2008 New Zealand Warriors season

2008 New Zealand Warriors
League 8th NRL
2008 record 15-0-12
Points for 502
Points against 567
Team information
CEO Wayne Scurrah
Coach Ivan Cleary
Assistant Coach John Ackland
Captain Steve Price
Alternate captains Micheal Luck
Ruben Wiki
Ground Mt Smart Stadium
Average attendance 12,528
Top scorers
Tries Manu Vatuvei (16)
Goals Michael Witt (59)
Points Michael Witt (138)
 < 2007 2009 > 

The New Zealand Warriors 2008 season was the New Zealand Warriors 14th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Ivan Cleary while Steve Price was the club's captain.

Milestones

Jersey & Sponsors

The Warriors again did not change their jersey, sticking with the predominantly Black & White design supplied by Puma AG. The away jersey also remained unchanged, being mainly Grey with Black details. For the "Heritage Round" the Warriors played in a strip based on their 1999 Red away strip

Fixtures

The Warriors used Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2008, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Trial Matches

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
15 FebruaryTrial 1 Newcastle Knights North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Loss 14 - 22 Ah Van, Vatuvei, Koopu Witt (1) 9,000 [1]
23 FebruaryTrial 2 Auckland Vulcans Henham Park, Auckland Win 50 - 0 Solomona (2), Hohaia (2), Fien, Witt, Locke, Taylor, Mika Witt (7) [1]
29 FebruaryTrial 3 Manly Sea Eagles Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast Loss 16 - 24 Rovelli, Witt, Solomona Witt (2) 8,040 [1]

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
17 MarchRound 1 Melbourne Storm Telstra Dome, Melbourne Loss 18 - 32 Vatuvei (2), Ropati Witt (3) 20,084
23 MarchRound 2 Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30 - 16Vatuvei (2), Rovelli, Tate, TuimavaveWitt (5)15,250
31 MarchRound 3 Manly Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss6 - 52HohaiaWitt (1)10,175
6 AprilRound 4 Newcastle Knights Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 26 - 20 Shortland (2), Ah Van, TuimavaveWitt (5) 11,518
13 AprilRound 5 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin36 - 16Vatuvei (2), Ah Van, Fai, Hohaia, WikiWitt (6)15,912
19 AprilRound 6 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss 20 - 48Henderson, Ropati, ManneringWitt (4)20,544
27 AprilRound 7 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastLoss24 - 36Witt (2), Luck, VatuveiWitt (4)25,310
4 MayRound 8 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 14 - 6Shortland, TateWitt (3)7,358
Round 9Bye -
18 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyLoss 22 - 46Mannering (2), Henderson Packer Hohaia (3)9,450
25 MayRound 11 Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12 - 38Henderson, KirkHohaia (2)11,922
31 MayRound 12 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleWin18 - 16Ah Van, Crockett, HendersonAh Van (3)15,489
6 JuneRound 13 South Sydney RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss28 - 35Crockett (3), Ah Van, Kirk, RopatiAh Van (1), Hohaia (1)13,112
13 JuneRound 14 Cronulla SharksToyota Park, Sydney Loss 8 - 24RopatiHohaia (2)9,023
22 JuneRound 15 Manly Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 14 - 20Kirk, Vatuvei, ManneringWitt (1)7,141
29 JuneRound 16 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin 28 - 26Fai, Fien, Henderson, Hohaia,
Ropati
Hohaia (2), Witt (2)15,027
Round 17Bye -
12 JulyRound 18 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 24 - 14Fai, Kirk, Luck, Mannering, RopatiHohaia (2)7,722
19 JulyRound 19 BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyWin 40 - 22Solomona (3), Fai, Hohaia, Kirk,
Price, Rapira
Hohaia (4)12,973
27 JulyRound 20 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 8 - 6FaiHohaia (2)8,700
2 AugustRound 21 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss 18 - 16Hohaia (2), RopatiHohaia (2)9,276
9 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 16 - 12Matulino, McKinnon, WittWitt (2)13,007
16 AugustRound 23 Cronulla SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 18 - 4Hohaia, Ropati, VatuveiWitt (3)10,417
24 AugustRound 24 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong Loss 6 - 36McKinnonWitt (1)11,583
31 AugustRound 25 Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 42 - 20Vatuvei (2), Henderson, Luck,
McKinnon, Ropati, Witt
Witt (7)15,214
6 SeptemberRound 26 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Sydney Win 28 - 6Vatuvei (3), Tate (2)Witt (4)5,102

Finals

  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1  Melbourne Storm 15
8  NZ Warriors 18
  1W  Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 32  
2  Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 38   4W  NZ Warriors 30        NZ Warriors 6    
7  St. George Illawarra 6   2L  Sydney Roosters 13            Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 40
         Melbourne Storm 0
3  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 36         2W  Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 0    
6  Canberra Raiders 10   3W  Brisbane Broncos 14        Melbourne Storm 28  
  1L  Melbourne Storm 16  
4  Sydney Roosters 16
5  Brisbane Broncos 24
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
14 SeptemberQualifying Final Melbourne Storm Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Win 18 - 15 Ropati, Vatuvei, Witt Witt (3) 15,193
19 SeptemberSemi Final Sydney Roosters Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 30 - 13 Hohaia (2), Henderson, Kirk, VatuveiWitt (5) 25,585
27 SeptemberPreliminary Final Manly Sea Eagles Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Loss 6 - 32 Kirk Hohaia (1) 32,095

