2009 New Zealand Warriors season

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]

2009 New Zealand Warriors season
NRL Rank14th
2009 recordWins: 7; draws: 2; losses: 14
Points scoredFor: 377; against: 515
Team information
CEOWayne Scurrah
CoachIvan Cleary
Assistant coachJohn Ackland
Captains
StadiumMt Smart Stadium
Avg. attendance15,486
Top scorers
TriesManu Vatuvei (13)
GoalsKevin Locke (22)
PointsKevin Locke (60)
< 2008 2010 >

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.

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
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
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
12 FebruaryTrial 1 Melbourne StormWaikato Stadium, HamiltonWin24 – 12McKinnon, Kirk, O'Regan, VatuveiKemp (3), Ah Van10,800
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
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
14 MarchRound 1 Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26 – 18Hohaia (2), Moon, PackerKemp (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 RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss16 – 22Kirk, 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, WollongongLoss11 – 12Ah Van, RopatiAh Van (1), Jones (FG)14,562
Round 9Bye–
17 MayRound 10 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss12 – 34Fien, KempKemp (2)16,345
24 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss12 – 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, AucklandWin13 – 0Hohaia, LockeLocke (2), Hohaia (FG)14,255
Round 15Bye–
27 JuneRound 16 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, RobinaLoss12 – 28Hohaia, BrownLocke (2)20,031
3 JulyRound 17 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneLoss14 – 28Price (2)Locke (3)32,456
12 JulyRound 18 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss14 – 18Vatuvei, Locke, PackerLocke (1)11,802
19 JulyRound 19 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin30 – 24Vatuvei (2), Ah Van,
Mannering, Jones		Jones (3)8,021
26 JulyRound 20 St George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss4 – 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, AucklandLoss10 – 30Vatuvei (2)Locke (1)10,205
15 AugustRound 23 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss4 – 40Vatuvei12,627
23 AugustRound 24 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWon34 – 20Hohaia (2), Heremaia,
Mannering, Ropati, Moon		Locke (5)8,812
30 AugustRound 25 BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss20 – 40Vatuvei (2), Rapira (2)Jones (2)41,835
5 SeptemberRound 26 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss0 – 3014,734

Ladder
2009 NRL season
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2417072548329+21938
2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2418062575428+147381
3 Gold Coast Titans 2416082514467+4736
4 Melbourne Storm 2414192505348+15733
5 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 24140102549459+9032
6 Brisbane Broncos 24140102511566−5532
7 Newcastle Knights 24130112508491+1730
8 Parramatta Eels 24121112476473+329
9 Wests Tigers 24120122558483+7528
10 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24111122566549+1727
11 Penrith Panthers 24111122515589−7427
12 North Queensland Cowboys 24110132558474+8426
13 Canberra Raiders 2490152489520−3122
14 New Zealand Warriors 2472152377565−18820
15 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2450192359568−20914
16 Sydney Roosters 2450192382681−29914

1 The Bulldogs were deducted 2 competition points after an interchange breach in Round 2.

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.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
24Stacey JonesNew ZealandHB23 April 19952325220
99Lance HohaiaNew ZealandUB6 April 20022060125
102Evarn TuimavaveNew ZealandPR1 September 200260000
108Jerome RopatiNew ZealandCE / FE31 August 20031740016
115Manu VatuveiNew ZealandWG23 May 200419130052
121Steve PriceAustraliaPR13 March 20051430012
124Nathan FienNew ZealandHK13 March 200592008
125Simon ManneringNew ZealandCE26 June 20052340016
126Micheal LuckAustraliaSR12 March 2006231004
129Patrick Ah VanNew ZealandWG9 April 20061441018
131Sam RapiraNew ZealandPR20 May 2006232008
132Wade McKinnonAustraliaFB17 March 20072140016
136Aidan KirkAustraliaFB / CE17 March 200851004
137Brent TateAustraliaCE17 March 200832008
138Ian HendersonScotlandHK23 March 2008220000
141Russell PackerNew ZealandPR4 May 20082130012
142Ben MatulinoNew ZealandSR14 June 2008170000
144Denan KempAustraliaWG14 March 200910121046
145Joel MoonAustraliaFE14 March 20092370028
146Jacob LillymanAustraliaPR14 March 2009240000
147Leeson Ah MauNew ZealandPR14 March 200920000
148Jesse RoyalNew ZealandPR22 March 2009151004
149Ukuma Ta'aiTongaSR22 March 2009101004
150Daniel O'ReganNew ZealandFE5 April 200910000
151Lewis BrownNew ZealandHK3 May 20091530012
152Kevin LockeNew ZealandFB31 May 200912422060
153Aaron HeremaiaNew ZealandHB31 May 2009111004
154Isaac JohnNew ZealandFE19 July 200930000
155Siuatonga LikilikiNew ZealandCE15 August 200910000

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
Stacey Jones: came out of retirement to play for the Warriors in 2009
PlayerPrevious ClubLengthNotes
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
PlayerClubNotes
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
PlayerClubNotes
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
See also: 2009 NRL Under-20s season

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

National Youth Competition season 2009
Pos Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2419142879417+46243
2 St. George Illawarra Dragons 2419052758461+29742
3 Melbourne Storm 2419052833597+23642
4 Wests Tigers 2415182709588+12135
5 Brisbane Broncos 2415092698551+14734
6 South Sydney Rabbitohs 24131102776568+20831
7 New Zealand Warriors 24131102725612+11331
8 Canberra Raiders 24112112706685+2128
9 North Queensland Cowboys 24120122668683-1528
10 Newcastle Knights 2491142596756-16023
11 Canterbury Bulldogs 2491142649867-21823
12 Parramatta Eels 2480162604698-9420
13 Penrith Panthers 2480162573755-18220
14 Gold Coast Titans 2480162542738-19620
15 Sydney Roosters 2460182443736-29316
16 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 2440202391838-44712

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 Archived 2 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine Warriors Official Site
  3. Revised crowd number for Vodafone Warriors – Parramatta Eels NRL match Archived 2 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 20 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine, 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. Brown, Michael (22 June 2008). "League: Warriors look to solve halves problem with Moon signing". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 14 September 2011.
  9. "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 Archived 14 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine @ 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 Archived 3 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine 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. Warriors re-sign three players Archived 14 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine AAP, 10 May 2009
  19. Henderson re-signs with Warriors Archived 17 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine AAP, 14 May 2009
  20. Warriors show faith in coach Cleary Archived 22 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine 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 Archived 27 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine Warriors Official Site
  24. "Steve Price to play 300th NRL match". NRL.com. 10 March 2009. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. 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 Archived 13 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Warriors.co.nz, 11 September 2009
  27. November 2009 Newsletter Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Auckland Rugby League
  28. 2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year Archived 4 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine NRL.com, 1 September 2009
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