The 2016 New Zealand Warriors season was the 22nd season in the club's history. Coached by Andrew McFadden and captained by Ryan Hoffman, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2016 Telstra Premiership and the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines tournament.
Milestones
Simon Mannering and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck were named to play for the World All Stars in the 2016 All Stars match. They both later withdrew and were replaced by Ryan Hoffman and Konrad Hurrell. Hurrell scored a try as the World All-Stars won 12–8. 17 February: Simon Mannering announced he had decided to step down as club captain. He was replaced by Ryan Hoffman. 19 February: The Warriors announced that they had signed an agreement with Regional Facilities Auckland extending their contract to use Mount Smart Stadium until the end of 2028. 5 March - round 1: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Blake Ayshford, Jeff Robson, Issac Luke, Nathaniel Roache and James Gavet all made their debuts for the club. It was also Roache's NRL debut. 20 March - round 3: Jazz Tevaga made his NRL debut. 3 April - round 5: Jacob Lillyman played in his 150th match for the Warriors. 16 April - round 7: Ligi Sao made his Warriors debut. 1 May - round 9: Toafofoa Sipley made his NRL debut and Shaun Lane played his first match for the Warriors. 6 May: Shaun Johnson played for the New Zealand national rugby league team in the 2016 Anzac Test. 7 May: Erin Clark played for Samoa while David Fusitua and Solomone Kata played for Tonga. Ata Hingano, Nathaniel Roache, Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papalii represented the Junior Kiwis. June–July: Jacob Lillyman served as 18th man for Queensland in game one of the 2016 State of Origin series and came from the bench in game two and three. 11 June - round 14: Issac Luke played in his 200th NRL match. 2 July - round 17: Simon Mannering played in his 250th NRL match, all for the Warriors. Bunty Afoa made his NRL debut. It was also the Warriors 250th first grade match at Mount Smart Stadium. 20 August - round 24: Ata Hingano made his first grade debut. 28 August - round 25: Tuimoala Lolohea scored the 2,000th try in the club's history. 8 October: Ken Maumalo, Mason Lino, Erin Clark, Sam Lisone, Bunty Afoa and James Gavet represented Samoa in a test match against Fiji. October–November: David Fusitu'a, Solomone Kata, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Simon Mannering were named in the New Zealand squad for the 2016 Rugby League Four Nations.
Jersey and sponsors In 2016 the Warriors jerseys were again made by Canterbury of New Zealand.
Fixtures
Pre-season training Pre-season training began on 2 November 2015, with the exception of players involved in the New Zealand Kiwis tour of Great Britain.Changes to football department warriors.kiwi, 27 September 2015
Auckland Nines The Warriors competed in the 2016 NRL Auckland Nines, losing to the Parramatta Eels 4-22 in the final. The squad for the tournament was Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Ryan Hoffman, Jacob Lillyman, Nathaniel Roache, Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea, Shaun Johnson (c), Charlie Gubb, Henare Wells, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Matulino, Ken Maumalo, Jonathan Wright, Jeff Robson, Sam Lisone, Blake Ayshford, Albert Vete and Ata Hingano. David Fusitu'a was originally named but withdrew due to injury and was replaced by Nathaniel Roache.
Shaun Johnson and Tuimoala Lolohea were named in the team of the tournament.
