2009 New Zealand Warriors season

2009 New Zealand Warriors
League 14th NRL
2009 record 7-2-14
Points for 377
Points against 515
Team information
CEO Wayne Scurrah
Coach Ivan Cleary
Assistant Coach John Ackland
Captain Steve Price
Alternate captains Michael Luck
Ground Mt Smart Stadium
Average attendance 15,486
Top scorers
Tries Manu Vatuvei (13)
Goals Kevin Locke (22)
Points Kevin Locke (60)
 < 2008 2010 > 

The 2009 New Zealand Warriors season was the 15th in the club's history. They competed in the NRL's 2009 Telstra Premiership and finished 14th (out of 16). The coach of the Warriors was Ivan Cleary while Steve Price was the team's captain. In 2009 Warriors games were broadcast on New Zealand's Sky network averaged 107,163 viewers.[1]

Milestones

Jersey and Sponsors

The Warriors used a new jersey design in 2009, produced by Canterbury of New Zealand. Previously Puma AG had supplied the Warriors with apparel. The jerseys were unveiled on 25 February.[2] The Main jersey retained the Black & White colours of the previous jersey, with a reversed scheme for the away jersey. The Warriors used a Blue jersey for the "Heritage round" in Round 10, to represent the Auckland. The Heritage jersey was also worn in Round 12, to celebrate the centenary of the Auckland Rugby League, and in Rounds 24 and 25.

Vodafone New Zealand was again the naming rights sponsor of the Warriors in 2009. Lion Red was the sleeve sponsor. Suzuki and HiFX were featured on the shorts while Loadlift was on the back of the jersey. Other major sponsors included ZM and Flava.

Fixtures

The Warriors used Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2009, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Trial Matches

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
12 FebruaryTrial 1 Melbourne Storm Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Win 24 - 12 McKinnon, Kirk, O'Regan, Vatuvei Kemp (3), Ah Van 10,800
22 FebruaryTrial 2 North Queensland CowboysNorth Harbour Stadium, AucklandWin32 - 28Ah Van, Moon, Hohaia,
Solomona, Brown, Vatuvei
Kemp (2), Moon (2)16,500
28 FebruaryTrial 3 Gold Coast TitansOakes Oval, LismoreWin34 - 12Kemp (2), McKinnon (2), Tate, Rapira, MoonKemp (2), Moon5,117

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
14 MarchRound 1 Parramatta Eels Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 26 - 18 Hohaia (2), Moon, Packer Kemp (5) 20,102[3]
22 MarchRound 2 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyWin26 - 24Tate (2), Vatuvei, Royal,
Ropati
Kemp (3)16,307
28 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss10 - 26Mannering, Ta'aiKemp (1)24,350
5 AprilRound 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 16 - 22 Kirk, Luck, McKinnonKemp (2) 19,386
12 AprilRound 5 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss22 - 24McKinnon, Fien, Packer,
Ah Van
Kemp (3)16,307
19 AprilRound 6 Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin (G.P.)17 - 16Jones, Ropati, VatuveiKemp (2), Jones (FG)16,309
25 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, MelbourneDraw (G.P.)14 - 14Vatuvei (2), Ah VanKemp (1)15,200
3 MayRound 8 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongLoss 11 - 12Ah Van, RopatiAh Van (1), Jones (FG)14,562
Round 9Bye -
17 MayRound 10 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12 - 34Fien, KempKemp (2)16,345
24 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss 12 - 38Price, ManneringKemp (2)8,383
31 MayRound 12 Wests TigersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin14 - 0Locke (2), McKinnonLocke (1)15,365
7 JuneRound 13 Cronulla SharksToyota Stadium, SydneyLoss10 - 18Vatuvei, BrownLocke (1)14,082
13 JuneRound 14 Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 13 - 0Hohaia, LockeLocke (2), Hohaia (FG)14,255
Round 15Bye -
27 JuneRound 16 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, RobinaLoss 12 - 28Hohaia, BrownLocke (2)20,031
3 JulyRound 17 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneLoss 14 - 28Price (2)Locke (3)32,456
12 JulyRound 18 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 14 - 18Vatuvei, Locke, PackerLocke (1)11,802
19 JulyRound 19 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 30 - 24Vatuvei (2), Ah Van,
Mannering, Jones
Jones (3)8,021
26 JulyRound 20 St George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 4 - 29Moon13,507
1 AugustRound 21 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyDraw (G.P.) 32 - 32Moon (4), BrownLocke (6)12,677
9 AugustRound 22 Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 10 - 30Vatuvei (2)Locke (1)10,205
15 AugustRound 23 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 4 - 40Vatuvei12,627
23 AugustRound 24 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Won 34 - 20Hohaia (2), Heremaia,
Mannering, Ropati, Moon
Locke (5)8,812
30 AugustRound 25 BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney Loss20 - 40Vatuvei (2), Rapira (2)Jones (2)41,835
5 SeptemberRound 26 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 0 - 3014,734

