2016 New Zealand Warriors season explained

Year:	2016
League:	NRL
League Rank:	10th
Cup:	Challenge Cup
League Wins:	10
League Draws:	0
League Losses:	14
Ceo Title:	CEO
Ceo:	Jim Doyle
Coach:	Andrew McFadden
Assistant Coach:	Justin Morgan Andrew Webster
Captain:	Ryan Hoffman
Captain2:	Simon Mannering
Stadium:	Mount Smart Stadium
Avg Attendance:	14,302
Top Tries:	Solomone Kata (15)
Top Points:	Shaun Johnson (125)
Prev Season:	2015
Next Season:	2017

The 2016 New Zealand Warriors season was the 22nd season in the club's history. Coached by Andrew McFadden and captained by Ryan Hoffman, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2016 Telstra Premiership and the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines tournament.

Milestones

See also: List of New Zealand Warriors representatives.

• Simon Mannering and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were named to play for the World All Stars in the 2016 All Stars match.^[1] They both later withdrew and were replaced by Ryan Hoffman and Konrad Hurrell.^[2] Hurrell scored a try as the World All-Stars won 12-8.
• 17 February: Simon Mannering announced he had decided to step down as club captain. He was replaced by Ryan Hoffman.^[3]
• 19 February: The Warriors announced that they had signed an agreement with Regional Facilities Auckland extending their contract to use Mount Smart Stadium until the end of 2028.^[4]
• 5 March - round 1: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Ayshford, Jeff Robson, Issac Luke, Nathaniel Roache and James Gavet all made their debuts for the club. It was also Roache's NRL debut.
• 20 March - round 3: Jazz Tevaga made his NRL debut.
• 3 April - round 5: Jacob Lillyman played in his 150th match for the Warriors.^[5]
• 16 April - round 7: Ligi Sao made his Warriors debut.
• 1 May - round 9: Toafofoa Sipley made his NRL debut and Shaun Lane played his first match for the Warriors.
• 6 May: Shaun Johnson played for the New Zealand national rugby league team in the 2016 Anzac Test.
• 7 May: Erin Clark played for Samoa while David Fusitua and Solomone Kata played for Tonga. Ata Hingano, Nathaniel Roache, Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papalii represented the Junior Kiwis.
• June–July: Jacob Lillyman served as 18th man for Queensland in game one of the 2016 State of Origin series and came from the bench in game two and three.
• 11 June - round 14: Issac Luke played in his 200th NRL match.
• 2 July - round 17: Simon Mannering played in his 250th NRL match, all for the Warriors. Bunty Afoa made his NRL debut. It was also the Warriors 250th first grade match at Mount Smart Stadium.^[6]
• 20 August - round 24: Ata Hingano made his first grade debut.
• 28 August - round 25: Tuimoala Lolohea scored the 2,000th try in the club's history.^[7]
• 8 October: Ken Maumalo, Mason Lino, Erin Clark, Sam Lisone, Bunty Afoa and James Gavet represented Samoa in a test match against Fiji.
• October–November: David Fusitu'a, Solomone Kata, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Simon Mannering were named in the New Zealand squad for the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations.

Fixtures

See also: List of New Zealand Warriors results.

Pre-season training

Pre-season training began on 2 November 2015, with the exception of players involved in the New Zealand Kiwis tour of Great Britain.^[8]

Auckland Nines

The Warriors competed in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines, losing to the Parramatta Eels 4-22 in the final. The squad for the tournament was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Ryan Hoffman, Jacob Lillyman, Nathaniel Roache, Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea, Shaun Johnson (c), Charlie Gubb, Henare Wells, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Matulino, Ken Maumalo, Jonathan Wright, Jeff Robson, Sam Lisone, Blake Ayshford, Albert Vete and Ata Hingano.^[9] David Fusitu'a was originally named but withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Nathaniel Roache.^[10]

Shaun Johnson and Tuimoala Lolohea were named in the team of the tournament.^[11]

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Report
6 February	Game 5	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	Eden Park, Auckland	Win	34 – 8	Roache (2), Johnson, Kata, Robson	Johnson (3), Robson	^[12]
6 February	Game 13	Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles	Eden Park, Auckland	Loss	12 – 15	Maumalo, Hingano	Johnson (2)	^[13]
7 February	Game 22	Brisbane Broncos	Eden Park, Auckland	Win	15 – 8	Roache, Wells, Johnson	Johnson (1)	^[14]
7 February	Quarter Final	Canberra Raiders	Eden Park, Auckland	Win	16 – 8	Kata (2), Wright, Wells		^[15]
7 February	Semi Final	Gold Coast Titans	Eden Park, Auckland	Win	22 – 4	Robson, Wright, Kata, Lolohea	Lolohea (2), Robson	^[16]
7 February	Final	Parramatta Eels	Eden Park, Auckland	Loss	4 - 22	Tuivasa-Sheck