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Melbourne 2417072584282+30238
2 Manly-Warringah 2417072645355+29038
3 Cronulla 2417072451384+6738
4 Sydney Roosters 2415092511446+6534
5 Brisbane 2414192560452+10833
6 Canberra 24130112640527+11330
7 St. George Illawarra 24130112489378+11130
8 New Zealand 24130112502567-6530
9 Newcastle 24120122516486+3028
10 Wests Tigers 24110132528560-3226
11 Parramatta 24110132501547-4626
12 Penrith 24101132504611-10725
13 Gold Coast 24100142476586-11024
14 South Sydney 2480162453666-21320
15 North Queensland 2450192474638-16414
16 Bulldogs 2450192433782-34914

Squad

Twenty Six players played for the club in 2008. Eight players made their debut for the club, including five who were also making their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
42Swann, LoganLogan SwannNew ZealandSR1 March 1997240000
64Koopu, WairangiWairangi KoopuNew ZealandCE / SR9 April 199960000
99Hohaia, LanceLance HohaiaNew ZealandUB6 April 200226921078
102Tuimavave, EvarnEvarn TuimavaveNew ZealandPR1 September 2002252008
108Ropati, JeromeJerome RopatiNew ZealandCE / FE31 August 20032290036
110Lauaki, EpalahameEpalahame LauakiNew Zealand / TongaSR14 March 2004160000
115Vatuvei, ManuManu VatuveiNew ZealandWG23 May 200417160064
121Price, SteveSteve PriceAustraliaPR13 March 2005171004
123Wiki, RubenRuben WikiNew ZealandPR13 March 2005241004
124Fien, NathanNathan FienNew ZealandHK13 March 2005271004
125Mannering, SimonSimon ManneringNew ZealandCE26 June 20052750020
126Luck, MichealMicheal LuckAustraliaSR12 March 20062530012
127Rovelli, GrantGrant RovelliItalyHB12 March 2006211004
129Ah Van, PatrickPatrick Ah VanNew ZealandWG9 April 20061244024
131Rapira, SamSam RapiraNew ZealandPR20 May 2006272008
132McKinnon, WadeWade McKinnonAustraliaFB17 March 2007530012
133Crockett, MichaelMichael CrockettAustraliaWG17 March 2007640012
134Witt, MichaelMichael WittAustraliaFE17 March 2007185590138
136Kirk, AidanAidan KirkAustraliaFB / CE17 March 20081570028
137Tate, BrentBrent TateAustraliaCE17 March 20082440016
138Henderson, IanIan HendersonScotlandHK23 March 20082670028
139Fai, SonnySonny FaiNew ZealandSR23 March 20081550020
140Shortland, RyanRyan ShortlandNew ZealandCE6 April 2008530012
141Packer, RussellRussell PackerNew ZealandPR4 May 200851004
142Matulino, BenBen MatulinoNew ZealandSR14 June 2008151004
143Solomona, MaloMalo SolomonaSamoaWG29 June 2008830012

Staff

NRL Staff

NYC Staff

Transfers

Gains

Player Previous Club Length Notes
Brent TateBrisbane Broncos
Ian HendersonBradford Bulls
Ryan ShortlandMelbourne Storm

Losses

Player Club Notes
George GatisHuddersfield Giants
Todd ByrneHull
Louis AndersonWarrington Wolves
Tony MartinWakefield Trinity Wildcats

Other Teams

In 2008 the Junior Warriors competed in the new Under 20's competition, the Toyota Cup, while Senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup. The Auckland Vulcans were coached by Bernie Perenara. Wayne McDade was named the Vulcans player of the year with Aaron Heremaia as the runner up and Pita Godinet as the Rookie of the year.[3]

Junior Warriors

The Junior Warriors finished third in the Toyota Cup, making the finals before losing to the Brisbane Broncos in a Preliminary Final. Both Russell Packer and Ben Matulino were named in the Toyota Cup's team of the year.

2008 Toyota Cup season
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Canberra 2418062744581+16340
2 Brisbane 2415182684476+20835
3 New Zealand 2414372721533+18835
4 Penrith 2415182692583+10935
5 Parramatta 2414372578564+1435
6 St. George Illawarra 2413292561520+4132
7 Bulldogs 2412392711587+12431
8 Gold Coast 24131102686567+11931
9 Wests Tigers 24130112620623-330
10 South Sydney 24112112618584+3428
11 Manly 24110132519532-1326
12 Newcastle 2481152526630-10421
13 Melbourne 2481152512638-12621
14 Cronulla 2461172394666-27217
15 Sydney 2460182480721-24116
16 North Queensland 2443172455696-24115
  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1  Canberra Raiders 43
8  Gold Coast Titans 12
  1W  Canberra Raiders 18  
2  Brisbane Broncos 28   4W  Parramatta Eels 22      St. George Illawarra 14    
7  Bulldogs 22   2L  St. George Illawarra 23          Canberra Raiders 28
       Brisbane Broncos 24
3  NZ Warriors 47         2W  Brisbane Broncos 28    
6  St. George Illawarra 20   3W  NZ Warriors 38      NZ Warriors 26  
  1L  Penrith Panthers 4  
4  Penrith Panthers 16
5  Parramatta Eels 24

Awards

Simon Mannering won the Player of the Year award.[4]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 2008 NRL trials warriors.co.nz. Retrieved 1 July 2009
  2. Warriors trainer quits to join Roosters stuff.co.nz, 15 October 2012
  3. Auckland Vulcans Player of the Year Auckland Vulcans. Retrieved 15 August 2009
  4. Vodafone Warriors RED BALL Awards warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2014

External links