The 2013 New Zealand Warriors season was the nineteenth season in the club's history. Coached by Matthew Elliott and captained by Simon Mannering, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2013 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 11th (out of 16 teams), failing to make the finals for the second consecutive year.
Milestones 12 October 2012: Matthew Elliot was appointed coach for the next two seasons. 16 January: Simon Mannering is reconfirmed as captain for the 2013 season.Mannering to lead Vodafone Warriors again warriors.co.nz, 16 January 2013 9 February - All Stars match: Feleti Mateo and Shaun Johnson represent the NRL All Stars team and Dane Nielsen represents the Indigenous All Stars in the 2013 All Stars match. 9 March - Round 1: Dane Nielsen and Todd Lowrie made their debuts for the club. 24 March - Round 3: Ngani Laumape made his first grade debut. 19–21 April: The Warriors provided 7 players to the three representative matches held over the weekend. Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor and Shaun Johnson played for New Zealand, Glen Fisiiahi and Siliva Havili played for Tonga, Carlos Tuimavave played for Samoa and Feleti Mateo played for City. 11 May - Round 9: Suaia Matagi made his first grade debut. 18 May - Round 10: Feleti Mateo plays in his 150th NRL match. The Warriors lose 6-62 to the Penrith Panthers, their largest ever loss in the club's history. 3 June - Round 12: Jacob Lillyman played in his 150th NRL match, Shaun Johnson played in his 50th NRL match and Dominique Peyroux made his debut for the club.Vodafone Warriors v Broncos warriors.co.nz, 3 June 2013 7 July - Round 17: Charlie Gubb made his debut for the club. 7 September - Round 26: Sio Siua Taukeiaho made his debut for the club. Jacob Lillyman played in his 100th match for the club. October - November: 15 players from the club participated in the World Cup: Kevin Locke, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Elijah Taylor, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino (New Zealand), Pita Godinet, Suaia Matagi, Michael Sio (Samoa), Glen Fisiiahi, Konrad Hurrell, Siliva Havili (Tonga), Dominique Peyroux, Hikule'o Malu (Cook Islands).
Jersey and sponsors In 2013 the Warriors jerseys is again to be made by Canterbury of New Zealand.
The Warriors are the best selling club in the NRL for merchandise sales. In 2013 they had seven different playing shirts on sale.Fans stung by team of many shirts nzherald.co.nz, 17 March 2013
Red Bull was announced as a new sponsor of the club, signing a three-year deal.Welcome to the world of Red Bull thewarriors.com.au, 4 February 2013
Fixtures
Pre-season training Pre-season training began on 5 November 2012. Australian wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Brad Morris was employed on the Warriors coaching staff. The team was based at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health and North Harbour Stadium during the pre-Christmas period.Vodafone Warriors fire up for 2013 season warriors.co.nz, 5 November 2012 Four players joined the squad on pre-season trial contracts; Charlie Gubb, Suaia Matagi, Atelea Nafetalai, Nathaniel Peteru.