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Report6 FebruaryGame 5Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsEden Park, AucklandWin34 – 8Roache (2), Johnson, Kata, RobsonJohnson (3), Robson6 FebruaryGame 13Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesEden Park, AucklandLoss12 – 15Maumalo, HinganoJohnson (2)7 FebruaryGame 22Brisbane BroncosEden Park, AucklandWin15 – 8Roache, Wells, JohnsonJohnson (1)7 FebruaryQuarter FinalCanberra RaidersEden Park, AucklandWin16 – 8Kata (2), Wright, Wells7 FebruarySemi FinalGold Coast TitansEden Park, AucklandWin22 – 4Robson, Wright, Kata, LoloheaLolohea (2), Robson7 FebruaryFinalParramatta EelsEden Park, AucklandLoss4 - 22Tuivasa-Sheck
Pre-season matches Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report13 FebruaryTrial 1Gold Coast TitansToll Stadium, WhangāreiWin40-18Faitala-Mariner (3), Tyrell (2), Afoa (2)Luke (2), Hingano (4)Strong outings from top trio warriors.kiwi, 13 February 201620 FebruaryTrial 2St George Illawarra DragonsTrafalgar Park, NelsonLoss10-46Kata, WrightLolohea10,400
Regular season
Home matches were played at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland with the exception of one home game which was played at Yarrow Stadium in New Plymouth. Two away games were also played in New Zealand. Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report5 MarchRound 1Wests TigersCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyLoss26-34Kata (2), Mannering, Thompson, JohnsonLolohea (3)10,91711 MarchRound 2Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneLoss10-25LukeJohnson (3)35,23020 MarchRound 3Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss14-21Lolohea, Kata, WrightJohnson (1)16,21428 MarchRound 4Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin40-18Kata, Matulino, Ayshford, Lolohea, Vatuvei, Johnson, LukeJohnson (6)13,8953 AprilRound 5Sydney RoostersCentral Coast Stadium, GosfordWin32-28 (g.pt)Kata (2), Johnson (2), Vatuvei, Tuivasa-SheckJohnson (4)10,1139 AprilRound 6Manly Warringah Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss18-34Ayshford, Luke, KataJohnson (3)16,11216 AprilRound 7Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonWin24-20Ayshford (2), Fusitu'a, Wright, LoloheaJohnson (2)18,21225 AprilRound 8Melbourne StormAAMI Park, MelbourneLoss0-4221,2331 MayRound 9St George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26-10Johnson, Allwood, Gubb, RobsonJohnson (5)12,75214 MayRound 10Penrith PanthersAMI Stadium, ChristchurchLoss18-30Kata, Wright, AyshfordJohnson (3)18,00021 MayRound 11Canberra RaidersYarrow Stadium, New PlymouthLoss12-38Johnson, AyshfordJohnson (2)12,833Round 12Bye4 JuneRound 13Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin36-18Fusitu’a (2), Johnson, Thompson, Lillyman, Hoffman, KataJohnson (4)15,09711 JuneRound 14Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium, NewcastleWin50-14Fusitu'a (4), Vete (2), Vatuvei, Thompson, KataJohnson (5),Luke (2)12,22219 JuneRound 15Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin12-10JohnsonLuke (4)14,02625 JuneRound 16Cronulla Sutherland SharksShark Park, SydneyLoss18-19 (g.pt)Ayshford, Wright, LeuluaiLuke (3)12,0742 JulyRound 17Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin27-18Ayshford, Lolohea, Johnson, ThompsonLuke (5),Johnson (FG)15,107Round 18Bye16 JulyRound 19Manly Warringah Sea Eaglesnib Stadium, PerthLoss14-15 (g.pt)Afoa (2)Luke (3)11,10923 JulyRound 20Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium, CanberraLoss22-26 (g.pt)Leuluai (2), Vatuvei, Fusitu'aLuke (3)9,47130 JulyRound 21Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20-16 (g.pt)Fusitu'a (2), Maumalo, JohnsonLuke (2)13,0267 AugustRound 22Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium, Gold CoastWin24-14Kata (2), Fusitu'a, Thompson, ManneringLolohea (2) 25,10913 AugustRound 23South Sydney RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss22-41Kata (2), Vatuvei, TevagaJohnson (3)17,40920 AugustRound 24North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium, TownsvilleLoss6-34HoffmanJohnson (1)15,67628 AugustRound 25Wests TigersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss24-36Thompson, Kata, Mannering, LoloheaLuke (3),Hingano (1)14,0204 SeptemberRound 26Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss18-40Mannering (2), VatuveiLuke (3)11,129
Ladder
Squad