Pre-season matches

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	Report
13 February	Trial 1	Gold Coast Titans	Toll Stadium, Whangarei	Win	40-18	Faitala-Mariner (3), Tyrell (2), Afoa (2)	Luke (2), Hingano (4)		^[17] ^[18]
20 February	Trial 2	St George Illawarra Dragons	Trafalgar Park, Nelson	Loss	10-46	Kata, Wright	Lolohea	10,400	^[19]

Regular season

Home matches were played at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland with the exception of one home game which was played at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth.^[20] Two away games were also played in New Zealand.

Date	Round	Opponent	Venue	Result	Score	Tries	Goals	Attendance	Report
5 March	Round 1	Wests Tigers	Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney	Loss	26-34	Kata (2), Mannering, Thompson, Johnson	Lolohea (3)	10,917	^[21]
11 March	Round 2	Brisbane Broncos	Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane	Loss	10-25	Luke	Johnson (3)	35,230	^[22]
20 March	Round 3	Melbourne Storm	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Loss	14-21	Lolohea, Kata, Wright	Johnson (1)	16,214	^[23]
28 March	Round 4	Newcastle Knights	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	40-18	Kata, Matulino, Ayshford, Lolohea, Vatuvei, Johnson, Luke	Johnson (6)	13,895	^[24]
3 April	Round 5	Sydney Roosters	Central Coast Stadium, Gosford	Win	32-28 (g.pt)	Kata (2), Johnson (2), Vatuvei, Tuivasa-Sheck	Johnson (4)	10,113	^[25]
9 April	Round 6	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Loss	18-34	Ayshford, Luke, Kata	Johnson (3)	16,112	^[26]
16 April	Round 7	Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs	Westpac Stadium, Wellington	Win	24-20	Ayshford (2), Fusitu'a, Wright, Lolohea	Johnson (2)	18,212	^[27]
25 April	Round 8	Melbourne Storm	AAMI Park, Melbourne	Loss	0-42			21,233	^[28]
1 May	Round 9	St George Illawarra Dragons	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	26-10	Johnson, Allwood, Gubb, Robson	Johnson (5)	12,752	^[29]
14 May	Round 10	Penrith Panthers	AMI Stadium, Christchurch	Loss	18-30	Kata, Wright, Ayshford	Johnson (3)	18,000	^[30]
21 May	Round 11	Canberra Raiders	Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth	Loss	12-38	Johnson, Ayshford	Johnson (2)	12,833	^[31]
	Round 12	Bye
4 June	Round 13	Brisbane Broncos	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	36-18	Fusitu’a (2), Johnson, Thompson, Lillyman, Hoffman, Kata	Johnson (4)	15,097	^[32]
11 June	Round 14	Newcastle Knights	Hunter Stadium, Newcastle	Win	50-14	Fusitu'a (4), Vete (2), Vatuvei, Thompson, Kata	Johnson (5), Luke (2)	12,222	^[33]
19 June	Round 15	Sydney Roosters	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	12-10	Johnson	Luke (4)	14,026	^[34]
25 June	Round 16	Cronulla Sutherland Sharks	Shark Park, Sydney	Loss	18-19 (g.pt)	Ayshford, Wright, Leuluai	Luke (3)	12,074	^[35]
2 July	Round 17	Gold Coast Titans	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	27-18	Ayshford, Lolohea, Johnson, Thompson	Luke (5), Johnson (FG)	15,107	^[36]
	Round 18	Bye
16 July	Round 19	Manly Warringah Sea Eagles	nib Stadium, Perth	Loss	14-15 (g.pt)	Afoa (2)	Luke (3)	11,109	^[37]
23 July	Round 20	Canberra Raiders	GIO Stadium, Canberra	Loss	22-26 (g.pt)	Leuluai (2), Vatuvei, Fusitu'a	Luke (3)	9,471	^[38]
30 July	Round 21	Penrith Panthers	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Win	20-16 (g.pt)	Fusitu'a (2), Maumalo, Johnson	Luke (2)	13,026	^[39]
7 August	Round 22	Gold Coast Titans	Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast	Win	24-14	Kata (2), Fusitu'a, Thompson, Mannering	Lolohea (2)	25,109	^[40]
13 August	Round 23	South Sydney Rabbitohs	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Loss	22-41	Kata (2), Vatuvei, Tevaga	Johnson (3)	17,409	^[41]
20 August	Round 24	North Queensland Cowboys	1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville	Loss	6-34	Hoffman	Johnson (1)	15,676	^[42]
28 August	Round 25	Wests Tigers	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Loss	24-36	Thompson, Kata, Mannering, Lolohea	Luke (3), Hingano (1)	14,020	^[43]
4 September	Round 26	Parramatta Eels	Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland	Loss	18-40	Mannering (2), Vatuvei	Luke (3)	11,129	^[44]

