The Auckland Warriors 1997 season was the Auckland Warriors 3rd first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's Super League. The coach of the team was John Monie until he was replaced by Frank Endacott after Round 9 while Matthew Ridge was the club's captain.
Milestones 12 April – Round 7: Sean Hoppe plays his 50th match for the club. 19 April – Round 8: Gene Ngamu and Tea Ropati play in their 50th match for the club. 27 April – Round 9: Stephen Kearney plays his 50th match for the club. 6 July – Round 14: Stacey Jones plays his 50th match for the club.
Jersey and sponsors
The Warriors adopted a new in 1997 that matched the Super League style used by the other nine teams in the competition. The jerseys were made by Nike, Inc.
Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1997, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report1 MarchRound 1 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, Brisbane Loss 2–14 Ridge (1)42,3618 MarchRound 2 Hunter MarinersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 18–14 Hoppe (2), EruRidge (3)20,30017 MarchRound 3 Cronulla Sharks Shark Park, Sydney Loss 8–34 BettsRidge (2)16,86021 MarchRound 4 Adelaide RamsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 12–16 Jones, TuimavaveEllis (2)13,00029 MarchRound 5 Penrith PanthersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 16–14 Betts, Hoppe, T.RopatiEllis (1), Ridge (1)19,4007 AprilRound 6 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, Canberra Win 31–24 Henare, Hoppe, Jones, Kearnery, I.RopatiEllis (5 + FG)15,06112 AprilRound 7 Hunter MarinersTopper Stadium, Newcastle Loss 10–18 Hoppe, I.RopatiEllis (1)7,71919 AprilRound 8 Canterbury BulldogsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 24–38 Eru, Jones, I.Ropati, T.RopatiEllis (4)17,00027 AprilRound 9 North Queensland CowboysStockland Stadium, Townsville Loss 22–30 Endacott, Hoppe, T.RopatiEllis (5)12,4644 MayRound 10 Brisbane BroncosEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 18–34 Hoppe (2), T.RopatiEllis (3)16,47126 MayRound 11 Canberra RaidersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 10–20 Ellis, RidgeEllis (1)15,1001 JuneRound 12 Western RedsWACA Ground, Perth Loss 12–24 Eru, HoppeNgamu (2)10,2036 JuneWCC 1 St Helens R.F.C.Knowsley Road, St. Helens Win 42–14 Hoppe (2), A.Swann (2), Jones, Kearney, T.RopatiRidge (7)8,91114 JuneWCC 2 Bradford BullsOdsal Stadium, Bradford Win 20–16 Jones, Ridge, StaladiRidge (4)13,13323 JuneWCC 3 Warrington WolvesWilderspool Stadium, Warrington Win 56–28 T.Ropati (4), A.Swann (2), Kearney, Ngamu, Ridge, VaganaRidge (8)4,42829 JuneRound 13 Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium, Sydney Loss 22–26 Eru (2), Jones, StaladiNgamu (3)4,4466 JulyRound 14 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 11–8 EllisRidge (3), Jones (FG)12,56811 JulyRound 15 Adelaide RamsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Win 18–8 Oudenryn, T.RopatiEllis (3)13,27818 JulyWCC 4 Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 64–14 T.Ropati (3), Hoppe (2), Betts, Ellis, Eru, Ngamu, OudenrynNgamu (12)12,50025 JulyWCC 5 St Helens R.F.C.Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Win 70–6 Ngamu (3), Eru (2), Hoppe (2), Oudenryn (2), Betts, Ellis, JonesRidge (11)18,3543 AugustWCC 6 Warrington WolvesLancaster Park, Christchurch Win 16–4 Eru, Jones, KearneyRidge (2)5,50011 AugustRound 16 Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Sports Ground, Sydney Loss 18–40 Hoppe, Oudenryn, A.SwannRidge (3)5,12616 AugustRound 17 Western RedsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 30–22 Ridge (2), Betts, Jones, KearneyRidge (5)13,14224 AugustRound 18 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 50–22 Ellis (3), Jones (2), Bailey, Hoppe, Oudenryn, A.SwannNgamu (7)12,000
World Club Challenge Finals Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report3 OctoberQualifying Final Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 62–14 Hoppe (2), Ridge (2), Ellis, Eru, Jones, Malam, Ngamu, A.Swann, L.SwannRidge (9)12,06310 OctoberSemi-final Brisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Loss 16–22 Oudenryn (2), EndacottRidge (2)9,686
Ladder
WCC Australasia Pool A Club Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Diff. Points Brisbane Broncos 6 6 0 0 270 52 218 12 Auckland Warriors 6 6 0 0 268 82 186 12 Cronulla Sharks 6 6 0 0 230 54 176 12 Penrith Panthers 6 6 0 0 256 120 136 12 Canberra Raiders 6 5 1 0 302 108 194 10 Canterbury Bulldogs 6 4 2 0 218 121 97 8
Squad
The Warriors used 29 players in 1997, including four players making their first grade debuts.