No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 55SR19 April 199800000 105HB2 May 20031830012 115WG23 May 20041560024 125SR26 June 20052250020 142PR14 June 2008231004 146PR14 March 2009221004 159SR14 March 201010000 168HB4 June 20112410421125 171SR4 March 201210000 173CE4 March 201230000183 PR7 July 2013141004188PR9 March 201430000189WG15 March 201418110044192HB27 July 20142255030193CE7 March 201521150060194SR7 March 20151860024195SR7 March 2015232008196PR7 March 2015210000197PR7 March 2015152008198WG15 March 2015940016199CE29 March 201541004200SR25 April 201510000201WG16 May 2015101004202HB24 August 201500000203FB5 March 201671004204CE5 March 20162380032205HB5 March 201671004206HK5 March 201620328068207HK5 March 2016110000208PR5 March 2016100000209HK20 March 2016111004210LK16 April 201620000211SR1 May 201610000212PR1 May 201620000213PR2 July 201642008214FE20 August 201620102FB00000UB00000
Staff Chief executive officer: Jim Doyle Media and communications manager: Richard Becht Football operations manager: Dan Floyd Team manager: Laurie Hale Head of medical services: John Mayhew Recuritment and development manager: Tony Iro Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu Academy and pathways manager: Duane Mann
Coaching staff NRL head coach: Andrew McFadden NRL assistant coach: Justin Morgan NRL assistant coach: Andrew WebsterSecond assistant coach named warriors.co.nz, 23 September 2014 NSW Cup head coach: Stacey JonesJones to coach NSW Cup side in 2015 warriors.co.nz, 5 October 2014 NSW Cup assistant coach: Ricky Henry NYC head coach: Kelvin Wright NYC assistant coach: Boycie Nelson
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesIssac LukeSouth Sydney Rabbitohs3 yearsRoger Tuivasa-SheckSydney Roosters3 years Ligi SaoManly Sea Eagles2 years Blake AyshfordCronulla-Sutherland Sharks2 yearsHenare WellsBurleigh BearsJeff RobsonCronulla-Sutherland Sharks1 yearCharnze Nicoll-KlokstadMelbourne Storm2 yearsAli LauitiitiWakefield Trinity Wildcats1 yearJames GavetBrisbane Broncos1 yearShaun LaneCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs1 year2016 mid-season
Losses Player Club NotesSuaia MatagiSydney Roosters2015 mid-seasonNathaniel PeteruGold Coast Titans2015 mid-seasonApi PewhairangiConnacht (RU)2015 mid-seasonNgani LaumapeHurricanes (RU)2015 mid-season Sam RapiraHuddersfield Giants Nathan FriendGold Coast TitansDominique PeyrouxSt. HelensSam TomkinsWigan WarriorsChad TownsendCronulla SharksSiliva HaviliSt. George-Illawarra DragonsBrad AbbeyCanterbury BulldogsGlen FisiiahiChiefs (RU) Sebastine IkahihifoSt. George-Illawarra DragonsDavid BhanaNewcastle Knights2016 NRL player transfers nrl.comRaymond Faitala-MarinerCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2016 mid-seasonKonrad HurrellGold Coast Titans2016 mid-seasonJeff RobsonParramatta Eels2016 mid-season
Other teams As in 2015, the Warriors entered a team into the Intrust Super Premiership NSW and the Junior Warriors competed in the Holden Cup.
Intrust Super Premiership NSW squad
The Warriors finished 5th in the regular season, before defeating the Penrith Panthers 21-14 in an elimination final. They then lost 18-22 to the Newtown Jets in a semi-final.
John Palavi and Upu Poching played in their 50th NSW Cup matches for the Warriors, becoming the first players to reach this milestone for the club.
Holden Cup squad
The Junior Warriors finished the season in 14th position, with 8 wins, a draw, and 15 losses.
Club awards Simon Mannering was named the club's player of the year for a record fifth time. He was also named the clubman of the year. Shaun Johnson won the people's choice award while Nathaniel Roache was the NRL rookie of the year.
Ryan Hoffman was named in the NRL-RLPA academic team of the year, as he was completing a Bachelor of Business. Ben Henry also won a Pasifika leadership and excellence award, which included travel to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) to attend lectures.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was the Intrust Super Premiership NSW player of the year, while James Bell was the teams man of the year.
Chris Sio was the Junior Warriors player of the year and Chanel Harris-Tavita was the Junior Warriors rookie of the year.
Journalist Allen McLaughlin was also awarded a legacy award, after covering all but one of the club's 254 games at the venue since 1995.
References
External links Warriors 2016 season rugby league project