The New Zealand Warriors 2001 season was the New Zealand Warriors' 7th first-grade season, and their first under the new name. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Stacey Jones and Kevin Campion were the club's co-captains. The club made the final series for the first time, after finishing eighth in the regular season.
Milestones 4 March — Round 3: Ali Lauitiiti played in his 50th match for the club. 24 March — Round 6: The Warriors defeat Brisbane for the first time, 13–12. 16 June — Round 16: Jason Death played in his 50th match for the club. 24 June — Round 17: Awen Guttenbeil played in his 50th match for the club. 15 July — Round 19: Logan Swann played in his 100th match for the club. 27 August — Round 25: The club reaches the play-offs for the first time when a 24–24 draw with Melbourne secures a finals berth.
The Sale In November 2000 Tainui sold many of the club's assets to businessman Eric Watson. This purchase included the club's NRL license, the intellectual property rights and the training base but controversially did not include the player contracts.
The club was re-branded as the New Zealand Warriors, with new colours of black and grey — resembling the national sporting colours. Mick Watson was hired as CEO while little known coach Daniel Anderson was appointed head coach.
Jersey and sponsors The Warriors had a in 2001, produced by Puma, similar to old designs but with the new owners adding black to the design.
Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2001, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Pre Season trials Date Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report3 February Canterbury BullsRugby League Park, ChristchurchWin74-12Toopi (2), Koopu (2), Myles (2), Jones (2), Beverley, Tookey, Seuseu, Fa'afili, Betham, Meli Jones (7), Myles (2)4,500
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report18 FebruaryRound 1 Canberra RaidersMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 8-24 Fa'afiliCleary (2)11,13425 FebruaryRound 2 Northern EaglesCentral Coast Stadium, Gosford Win 24-16Beverley, Guttenbeil, Jones, Meli Cleary (4) 8,012 4 MarchRound 3 Wests TigersCampbelltown Sports Ground, Sydney Loss 10-29Koopu, Meli Cleary (1)8,899 9 MarchRound 4 St. George Illawarra DragonsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 34-8Betham, Campion, Cleary, Tony, Toopi Cleary (7) 8,730 18 MarchRound 5 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 24-30Betham, Meli, Morgan, Swann Cleary (3), Jones (1) 12,14124 MarchRound 6 Brisbane BroncosMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 13-12Fa'afili, Swann Jones (2 & FG) 13,921 31 MarchRound 7 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss 24-45Toopi (2), Fa'afili, Meli, Wood Cleary (2) 15,894 7 AprilRound 8 Canterbury BulldogsWestpac Stadium, Wellington Draw 24-24Fa'afili, Meli, Justin Murphy, Toopi Jones (4) 27,724 16 AprilRound 9 Penrith PanthersMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 52-8Meli (2), Murphy (2), Swann (2), Toopi (2), Richard Blackmore, Fa'afili Cleary (6) 16,87621 AprilRound 10 Cronulla SharksToyota Park, Sydney Loss 16-26Lauiti'iti, Swann, Villasanti Cleary (2) 9,011 29 AprilRound 11 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 42-30Seuseu (2), Fa'afili, Jones, Meli, Tony, ToopiCleary (7) 9,857 12 MayRound 12 Melbourne StormMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 20-40Tony (2), Betham Cleary (4) 15,16720 MayRound 13 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Loss 18-35Blackmore, Fa'afili, Swann Cleary (3) 10,81926 MayRound 14 Canberra RaidersManuka Oval, CanberraWin 22-10Death, Jones, Swann, Tony Cleary (3)7,112 1 JuneRound 15 Northern EaglesMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 30-34Betham, Campion, Cleary, Death, Fa'afili, Toopi Cleary (5) 12,282 16 JuneRound 16 Wests TigersMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 16-21Fa'afili (2), Jones Cleary (2) 8,333 24 JuneRound 17 St. George Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, Wollongong Loss 18-38Guttenbeil, Jones, Tony Cleary (3) 9,0137 JulyRound 18 Parramatta EelsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 29-18Cleary, Hape, Jones, Paleaaesina Cleary (6 & FG) 10,554 15 JulyRound 19 Brisbane BroncosCarrara Stadium, Gold Coast Loss 12-48Fa'afili, Tookey Cleary (2) 15,813 22 JulyRound 20 Newcastle KnightsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 30-37Tony (2), Meli, Paleaaesina, Toopi Jones (3), Cleary (2) 8,188 28 JulyRound 21 Canterbury BulldogsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 34-8Betham, Murphy, Jones, Fa'afili, Swann, Tookey Jones (5) 10,391 5 AugustRound 22 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyWin 48-32Jones (2), Meli (2), Fa'afili, Lauiti'iti, Swann, ToopiCleary (8) 8,23411 AugustRound 23 Cronulla SharksMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 30-0Koopu, Myles, Swann, Toopi, Villasanti Cleary (5) 10,131 18 AugustRound 24 Sydney RoostersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 14-8Hape, JonesJones (2), Cleary (1) 15,665 27 AugustRound 25 Melbourne StormTelstra Dome, MelbourneDraw 24-24Hape (2), Fa'afili, MylesJones (4) 13,298 2 SeptemberRound 26 North Queensland CowboysMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 18-30Koopu, Lauiti'iti, TonyJones (3) 24,568
Final Series
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report9 SeptemberQualifying Final Parramatta Eels Parramatta Stadium, Sydney Loss 12 - 56 Koopu, Tony Cleary (2)17,336
Ladder
Squad
Twenty Seven players were used by the Warriors in 2001, including three players who made their first grade debuts.
No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 24HB23 April 1995261024189 26CE14 May 199582008 33 / SR14 April 1996262008 42SR1 March 199722100040 50 / PR16 August 1997232008 55 / SR19 April 19982630012 59HK / LK8 March 1999212008 61 / HK / LK8 March 19992450020 62FE21 March 199991004 64CE / SR9 April 19991840016 65 / WG2 May 199925110044 66CE2 May 199924110044 73FB / CE6 February 2000223801173 76PR6 February 2000112008 77CE14 February 2000172008 80CE18 March 20001440016 81 / WG26 March 200027140056 84SR24 June 200050000 86 / LK18 February 2001232008 87 / PR18 February 2001212008 88PR25 February 2001111004 89PR4 March 200140000 90 / UH9 March 200119100040 91HK / HB24 March 2001171004 92WG7 April 2001940016 93 / PR1 June 200152008 94PR15 July 200110000
Staff Chief executive officer: Mick Watson
Coaching staff Head coach: Daniel Anderson Assistant coach: Tony Kemp Video analysis: Rohan SmithMann named to head foundation New Zealand Herald, 19 March 2003
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesBrisbane BroncosWests TigersCanberra RaidersNewcastle KnightsSydney City RoostersCanterbury Bulldogs
Losses Player Club NotesRetiredWests TigersMelbourne StormMelbourne StormMt Albert LionsRetiredNewcastle KnightsLeeds RhinosWests TigersPerpignanNorthern EaglesPenrith PanthersCanberra RaidersRetiredNorth Queensland CowboysCanterbury BulldogsRetiredBradford Bulls
Other teams Players not required by the Warriors each week were released to play in the 2001 Bartercard Cup. This included Anthony Seuseu, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Cliff Beverley, Shontayne Hape, Jason Temu, Motu Tony, Jonathan Smith, Justin Murphy, Mark Tookey and Kevin Campion who all played in the Bartercard Cup and the National Rugby League in 2001.
Awards Jerry Seuseu won the club's Player of the Year award.New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.50
References
External links Warriors official site 2001 Warriors Season at rugbyleagueproject.org