, 19 December 2013
  7. Warriors name star-studded Nines squad nrl.com, 25 January 2014
  8. Warriors to take three games to Eden Park nzherald.co.nz, 2 October 2013
  9. 1 2 3 Mann and Smith return to club Archived 5 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine thewarriors.com.au, 29 September 2013
  10. Sam Tomkins' NZ Warriors deal a world record stuff.co.nz, 24 September 2013
  11. Three Vodafone Warriors teams in 2014 Archived 16 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine thewarriors.com.au, 16 October 2013
  12. Getting ready for Gisborne warriors.co.nz, 9 June 2014
  13. Warriors reserves knocked out of NSW Cup stuff.co.nz, 14 September 2014
  14. 2014 NSW CUP TEAM OF THE YEAR Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine rugbyleagueweek.com.au, 21 September 2014
  15. Junior Warriors triumph in Holden Cup nzherald.co.nz, 5 October 2014
  16. 1 2 Warriors survive Broncos scare to win Holden Cup nrl.com, 5 October 2014
  17. Top two fall in Holden Cup finals nrl.com, 15 September 2014
  18. Holden Cup Team of the Year Announced Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine rugbyleagueweek.com.au, 2 September 2014
  19. 1 2 3 Vodafone Warriors RED BALL Awards warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2014