The 2014 New Zealand Warriors season was the 20th in the club's history. Coached by Matthew Elliott until he was replaced by Andrew McFadden in Round 6, and captained by Simon Mannering, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2014 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season 9th out of 16 teams, failing to make the finals for the third consecutive year. In the pre-season the Warriors also had competed in the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines tournament.
Milestones 9 March - Round 1: Four players made their club debuts for the Warriors; Sam Tomkins, Chad Townsend, Jayson Bukuya and John Palavi. 15 March - Round 2: David Fusitua made his NRL debut. 7 April: Head coach Matthew Elliott resigned as head coach.Elliott quits as Warriors coach nzherald.co.nz, 7 April 2014 Andrew McFadden was made acting coach. 13 April - Round 6: Siliva Havili made his NRL debut. 2 May: Shaun Johnson, Ben Henry, Simon Mannering and Siliva Havili played for New Zealand in the 2014 ANZAC Test. 3 May: Suaia Matagi, Michael Sio, Dominique Peyroux and Carlos Tuimavave represented Samoa in the Pacific International. 13 May: Andrew McFadden was appointed head coach until the end of the 2017 season. 1 June - Round 12: Simon Mannering played in his 200th match for the club, and his 100th as club captain. Nathan Friend also played in his 50th game for the club. 19 July - Round 19: Agnatius Paasi made his NRL debut. 27 July - Round 20: Tuimoala Lolohea made his NRL debut. 24 August - Round 24: Ben Matulino played in his 150th match for the club. He is the first NYC graduate from any club to reach the milestone.Changes to Spine warriors.co.nz, 24 August 2014 18 October: Sam Lisone and Adam Tuimavave-Gerard played for the Junior Kiwis. Sam Tomkins represented England, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson, Suaia Matagi, Siliva Havili and Thomas Leuluai represented New Zealand and Dominique Peyroux and Michael Sio represented Samoa in the end of year Four Nations tournament.
Jersey and sponsors In 2014 the Warriors jerseys was again made by Canterbury of New Zealand.
Fixtures
Pre-season training Pre-season training began on 28 October 2013.Your club's pre-season guide nrl.com, 1 November 2013
Pre-season matches The Warriors played the Gold Coast Titans at North Harbour Stadium on 9 February and the Brisbane Broncos at Forsyth Barr Stadium on 23 February.Ben Barba to debut for Broncos in Dunedin stuff.co.nz, 19 November 20132014 NRL trial game details nrl.com, 9 December 2013 The Warriors also played the Wigan Warriors on Wednesday 12 February, in a warm up game before Wigan competes in the 2014 World Club Challenge.Warriors to play Wigan in Hamilton nrl.com, 19 December 2013 Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report9 FebruaryTrial 1 Gold Coast TitansNorth Harbour Stadium, AucklandLoss18-32Lolohea (2), IkahifoLino (3)7,00012 FebruaryTrial 2 Wigan WarriorsWaikato Stadium, HamiltonLoss22-46 Townsend, Tuimavave-Gerrard, Peteru, Friend Townsend (3)23 FebruaryTrial 3 Brisbane BroncosForsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinWin48-4Fisiiahi (2), Hurrell (2), Johnson, Gubb, Tuimavave, Fusitua, TomkinsJohnson (4), Townsend (2)
Auckland Nines
The Warriors were coached by Ricky Henry. The squad consisted of Jayson Bukuya, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Glen Fisiiahi, David Fusitua, Charlie Gubb, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata, Ngani Laumape, Tuimoala Lolohea, Sione Lousi, Suaia Matagi, Dominique Peyroux, Sam Tomkins, Carlos Tuimavave.Warriors name star-studded Nines squad nrl.com, 25 January 2014 At the conclusion of the weekend Shaun Johnson was named the tournament's MVP and Suaia Matagi was named in the team of the tournament.
