1996 Auckland Warriors season

1996 Auckland Warriors
League 11th ARL
1996 record 10-0-11
Points for 412
Points against 427
Team information
CEO Ian Robson
Coach John Monie
Captain Greg Alexander
Alternate captains Denis Betts
Ground Ericsson Stadium
Average attendance 20,126
Top scorers
Tries John Kirwan (10)
Goals Gene Ngamu (50)
Points Gene Ngamu (120)
 < 1995 1997 > 

The Auckland Warriors 1996 season was the Auckland Warriors 2nd first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's Australian Rugby League competition. The coach of the team was John Monie while Greg Alexander was the club's captain.

Milestones

Jersey & Sponsors

The Warriors retained the same jersey designs as in 1995. The jerseys were again produced by Canterbury of New Zealand. The Jersey was blue with a Green, Red and White "V". The main sponsor was DB Bitter, with Ansett Australia as the sleeve sponsor. Asics, Coca-Cola and Mitsubishi also had sponsorship deals.

Super League

As the Auckland Warriors had, along with seven other clubs, signed with News Limited they did not originally intend to compete in the Australian Rugby League's Optus Cup in 1996. Instead Super League was scheduled to start on 1 March 1996.

Legal proceedings had been ongoing between the ARL and News Ltd since 1995 and on 23 February 1996 Justice James Burchett ruled the new Super League competition to be illegal. As a result the eight Super League clubs were obliged to compete in the Optus Cup in 1996. However the competition, which was originally planned to kick off on 1 March was delayed and commenced on 22 March.

As a result of the court action the Warriors were not invited to participate in the ARL's 1996 Rugby League World Sevens but many of their players instead took part in Super League's 1996 World Nines, which were won by New Zealand.

All Super League clubs apart from the Warriors forfeited Round One of the Optus Cup. The Warriors board instead directed reserve grade coach Frank Endacott to organise two teams of un-affiliated players to fly to Brisbane. Endacott did so, assembling teams largely made up of the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles senior sides, and the Warriors first and reserve grade sides were awarded a win each via forfeit as Brisbane refused to play.[1]

Auckland Warriors players were again ineligible for the New South Wales and Queensland State of Origin sides and the Australian Kangaroos due to the Warriors Super League stance.

In October 1996 New Limited won an appeal and Super League was allowed to go ahead in 1997.

Fixtures

The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1996, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Trial Matches

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
FebruaryMatch 1 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 24 - 38

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
Round 1 Brisbane BroncosWin*
31 MarchRound 2 Illawarra SteelersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 18 - 10T.Ropati (2), BlackmoreAlexander (2), Hill (1)17,246
4 AprilRound 3 Western Suburbs MagpiesCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyLoss 8 - 22J.VaganaAlexander (1), Hill (1)10,088
1 AprilRound 4 North Sydney BearsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 12 - 8JonesHill (2), Alexander (1),
Ellis (1)
22,500
7 AprilRound 5 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss 10 - 22Blake, NgamuNgamu (1)18,588
16 AprilRound 6 Illawarra SteelersSteelers Stadium, Wollongong Win 30 - 20Alexander, Blake, Ellis, Jones, TatupuNgamu (3), Hill (2)8,055
23 AprilRound 7 Parramatta EelsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 28 - 4Kirwan (2), Alexander, Hoppe, HoroNgamu (3), Hill (1)23,432
30 AprilRound 8 Sydney City RoostersSFS, SydneyLoss 16 - 28Blackmore, Hoppe, T.RopatiNgamu (1), Hill (1)13,471
7 MayRound 9 Newcastle KnightsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 18 - 22Kirwan (2), BettsNgamu (1), Ellis (1)17,000
14 MayRound 10 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 24 - 28Hoppe, Kearney, Kirwan, NgamuNgamu (4)22,810
4 JuneRound 11 Sydney TigersLancaster Park, ChristchurchLoss 22 - 34Blackmore, Ellis, Kirwan, T.RopatiNgamu (2), Ellis (1)10,000
18 JuneRound 12 Penrith PanthersPenrith Park, SydneyWin 26 - 16Ellis (2), Hoppe, Horo, KirwanNgamu (3)6,981
25 JuneRound 13 Western Suburbs MagpiesEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 32 - 16Jones (2), Alexander, Eru, Hoppe, KirwanNgamu (4)17,500
1 JulyRound 14 South Sydney RabbitohsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 24 - 10Eru (2), Jones, KirwanNgamu (4)20,000
9 JulyRound 15 Gold Coast ChargersCarrara Stadium, Gold CoastWin 28 - 14Ellis, Henare, Horo, Kearney, SwannNgamu (4)11,870
16 JulyRound 16 Western RedsWACA Ground, PerthLoss 12 - 32Ellis, SwannNgamu (2)12,760
23 JulyRound 17 South Queensland CrushersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 16 - 12Blackmore, SwannNgamu (3), Ellis (1)17,000
29 JulyRound 18 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 52 - 6Ngamu (3), Betts, Blake, Hoppe, Horo,
Jones, Kirwan
Ngamu (8)14,600
6 AugustRound 19 St George DragonsKogarah Oval, SydneyLoss 6 - 35GuttenbeilNgamu (1)14,256
11 AugustRound 20 Canterbury BulldogsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 18 - 12Betts, Blackmore, RopatiNgamu (3)23,300
18 AugustRound 21 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraLoss 6 - 30BlackmoreNgamu (1)14,528
27 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 6 - 38HoppeNgamu (1)26,000

*Brisbane forfeited Round One. The Warriors had sent a team to Brisbane consisting of players un-signed to Super League.