Pre-season matches Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report9 FebruaryTrial 1 Gold Coast TitansPizzey Park, Burleigh HeadsLoss24-42Godinet, Fusitua, Hurrell, Laumape, NafetalaiSiejka (1), Godinet (1)16 FebruaryTrial 2 Penrith PanthersWaikato Stadium, HamiltonLoss18-32Vatuvei, Laumape, Locke, FishiiahiJohnson (1)12,000Warriors to play in Hamilton New Zealand Herald, 21 October 201223 FebruaryTrial 3 Brisbane BroncosForsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinWin16-10Vatuvei, Fisiiahi, LowrieJohnson (1), Godinet (1)15,000Warriors to play pre-season match in Dunedin stuff.co.nz, 17 October 2012
Regular season The Warriors will play ten home matches at Mount Smart Stadium, one at Eden Park and another at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.Warriors could play home NRL match in Aust nrl.com, 19 October 2012 This will be the Warriors first home match held outside of Auckland. Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report9 MarchRound 1 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss10-40Lillyman, NielsenJohnson (1)13,35116 MarchRound 2 Sydney RoostersEden Park, AucklandLoss14-16Johnson, Godinet, TupouJohnson (1)32,74024 MarchRound 3 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksShark Stadium, SydneyLoss4-28Hurrell12,1831 AprilRound 4 North Queensland CowboysMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win20-18Taylor, Hurrell, JohnsonJohnson (4)10,5727 AprilRound 5 South Sydney RabbitohsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss22-24Matulino, Hurrell, Laumape, GodinetJohnson (3)13,51313 AprilRound 6 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss16-20Vatuvei (2), HenryJohnson (2)9,69925 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormAAMI Park, MelbourneLoss18-28Henry, Tupou, JohnsonJohnson (3)25,4805 MayRound 8 Gold Coast TitansMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin25-24Vatuvei, Mateo, Tupou, Johnson, HenryJohnson (2 & FG)9,46511 MayRound 9 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss16-24Vatuvei, Leuluai, FisiiahiJohnson (2)30,11618 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, SydneyLoss6-62VatuveiHenry (1)9,38626 MayRound 11 Newcastle Knights Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin28-12Vatuvei, Leuluai, Rapira, Mannering, TaylorJohnson (4)9,2573 JuneRound 12 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneWin56-18Vatuvei (2), Fisiiahi (2), Hurrell (2),Leuluai (2), Packer, LockeJohnson (8)21,2599 JuneRound 13 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin18-16Taylor, Fishiiahi, HurrellJohnson (3)11,14316 JuneRound 14 Sydney Roosters Allianz Stadium, SydneyWin23-12Taylor, Laumape, Fishiiahi, VatuveiMateo (2),Johnson (1 & FG)11,040Round 15Bye30 JuneRound 16 Brisbane Broncos Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin18-16Vatuvei, Taylor, HurrellJohnson (3)15,5157 JulyRound 17 South Sydney Rabbitohs NIB Stadium, PerthLoss13-30Mannering, HurrellJohnson (2 & FG)20,221Round 18Bye19 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin24-14Johnson (2), Hurrell, ManneringJohnson (4)11,43628 JulyRound 20 Melbourne Storm Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30-22Laumape (2), Leuluai, Hurrell, LockeJohnson (5)20,1263 AugustRound 21 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss14-18Vatuvei (2), HurrellJohnson (1)15,20911 August Round 22 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesCentral Coast Stadium, GosfordLoss12-27Laumape, JohnsonJohnson (2)12,09018 AugustRound 23 Penrith Panthers Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss24-28Leuluai, Taylor, Matagi, HurrellJohnson (4)11,59624 AugustRound 24 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastWin24-22Ropati (2), Nielsen, HurrellJohnson (4)15,78631 AugustRound 25 Canberra Raiders Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin50-16Vatuvei (3), Johnson (3), Taylor, Mannering, LaumapeJohnson (7)15,1217 SeptemberRound 26 St. George-Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, WollongongLoss10-19Taylor, VatuveiJohnson (1)9,022
Ladder
Squad
No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 105HB2 May 20032460024 108CE31 August 200342008 115WG23 May 200419160064 125SR26 June 20052340016 131PR20 May 2006221004 141PR4 May 200891004 142PR14 June 2008241004 146PR14 March 2009221004 152FB31 May 2009202008 159SR14 March 201000000 160WG4 April 2010930012 162HK21 August 201000000 163FB12 March 20111150020 164SR12 March 2011241208 167SR3 April 20112380032 168HB4 June 20112410673177 169SR4 June 201130000 170HB24 July 2011102008 171SR4 March 2012731014 172HK4 March 2012210000 173CE4 March 201220130052 175SR21 July 201200000 176LK28 July 201280000 177FE5 August 201230000 178CE9 March 2013172008 179SR9 March 2013210000180WG24 March 20131460024181PR11 May 2013111004182CE3 June 2013130000183 PR7 July 201310000184 SR7 September 201310000
