2002 New Zealand Warriors season

2002 New Zealand Warriors
League 1st NRL
2002 record 17-0-7
Points for 688
Points against 454
Team information
CEO Mick Watson
Coach Daniel Anderson
Assistant Coach Tony Kemp
Captain Stacey Jones
Alternate captains Ivan Cleary
Monty Betham
Ground Ericsson Stadium
Average attendance 16,529
Top scorers
Tries Clinton Toopi (18)
Goals Ivan Cleary (105)
Points Ivan Cleary (242)
 < 2001 2003 > 

The New Zealand Warriors 2002 season was the New Zealand Warriors 8th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Stacey Jones was the club captain. The club finished the year as minor premiers and made the grand final for the first time, however they were defeated 30-8 by the Sydney Roosters.

Milestones

Jersey & Sponsors

The Warriors had a New Jersey in 2002, completely moving away from the blue and white that previously was the Clubs colours. The 2001 jersey was retained as an away strip.

Fixtures

The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2002, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Pre Season trials

Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
17 February Cronulla SharksJade Stadium, Christchurch Draw 30-30
24 February South Sydney RabbitohsCarlaw Park, Auckland Win 24-20Guttenbeil, Campion, Villasanti, FaumuinaCleary (4) 14,000
9 March West Auckland CowboysWaitakere Stadium, AucklandWin66-24

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
Round 1 Bye
24 MarchRound 2 Sydney RoostersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 21-14Lauiti'iti (2), Carlaw, MeliCleary (2), Jones (FG) 14,378
1 AprilRound 3 Newcastle KnightsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 14-32Jones, Meli, Webb Cleary (1) 13,456
6 AprilRound 4 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleWin 50-20Jones (2), Carlaw, Cleary, Faumuina, Hohaia, Tookey, ToopiCleary (8), Jones (1) 9,657
14 AprilRound 5 Northern EaglesEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin68-10Jones (3), Faumuina (2), Toopi (2), Cleary, Hohaia, Seuseu, Webb Cleary (12) 12,563
20 AprilRound 6 Canterbury BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss20-28Cleary, Koopu, ToopiCleary (4) 24,251
27 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin20-10Fa'afili, Guttenbeil, Meli, Toopi Cleary (2) 11,404
5 MayRound 8 Wests TigersCampbelltown Sports Ground, SydneyWin36-14Tookey (2), Carlaw, Hohaia, Koopu, Tony Cleary (6) 13,658
12 MayRound 9 South Sydney RabbitohsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin25-18Toopi (2), Campion, GuttenbeilCleary (4), Marsh (FG) 14,765
17 MayRound 10 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleWin34-12Toopi (2), Cleary, Hohaia, Tony, Webb Cleary (5) 16,361
25 MayRound 11 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, MelbourneWin28-12Guttenbeil, Hohaia, Murphy, TonyCleary (6) 8,873
2 JuneRound 12 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 42-20Guttenbeil (2), Hohaia, Koopu, Toopi, Villasanti, WebbCleary (7) 17,050
9 JuneRound 13 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 34-6Lauiti'iti (2), Fa'afili, Hohaia, Marsh, Toopi Cleary (4), Jones (1) 14,616
15 JuneRound 14 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 46-10Fa'afili (2), Cleary, Lauiti'iti, Marsh, Morgan, Murphy, TookeyCleary (7) 8,658
23 JuneRound 15 St. George Illawarra DragonsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss22-32Carlaw, Fa'afili, Lauiti'iti, Toopi, Webb Jones (1) 15,303
30 JuneRound 16 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneWin 26-16Webb (2), Fa'afili, Morgan, ToopiCleary (2), Jones (1) 24,907
7 JulyRound 17 Cronulla SharksToyota Park, SydneyLoss 24-36Tony (2), Carlaw, Seuseu Cleary (4) 15,196
Round 18 Bye
21 JulyRound 19 Parramatta EelsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 26-10Webb, Lauiti'iti, Murphy, Villasanti Cleary (5) 15,563
27 JulyRound 20 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, SydneyLoss30-38Toopi (2), V.Anderson, Lauiti'iti, WebbCleary (5) 8,702
4 AugustRound 21 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyWin 38-24Swann (2), Carlaw, Jones, Lauiti'iti, Seuseu, Toopi Cleary (5) 10,723
10 AugustRound 22 Canterbury BulldogsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 22-14Cleary, Koopu, Meli, Myles Cleary (3) 21,570
18 AugustRound 23 Brisbane BroncosEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 18-4Cleary (2), MeliCleary (3) 22,125
25 AugustRound 24 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss 0-44 18,186
1 SeptemberRound 25 Northern EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss16-18Guttenbeil, Murphy, Tookey Jones (2) 7,529
6 SeptemberRound 26 Wests TigersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin 28-12Koopu (2), Villasanti (2), Toopi Hohaia (4) 16,284