Squad

See also: List of New Zealand Warriors players.

No.	Name	Position	Warriors Debut	App	T	G	FG	Pts
55		SR	19 April 1998	0	0	0	0	0
105		HB	2 May 2003	18	3	0	0	12
115		WG	23 May 2004	15	6	0	0	24
125		SR	26 June 2005	22	5	0	0	20
142		PR	14 June 2008	23	1	0	0	4
146		PR	14 March 2009	22	1	0	0	4
159		SR	14 March 2010	1	0	0	0	0
168		HB	4 June 2011	24	10	42	1	125
171		SR	4 March 2012	1	0	0	0	0
173		CE	4 March 2012	3	0	0	0	0
183		PR	7 July 2013	14	1	0	0	4
188		PR	9 March 2014	3	0	0	0	0
189		WG	15 March 2014	18	11	0	0	44
192		HB	27 July 2014	22	5	5	0	30
193		CE	7 March 2015	21	15	0	0	60
194		SR	7 March 2015	18	6	0	0	24
195		SR	7 March 2015	23	2	0	0	8
196		PR	7 March 2015	21	0	0	0	0
197		PR	7 March 2015	15	2	0	0	8
198		WG	15 March 2015	9	4	0	0	16
199		CE	29 March 2015	4	1	0	0	4
200		SR	25 April 2015	1	0	0	0	0
201		WG	16 May 2015	10	1	0	0	4
202		HB	24 August 2015	0	0	0	0	0
203		FB	5 March 2016	7	1	0	0	4
204		CE	5 March 2016	23	8	0	0	32
205		HB	5 March 2016	7	1	0	0	4
206		HK	5 March 2016	20	3	28	0	68
207		HK	5 March 2016	11	0	0	0	0
208		PR	5 March 2016	10	0	0	0	0
209		HK	20 March 2016	11	1	0	0	4
210		LK	16 April 2016	2	0	0	0	0
211		SR	1 May 2016	1	0	0	0	0
212		PR	1 May 2016	2	0	0	0	0
213		PR	2 July 2016	4	2	0	0	8
214		FE	20 August 2016	2	0	1	0	2
		FB		0	0	0	0	0
		UB		0	0	0	0	0

Staff

• Chief Executive Officer: Jim Doyle
• Media and Communications Manager: Richard Becht
• Football Operations Manager: Dan Floyd
• Team Manager: Laurie Hale^[8]
• Head of Medical Services: John Mayhew
• Recuritment and Development Manager: Tony Iro^[8]
• Welfare and Education Manager: Jerry Seuseu
• Academy and Pathways Manager: Duane Mann

Coaching staff

• NRL head coach: Andrew McFadden
• NRL assistant coach: Justin Morgan^[8]
• NRL assistant coach: Andrew Webster^[45]
• NSW Cup head coach: Stacey Jones^[46]
• NSW Cup assistant coach: Ricky Henry
• NYC head coach: Kelvin Wright
• NYC assistant coach: Boycie Nelson

Transfers

Gains

Player	Previous Club	Length	Notes
Issac Luke	South Sydney Rabbitohs	3 years	^[47]
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	Sydney Roosters	3 years	^[48]
Ligi Sao	Manly Sea Eagles	2 years	^[49]
Blake Ayshford	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	2 years	^[50]
Henare Wells	Burleigh Bears		^[51]
Jeff Robson	Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks	1 year	^[52]
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	Melbourne Storm	2 years	^[53]
Ali Lauitiiti	Wakefield Trinity Wildcats	1 year	^[54]
James Gavet	Brisbane Broncos	1 year	^[55]
Shaun Lane	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	1 year	2016 mid-season^[56]

