2009 New Zealand Warriors season explained
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
- 14 March – Round One: Steve Price played in his 300th National Rugby League game.
- 14 March – Round One: Four players made their debuts for the Warriors; Denan Kemp, Joel Moon, Jacob Lillyman & Leeson Ah Mau. Ah Mau also made his first grade debut.
- 22 March – Round Two: Two players made their debuts for the Warriors; Jesse Royal & Ukuma Ta'ai. Ta'ai also made his first grade debut.
- 5 April – Round Four: Game dedicated to the memory of Sonny Fai, the Warriors lose to the South Sydney Rabbitohs 22–16.
- 5 April – Round Four: Nathan Fien played in his 100th game for the Warriors.
- 5 April – Round Four: Daniel O'Regan made his first grade debut, becoming Warrior #150.
- 3 May – Round Eight: Lewis Brown made his first grade debut.
- 17 May – Round Ten: Jerome Ropati played in his 100th National Rugby League game and 100th game for the club.
- 31 May – Round Twelve: Two players made their first grade debuts; Kevin Locke and Aaron Heremaia.
- 12 June – Round Fourteen: Stacey Jones played in his 250th game for the club.
- 19 July – Round Nineteen: Isaac John made his first grade debut.
- 26 July – Round Twenty: Patrick Ah Van played in his 50th National Rugby League game and 50th game for the club.
- 31 July – Round Twenty One: Evarn Tuimavave played in his 100th National Rugby League game and 100th game for the club. It was also Tuimavave's first game of the season.
- 15 August – Round Twenty Three: Siuatonga Likiliki made his first grade debut.
- 5 September – Round Twenty Six: Simon Mannering played in his 100th National Rugby League game and 100th game for the club.
- 5 September – Round Twenty Six: Stacey Jones played in his last game for the club, the Warriors lost to the Melbourne Storm 30–0.
Fixtures
See also: List of New Zealand Warriors results. 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 February | Trial 1 | Melbourne Storm | | Win | 24 – 12 | | | 10,800 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090328103816/http://www.warriors.co.nz/2009-trials/2009-nrl-trials |
| 22 February | Trial 2 | North Queensland Cowboys | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland | Win | 32 – 28 | Ah Van, Moon, Hohaia,
Solomona, Brown, Vatuvei | Kemp (2), Moon (2) | 16,500 | http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/nrl/story/0,27074,25091339-5016553,00.html |
| 28 February | Trial 3 | Gold Coast Titans | Oakes Oval, Lismore | Win | 34 – 12 | Kemp (2), McKinnon (2), Tate, Rapira, Moon | Kemp (2), Moon | 5,117 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090328103909/http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/28/outstanding-trial-display-by-vodafone-warriors/ | |
Regular season
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
|---|
| 14 March | Round 1 | Parramatta Eels | | Win | 26 – 18 | | Kemp (5) | 20,102[3] | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=770&matchid=5333&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 22 March | Round 2 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | Win | 26 – 24 | Tate (2), Vatuvei, Royal,
Ropati | Kemp (3) | 16,307 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=771&matchid=5341&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 28 March | Round 3 | Brisbane Broncos | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 10 – 26 | Mannering, Ta'ai | Kemp (1) | 24,350 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=771&matchid=5341&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 5 April | Round 4 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | | Loss | 16 – 22 | Kirk, Luck, McKinnon | Kemp (2) | 19,386 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=773&matchid=5358&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 12 April | Round 5 | Newcastle Knights | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle | Loss | 22 – 24 | McKinnon, Fien, Packer,
Ah Van | Kemp (3) | 16,307 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=774&matchid=5362&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 19 April | Round 6 | Sydney Roosters | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win (G.P.) | 17 – 16 | Jones, Ropati, Vatuvei | Kemp (2), Jones (FG) | 16,309 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090430083245/http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/155/jones-delivers---vodafone-warriors-17-roosters-16/ |
| 25 April | Round 7 | Melbourne Storm | Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne | Draw (G.P.) | 14 – 14 | Vatuvei (2), Ah Van | Kemp (1) | 15,200 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=776&matchid=5381&defaulttab=Match%20Report |
| 3 May | Round 8 | St George Illawarra Dragons | WIN Stadium, Wollongong | Loss | 11 – 12 | Ah Van, Ropati | Ah Van (1), Jones (FG) | 14,562 | http://www.nrl.com/Scores/TelstraPremiership/tabid/10240/default.aspx?roundid=777&matchid=5384&defaulttab=Summary%20Score |
| Round 9 | Bye | | | – | | | | |