Final Series

  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1  NZ Warriors 36
8  Canberra Raiders 20
  1W  NZ Warriors 16  
2  Newcastle Knights 22   4W  St. George-Illawarra 24      Cronulla Sharks 10    
7  St. George-Illawarra 26   2L  Cronulla Sharks 40          NZ Warriors 8
       Sydney Roosters 30
3  Brisbane Broncos 24         2W  Brisbane Broncos 12    
6  Parramatta Eels 14   3W  Sydney Roosters 38      Sydney Roosters 16  
  1L  Newcastle Knights 12  
4  Sydney Roosters 32
5  Cronulla Sharks 20
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
September 15Qualifying Final Canberra Raiders Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Win 36 - 20 Carlaw, Fa'afili, Jones, Lauiti'iti, Meli, Tookey Cleary (6) 25,800
Semi Final Bye
September 29Preliminary Final Cronulla Sharks Telstra Stadium, Sydney Win 16 - 10 Carlaw, Tony, ToopiCleary (2) 45,702

Grand Final

Sydney Position New Zealand
Luke Phillips FB Ivan Cleary
Brett Mullins WG Justin Murphy
Shannon Hegarty CE John Carlaw
Justin Hodges CE Clinton Toopi
Anthony Minichiello WG Francis Meli
Brad Fittler (C) FE Motu Tony
Craig Wing HB Stacey Jones (C)
Jason Cayless PR Jerry Seu Seu
Simon Bonetti HK PJ Marsh
Peter Cusack PR Mark Tookey
Adrian Morley SR Ali Lauiti'iti
Craig Fitzgibbon SR Awen Guttenbeil
Luke Ricketson LK Kevin Campion
Chris Flannery Bench Lance Hohaia
Bryan Fletcher Bench Logan Swann
Michael Crocker Bench Wairangi Koopu
Andrew Lomu Bench Richard Villasanti
Ricky Stuart Coach Daniel Anderson

First Half

In the 23rd minute, Sydney opened the scoring with a try to Shannon Hegarty with Craig Fitzgibbon converting taking Sydney to a 6-0 lead. Not long after, Ivan Cleary got New Zealand on the board with a penalty goal making the score 6-2, which remained that scoreline until halftime.

Second Half

In the 46th minute, New Zealand took the lead for the first time through a Stacey Jones try and an Ivan Cleary conversion taking the scoreline to 8-6. Approaching the 60th minute, Sydney regained the lead with Craig Wing scoring the try and Craig Fitgibbon converting another to make the score 12-8 after a spectacular 40/20 kick from Sydney captain Brad Fittler. In the last 15 minutes Craig Fitzgibbon, Chris Flannery and Bryan Fletcher scored tries for Sydney with Craig Fizgibbon converting all three to take Sydney to a 30-8 win. By winning the grand final the Roosters also received A$400,000 in prize money.

30

Sydney Roosters

Tries Hegarty, Wing, Fitzgibbon, Flannery, Fletcher
Goals Fitzgibbon 5/5
Field Goals
8

New Zealand Warriors

Tries Jones
Goals Cleary 2/2
Field Goals

Clive Churchill Medal: Craig Fitzgibbon

When They Scored

23rd Minute: Sydney 6-0 (Hegarty try; Fitzgibbon goal)
29th Minute: Sydney 6-2 (Cleary goal)
46th Minute: New Zealand 8-6 (Jones try; Cleary goal)
58th Minute: Sydney 12-8 (Wing try; Fitzgibbon goal)
65th Minute: Sydney 18-8 (Fitzgibbon try; Fitzgibbon goal)
71st Minute: Sydney 24-8 (Flannery try; Fitzgibbon goal)
75th Minute: Sydney 30-8 (Fletcher try; Fitzgibbon goal)

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 New Zealand 2417072688454+23438
2 Newcastle 2417072724498+22638
3 Brisbane 2416172672425+24737
4 Sydney 2415182621405+21635
5 Cronulla 2415092653597+5634
6 Parramatta 24102122531440+9126
7 St George Illawarra 2493122632546+8625
8 Canberra 24101132471641-17025
9 Northern Eagles 24100142503740-23724
10 Melbourne 2491142556586-3023
11 North Queensland 2480162496803-30720
12 Penrith 2470172546654-10818
13 Wests Tigers 2470172498642-14418
14 South Sydney 2450192385817-43214
15 Bulldogs 2420132707435+2728