Losses

Player	Club	Notes
Suaia Matagi	Sydney Roosters	2015 mid-season^[57]
Nathaniel Peteru	Gold Coast Titans	2015 mid-season^[58]
Api Pewhairangi	Connacht (RU)	2015 mid-season^[59]
Ngani Laumape	Hurricanes (RU)	2015 mid-season^[60]
Sam Rapira	Huddersfield Giants	^[61]
Nathan Friend	Gold Coast Titans	^[62]
Dominique Peyroux	St. Helens	^[63]
Sam Tomkins	Wigan Warriors
Chad Townsend	Cronulla Sharks	^[64]
Siliva Havili	St. George-Illawarra Dragons	^[65]
Brad Abbey	Canterbury Bulldogs	^[66]
Glen Fisiiahi	Chiefs (RU)	^[67]
Sebastine Ikahihifo	St. George-Illawarra Dragons	^[68]
David Bhana	Newcastle Knights	^[69]
Raymond Faitala-Mariner	Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs	2016 mid-season
Konrad Hurrell	Gold Coast Titans	2016 mid-season
Jeff Robson	Parramatta Eels	2016 mid-season^[70]

Other teams

As in 2015, the Warriors entered a team into the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and the Junior Warriors competed in the Holden Cup.

Intrust Super Premiership NSW squad

See also: 2016 Intrust Super Premiership NSW and 2016 Intrust Super Premiership Finals Series. The Warriors finished 5th in the regular season, before defeating the Penrith Panthers 21-14 in an elimination final.^[71] They then lost 18-22 to the Newtown Jets in a semi-final.

John Palavi and Upu Poching played in their 50th NSW Cup matches for the Warriors, becoming the first players to reach this milestone for the club.^[72]

Holden Cup squad

The Junior Warriors finished the season in 14th position, with 8 wins, a draw, and 15 losses.

Club awards

Simon Mannering was named the club's player of the year for a record fifth time. He was also named the clubman of the year.^[73] Shaun Johnson won the people's choice award while Nathaniel Roache was the NRL rookie of the year.

Ryan Hoffman was named in the NRL-RLPA academic team of the year, as he was completing a Bachelor of Business. Ben Henry also won a Pasifika leadership and excellence award, which included travel to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to attend lectures.^[74]

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was the Intrust Super Premiership NSW player of the year, while James Bell was the teams man of the year.^[73]

Chris Sio was the Junior Warriors player of the year and Chanel Harris-Tavita was the Junior Warriors rookie of the year.^[73]

Journalist Allen McLaughlin was also awarded a legacy award, after covering all but one of the club's 254 games at the venue since 1995.^[73]

