2018 New Zealand Warriors season

The 2018 New Zealand Warriors season was the 24th season in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney and captained by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, the Warriors completed the National Rugby League's 2018 Telstra Premiership regular season in the number eight position, qualifying for the finals. They were defeated in the 1st Elimination Final by Penrith and did not progress further.

Milestones

Jersey and sponsors In 2018 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 14 players involved in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

Pre-season matches The Warriors and Melbourne will headline a two-day festival in Rotorua that includes a regional nines tournament. DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReportSaturday 17 FebruaryTrial 1Melbourne Storm Rotorua International Stadium, RotoruaWin 20-14Kata, Fusitu’a, Sao, Soosemea Lino (2)5,123

Regular season

Home matches were played at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, while one away game was also played in New Zealand, at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

The Warriors opened their season in Perth against the South Sydney Rabbitohs on 10 March as part of a double header at Perth Stadium. Mount Smart Stadium will hosted a double header on 7 April when the Warriors played the North Queensland Cowboys and the Wests Tigers played the Melbourne Storm.

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport10 MarchRound 1South Sydney Rabbitohs Perth Stadium, Perth(doubleheader)Win32 – 20Fusitu'a (2), Papali'i, Lisone, Maumalo, KataJohnson (4/7)38,842 17 MarchRound 2Gold Coast Titans Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20 – 8Fusitu'a (2), Tuivasa-Sheck, KataJohnson (2/4)14,13224 March Round 3Canberra Raiders GIO Stadium, CanberraWin20 – 19Hiku, Harris, LukeJohnson (3/3, 2 FGs)11,96331 March Round 4Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium, SydneyWin30 – 6Lino, Pulu, Kata, Fusitu'aLino (7/7)14,4937 April Round 5North Queensland Cowboys Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland(doubleheader)Win22 – 12Fusitu'a (2), MaumaloJohnson (5/5)25,60014 April Round 6Brisbane Broncos Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss18 – 27Fusitu'a, Green, JohnsonJohnson (3/4)16,63620 April Round 7St. George Illawarra Dragons Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20 – 12Lino, Gelling, Luke, Papali'iLino (2/4)18,29525 April Round 8Melbourne Storm AAMI Park, MelbourneLoss10 – 50Fusitu'a (2)Lino (1/2)25,7315 May Round 9Wests Tigers Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26 – 4Lawton (2), Fusitu'a, Maumalo, Johnson Johnson (3/6)16,72712 May Round 10Sydney Roosters Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss0 – 3214,09518 MayRound 11Parramatta Eels ANZ Stadium, SydneyWin24 – 14Fusitu'a, Hiku, Tevaga, LukeLino (4/5)9,46726 May Round 12South Sydney Rabbitohs Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss10 – 30Paasi, KataLuke (1/2)15,958Round 13 Bye9 June Round 14Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles AMI Stadium, ChristchurchWin34 – 14Fusitu'a (3), Papali'i, Harris, JohnsonJohnson (5/6)17,35715 June Round 15North Queensland Cowboys1300SMILES Stadium, TownsvilleWin23 – 16Maumalo, Tuivasa-Sheck, KataJohnson (6/6)11,06229 June Round 16Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss15 – 18Kata, GellingJohnson (4/4)14,1956 July Round 17Penrith Panthers Panthers Stadium, PenrithLoss4 – 34MaumaloJohnson (0/1)10,25515 July Round 18Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, BrisbaneWin26 – 6Kata (2), Beale, Luke, Paasi Johnson (3/5)37,49322 July Round 19Melbourne Storm Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss6 – 12BealeJohnson (1/1)17,69529 JulyRound 20Gold Coast Titans Cbus Super Stadium, RobinaLoss12 – 36Johnson, LawntonJohnson (2/2)15,1594 August Round 21St. George Illawarra Dragons WIN Stadium, WollongongWin18 – 12Kata (2), LukeJohnson (3/4)13,92410 AugustRound 22Newcastle Knights Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20 – 4Blair, Fusitu'a, GreenJohnson (4/4)14,39519 August Round 23Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss26 – 27Fusitu'a (2), Beale, Hiku, Tuivasa-SheckJohnson (3/5)9,68824 August Round 24Penrith Panthers Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin36 – 16Fusitu'a (3), Kata, Lino, PaasiJohnson (6/8)17,19531 August Round 25Canberra Raiders Mount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20 - 16

Ladder

Squad

No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts125SR26 June 200580000168HB4 June 20116220250189WG15 March 201412120048191PR19 July 2014101004193CE7 March 20151040016196PR7 March 201591004197PR7 March 201520000201WG16 May 20151230012202HB24 August 20155214036203FB5 March 2016111004204CE5 March 201600000206HK5 March 20161131014207HK5 March 201600000208PR5 March 201670000209HK20 March 201691004210LK16 April 201640000213PR2 July 2016120000215PR5 March 201782008218WG30 April 201700000219PR22 July 201730000220SR28 July 201700000221UB10 March 2018122008222FE10 March 2018121004223PR10 March 2018120000224SR10 March 2018111004225HK10 March 201820000226SR10 March 201861004227CE30 March 201851004228SR25 April 201810000229UB5 May 201832008230UB18 May 201820000SR00000UB00000HK00000FB00000SR00000PR00000HB00000CE00000WG00000

Staff

Head office staff Managing director: Cameron George General manager – football: Brian Smith 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 Head of recruitment: Brian Smith Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu

Coaching staff NRL head coach: Stephen Kearney NRL assistant coach: Andrew McFadden NRL assistant coach: Stacey Jones Strength and conditioning coach: Alex Corvo NSW Cup head coach: Tony Iro Under-20s head coach: Ricky Henry Under-20s assistant coach: Jerome Ropati

Transfers

Gains Player Previous club Length NotesZac SantoCanberra Raiders1 1/2 years2017 mid-seasonManaia CherringtonCronulla Sharks1 1/2 years2017 mid-seasonAdam BlairBrisbane Broncos3 yearsPeta HikuWarrington Wolves3 yearsTohu HarrisMelbourne Storm4 yearsLeivaha PuluGold Coast Titans3 yearsGerard BealeCronulla-Sutherland Sharks3 yearsMatiu Love-HenryBrisbane Broncos1 yearAgnatius PaasiGold Coast Titans2 yearsBlake GreenManly Warringah Sea Eagles3 yearsAnthony GellingWigan Warriors1 yearKarl LawtonGold Coast Titans2 years

Losses Player Club NotesWests Tigers2017 mid-seasonCanberra Raiders2017 mid-seasonSalford Red Devils2017 mid-seasonKieran ForanCanterbury-Bankstown BulldogsBureta FaraimoHullBen MatulinoWests TigersCharlie GubbCanberra RaidersRyan HoffmanMelbourne StormToafofoa SipleyManly-Warringah Sea EaglesMatt AllwoodReleasedJacob LillymanNewcastle KnightsBodene ThompsonLeigh CenturionsAta HinganoCanberra Raiders

References

External links Warriors 2018 season rugby league project