1998 Auckland Warriors season

The 1998 Auckland Warriors season was the 4th in the club's history. Coached by Frank Endacott and captained by Matthew Ridge, they competed in the 1998 NRL season, finishing the regular season 15th (out of 20 teams).

1998 Auckland Warriors season
NRL Rank15th
1998 recordWins: 7; Draws: 0; Losses: 15
Points scoredFor: 233; Against: 243
Team information
CEOBill MacGowan
CoachFrank Endacott
Captain
StadiumEricsson Stadium
Avg. Attend.8,858
Top scorers
TriesNigel Vagana (13)
GoalsMatthew Ridge (51)
PointsMatthew Ridge (110)
< 1997 1999 >

Milestones

  • 10 April – Round 5: Joe Vagana plays his 50th match for the club.
  • 19 April – Round 6: Syd Eru plays his 50th match for the club.

Jersey & Sponsors

For 1998 the Warriors again used a similar style of jersey, produced by Nike, Inc. DB Bitter remained the major sponsor while Bartercard joined as the sleeve sponsor.[1]

Fixtures

The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1997, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Pre-season trials

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
13 FebruaryTrial 1 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, AucklandLost22–26[2]
22 FebruaryTrial 2 Auckland selectionCarlaw Park, AucklandWin22–4[3]
28 FebruaryTrial 3 Canterbury BulldogsQueen Elizabeth II Park, ChristchurchWin20–8Ngamu, Eru, N.VaganaNgamu (4)[4][5]

Regular season

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
13 MarchRound 1 South Sydney RabbitohsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss18–24Ngamu, KearneyNgamu (5)9,500[6]
21 MarchRound 2 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss4–33Hoppe23,503[7]
27 MarchRound 3 Sydney City RoostersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin25–14Hoppe, Jones, Seuseu, N.VaganaRidge (4), Ngamu (FG)9,000[8]
4 AprilRound 4 St. George DragonsOki Jubilee Stadium, SydneyLoss24–28N.Vagana (2), Ropati, SmithRidge (4)10,003[9]
10 AprilRound 5 Melbourne StormEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin16–12Hoppe, Jones, TatupuRidge (2)14,503[10]
19 AprilRound 6 North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Oval, SydneyLoss26–44Jones, Lauitiiti, Tatupu, N.VaganaRidge (5)10,945[11]
26 AprilRound 7 Newcastle KnightsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss14–38Ropati, N.VaganaRidge (3)7,500[12]
2 MayRound 8 Sydney City RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss4–22Oudenryn5,308[13]
8 MayRound 9 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss8–20RopatiRidge (2)7,500[14]
16 MayRound 10 Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Sports Ground, SydneyWin20–6Jones, Oudenryn, A.SwannRidge (4)5,224[15]
24 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin25–14Hoppe (2), N.Vagana (2)Ridge (4), Whittaker (FG)8,000[16]
30 MayRound 12 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss6–14KearneyWhittaker (1)13,218[17]
7 JuneRound 13 Penrith PanthersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin15–14Ngamu, WhittakerNgamu (3 & FG)7,000[18]
13 JuneRound 14 Western Suburbs MagpiesCampbelltown Sports Ground, SydneyLoss16–18Jones, Oudenryn, JonesNgamu (2)5,933[19]
21 JuneRound 15 St. George DragonsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin31–14Eru, Jones, Kearney, Ropati, L.SwannNgamu (5 & FG)8,300[20]
27 JuneRound 16 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, MelbourneWin24–21Eru, Galuvao, Ngamu, TatupuNgamu (4)13,127[21]
4 JulyRound 17 Illawarra SteelersEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss17–14Eur, Kearney, J.VaganaJones (1)12,500[22]
11 JulyRound 18 Gold Coast ChargersCarrara Stadium, Gold CoastLoss18–31Endacott, Eru, StaladiRidge (3)5,490[23]
17 JulyRound 19 Balmain TigersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin21–20Ridge, Tatupu, N.VaganaRidge (4), Jones (FG)6,000[24]
26 JulyRound 20 Adelaide RamsHindmarsh Stadium, AdelaideLoss20–22Ridge, N.Vagana, J.VaganaRidge (4)7,445[25]
31 JulyRound 21 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin34–18N.Vagana (3), Iro (2), StaladiRidge (5)4,500[26]
9 AugustRound 22 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss18–20Lauitiiti (2), SeuseuRidge (3)3,733[27]
16 AugustRound 23 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneLoss4–16Ridge (2)16,456[28]
23 AugustRound 24 Manly Sea EaglesEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss12–38Kearney, LauitiitiRidge (2)12,000[29]