External links

• Warriors 2016 season rugby league project

Notes and References

1. Web site: Pair named in World All Stars . warriors.kiwi . 15 December 2015 . 5 January 2016.
2. Web site: Tuivasa-Sheck out of All Stars . nrl.com . 7 February 2016 . 7 February 2016.
3. Web site: Simon Mannering standing down as Warriors captain . . 17 February 2016 . 17 February 2016.
4. Web site: Mount Smart Stadium home until 2028 . New Zealand Warriors . 19 February 2016 . 19 February 2016.
5. News: NRL: Jacob Lillyman to reach New Zealand Warriors milestone . New Zealand Herald . 29 March 2016 . 29 March 2016.
6. Web site: YOUR TEAM v Gold Coast Titans. NRL.
7. Web site: YOUR TEAM - v Parramatta. NRL Digital. Media.
8. http://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2015/09/27/changes_to_football_.html Changes to football department
9. Web site: Shaun Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck to play at NRL Nines . nzherald.co.nz . 29 January 2016 . 29 January 2016.
10. Web site: Injury forces Fusitu'a out of NRL Nines . Radio Sport . 6 February 2016 . 6 February 2016.
11. Web site: Auckland Nines Team of the Tournament . nrl.com . 8 February 2016 . 8 February 2016.
12. Web site: Warriors bounce back to smash Bulldogs. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
13. Web site: Another Parcell match-winner sinks Warriors. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
14. Web site: Johnson late show seals win. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
15. Web site: Warriors book semi-final berth. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
16. Web site: Warriors progress to Nines final. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com.
17. Web site: Taking trials to the regions - Warriors . Warriors.kiwi . 23 November 2015.
18. http://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2016/02/13/strong_outings_from_.html Strong outings from top trio
19. Web site: Sao facing time on sideline . warriors.kiwi . 21 February 2016 . 21 February 2016.
20. Web site: First-ever NRL match for Taranaki - Warriors . Warriors.kiwi . 23 November 2015.
21. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
22. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
23. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
24. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
25. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
26. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
27. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
28. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
29. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
30. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
31. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
32. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
33. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
34. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
35. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
36. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
37. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
38. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
39. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
40. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
41. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
42. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
43. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
44. Web site: NRL Match Centre 2016.
45. http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/2014/09/23/second_assistant_coach_named.html Second assistant coach named
46. http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/2014/10/05/jones_confirmed_as_2015_nsw_cup_coach.html Jones to coach NSW Cup side in 2015
47. Web site: Warriors confirm Issac Luke signing . nrl.com . 8 May 2015 . 8 May 2015 . 10 May 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150510231436/http://www.nrl.com/warriors-confirm-issac-luke-signing/tabid/10874/newsid/86056/default.aspx . dead .
48. Web site: Club makes double fullback announcement . warriors.co.nz . 8 April 2015 . 8 April 2015.
49. Web site: PLAYER SIGNING | Sao coming home - Warriors . Warriors.kiwi . 17 October 2015.
50. Web site: Warriors sign Sharks centre . New Zealand Herald. 14 September 2015 . 15 September 2015.
51. Web site: Warriors sign former Roosters fullback for 2016 season . stuff.co.nz . 15 September 2015 . 15 September 2015.
52. Web site: Veteran Robson signed for 2016 . warriors.kiwi . 30 September 2015 . 30 September 2015.
53. Web site: Young storm utility signed . warriors.kiwi . 23 October 2015 . 23 October 2015.
54. Web site: Lauitiiti returns to Warriors. NRL.com. 19 November 2015.
55. Web site: Warriors confirm signing of Gavet for 2016 . Zero Tackle . 22 February 2016.
56. Web site: Vodafone Warriors complete player swap . New Zealand Warriors . 5 April 2016 . 5 April 2016.
57. Web site: Warriors prop Suaia Matagi inks deal with the Sydney Roosters after seeking early release . stuff.co.nz . 15 May 2015 . 15 May 2015.
58. Web site: Titans sign Warriors forward | NRL . Zero Tackle . 13 July 2015.
59. Web site: NSW CUP ROUND No. 16 v Mounties . 24 June 2015 . 24 June 2015.
60. Web site: Warrior Ngani Laumape crosses rugby codes to sign with Manawatu Turbos . stuff.co.nz . 27 July 2015 . 27 July 2015.
61. Web site: Rapira to join Super League's Huddersfield. NRL - The official site of the National Rugby League - NRL.com. 30 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150626004440/http://www.nrl.com/rapira-to-join-super-leagues-huddersfield/tabid/10874/newsid/86477/default.aspx. 26 June 2015. dead. dmy-all.
62. Web site: Titans reunite with an old friend. NRL - Zero Tackle. 30 July 2015. 30 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150730082431/http://www.zerotackle.com/nrl/titans-reunite-with-an-old-friend-18416/. dead.
63. Web site: St Helens sign Dominique Peyroux from New Zealand Warriors. the Guardian.
64. Web site: Chad Townsend Leaves Warriors for the Sharks - Triple M NRL . 7 July 2015 . Triple M . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304190105/http://www.triplem.com.au/sydney/sport/nrl/news/2015/6/chad-townsend-leaves-warriors-for-the-sharks/ . 4 March 2016 .
65. Web site: Dragons sign Siliva Havili. NRL - Zero Tackle.
66. Web site: Canterbury Bulldogs to sign boom Kiwi fullback Brad Abbey. The Sydney Morning Herald.
67. Web site: New Zealand Warrior Glen Fisiiahi signs for Super Rugby side the Chiefs . stuff.co.nz . 17 August 2015 . 17 August 2015.
68. Web site: Dumped Warrior Ikahihifo signs two-year deal with Dragons . TVNZ . 23 September 2015 . 24 September 2015.
69. http://www.nrl.com/2016-nrl-player-transfers/tabid/10874/newsid/88894/default.aspx 2016 NRL player transfers
70. Web site: NRL: Warriors recall Tui Lolohea, drop Jonathan Wright. 28 June 2016. New Zealand Herald.
71. Web site: ANNOUNCEMENT - Week One Finals Fixtures. NRL Digital. Media.
72. Web site: ISP and NYC teams named for 17th round. NRL.
73. Web site: Mannering's fifth player of the year. NRL Digital. Media.
74. Web site: 2016 NRL-RLPA Academic Team of the Year.