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Report15 FebruaryNines 1 Canberra RaidersEden Park, AucklandWin25-14Johnson, Fisiiahi, Matagi, KataJohnson (3), Tomkins15 FebruaryNines 2 Manly Sea EaglesEden Park, AucklandWin27-4Johnson, Kata, Peyroux, Fusitua, LoloheaJohnson (3)16 FebruaryNines 3 North Queensland CowboysEden Park, AucklandWin28-23Ikahihifo (2), Johnson, Tuimavave, LaumapeJohnson (3)16 FebruaryQuarter South Sydney RabbitohsEden Park, AucklandWin17-16Johnson, Fisiiahi, LaumapeJohnson, Tomkins16 FebruarySemi North Queensland CowboysEden Park, AucklandLoss0-8
Regular season The Warriors played eight home matches at Mount Smart Stadium, three at Eden Park and another at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.Warriors to take three games to Eden Park nzherald.co.nz, 2 October 2013 Their loss to the Panthers in the final round saw the Warriors finish the season in 9th place, only just missing out on the finals. This was an improvement on their 11th-placed finish in 2013 and their 14th-placed finish in 2012.
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report9 MarchRound 1 Parramatta EelsPirtek Stadium, SydneyLoss16-36Vatuvei, Tuimavave, FisiiahiJohnson (2)14,39715 MarchRound 2 St George Illawarra DragonsEden Park, AucklandLoss12-31Tomkins, RopatiJohnson (2)14,39222 MarchRound 3 North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville Win20-16Fisiiahi (2), Lousi, HurrellJohnson (2)12,73830 MarchRound 4 Wests TigersWestpac Stadium, Wellington Win42-18Fisiiahi (4), Johnson, Vatuvei, Bukuya, TomkinsJohnson (5)22,5125 AprilRound 5 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksRemondis Stadium, Sydney Loss6-37VatuveiJohnson (1)11,30713 AprilRound 6 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsEden Park, AucklandLoss20-21Tomkins, Vatuvei, Hurrell, ManneringJohnson (2)22,16019 AprilRound 7 St George Illawarra DragonsWIN Jubilee Oval, Sydney Loss10-20Tomkins, VatuveiJohnson (1)10,55925 AprilRound 8 Melbourne StormAAMI Park, Melbourne Win16-10Fusitua, Mateo, JohnsonJohnson (2)28,71610 MayRound 9 Canberra RaidersEden Park, AucklandWin54-12Johnson (2), Vatuvei (2), Matulino, Hurrell, Laumape,Tomkins, BukuyaJohnson (9)18,16518 MayRound 10 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWaikato Stadium, Hamilton Loss12-16Matulino, HenryJohnson (2)17,67324 MayRound 11 Gold Coast TitansRobina Stadium, Gold Coast Win24-16Fusitua (2), Matulino, Johnson, ManneringTownsend (2)18,7531 JuneRound 12 Newcastle KnightsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win38-18Mannering (2), Vatuvei (2), Tomkins, Townsend, HurrellJohnson (5)19,0687 JuneRound 13 South Sydney Rabbitohsnib Stadium, Perth Loss18-34Fusitua, Johnson, Mannering, HurrellJohnson (1)20,267Round 14Bye21 JuneRound 15 Brisbane BroncosMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win19-10Henry, Hurrell, TownsendJohnson (3 & FG)16,02529 JuneRound 16 Penrith PanthersMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win30-20Hurrell (2), Vatuvei, Mannering, JohnsonJohnson (5)12,801Round 17Bye 12 JulyRound 18 Parramatta EelsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win48-0Tomkins (2), Fusitua, Johnson, Hurrell, Mannering,Henry, TownsendJohnson (8)14,08719 JulyRound 19 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, Brisbane Loss22-28Henry (2), Mannering, TomkinsJohnson (3)37,08227 JulyRound 20 Manly Warringah Sea EaglesMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss12-22Hurrell, ManneringTownsend (2)19,1993 AugustRound 21 Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium, Canberra Win54-18Vatuvei (3), Rapira (2), Lousi, Tomkins, Hurrell,Matulino, LaumapeTownsend (7)7,09410 AugustRound 22 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win16-12Laumape (2), VatuveiTownsend (2)13,93916 AugustRound 23 Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium, Newcastle Loss22-28Fusitua (2), Vatuvei (2), FriendTownsend (1)12,73323 AugustRound 24 Sydney RoostersMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss12-46Tomkins, LaumapeJohnson (2)19,67630 AugustRound 25 Gold Coast TitansMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Win42-0Tomkins (2), Henry, Peyroux, Friend, Hurrell, JohnsonJohnson (7)13,5406 SeptemberRound 26 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, Sydney Loss6-22VatuveiJohnson (1)13,551