Kiwi Trial matches

After the National Rugby League season had finished the Warriors played in two trial matches against a New Zealand XIII. These matches acted as a trial for the New Zealand national rugby league team before the October test against Australia and the tour of Great Britain.

DateOpponentVenueResultScoreReport
17 September New Zealand XIIIRugby Park, New PlymouthWin66–4[30][31][32]
23 September New Zealand XIIICarlaw Park, AucklandWin60–16[33]

Ladder

Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
1 Brisbane 241815688310+37837
2 Newcastle 241815562381+18137
3 Melbourne 241716546372+17435
4 Parramatta 241716468349+11935
5 North Sydney 241707663367+29634
6 Sydney City 241608680383+29732
7 Canberra 241509564429+13530
8 St. George 2413110486490−427
9 Canterbury 2413011489411+7826
10 Manly 2413011503473+3026
11 Cronulla 2412111438387+5125
12 Illawarra 2411112476539−6323
13 Balmain 249114381463−8219
14 Penrith 248214525580−5518
15 Auckland 249015417518−10118
16 North Queensland 249015361556−19518
17 Adelaide 247017393615−22214
18 South Sydney 245019339560−22110
19Gold Coast 244020289654−3658
20 Western Suburbs 244020371802−4318

Squad

Twenty nine players were used by the club in 1998, including four players who made their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
3Sean HoppeWG10 March 19951550020
6Gene NgamuFE10 March 199517319353
11Stephen KearneySR10 March 19952150020
12Tony TatupuSR10 March 19951940016
13Tony TuimavavePR / LK10 March 199590000
15Tea RopatiCE / FE10 March 19951540016
18Joe VaganaPR18 March 1995222008
19Syd EruHK28 March 19951340016
24Stacey JonesHB23 April 19952461127
29Marc EllisFB / WG31 March 199620000
32Nigel VaganaCE4 April 199623130052
33Awen GuttenbeilSR14 April 1996100000
36Anthony SwannCE23 June 199691004
37Brady MalamPR23 June 1996240000
38Bryan HenareSR23 July 199610000
40Matthew RidgeFB1 March 1997182510110
42Logan SwannSR1 March 1997241004
44Shane EndacottFE29 March 1997171004
45Paul StaladiWG27 April 1997112008
47Lee OudenrynWG6 July 19972030012
48Aaron WhittakerHB29 June 199771117
50Jerry Seu SeuPR16 August 1997172008
51Kevin IroCE13 March 1998162008
52Quentin PongiaPR13 March 1998180000
53Tyran SmithSR13 March 1998101004
54Zane ClarkeHK13 March 199850000
55Ali LauitiitiSR19 April 1998840016
56Joe GaluvaoFB / CE2 May 1998111004
57Frank WatenePR23 August 199810000

Staff

  • Chief Executive Officer: Bill MacGowan

Coaching Staff

Transfers

Gains

PlayerPrevious ClubLengthNotes
Tony TatupuWarrington WolvesWarrior 1995–1996
Nigel VaganaWarrington WolvesWarrior 1996
Kevin IroHunter Mariners
Quentin PongiaCanberra Raiders
Tyran SmithNorth Queensland Cowboys