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 St. George Illawarra 2417072548329+21938
2 Bulldogs 2418062575428+14738*
3 Gold Coast 2416082514467+4736
4 Melbourne 2414192505348+15733
5 Manly-Warringah 24140102549439+9032
6 Brisbane 24140102511566−5532
7 Newcastle 24130112508491+1730
8 Parramatta 24121112476473+329
9 Wests Tigers 24120122558483+7528
10 South Sydney 24111122566549+1727
11 Penrith 24111122515589−7427
12 North Queensland 24110132558474+8426
13 Canberra 2490152489510−3122
14 New Zealand 2472152377545−18820
15 Cronulla-Sutherland 2450192359568−20914
16 Sydney Roosters 2450192382681−29914

* Bulldogs stripped of 2 competition points after an interchange breach in round 2

Squad

The Warriors used Twenty Nine players in 2009. Twelve players made their debut for the club, including eight making their National Rugby League debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
24Jones, StaceyStacey JonesNew ZealandHB23 April 19952325220
99Hohaia, LanceLance HohaiaNew ZealandUB6 April 20022060125
102Tuimavave, EvarnEvarn TuimavaveNew ZealandPR1 September 200260000
108Ropati, JeromeJerome RopatiNew ZealandCE / FE31 August 20031740016
115Vatuvei, ManuManu VatuveiNew ZealandWG23 May 200419130052
121Price, SteveSteve PriceAustraliaPR13 March 20051430012
124Fien, NathanNathan FienNew ZealandHK13 March 200592008
125Mannering, SimonSimon ManneringNew ZealandCE26 June 20052340016
126Luck, MichealMicheal LuckAustraliaSR12 March 2006231004
129Ah Van, PatrickPatrick Ah VanNew ZealandWG9 April 20061441018
131Rapira, SamSam RapiraNew ZealandPR20 May 2006232008
132McKinnon, WadeWade McKinnonAustraliaFB17 March 20072140016
136Kirk, AidanAidan KirkAustraliaFB / CE17 March 200851004
137Tate, BrentBrent TateAustraliaCE17 March 200832008
138Henderson, IanIan HendersonScotlandHK23 March 2008220000
141Packer, RussellRussell PackerNew ZealandPR4 May 20082130012
142Matulino, BenBen MatulinoNew ZealandSR14 June 2008170000
144Kemp, DenanDenan KempAustraliaWG14 March 200910121046
145Moon, JoelJoel MoonAustraliaFE14 March 20092370028
146Lillyman, JacobJacob LillymanAustraliaPR14 March 2009240000
147Ah Mau, LeesonLeeson Ah MauNew ZealandPR14 March 200920000
148Royal, JesseJesse RoyalNew ZealandPR22 March 2009151004
149Ta'ai, UkumaUkuma Ta'aiTongaSR22 March 2009101004
150O'Regan, DanielDaniel O'ReganNew ZealandFE5 April 200910000
151Brown, LewisLewis BrownNew ZealandHK3 May 20091530012
152Locke, KevinKevin LockeNew ZealandFB31 May 200912422060
153Heremaia, AaronAaron HeremaiaNew ZealandHB31 May 2009111004
154John, IsaacIsaac JohnNew ZealandFE19 July 200930000
155Likiliki, SiuatongaSiuatonga LikilikiNew ZealandCE15 August 200910000

Staff

NRL Staff

NYC Staff

Transfers

Gains

Stacey Jones: came out of retirement to play for the Warriors in 2009
Player Previous Club Length Notes
Liam ForanMelbourne Storm2009, with option
Jacob LillymanNorth Queensland Cowboys2010[4]
Denan KempBrisbane Broncos2010[5]
Joel MoonBrisbane Broncos2011[6]
Stacey JonesRetired2009
Lewis BrownWests Tigers2009, with option
Jesse RoyalNewcastle Knights2010[7]

Losses

Player Club Notes
Ruben WikiRetired[8]
Wairangi KoopuMelbourne Storm[9]
Logan SwannRetired[9]
Michael CrockettReleased[8]
Ryan ShortlandReleased[8]
Grant RovelliNorth Queensland Cowboys[10]
Sonny Faipresumed drowned[11]

Mid-Season Losses

Player Club Notes
Epalahame LauakiHull
Michael WittOtago Rugby Union
Liam ForanNewtown Jets[12]
Nathan FienSt. George Illawarra Dragons[13]

Contract Extensions

Sonny Fai

Warrior Sonny Fai went missing at around 7pm on 4 January 2009, after being caught in a rip current while trying to save some family who had got into difficulty at Te Henga (Bethells Beach), Auckland. His body is yet to be found.[21][22] The entire team attended his two memorial services, one in a Samoan Methodist Church and one held at Te Henga (Bethells Beach).[23]

The Warriors wore black armbands for their opening NRL match of the 2009 season, as well as jerseys embroidered with Fai's signature and official team number in honour of him.[24]

End of Season awards

Other Teams

In 2009 the Junior Warriors again competed in 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 and finished 11th out of eleven teams.