No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 2FB / HK10 March 199520000 3†WG10 March 199518110044 6†FE10 March 199517012024 10PR / HK10 March 199510000 11†SR10 March 1995172008 13† / PR / LK10 March 199571004 15† / CE / FE10 March 19951650020 18† / PR18 March 1995170000 19†HK28 March 19951850020 24†HB23 April 19951870129 28†SR4 June 19951430012 29†FB / WG31 March 199616525171 30†PR / SR31 March 1996150000 33† / SR14 April 199640000 35CE19 April 1996530012 36† / CE23 June 1996182008 37†PR23 June 1996150000 38SR23 July 1996111004 40†FB1 March 19979318048 41PR1 March 199790000 42†SR1 March 1997130000 43FE17 March 199720000 44†FE29 March 199781004 45†WG27 April 199741004 46CE / LK1 June 199710000 47†WG6 July 1997540016 48HB29 June 199710000 49CE11 August 199731004 50 / PR16 August 199710000 A cross (†) next to a name denotes that the player played in the 1997 World Club Championship.
Staff Chief Executive Officer: Ian Robson, replaced by Bill MacGowan in February 1997Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. .
Coaching staff Head Coach: John Monie, replaced by Frank Endacott in late April 1997. Reserve Grade Coach: Frank Endacott, replaced by Gary Kemble. Under 19 Coach: John Ackland
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesManly Sea EaglesHad initially signed and trained with the side in 1996, until the Super League season was postponed.South Queensland CrushersCanterbury Country CardinalsGold Coast Seagulls
Losses Player Club NotesWhitehavenWigan WarriorsWarrington WolvesAuckland Rugby Football UnionSalford City RedsNEC Green RocketsWarrington WolvesRetiredPenrith PanthersLeeds Rhinos
Awards Stacey Jones won the club's Player of the Year award.
Other teams The Warriors fielded teams in both Super League's reserve grade and the Under-19 competition (The Mal Meninga Cup). The Reserve Grade side finished fourth and then beat Cronulla, Perth and North Queensland to make the Grand Final while the Under 19's finished the regular season as minor premiers, beating Penrith to make the Grand Final. Ultimately however both sides lost their respective Grand Finals, with the reserve grade going down 12–40 and the Under-19's losing 12–27.
Grand Final Teams Reserve Grade: Glen Coughlan, Iva Ropati, David Bailey, Joe Galuvao, Paul Staladi, Meti Noovao, Aaron Whittaker, Hitro Okesene, Steve Buckingham, Grant Young, Tony Tuimavave, Jerry Seu Seu, Bryan Henare. Bench: Ben Fahey, Frank Watene, Paul Rauhihi, Ricky Henry. Coach: Gary Kemble.
Under-19: Junior Lemafa, Odell Manuel, Tai Savea, Peter Lewis, Mark Fakahua, Monty Betham, Anthony Clyde, David Solomona, Lee Wetherill, Pewhairangi Jones, Kylie Leuluai, Filimone Lolohea, Ali Lauitiiti. Bench: Steve Murray, Scott Dewhurst, Fale Falemoe, Jonathan Smith. Coach: John Ackland.
References
External links Warriors official site 1997 Warriors Season