The New Zealand Warriors 2007 season was the New Zealand Warriors 13th 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.
Milestones 25 March - Round 2: Evarn Tuimavave made his 50th appearance for the club. 8 April - Round 4: Logan Swann became the third player to play 150 first grade games for the Warriors.Swann Eyes 150th Appearances for Warriors warriors.co.nz, 3 April 2007 5 May - Round 8: Nathan Fien made his 50th appearance for the club. 20 May - Round 10: Ruben Wiki made his 50th appearance for the club. 3 June - Round 12: Tony Martin made his 50th appearance for the club. 7 July - Round 17: Manu Vatuvei and Steve Price made their 50th appearances for the club. 26 August - Round 24: Wairangi Koopu made his 150th appearance for the club and Epalahame Lauaki made his 50th appearance for the club. 16 September - Semi Final: Micheal Luck and Simon Mannering made their 50th appearances for the club.
Jersey and sponsors The Warriors did not change their home jersey from 2006, sticking with the predominantly Black & White design supplied by Puma AG. The away jersey also remained unchanged, being mainly Grey with Black details. Sponsored by Lion Red and Vodafone
Fixtures
The Warriors used Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2007, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Trial Matches Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report18 FebruaryTrial 1 Auckland Lions Mt Smart Stadium No 2, Auckland Win 64–4 Hohaia (3), Byrne 2, Martin, Lawrie, Vuna, Witt, Gatis, Packer, Crockett Witt (5), Martin (3) 5,000 2007 NRL trials warriors.co.nz, Accessed 17 July 200924 FebruaryTrial 2 North Queensland Cowboys Leprechaun Park, Mackay Loss 14–32 Vatuvei, McKinnon, LauakiMartin (1) 8,000 3 MarchTrial 3 Bulldogs North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Win 36–6 Vatuvei, Crockett, Swann, Fien, McKinnon, ByrneMartin (6) 15,122
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report17 MarchRound 1 Parramatta Eels Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 34–18 Crockett (2), Hohaia, Mannering, McKinnon, PriceMartin (5)13,58725 MarchRound 2 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin24–14Crockett (2), Price, WittMartin (4)16,7381 AprilRound 3 Melbourne StormOlympic Park, MelbourneLoss12–30Rapira, VatuveiMartin (2)12,8748 AprilRound 4 Manly Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Sydney Loss 10–13 Mannering, MartinMartin (1)16,35815 AprilRound 5 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin34–14Byrne, Fien, Price, Rovelli, Vatuvei, WittMartin (5)11,260Round 6Bye - 29 AprilRound 7 South Sydney RabbitohsTelstra Stadium, SydneyWin 18–16Byrne, McKinnon, RovelliMartin (3)13,0445 MayRound 8 Cronulla SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss20–22Anderson, Rapira, WittMartin (4)13,58712 MayRound 9 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss 18–24Fien, Ropati, WikiHohaia (3)15,10720 MayRound 10 Wests TigersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 26–30Ah Van, Hohaia, Mannering, Ropati, VatuveiMartin (3)10,28228 MayRound 11 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 6–30SwannMartin (1)11,1603 JuneRound 12 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss20–40Ah Van, Mannering, Ropati, SwannMartin (2)10,04110 JuneRound 13 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss2–4Martin (1)6,20916 JuneRound 14 Cronulla SharksToyota Park, Sydney Win 12–2Vatuvei, WittWitt (2)4,20222 JuneRound 15 Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 54–14McKinnon (2), Witt (2), Anderson, Gatis, Koopu, Lauaki, VatuveiWitt (6), Martin (3)9,97830 JuneRound 16 Gold Coast TitansGold Coast Stadium, Gold CoastWin 22–6Gatis, McKinnon, RapiraWitt (5)17,6087 JulyRound 17 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Loss 12–18Ah Van, VatuveiWitt (2)19,64815 JulyRound 18 St. George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 44–16Mannering (2), Crockett, Gatis, McKinnon, Ropati, TuimavaveWitt (8)10,03722 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyWin 28–16Rovelli (2), Koopu, Luck, RopatiWitt (4)14,01228 JulyRound 20 Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 52–10McKinnon (2), Ropati (2), Rovelli (2), Koopu, Price, VatuveiWitt (8)11,3015 AugustRound 21 Sydney RoostersSFS, SydneyDraw (G.P.)31–31Lauaki (2), McKinnon, Ropati, VatuveiWitt (5 & FG)15,12411 AugustRound 22 Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 30–6Rovelli (3), Ropati (2)Witt (5)20,60918 AugustRound 23 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss 24–26Crockett, Fien, Lauaki, VatuveiWitt (4)8,13426 AugustRound 24 Manly Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 36–14Koopu (2), Gatis, Lauaki, Mannering, VatuveiWitt (6)25,0701 SeptemberRound 25 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyWin 24–20Byrne (2), Rapira, RovelliWitt (4)14,473
Finals Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report7 SeptemberQualifying Final Parramatta Eels Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 10–12 Byrne, WittWitt (1) 28,745 16 SeptemberSemi Final North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Loss 12–49 Crockett, MartinWitt (2) 21,847
Ladder
Squad
Twenty three players were used by the club in 2007. Four players made their debuts for the club, although only one (Corey Lawrie) made his National Rugby League debut. In addition Aidan Kirk was in the squad but did not play a game due to injury.
No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 42SR1 March 1997252008 64CE / SR9 April 19991750020 99UB6 April 20021023014 102PR1 September 2002251004 108CE / FE31 August 200312100040 109CE14 March 200413234076 110 / SR14 March 20042450020 112LK28 March 2004102008 115WG23 May 200423100040 121PR13 March 20052340016 122WG13 March 20051250020 123PR13 March 2005221004 124HK13 March 20052630012 125CE26 June 20052670028 126SR12 March 2006261004 127 / HB12 March 200623100040 128 / HK25 March 20062240016 129WG9 April 20061230012 131PR20 May 20062640016 132FB17 March 20072290036 133WG17 March 20071470028 134FE17 March 2007257621153 135LK15 April 200740000
Staff Chief Executive Officer: Wayne Scurrah
NRL Staff Head coach: Ivan Cleary Assistant coach: John Ackland Welfare and Development Coach: Tony Iro In August 2007 Dean Bell was appointed the club's Development Manager with the intention that he would manage the Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team from 2008. Trainer: Craig WalkerWarriors trainer quits to join Roosters stuff.co.nz, 15 October 2012
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesWade McKinnonParramatta EelsMichael CrockettWests TigersMichael WittManly Sea EaglesAidan KirkSydney Roosters
Losses Player Club NotesAwen GuttenbeilCastleford TigersClinton ToopiLeeds RhinosRichard VillasantiCronulla SharksBrent WebbLeeds RhinosSione FaumuinaHarlequins RL
Mid-Season Losses Player Club NotesCooper VunaNewcastle KnightsReleased, made Newcastle debut 27 May
Other teams
Senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League. Graeme Norton coached the side which finished in tenth spot (out of thirteen), just two wins outside of the top eight.
The Auckland Lions featured many players who were yet to make their first grade debuts for the Warriors, such as Leeson Ah Mau, Sonny Fai, Isaac John, Aidan Kirk, Kevin Locke, Russell Packer and Malo Solomona.2007 Auckland Lions warriors.co.nz, Accessed 17 July 2009
Awards Steve Price won the Player of the Year award.Vodafone Warriors RED BALL Awards warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2014
References
External links Warriors official site NRL 2007 - Warriors rugbyleagueproject.org