Daniel O'Regan was the Vulcan's player of the year, while Pita Godinet was the runner up and Sione Tongia was the rookie of the year.[27]

2009 Junior Warriors

Siuatonga Likiliki was named in the 2009 Toyota Cup team of the year.[28]

National Youth Competition season 2009
Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Manly 2419142879417+46243
2 St. George Illawarra 2419052758461+29742
3 Melbourne 2419052833597+23642
4 Wests Tigers 2415182709588+12135
5 Brisbane 2415092698551+14734
6 South Sydney 24131102776568+20831
7 New Zealand 24131102725612+11331
8 Canberra 24112112706685+2128
9 North Queensland 24120122668683-1528
10 Newcastle 2491142596756-16023
11 Bulldogs 2491142649867-21823
12 Parramatta 2480162604698-9420
13 Penrith 2480162573755-18220
14 Gold Coast 2480162542738-19620
15 Sydney 2460182443736-29316
16 Cronulla 2440202391838-44712
  Qualifying Finals Semi Finals Preliminary Finals Grand Final
                                     
1  Manly 28
8  Canberra Raiders 32
  1W  St. George Illawarra 12  
2  St. George Illawarra 48   4W  Canberra Raiders 34      Wests Tigers 36    
7  NZ Warriors 24   2L  Wests Tigers 42          Wests Tigers 22
       Melbourne Storm 24
3  Melbourne Storm 54         2W  Melbourne Storm 40    
6  South Sydney 18   3W  Brisbane Broncos 24      Brisbane Broncos 16  
  1L  doggies 10  
4  Wests Tigers 22
5  Brisbane Broncos 46

References

  1. Kilgallon, Steve (10 April 2011). "Kiwi TV viewers go cold on rugby codes". The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 18 August 2014.
  2. Vodafone Warriors 2009 - new year, new team, new look Warriors Official Site
  3. Revised crowd number for Vodafone Warriors - Parramatta Eels NRL match Warriors Official Site
  4. "Warriors sign Origin backrower". Stuff.co.nz. 19 June 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  5. Vodafone Warriors Sign Brisbane Speedster Kemp for Two Years, 28 May 2008
  6. "Moon rises as sun sets on top Warriors picks". Stuff.co.nz. 21 June 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  7. "Warriors sign prop Jesse Royal". Television New Zealand. 16 February 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Brown, Michael (22 June 2008). "League: Warriors look to solve halves problem with Moon signing". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Swann and Koopu to leave Warriors". Stuff.co.nz. 18 June 2008. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  10. Rovelli Heading Home to Link up with North Queensland for 2009 NRL season @ Warriors Official Site, 3 December 2008
  11. "NZ Warrior presumed drowned". Stuff.co.nz. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  12. Donaldson, Michael (14 June 2009). "Sir 'Lance-lot' the Warriors' saviour". The Sunday Star-Times. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  13. "NRL: Fien targets regular role with Dragons". The New Zealand Herald. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  14. "League: Mannering re-signs with Warriors". The New Zealand Herald. 15 February 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  15. Brown, Michael (29 March 2009). "NRL: Ropati extends contract to 2012". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  16. Ropati to become 10-year Vodafone Warrior Warriors Official Site, 29 March 2009
  17. Brown, Michael (12 April 2009). "NRL: Lance spearheads signings". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 Warriors re-sign three players AAP, 10 May 2009
  19. Henderson re-signs with Warriors AAP, 14 May 2009
  20. Warriors show faith in coach Cleary NRL.com, 4 June 2009
  21. Warriors join search for talented prospect, missing after being caught in rip Glenn Jackson | 6 January 2009
  22. Team-Mates and Club Officials help in search for Sonny Fai Warriors Official Site 5 January 2009
  23. Remembering Sonny at Bethells Beach Warriors Official Site
  24. "Steve Price to play 300th NRL match". NRL.com. 10 March 2009. Retrieved 11 March 2008.
  25. "NRL: Luck earns top award". The New Zealand Herald. 11 September 2009. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  26. Tackling machine Luck wins premier award Warriors.co.nz, 11 September 2009
  27. November 2009 Newsletter Auckland Rugby League
  28. 2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year NRL.com, 1 September 2009

External links