Losses

PlayerClubNotes
Aaron LesterWhitehaven
Phil BlakeRetired
Hitro OkeseneWigan Warriors
Denis BettsWigan Warriors
Mark HoroRetired
Iva RopatiRetired
Grant YoungLondon Broncos
Steve BuckinghamMount Albert Lions
Meti NoovaoAdelaide Rams

Mid-Season Losses

PlayerClubNotes
Marc EllisNorth Harbour Rugby Union[1]

Other Teams

Due to the axing of the Reserve grade competition the Auckland Warriors reserve team played in a series of matches against New Zealand Provincial sides.[34]

DateOpponentResultScoreVenueReport
March–AprilAucklandWin26–24Auckland
March–AprilAucklandWin26–24Auckland
26 AprilWaikato CougarsWin54–0Ericsson Stadium, Auckland[35]
2 MayCanterbury RedsWin35–0Rugby League Park, Christchurch
24 MayCanterbury RedsWin38–14Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Northland Wild BoarsWin54–12Jubilee Park, Whangarei
Waikato CougarsWin76–0Resthills Park, Hamilton
Coastline MarinersWin66–6Tauranga Domain, Tauranga
West Coast ChargersWin56–2Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
West Coast ChargersWin46–8Wingham Park, West Coast
Hawkes Bay UnicornsWin90–10Nelson Park, Hastings
Manawatu MustangsWin32–10Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Manawatu MustangsWin54–4Foxton
Wellington PumasWin50–18Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Wellington PumasWin44–10Hutt Valley
Taranaki SharksWin42–8New Plymouth
Taranaki SharksWin56–10Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
AugustAucklandWin28–24Ericsson Stadium, Auckland

Awards

Joe Vagana was the Player of the Year.[36]

References

  1. New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.58
  2. Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
  3. Rugby League Teamsrugbyleague.co.nz
  4. Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
  5. League nomad faces test The Press, 28 February 1998
  6. NRL 1998 – Round 1 rugbyleagueproject.org
  7. NRL 1998 – Round 2 rugbyleagueproject.org
  8. NRL 1998 – Round 3 rugbyleagueproject.org
  9. NRL 1998 – Round 4 rugbyleagueproject.org
  10. NRL 1998 – Round 5 rugbyleagueproject.org
  11. NRL 1998 – Round 6 rugbyleagueproject.org
  12. NRL 1998 – Round 7 rugbyleagueproject.org
  13. NRL 1998 – Round 8 rugbyleagueproject.org
  14. NRL 1998 – Round 9 rugbyleagueproject.org
  15. NRL 1998 – Round 10 rugbyleagueproject.org
  16. NRL 1998 – Round 11 rugbyleagueproject.org
  17. NRL 1998 – Round 12 rugbyleagueproject.org
  18. NRL 1998 – Round 13 rugbyleagueproject.org
  19. NRL 1998 – Round 14 rugbyleagueproject.org
  20. NRL 1998 – Round 15 rugbyleagueproject.org
  21. NRL 1998 – Round 16 rugbyleagueproject.org
  22. NRL 1998 – Round 17 rugbyleagueproject.org
  23. NRL 1998 – Round 18 rugbyleagueproject.org
  24. NRL 1998 – Round 19 rugbyleagueproject.org
  25. NRL 1998 – Round 20 rugbyleagueproject.org
  26. NRL 1998 – Round 21 rugbyleagueproject.org
  27. NRL 1998 – Round 22 rugbyleagueproject.org
  28. NRL 1998 – Round 23 rugbyleagueproject.org
  29. NRL 1998 – Round 24 rugbyleagueproject.org
  30. Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
  31. Nickson in team to play Warriors Daily News, 4 September 1998
  32. Warriors queue up for easy tries Daily News, 18 September 1998
  33. Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
  34. New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998.
  35. Young Warriors crush Cougars Waikato Times, 27 April 1998
  36. New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.60
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