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.

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.Vodafone Warriors 2009 – new year, new team, new look Warriors Official Site 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

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 Report12 FebruaryTrial 1 Melbourne Storm Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Win 24 – 12 McKinnon, Kirk, O'Regan, Vatuvei Kemp (3), Ah Van 10,800 22 FebruaryTrial 2 North Queensland CowboysNorth Harbour Stadium, AucklandWin32 – 28Ah Van, Moon, Hohaia, Solomona, Brown, VatuveiKemp (2), Moon (2)16,50028 FebruaryTrial 3 Gold Coast TitansOakes Oval, LismoreWin34 – 12Kemp (2), McKinnon (2), Tate, Rapira, MoonKemp (2), Moon5,117

Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report14 MarchRound 1 Parramatta Eels Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 26 – 18 Hohaia (2), Moon, Packer Kemp (5) 20,102Revised crowd number for Vodafone Warriors – Parramatta Eels NRL match Warriors Official Site 22 MarchRound 2 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyWin26 – 24Tate (2), Vatuvei, Royal, RopatiKemp (3)16,30728 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss10 – 26Mannering, Ta'aiKemp (1)24,3505 AprilRound 4 South Sydney Rabbitohs Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 16 – 22 Kirk, Luck, McKinnonKemp (2) 19,38612 AprilRound 5 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss22 – 24McKinnon, Fien, Packer, Ah VanKemp (3)16,30719 AprilRound 6 Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin (G.P.)17 – 16Jones, Ropati, VatuveiKemp (2), Jones (FG)16,30925 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, MelbourneDraw (G.P.)14 – 14Vatuvei (2), Ah VanKemp (1)15,2003 MayRound 8 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongLoss 11 – 12Ah Van, RopatiAh Van (1), Jones (FG)14,562}Round 9Bye – 17 MayRound 10 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12 – 34Fien, KempKemp (2)16,34524 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss 12 – 38Price, ManneringKemp (2)8,38331 MayRound 12 Wests TigersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin14 – 0Locke (2), McKinnonLocke (1)15,3657 JuneRound 13 Cronulla SharksToyota Stadium, SydneyLoss10 – 18Vatuvei, BrownLocke (1)14,08213 JuneRound 14 Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 13 – 0Hohaia, LockeLocke (2), Hohaia (FG)14,255Round 15Bye – 27 JuneRound 16 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, RobinaLoss 12 – 28Hohaia, BrownLocke (2)20,0313 JulyRound 17 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneLoss 14 – 28Price (2)Locke (3)32,45612 JulyRound 18 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 14 – 18Vatuvei, Locke, PackerLocke (1)11,80219 JulyRound 19 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 30 – 24Vatuvei (2), Ah Van, Mannering, JonesJones (3)8,02126 JulyRound 20 St George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 4 – 29Moon13,5071 AugustRound 21 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyDraw (G.P.) 32 – 32Moon (4), BrownLocke (6)12,6779 AugustRound 22 Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 10 – 30Vatuvei (2)Locke (1)10,20515 AugustRound 23 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 4 – 40Vatuvei12,62723 AugustRound 24 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Won 34 – 20Hohaia (2), Heremaia, Mannering, Ropati, Moon Locke (5)8,81230 AugustRound 25 BulldogsANZ Stadium, Sydney Loss20 – 40Vatuvei (2), Rapira (2)Jones (2)41,8355 SeptemberRound 26 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 0 – 3014,734

Ladder

Squad

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 24New ZealandHB23 April 19952325220 99New ZealandUB6 April 20022060125 102New ZealandPR1 September 200260000 108New ZealandCE / FE31 August 20031740016 115New ZealandWG23 May 200419130052 121AustraliaPR13 March 20051430012 124New ZealandHK13 March 200592008 125New ZealandCE26 June 20052340016 126AustraliaSR12 March 2006231004 129New ZealandWG9 April 20061441018 131New ZealandPR20 May 2006232008 132AustraliaFB17 March 20072140016 136AustraliaFB / CE17 March 200851004 137AustraliaCE17 March 200832008 138ScotlandHK23 March 2008220000 141New ZealandPR4 May 20082130012 142New ZealandSR14 June 2008170000 144AustraliaWG14 March 200910121046 145AustraliaFE14 March 20092370028 146AustraliaPR14 March 2009240000 147New ZealandPR14 March 200920000 148New ZealandPR22 March 2009151004 149TongaSR22 March 2009101004 150New ZealandFE5 April 200910000 151New ZealandHK3 May 20091530012 152New ZealandFB31 May 200912422060 153New ZealandHB31 May 2009111004 154New ZealandFE19 July 200930000 155New 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

Player Previous club Length NotesLiam ForanMelbourne Storm2009, with optionJacob LillymanNorth Queensland Cowboys2010Denan KempBrisbane Broncos2010Vodafone Warriors Sign Brisbane Speedster Kemp for Two Years , 28 May 2008Joel MoonBrisbane Broncos2011Stacey JonesRetired2009Lewis BrownWests Tigers2009, with optionJesse RoyalNewcastle Knights2010

Losses Player Club NotesRuben WikiRetiredWairangi KoopuMelbourne StormLogan SwannRetiredMichael CrockettReleasedRyan ShortlandReleasedGrant RovelliNorth Queensland CowboysRovelli Heading Home to Link up with North Queensland for 2009 NRL season @ Warriors Official Site, 3 December 2008Sonny Faipresumed drowned

Mid-Season Losses Player Club NotesEpalahame LauakiHullMichael WittOtago Rugby UnionLiam ForanNewtown JetsNathan FienSt. George Illawarra Dragons

Contract extensions Simon Mannering (until 2012) Jerome Ropati (until 2012)Ropati to become 10-year Vodafone Warrior Warriors Official Site, 29 March 2009 Lance Hohaia (until 2011, with option) Patrick Ah Van (until 2011)Warriors re-sign three players AAP, 10 May 2009 Aaron Heremaia (until 2011, with option) Isaac John (until 2011, with option) Ian Henderson (until 2011)Henderson re-signs with Warriors AAP, 14 May 2009 Ivan Cleary (until 2012)Warriors show faith in coach Cleary NRL.com, 4 June 2009

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 was never recovered. The entire team attended his two memorial services, one in a Samoan Methodist Church and one held at Te Henga (Bethells Beach).Remembering Sonny at Bethells Beach Warriors Official Site

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.

End of Season awards Lion Red Player of the Year: Micheal LuckTackling machine Luck wins premier award Warriors.co.nz, 11 September 2009 Canterbury of New Zealand Clubman of the Year: Sam Rapira Vodafone NRL Young Player of the Year: Russell Packer Vodafone One Tribe Supporters' Player of the Year: Kevin Locke Sonny Fai Medal: Elijah Taylor

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.November 2009 Newsletter Auckland Rugby League

2009 Junior Warriors

Siuatonga Likiliki was named in the 2009 Toyota Cup team of the year.2009 Toyota Cup Team of the Year NRL.com, 1 September 2009

References

External links Warriors official site Warriors 2009 season rugby league project