2008 New Zealand Warriors season

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.

2008 New Zealand Warriors season
NRL Rank8th
2008 recordWins: 15; Draws: 0; Losses: 12
Points scoredFor: 502; Against: 567
Team information
CEOWayne Scurrah
CoachIvan Cleary
Assistant coachJohn Ackland
Captains
StadiumMt Smart Stadium
Avg. Attend.12,528
Top scorers
TriesManu Vatuvei (16)
GoalsMichael Witt (59)
PointsMichael Witt (138)
< 2007 2009 >

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

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
15 FebruaryTrial 1 Newcastle KnightsNorth Harbour Stadium, AucklandLoss14 - 22Ah Van, Vatuvei, KoopuWitt (1)9,000[1]
23 FebruaryTrial 2 Auckland VulcansHenham Park, AucklandWin50 - 0Solomona (2), Hohaia (2), Fien, Witt, Locke, Taylor, MikaWitt (7)[1]
29 FebruaryTrial 3 Manly Sea EaglesStockland Park, Sunshine CoastLoss16 - 24Rovelli, Witt, SolomonaWitt (2)8,040[1]

Regular season

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
17 MarchRound 1 Melbourne StormTelstra Dome, MelbourneLoss18 - 32Vatuvei (2), RopatiWitt (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 KnightsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26 - 20Shortland (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, TownsvilleLoss20 - 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, AucklandWin14 - 6Shortland, TateWitt (3)7,358
Round 9Bye-
18 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyLoss22 - 46Mannering (2), Henderson PackerHohaia (3)9,450
25 MayRound 11 Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss12 - 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, SydneyLoss8 - 24RopatiHohaia (2)9,023
22 JuneRound 15 Manly Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss14 - 20Kirk, Vatuvei, ManneringWitt (1)7,141
29 JuneRound 16 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin28 - 26Fai, Fien, Henderson, Hohaia,
Ropati
Hohaia (2), Witt (2)15,027
Round 17Bye-
12 JulyRound 18 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin24 - 14Fai, Kirk, Luck, Mannering, RopatiHohaia (2)7,722
19 JulyRound 19 BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyWin40 - 22Solomona (3), Fai, Hohaia, Kirk,
Price, Rapira
Hohaia (4)12,973
27 JulyRound 20 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin8 - 6FaiHohaia (2)8,700
2 AugustRound 21 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss18 - 16Hohaia (2), RopatiHohaia (2)9,276
9 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin16 - 12Matulino, McKinnon, WittWitt (2)13,007
16 AugustRound 23 Cronulla SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin18 - 4Hohaia, Ropati, VatuveiWitt (3)10,417
24 AugustRound 24 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongLoss6 - 36McKinnonWitt (1)11,583
31 AugustRound 25 Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin42 - 20Vatuvei (2), Henderson, Luck,
McKinnon, Ropati, Witt
Witt (7)15,214
6 SeptemberRound 26 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyWin28 - 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
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
14 SeptemberQualifying Final Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, MelbourneWin18 - 15Ropati, Vatuvei, WittWitt (3)15,193
19 SeptemberSemi Final Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30 - 13Hohaia (2), Henderson, Kirk, VatuveiWitt (5)25,585
27 SeptemberPreliminary Final Manly Sea EaglesSydney Football Stadium, SydneyLoss6 - 32KirkHohaia (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
42Logan SwannSR1 March 1997240000
64Wairangi KoopuCE / SR9 April 199960000
99Lance HohaiaUB6 April 200226921078
102Evarn TuimavavePR1 September 2002252008
108Jerome RopatiCE / FE31 August 20032290036
110Epalahame Lauaki / SR14 March 2004160000
115Manu VatuveiWG23 May 200417160064
121Steve PricePR13 March 2005171004
123Ruben WikiPR13 March 2005241004
124Nathan FienHK13 March 2005271004
125Simon ManneringCE26 June 20052750020
126Micheal LuckSR12 March 20062530012
127Grant RovelliHB12 March 2006211004
129Patrick Ah VanWG9 April 20061244024
131Sam RapiraPR20 May 2006272008
132Wade McKinnonFB17 March 2007530012
133Michael CrockettWG17 March 2007640012
134Michael WittFE17 March 2007185590138
136Aidan KirkFB / CE17 March 20081570028
137Brent TateCE17 March 20082440016
138Ian HendersonHK23 March 20082670028
139Sonny FaiSR23 March 20081550020
140Ryan ShortlandCE6 April 2008530012
141Russell PackerPR4 May 200851004
142Ben MatulinoSR14 June 2008151004
143Malo SolomonaWG29 June 2008830012

Staff

  • Chief Executive Officer: Wayne Scurrah

NRL Staff

  • Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
  • Assistant Coach: John Ackland
  • Football Manager: Don Mann, Jr.
  • Club Doctor: John Mayhew
  • Trainer: Craig Walker[2]

NYC Staff

Transfers

Gains

PlayerPrevious ClubLengthNotes
Brent TateBrisbane Broncos
Ian HendersonBradford Bulls
Ryan ShortlandMelbourne Storm

Losses

PlayerClubNotes
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. 2008 NRL trials Archived 1 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine 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
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