Ladder

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Manly 22 1804549191+35836
2 Brisbane 211704607263+34434
3 North Sydney 221525598325+27332
4 Sydney City 221516521321+20031
5 Cronulla 211425399268+13130
6 Canberra 211317538384+15427
7 St. George 211218443360+8327
8 Western Suburbs 221219394434-4025
9 Newcastle 2110110416388+2823
10 Canterbury 2111010375378-322
11 Auckland 2110011412427-1522
12 Balmain 2211011319459-14022
13 Parramatta 219111404415-1121
14 Illawarra 228014403444-4116
15 Penrith 217113363464-10115
16 Western Reds 216114313420-10713
17 North Queensland 216015288643-35512
18 Gold Coast 225116359521-16211
19 South Sydney 225116314634-32011
20 South Queensland 213018220496-2768

Squad

The Warriors used twenty eight players in 1996, including nine who made their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
2Blake, PhilPhil BlakeAustraliaFB / HK10 March 19951830012
3Hoppe, SeanSean HoppeNew ZealandWG10 March 19952070028
6Ngamu, GeneGene NgamuNew ZealandFE10 March 1995205500120
7Alexander, GregGreg AlexanderAustraliaFB / FE / HB10 March 19951634020
8Hill, GavinGavin HillNew ZealandPR10 March 1995708016
10Okesene, HitroHitro OkeseneNew ZealandPR / HK10 March 199540000
11Kearney, StephenStephen KearneyNew ZealandSR10 March 1995212008
12Tatupu, TonyTony TatupuNew Zealand / SamoaSR10 March 1995111004
13Tuimavave, TonyTony TuimavaveNew Zealand / SamoaPR / LK10 March 199550000
15Ropati, TeaTea RopatiNew Zealand / SamoaCE / FE10 March 19952050020
18Vagana, JoeJoe VaganaNew Zealand / SamoaPR18 March 1995201004
19Eru, SydSyd EruNew ZealandHK28 March 19951130012
22Kirwan, JohnJohn KirwanNew ZealandWG16 April 199519100040
23Platt, AndyAndy PlattEnglandPR23 April 1995210000
24Jones, StaceyStacey JonesNew ZealandHB23 April 19952160024
26Blackmore, RichieRichie BlackmoreNew ZealandCE14 May 19951760024
28Betts, DenisDenis BettsEnglandSR4 June 19951730012
29Ellis, MarcMarc EllisNew ZealandFB / WG31 March 19961864032
30Horo, MarkMark HoroNew ZealandPR / SR31 March 19962140016
31Carter, MarkMark CarterNew ZealandSR31 March 199680000
32Vagana, NigelNigel VaganaNew Zealand / SamoaCE4 April 199610000
33Guttenbeil, AwenAwen GuttenbeilNew Zealand / TongaSR14 April 1996141004
34Murray, DocDoc MurrayNew ZealandFB19 April 199610000
35Ropati, IvaIva RopatiNew ZealandCE19 April 199620000
36Swann, AnthonyAnthony SwannNew Zealand / SamoaCE23 June 1996930012
37Malam, BradyBrady MalamNew ZealandPR23 June 199680000
38Henare, BryanBryan HenareNew ZealandSR23 July 199631004
39Lester, AaronAaron LesterNew ZealandHK28 July 199630000

Staff

Coaching Staff

Transfers

Gains

Player Previous Club Notes
Marc EllisOtago Rugby Football Union
Mark Horo Western Suburbs Magpies
Mark CarterAuckland Rugby Football Union
Awen GuttenbeilManly Sea Eagles
Iva RopatiParramatta Eels

Losses

Player Club Notes
Dean BellRetired
Manoa ThompsonReleased
Whetu TaewaNorth Queensland Cowboys
Duane MannReleased
Se'e SolomonaNorth Queensland Cowboys
Jason MackieReleased
Martin MoanaHalifax Blue Sox
Willie PochingNorth Queensland Cowboys
Logan EdwardsReleased
Mike DorreenSydney Tigers
Frano BoticaLlanelli RFC

Other Teams

The Warriors participated in the ARL's Reserve grade competition that mirrored the senior draw. The Reserve grade side again made the finals, finishing third. Unlike in 1995, the Warriors did not field a Colts side in the Lion Red Cup.

In the Club Championship the Warriors finished fifth overall.

In the Reserve Grade Finals the Warriors first bet Sydney City 19-18 in the Quarterfinals. In the Semifinals they defeated Brisbane 18-12 to make the Grand Final. However in the Grand Final the Warriors went down 14-12 to the Cronulla Sharks, the second year in a row that a Warriors team had lost a Grand Final.[2][3] The cost of the finals campaign to the club was estimated at between $70,000 and $75,000.[4]

Awards

Stephen Kearney won the clubs Player of the Year award.[5]

References

  1. Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. ISBN 1-86958-922-X. p.78
  2. Australian Competitions 1996 The Vault
  3. Doc detects pain Sunday Star-Times, 29 September 1996
  4. Warriors reserve success comes at big price Sunday Star Times, 29 September 1996
  5. New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.50

External links