Staff Chief executive officer: Wayne Scurrah General manager: Don Mann Jr General manager football operations: Dean BellNew role for Bell at Vodafone Warriors warriors.co.nz, 16 October 2012 Medical services manager: John Mayhew Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu Media and communications manager: Richard Becht
Coaching staff NRL head coach: Matthew Elliott NRL assistant coach: Andrew McFaddenWarriors coaching staff complete with McFadden stuff.co.nz, 10 November 2012 NRL assistant coach: Ricky HenryVulcans boss joins Elliott New Zealand Herald, 4 November 2012 NYC head coach: John Ackland NYC assistant coach: Kelvin Wright Junior recruitment and pathways coach: Stacey JonesJones returns to Warriors in coaching & development role rleague.com, 12 November 2012
Strength and Conditioning Strength and conditioning coach: Carl JenningsCarl Jennings appointed Warriors Strength & Conditioning Coach rleague.com, 18 October 2012 Strength and conditioning coach: Ruben WikiWarriors make Ruben Wiki conditioning coach stuff.co.nz, 2 November 2012 Sports science manager: Brad Morris Rehab and speed coach: Dayne Norton Performance analyst: Adam Sadler
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesThomas Leuluai Wigan Warriors2013–2015Harry Siejka Penrith Panthers2013–20??Dane Nielsen Melbourne Storm2013–2015Todd Lowrie Melbourne Storm2013-2014Matthew ElliottSydney Roosters2013-2014CoachDominique PeyrouxGold Coast Titans2013-2015Titans off-load two more to NRL rivals nrl.com, 1 November 2012
Losses Player Club NotesJames MaloneySydney RoostersWarriors fail to extend Maloney's contract New Zealand Herald, 26 November 2011Lewis BrownPenrith PanthersMicheal Luck RetirementUkuma Ta'aiHuddersfield GiantsKrisnan InuCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsLeft 24 May 2012Inu leaves the Warriors to join Bulldogs New Zealand Herald, 24 May 2012Omar SlaimankhelCanon EaglesJapan beckons smh.com.au, 21 September 2012
Other teams The Junior Warriors again competed in the Holden Cup while senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.
Holden Cup Squad
In John Ackland's last season with the club, the Junior Warriors made the grand final, before losing 30-42 to the Penrith Panthers juniors.
Grand Final team: David Fusitua, Metia Lisati, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Ngataua Hukatai, Viliami Lolohea, Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino, James Taylor, Siliva Havili, Albert Vete, Michael Sio, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and David Bhana (c). Bench: Eko Malu, Sam Lisone, Kouma Samson, Solomone Kata.
Seventeen Junior Warriors attended an NRL rookie camp on 24 and 25 November 2012. They were Vincent Afoa, Katamiro Atera, Trent Bishop, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sione Feao, David Fusitua, Ngani Laumape, Mason Lino, Sam Lisone, Kouma Samson, Kurt Robinson, Lafu Feagaiga, Tama Koopu, Kenneth Maumalo, Eric Newbigging, Sam Cook and Esera Esera.Junior Warriors at NRL Annual Rookie Camp rleague.com, 23 November 2012
Vulcans squad
The Vulcans were coached by Willie Swann, who was assisted by Brent Gemmel.Swann named as Vulcans' new coach New Zealand Herald, 4 December 2012
The Vulcans made the finals, losing to the Wests Tigers 24-34 in an elimination final.
The 2013 squad was Aaron Nootai, Agnatius Paasi, Atelea Nafetalai, Daniel Palavi, Murray Iti, Nathaniel Peteru, Steve Waetford, Tangi Ropati and Zoram Watene. In addition, the Vulcans were able to select players contracted to the Warriors and not selected for first grade, including four under 20 players; Ngani Laumape, Siliva Havili, Trent Bishop and Visesio Setefano.
Suaia Matagi was named the player of the year, ahead of runner up Tangi Ropati. John Palavi was named the rookie of the year. aucklandleague.co.nz, 15 August 2013
Awards Captain Simon Mannering won the Player of the Year award while Ngani Laumape won Rookie of the Year. The Clubman of the Year was Manu Vatuvei and Shaun Johnson won the People's Player of the Year, decided by public vote. Jerome Ropati was presented with a special Legacy Award.Mannering wins Warriors Player of the Year voxy.co.nz, 24 September 2013
References
External links Warriors 2013 season rugby league project