| 17 May | Round 10 | North Queensland Cowboys | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 12 – 34 | Fien, Kemp | Kemp (2) | 16,345 | http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/Scores/tabid/10240/roundId/779/fixtureId/5409/infoTabId/4/default.aspx |
| 24 May | Round 11 | Canberra Raiders | Canberra Stadium, Canberra | Loss | 12 – 38 | Price, Mannering | Kemp (2) | 8,383 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090527085723/http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/Scores/tabid/10240/roundId/780/fixtureId/5415/infoTabId/2/default.aspx |
| 31 May | Round 12 | Wests Tigers | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 14 – 0 | Locke (2), McKinnon | Locke (1) | 15,365 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090612062945/http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/TelstraPremiershipScores/tabid/10240/roundId/781/fixtureId/5423/infoTabId/4/Default.aspx |
| 7 June | Round 13 | Cronulla Sharks | Toyota Stadium, Sydney | Loss | 10 – 18 | Vatuvei, Brown | Locke (1) | 14,082 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090612001358/http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/Scores/tabid/10240/roundId/782/fixtureId/5433/infoTabId/2/default.aspx |
| 13 June | Round 14 | Newcastle Knights | | Win | 13 – 0 | Hohaia, Locke | Locke (2), Hohaia (FG) | 14,255 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090615074344/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/783/fixtureid/5446/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| Round 15 | Bye | | | – | | | | |
| 27 June | Round 16 | Gold Coast Titans | Skilled Park, Robina | Loss | 12 – 28 | Hohaia, Brown | Locke (2) | 20,031 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090629084137/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/telstrapremiershipscores/tabid/10240/roundid/785/fixtureid/5463/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 3 July | Round 17 | Brisbane Broncos | Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane | Loss | 14 – 28 | Price (2) | Locke (3) | 32,456 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090706043100/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/telstrapremiershipscores/tabid/10240/roundid/786/fixtureid/5467/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 12 July | Round 18 | Bulldogs | | Loss | 14 – 18 | Vatuvei, Locke, Packer | Locke (1) | 11,802 | http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/787/fixtureid/5479/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 19 July | Round 19 | Sydney Roosters | Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney | Win | 30 – 24 | Vatuvei (2), Ah Van,
Mannering, Jones | Jones (3) | 8,021 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090721200403/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/telstrapremiershipscores/tabid/10240/roundid/788/fixtureid/5490/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 26 July | Round 20 | St George Illawarra Dragons | | Loss | 4 – 29 | Moon | | 13,507 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090725062404/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/telstrapremiershipscores/tabid/10240/roundid/789/fixtureid/5502/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 1 August | Round 21 | Penrith Panthers | CUA Stadium, Sydney | Draw (G.P.) | 32 – 32 | Moon (4), Brown | Locke (6) | 12,677 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090805062758/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/telstrapremiershipscores/tabid/10240/roundid/790/fixtureid/5505/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 9 August | Round 22 | Gold Coast Titans | | Loss | 10 – 30 | Vatuvei (2) | Locke (1) | 10,205 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090813112916/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/791/fixtureid/5518/infotabid/4/default.aspx |
| 15 August | Round 23 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney | Loss | 4 – 40 | Vatuvei | | 12,627 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090826171415/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/792/fixtureid/5521/infotabid/2/default.aspx |
| 23 August | Round 24 | Canberra Raiders | | Won | 34 – 20 | | Locke (5) | 8,812 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090826171434/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/793/fixtureid/5533/infotabid/2/default.aspx |
| 30 August | Round 25 | Bulldogs | ANZ Stadium, Sydney | Loss | 20 – 40 | Vatuvei (2), Rapira (2) | Jones (2) | 41,835 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090902072120/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/794/fixtureid/5535/infotabid/2/default.aspx |
| 5 September | Round 26 | Melbourne Storm | | Loss | 0 – 30 | | | 14,734 | https://web.archive.org/web/20090911232148/http://www.nrl.com/telstrapremiership/scores/tabid/10240/roundid/795/fixtureid/5549/infotabid/4/default.aspx | |
Squad
See also: List of New Zealand Warriors players.
