The New Zealand Warriors 2008 season was the New Zealand Warriors 14th 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 31 March – Round 3: Grant Rovelli played in his 50th match for the club. 19 April – Round 6: Lance Hohaia played in his 100th match for the club. 22 June – Round 15: Sam Rapira played in his 50th match for the club. 14 September – Qualifying Finals: The Warriors become the first team finishing eighth to beat the minor premiers when they defeat the Melbourne Storm, 18 – 15. October–November: 11 players from the club participated in the World Cup: Steve Price, Brent Tate (Australia), Nathan Fien, Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira, Jerome Ropati, Evarn Tuimavave, Manu Vatuvei (New Zealand), Ian Henderson (Scotland), Epalahame Lauaki (Tonga). In addition, John Ackland coached Samoa and Wairangi Koopu played for the New Zealand Māori side in the Welcome to Country match.

Jersey and sponsors The Warriors again did not change their jersey, sticking with the predominantly Black & White design supplied by Puma AG. The away jersey also remained unchanged, being mainly Grey with Black details. For the "Heritage Round" the Warriors played in a strip based on their 1999 Red away strip

Fixtures

The Warriors used Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2008, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Trial Matches Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report15 FebruaryTrial 1 Newcastle Knights North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Loss 14–22 Ah Van, Vatuvei, Koopu Witt (1) 9,000 2008 NRL trials warriors.co.nz. Retrieved 1 July 200923 FebruaryTrial 2 Auckland Vulcans Henham Park, Auckland Win 50–0 Solomona (2), Hohaia (2), Fien, Witt, Locke, Taylor, Mika Witt (7) 29 FebruaryTrial 3 Manly Sea Eagles Stockland Park, Sunshine Coast Loss 16–24 Rovelli, Witt, Solomona Witt (2) 8,040

Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report17 MarchRound 1 Melbourne Storm Telstra Dome, Melbourne Loss 18–32 Vatuvei (2), Ropati Witt (3) 20,084 23 MarchRound 2 Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30–16Vatuvei (2), Rovelli, Tate, TuimavaveWitt (5)15,25031 MarchRound 3 Manly Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss6–52HohaiaWitt (1)10,1756 AprilRound 4 Newcastle Knights Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 26–20 Shortland (2), Ah Van, TuimavaveWitt (5) 11,51813 AprilRound 5 BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin36–16Vatuvei (2), Ah Van, Fai, Hohaia, WikiWitt (6)15,91219 AprilRound 6 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss 20–48Henderson, Ropati, ManneringWitt (4)20,54427 AprilRound 7 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastLoss24–36Witt (2), Luck, VatuveiWitt (4)25,3104 MayRound 8 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 14–6Shortland, TateWitt (3)7,358Round 9Bye – 18 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyLoss 22–46Mannering (2), Henderson Packer Hohaia (3)9,45025 MayRound 11 Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12–38Henderson, KirkHohaia (2)11,92231 MayRound 12 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleWin18–16Ah Van, Crockett, HendersonAh Van (3)15,4896 JuneRound 13 South Sydney RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss28–35Crockett (3), Ah Van, Kirk, RopatiAh Van (1), Hohaia (1)13,11213 JuneRound 14 Cronulla SharksToyota Park, Sydney Loss 8–24RopatiHohaia (2)9,02322 JuneRound 15 Manly Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 14–20Kirk, Vatuvei, ManneringWitt (1)7,14129 JuneRound 16 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin 28–26Fai, Fien, Henderson, Hohaia, RopatiHohaia (2), Witt (2)15,027Round 17Bye – 12 JulyRound 18 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 24–14Fai, Kirk, Luck, Mannering, RopatiHohaia (2)7,72219 JulyRound 19 BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyWin 40–22Solomona (3), Fai, Hohaia, Kirk, Price, RapiraHohaia (4)12,97327 JulyRound 20 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 8–6FaiHohaia (2)8,7002 AugustRound 21 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss 18–16Hohaia (2), RopatiHohaia (2)9,2769 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 16–12Matulino, McKinnon, WittWitt (2)13,00716 AugustRound 23 Cronulla SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 18–4Hohaia, Ropati, VatuveiWitt (3)10,41724 AugustRound 24 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong Loss 6–36McKinnonWitt (1)11,58331 AugustRound 25 Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 42–20Vatuvei (2), Henderson, Luck, McKinnon, Ropati, WittWitt (7)15,2146 SeptemberRound 26 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Sydney Win 28–6Vatuvei (3), Tate (2)Witt (4)5,102

Finals

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report14 SeptemberQualifying Final Melbourne Storm Olympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Win 18–15 Ropati, Vatuvei, Witt Witt (3) 15,193 19 SeptemberSemi Final Sydney Roosters Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 30–13 Hohaia (2), Henderson, Kirk, VatuveiWitt (5) 25,585 27 SeptemberPreliminary Final Manly Sea Eagles Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Loss 6–32 Kirk Hohaia (1) 32,095

Ladder

Squad

Twenty Six players played for the club in 2008. Eight players made their debut for the club, including five who were also making their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 42SR1 March 1997240000 64CE / SR9 April 199960000 99UB6 April 200226921078 102PR1 September 2002252008 108CE / FE31 August 20032290036 110 / SR14 March 2004160000 115WG23 May 200417160064 121PR13 March 2005171004 123PR13 March 2005241004 124HK13 March 2005271004 125CE26 June 20052750020 126SR12 March 20062530012 127HB12 March 2006211004 129WG9 April 20061244024 131PR20 May 2006272008 132FB17 March 2007530012 133WG17 March 2007640012 134FE17 March 2007185590138 136FB / CE17 March 20081570028 137CE17 March 20082440016 138HK23 March 20082670028 139SR23 March 20081550020 140CE6 April 2008530012 141PR4 May 200851004 142SR14 June 2008151004 143WG29 June 2008830012

Staff Chief Executive Officer: Wayne Scurrah

NRL Staff Head coach: Ivan Cleary Assistant coach: John Ackland Football manager: Don Mann, Jr. Club doctor: John Mayhew Trainer: Craig WalkerWarriors trainer quits to join Roosters stuff.co.nz, 15 October 2012

NYC Staff Head coach: Tony Iro Team Manager: Dean Bell

Transfers

Gains Player Previous club Length NotesBrent TateBrisbane BroncosIan HendersonBradford BullsRyan ShortlandMelbourne Storm

Losses Player Club NotesGeorge GatisHuddersfield GiantsTodd ByrneHullLouis AndersonWarrington WolvesTony MartinWakefield Trinity Wildcats

Other teams In 2008 the Junior Warriors competed in the new Under 20's competition, 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. Wayne McDade was named the Vulcans player of the year with Aaron Heremaia as the runner up and Pita Godinet as the Rookie of the year.Auckland Vulcans Player of the Year Auckland Vulcans. Retrieved 15 August 2009

Junior Warriors

The Junior Warriors finished third in the Toyota Cup, making the finals before losing to the Brisbane Broncos in a Preliminary Final. Both Russell Packer and Ben Matulino were named in the Toyota Cup's team of the year.

Awards Simon Mannering 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 2008 – Warriors rugbyleagueproject.org