Squad

Twenty Nine players were used by the Warriors in 2002, including six players who made their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
24Jones, StaceyStacey JonesNew ZealandHBApril 23, 19952496149
33Guttenbeil, AwenAwen GuttenbeilNew Zealand / TongaSRApril 14, 19962360024
42Swann, LoganLogan SwannNew ZealandSRMarch 1, 1997172008
50Seu Seu, JerryJerry Seu SeuNew Zealand / SamoaPRAugust 16, 19972330012
55Lauitiiti, AliAli LauitiitiNew Zealand / SamoaSRApril 19, 199825100040
61Betham, MontyMonty BethamNew Zealand / SamoaHK / LKMarch 8, 199920000
64Koopu, WairangiWairangi KoopuNew ZealandCE / SRApril 9, 19992260024
65Meli, FrancisFrancis MeliNew Zealand / SamoaWGMay 2, 19991660024
66Toopi, ClintonClinton ToopiNew ZealandCEMay 2, 199926180072
73Cleary, IvanIvan ClearyAustraliaFB / CEFebruary 6, 20002681050242
76Tookey, MarkMark TookeyAustraliaPRFebruary 6, 20002460024
77Myles, DavidDavid MylesAustraliaCEFebruary 14, 200031004
80Hape, ShontayneShontayne HapeNew ZealandCEMarch 18, 200010000
81Fa'afili, HenryHenry Fa'afiliNew Zealand / SamoaWGMarch 26, 20001770028
86Campion, KevinKevin CampionAustralia / Republic of IrelandLKFebruary 18, 2001211004
87Villasanti, RichardRichard VillasantiAustralia / TongaPRFebruary 18, 20012040016
88Morgan, JustinJustin MorganWalesPRFebruary 25, 2001172008
90Tony, MotuMotu TonyNew Zealand / SamoaUHMarch 9, 20011860024
92Murphy, JustinJustin MurphyFranceWGApril 7, 20011840016
93Paleaaesina, IafetaIafeta PaleaaesinaNew Zealand / SamoaPRJune 1, 2001110000
95Carlaw, JohnJohn CarlawAustraliaCEMarch 24, 20022580032
96Marsh, PJPJ MarshAustraliaHB / HKMarch 24, 2002242019
97Webb, BrentBrent WebbNew ZealandFBApril 1, 20021790036
98Faumuina, SioneSione FaumuinaNew ZealandCE / LKApril 1, 2002830012
99Hohaia, LanceLance HohaiaNew ZealandUBApril 6, 20022074036
100Anderson, VinnieVinnie AndersonNew Zealand / TongaCEJuly 7, 200261004
101Pai, JeremiahJeremiah PaiNew ZealandFE / LKJuly 21, 200220000
102Tuimavave, EvarnEvarn TuimavaveNew ZealandPRSeptember 1, 200220000
103Temata, KarlKarl TemataCook IslandsPR / SRSeptember 6, 200210000

Staff

Coaching Staff

Transfers

Gains

Player Previous Club Length Notes
John Carlaw Wests Tigers
PJ Marsh Parramatta Eels
Brent Webb Wests Panthers
Sione Faumuina Canberra Raiders

Losses

Player Club Notes
Richie Blackmore Retired
Jason Death South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cliff Beverley Barrow Raiders
Jonathan Smith
Nathan Wood Wakefield Trinity Wildcats
Jason Temu Retired

Other Teams

Players not required by the Warriors were released to play in the 2002 Bartercard Cup. This included Iafeta Paleaaesina and Karl Temata for the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, Sione Faumuina for the Glenora Bears, Evarn Tuimavave for the Marist-Richmond Brothers, Vinnie Anderson for the Mount Albert Lions, Jeremiah Pai for the Otahuhu Leopards, Logan Swann for the Eastern Tornadoes and Henry Fa'afili and Lance Hohaia for the Manurewa Marlins.

Awards

Ali Lauiti'iti won the clubs Player of the Year award.[3]

References

  1. NZPA (2002-10-05). "Sorry guys, the cheque's not in the mail". nzherald.co.nz (APN Holdings NZ Limited). Retrieved 2009-12-04.
  2. Mann named to head foundation New Zealand Herald, 19 March 2003
  3. New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.50

External links