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. | Name | Nationality | Position | Warriors Debut | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
|---|
| 24 | | New Zealand | HB | 23 April 1995 | 23 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 20 |
| 99 | | New Zealand | UB | 6 April 2002 | 20 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 25 |
| 102 | | New Zealand | PR | 1 September 2002 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 108 | | New Zealand | CE / FE | 31 August 2003 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 115 | | New Zealand | WG | 23 May 2004 | 19 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 52 |
| 121 | | Australia | PR | 13 March 2005 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 124 | | New Zealand | HK | 13 March 2005 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 125 | | New Zealand | CE | 26 June 2005 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 126 | | Australia | SR | 12 March 2006 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 129 | | New Zealand | WG | 9 April 2006 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18 |
| 131 | | New Zealand | PR | 20 May 2006 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 132 | | Australia | FB | 17 March 2007 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 136 | | Australia | FB / CE | 17 March 2008 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 137 | | Australia | CE | 17 March 2008 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 138 | | Scotland | HK | 23 March 2008 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 141 | | New Zealand | PR | 4 May 2008 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 142 | | New Zealand | SR | 14 June 2008 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 144 | | Australia | WG | 14 March 2009 | 10 | 1 | 21 | 0 | 46 |
| 145 | | Australia | FE | 14 March 2009 | 23 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 146 | | Australia | PR | 14 March 2009 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 147 | | New Zealand | PR | 14 March 2009 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 148 | | New Zealand | PR | 22 March 2009 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 149 | | Tonga | SR | 22 March 2009 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 150 | | New Zealand | FE | 5 April 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 151 | | New Zealand | HK | 3 May 2009 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 152 | | New Zealand | FB | 31 May 2009 | 12 | 4 | 22 | 0 | 60 |
| 153 | | New Zealand | HB | 31 May 2009 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 154 | | New Zealand | FE | 19 July 2009 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 155 | | New Zealand | CE | 15 August 2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Staff
- Chief Executive Officer: Wayne Scurrah
NRL Staff
- NRL Head Coach: Ivan Cleary
- NRL Assistant Coach: John Ackland
- NRL Head Trainer: Craig Walker
- NRL Assistant Trainer: Dayne Norton
- NRL Football Manager: Don Mann Jr
- NRL Physiotherapist: Jude Spiers
- Club Doctor: John Mayhew
NYC Staff
- NYC Head Coach: Tony Iro
- NYC Assistant Coach: Frank Harold
- NYC Team Manager: Dean Bell
Transfers
Gains
Losses
Mid-Season Losses
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
See also: 2009 NRL Under-20s season.
Siuatonga Likiliki was named in the 2009 Toyota Cup team of the year.[28]
External links
Notes and References
- News: Kilgallon. Steve. Kiwi TV viewers go cold on rugby codes. 18 August 2014. The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. 10 April 2011.
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/35/vodafone-warriors-2009---new-year-new-team-new-look/ Vodafone Warriors 2009 – new year, new team, new look
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/57/revised-crowd-number-for-vodafone-warriors---parramatta-eels-nrl-match/ Revised crowd number for Vodafone Warriors – Parramatta Eels NRL match
- Web site: Warriors sign Origin backrower . 19 June 2008 . . 14 September 2011.
- http://warriors.sitesuite.ws/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=23613 Vodafone Warriors Sign Brisbane Speedster Kemp for Two Years
- Web site: Moon rises as sun sets on top Warriors picks . 21 June 2008 . . 14 September 2011 .
- Web site: Warriors sign prop Jesse Royal . 16 February 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: League: Warriors look to solve halves problem with Moon signing . Brown, Michael . 22 June 2008 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: Swann and Koopu to leave Warriors . 18 June 2008 . . 14 September 2011.
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=25998 Rovelli Heading Home to Link up with North Queensland for 2009 NRL season
- Web site: NZ Warrior presumed drowned . 5 January 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: Sir 'Lance-lot' the Warriors' saviour . Donaldson, Michael . 14 June 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: NRL: Fien targets regular role with Dragons . 1 July 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: League: Mannering re-signs with Warriors . 15 February 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- Web site: NRL: Ropati extends contract to 2012 . Brown, Michael . 29 March 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/100/ropati-to-become-10-year-vodafone-warrior/ Ropati to become 10-year Vodafone Warrior
- Web site: NRL: Lance spearheads signings . Brown, Michael . 12 April 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=54817 Warriors re-sign three players
- http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/54880/Henderson-re-signs-with-Warriors/Default.aspx Henderson re-signs with Warriors
- http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/55200/Default.aspx Warriors show faith in coach Cleary
- http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/warriors-join-search/2009/01/05/1231003938221.html Warriors join search for talented prospect, missing after being caught in rip
- http://warriors.sitesuite.ws/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=26186 Team-Mates and Club Officials help in search for Sonny Fai
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/24/remembering-sonny-at-bethells-beach/ Remembering Sonny at Bethells Beach
- Web site: Steve Price to play 300th NRL match. NRL.com. 10 March 2009. 11 March 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20120308065143/http://www.nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=53951. 8 March 2012. dead.
- Web site: NRL: Luck earns top award . 11 September 2009 . . 14 September 2011.
- http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/368/tackling-machine-luck-wins-premier-award/ Tackling machine Luck wins premier award
- http://www.aucklandleague.co.nz/site_files/Newsletter%20November%202009.pdf November 2009 Newsletter
- http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/56509/Default.aspx 2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year