Ladder
Squad
No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 105HB2 May 2003120000 108CE31 August 200331004 115WG23 May 200423170068 125SR26 June 20052490036 131PR20 May 2006182008 142PR14 June 20082040020 146PR14 March 2009240000 152FB31 May 200920000 159SR14 March 2010112008 163FB12 March 2011570028 164SR12 March 2011191004 168HB4 June 2011219631163 171SR4 March 20121660024 172HK4 March 2012242008 173CE4 March 201219120048 175SR21 July 201210000 176LK28 July 2012180000 177FE5 August 201211004 178CE9 March 2013130000180WG24 March 20131650020181PR11 May 2013240000182CE3 June 201341004183 PR7 July 201350000185FB9 March 201424130052186HB9 March 201419314040187SR9 March 2014182008188PR9 March 201420000189WG15 March 20141270028190HK13 April 201460000191PR19 July 201410000192HB27 July 201430000
Staff Chief executive officer: Wayne Scurrah General manager: Don Mann Jr General manager football operations: Dean Bell Medical services manager: John Mayhew Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu Media and communications manager: Richard Becht
Coaching staff NRL head coach: Andrew McFadden NRL assistant coach: Ricky Henry NRL assistant coach: Adam Mogg NSW Cup head coach: Rohan SmithMann and Smith return to club thewarriors.com.au, 29 September 2013 NSW assistant coach: Willie Swan NYC head coach: Stacey Jones NYC assistant coach: Kelvin Wright Academy and pathways manager: Duane Mann
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning coach: Carl Jennings Strength and conditioning coach: Ruben Wiki Sports science manager: Brad Morris Rehab and speed coach: Dayne Norton Performance analyst: Adam Sadler
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesSam TomkinsWigan Warriors3 yearsWorld Record Transfer feeSam Tomkins' NZ Warriors deal a world record stuff.co.nz, 24 September 2013Chad TownsendCronulla SharksJayson BukuyaCronulla Sharks
Losses Player Club NotesNewcastle KnightsPenrith PanthersSteve RapiraSalford Red DevilsSio Siua TaukeiahoSydney RoostersBill TupouCanberra RaidersLeft mid-2013Alehana MaraReleasedTodd LowrieBrisbane BroncosPita GodinetWakefield Trinity Wildcats
Other teams The Warriors entered a team into the NSW Cup for the first time. The team replaced the Auckland Vulcans, who the club previously helped to fund.Three Vodafone Warriors teams in 2014 thewarriors.com.au, 16 October 2013 The Junior Warriors again competed in the Holden Cup.
NSW Cup squad
The NSW Cup side were coached by Rohan Smith. It was the first time that the team had a full-time coach. In June the team took a match to Gisborne's Rugby Park.Getting ready for Gisborne warriors.co.nz, 9 June 2014
The side finished eighth in regular season and made the finals, defeating the Mount Pritchard Mounties 36-28 in the elimination finals. They were eliminated the next week, losing 12-29 to the Illawarra Cutters.Warriors reserves knocked out of NSW Cup stuff.co.nz, 14 September 2014
Raymond Faitala-Mariner was named in the NSW Cup team of the year.2014 NSW CUP TEAM OF THE YEAR rugbyleagueweek.com.au, 21 September 2014
Holden Cup Squad
The Junior Warriors won the Holden Cup by defeating the Brisbane Broncos 34-32 in the grand final.Junior Warriors triumph in Holden Cup nzherald.co.nz, 5 October 2014Warriors survive Broncos scare to win Holden Cup nrl.com, 5 October 2014 The Junior Warriors had finished eighth in the regular season, just qualifying for the finals series. In the finals they defeated the Sydney Roosters 44-30 in the elimination finals.Top two fall in Holden Cup finals nrl.com, 15 September 2014
The Grand Final team was: Brad Abbey, Ngataua Hukatai, Nathaniel Roache, Solomone Kata, Paul Ulberg, Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino (c), Sam Lisone (c), Kurt Robinson, Kouma Samson, Michael Ki, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: James Bell, Toafofoa Sipley, Ken Maumalo, Iulio Afoa. Coach: Stacey Jones.
Sam Lisone was named at prop in the Holden Cup team of the year.Holden Cup Team of the Year Announced rugbyleagueweek.com.au, 2 September 2014 Solomone Kata won the Jack Gibson Medal as the grand final player of the match.
Awards