The 2017 New Zealand Warriors season was the 23rd season in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney and captained by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2017 Telstra Premiership. They also competed in the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines tournament.
Milestones
12 September 2016: Stephen Kearney is appointed as head coach, with former coach Andrew McFadden accepting a role as assistant coach. 14 December 2016: Sam Lisone is named in the World All Stars side to play in the 2017 All Stars match. 1 February: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is announced as the new captain, with Simon Mannering as vice-captain. 5 March – round one: Isaiah Papalii made his NRL debut. 10 March – round two: Erin Clark made his NRL debut. Shaun Johnson scored a try and kicked two goals, surpassing Stacey Jones' 674 points as the highest point scorer for the Warriors. 26 March – round four: Simon Mannering played his 262nd match for the Warriors, surpassing Stacey Jones record for most appearances for the club. 2 April – round five: Kieran Foran made his club debut and Solomone Kata played in his 50th match for the club. 15 April – round seven: Blake Ayshford played in his 150th NRL match. 30 April – round nine: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad made his NRL debut. The Warriors NRL community ambassador, Georgia Hale, played for the Kiwi Ferns. 5 May: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke and Simon Mannering represented New Zealand in the Anzac test. Chanel Harris-Tavita, Erin Clark and Isaiah Papali'i played for the Junior Kiwis. 6 May: In the Pacific tests: Manu Vatuvei, Tuimoala Lolohea and Mafoa'aeata Hingano represented Tonga, Ken Maumalo represented Samoa, and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad represented the Cook Islands. 7 May: Matt Allwood and Toafofoa Sipley represented NSW Residents. 13 May – round ten: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck played in his 100th NRL match and Sam Lisone played in his 50th, all for the Warriors. 19 May – round eleven: Ben Matulino played in his 200th NRL match, all for the Warriors. 30 May: Jacob Lillyman played for Queensland in game one of the 2017 State of Origin series. 10 June – round fourteen: Ryan Hoffman played in his 300th NRL match. 22 July – round twenty: Chris Satae made his NRL debut. 28 July – round twenty one: James Bell made his NRL debut. October–December: At the 2017 Rugby League World Cup: Shaun Johnson, Simon Mannering and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck represented New Zealand; Bunty Afoa, Sam Lisone, Ken Maumalo and Jazz Tevaga represented Samoa; James Bell represented Scotland; David Fusitu'a, Ata Hingano, and Solomone Kata represented Tonga; and Bureta Faraimo represented the United States.
Jersey and sponsors In 2017 the Warriors jerseys will again be made by Canterbury of New Zealand.
Fixtures
Pre-season training Pre-season training began on 1 November, with the exception of players involved in the 2016 Four Nations tournament.
Auckland Nines
The Warriors lost all three of their matches at the Nines.
The squad for the Nines was Ryan Hoffman, Junior Pauga, Matt Allwood, Blake Ayshford, Ata Hingano, Sam Cook, Shaun Johnson, Ruben Wiki (c), Mason Lino, Bunty Afoa, James Gavet, Tuimoala Lolohea, Jazz Tevaga, Ofahiki Ogden, Lewis Soosemea, Toafofoa Sipley, Isaiah Papalii, and James Bell. Solomone Kata was originally named, but withdrew due to a virus and was replaced by Cook.
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report4 FebruaryGame 4Manly Warringah Sea EaglesEden Park, AucklandLoss11–15Cook, AyshfordHingano22,000 4 FebruaryGame 12Parramatta EelsEden Park, AucklandLoss0–11 22,000 5 FebruaryGame 20St. George Illawarra DragonsEden Park, AucklandLoss10–14Hingano, LoloheaHingano22,000
Pre-season matches The Warriors played two trial matches, against the Melbourne Storm and the Gold Coast Titans. The match against the Titans was in Palmerston North, it was the first time the Warriors played in Palmerston North since 1995. Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report11 FebruaryTrial 1Melbourne StormSunshine Coast Stadium, Sunshine CoastLoss 18–30 Lolohea, Aofa, Tuivasa-Sheck Lino (2), Hingano 10,169 19 FebruaryTrial 2Gold Coast TitansCentral Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston NorthWin 26–6Papalii, Lolohea, Fusitu'a, Gavet, Mannering Johnson (3)
Regular season
Home matches were played at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, with the exception of one game at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton. The Warriors also played an away game at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport5 MarchRound 1Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26–22Fusitu'a (3), Kata, Hoffman Johnson (2),Luke (1) 13,71210 MarchRound 2Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss10–26Lolohea, Johnson Johnson (1)9,811 17 MarchRound 3Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsForsyth Barr Stadium, DunedinLoss12–24Thompson, JohnsonJohnson (2)10,52326 MarchRound 4St George Illawarra DragonsUOW Jubilee Oval, SydneyLoss12–26Luke, Maumalo Johnson (2) 11,608 2 AprilRound 5Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin28–22Johnson, Fusitua, Tuivasa-Sheck,Foran, Hoffman Johnson (4)10,2639 AprilRound 6Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 22–10Thompson (2), Mannering, Maumalo Johnson (3)13,526 15 AprilRound 7Canberra RaidersGIO Stadium, CanberraLoss8–20Hoffman Johnson (2)13,996 25 AprilRound 8Melbourne StormAAMI Park, MelbourneLoss14–20Fusitua (2) Johnson (3) 22,15330 AprilRound 9Sydney RoostersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin14–13Gavet, FusituaJohnson (3) 13,126 13 MayRound 10Penrith PanthersPepper Stadium, SydneyLoss28–36Nicoll-Klokstad (2), Foran, Hoffman, FusituaJohnson (4) 11,588 19 MayRound 11St George Illawarra DragonsWaikato Stadium, HamiltonLoss14–30 Nicoll-Klokstad (2), Matulino Johnson (1) 11,108 27 MayRound 12Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin28–10 Ayshford, Johnson, Tuivasa-Sheck,Maumalo, GavetJohnson (4) 13,826 2 JuneRound 13Parramatta EelsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss24–32 Mannering, Maumalo, Hoffman, Tuivasa-SheckJohnson (4)9,489 10 JuneRound 14Gold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium, Gold CoastWin34–12 Ayshford (2), Hoffman, Maumalo,Tuivasa-Sheck, HinganoLuke (4),Hoffman (1) 14,067 Round 15Bye23 JuneRound 16Canterbury Bankstown BulldogsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin21–14 Maumalo, Ayshford, Tuivasa-Sheck Johnson (4 & FG) 13,476 1 JulyRound 17Manly Warringah Sea Eaglesnib Stadium, PerthLoss22–26 Nicoll-Klokstad (2), Thompson, Tuivasa-Sheck Johnson (3) 6,258 Round 18Bye14 JulyRound 19Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 22–34Kata (2), Mannering, ThompsonJohnson (2)Luke (1)13,076 22 JulyRound 20North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium, TownsvilleLoss12–24Afoa, ManneringLuke (2)16,080 28 JulyRound 21Cronulla Sutherland SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss12–26Kata, Thompson Luke (2) 9,771 5 AugustRound 22Newcastle KnightsHunter Stadium, NewcastleLoss10–26Fusitua, Roache Luke (1) 11,824 13 AugustRound 23Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss16–36Fusitu'a, Tuivasa-Sheck, Papali'iLino (2)10,18218 AugustRound 24South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss18–36Tuivasa-Sheck (2), ManneringLuke (3)6,21327 AugustRound 25Manly Warringah Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss22–21(G.P.)Fusitu'a (2), Ayshford, MaumaloLuke (1),Johnson (1 & FG)9,1673 SeptemberRound 26Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyLoss16–28Kata, Tuivasa-Sheck, Nicoll-KlokstadLuke (2)10,231
Ladder
Squad
No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 115WG23 May 200410000 125SR26 June 20052250020 142PR14 June 2008161004 146PR14 March 2009210000 168HB4 June 2011184452108183 PR7 July 2013110000189WG15 March 201424120048192HB27 July 201441004193CE7 March 20151950020194SR7 March 20151960024195SR7 March 20151961026196PR7 March 2015230000197PR7 March 201580000199CE29 March 201500000201WG16 May 20152370028202HB24 August 201560204203FB5 March 201623100040204CE5 March 20162150020206HK5 March 201623117038207HK5 March 201691004208PR5 March 2016132008209HK20 March 201640000210LK16 April 2016110000212PR1 May 201600000213PR2 July 2016171004214FE20 August 2016131004215PR5 March 201751004216HK10 March 201710000217FE2 April 2017172008218WG30 April 2017770028219PR22 July 201730000220SR28 July 201720000UB00000
Staff
Head office staff Managing director: Jim Doyle Media and communications manager: Richard Becht Football operations manager: Dan Floyd Team manager: Laurie HaleChanges to football department warriors.kiwi, 27 September 2015 Head of medical services: John Mayhew Recruitment and development manager: Tony Iro Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu
Coaching staff NRL head coach: Stephen Kearney NRL assistant coach: Andrew McFadden NRL assistant coach: Stacey Jones NRL assistant coach: Steve McNamara NSW Cup head coach: Ricky Henry NSW Cup assistant coach: Jerome Ropati NYC head coach: Grant Pocklington NYC assistant coach: Boycie Nelson
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesKieran ForanFree Agent1 yearZac SantoCanberra Raiders2017 mid-seasonManaia CherringtonCronulla Sharks1 1/2 years2017 mid-seasonBureta FaraimoParramatta Eelsrest of season2017 mid-season
Losses Player Club NotesRaymond Faitala-MarinerCanterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs2016 mid-seasonKonrad HurrellGold Coast Titans2016 mid-seasonJeff RobsonParramatta Eels2016 mid-seasonShaun LaneManly-Warringah Sea EaglesThomas LeuluaiWigan WarriorsBen HenryRetiredJohnathan WrightManly Sea EaglesSione LousiTownsville BlackhawksJohn PalaviLimoux GrizzliesHenare WellsBurleigh BearsRetiredWests Tigers2017 mid-seasonCanberra Raiders2017 mid-seasonSalford Red Devils2017 mid-season
Other teams
As in 2016, 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 the season second and played the third placed Penrith Panthers in week one of the finals. After losing to eventual winners Penrith they defeated Newcastle 30–6 before losing to the Wyong Roos in a preliminary final to end the season.
Bureta Faraimo, Mason Lino and Toafofoa Sipley were named in the 2017 Intrust Super Premiership NSW Team of the Year.
Finals
Holden Cup squad
The Holden Cup team finished in last place, with only three wins during the season. This was the final year of the Holden Cup.
Awards Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won the club's NRL player of the year award while Simon Mannering won the people's choice award.
Mason Lino was the club's Intrust Super Premiership NSW player of the year while Chanel Harris-Tavita was the NYC player of the year.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad won the clubman of the year while Sam Cook was the Intrust Super Premiership NSW team man of the year and Kenese Kenese was the NYC clubman of the year.
Bunty Afoa won the NRL rookie of the year and Tyler Slade was the NYC rookie of the year.
References
External links Warriors 2017 season rugby league project