Auckland

In 1991, in an effort to halt the exodus of stars to Australia and elsewhere, a consortium of Auckland businessmen asked the NSWRL to include a team from Auckland when they next expanded the competition. And in mid-1993 the Auckland Warriors were born, joining the competition in 1995. With the backing of a whole nation behind them they were expected to do well, and they did, only just missing out on the finals.

The outbreak of the superleague war saw Auckland side with Super League, though the controlling board were split on the issue. They were the only team to field a side in the first round in 1996.

Ground: Ericsson Stadium, Penrose (aka Mt. Smart Stadium).
First Season: 1995.
Nickname: The Warriors.
Colours: Blue, white, red and green.
Coach: Frank Endacott.
Phone: 64 9 526-0888 (NZ). Fax: 64 9 526-0889 (NZ).

Representative players 1997:

New Zealand: Marc Ellis, Syd Eru, Sean Hoppe, Stacey Jones, Stephen Kearney, Brady Malam, Gene Ngamu, Matthew Ridge, Tea Ropati, Anthony Swann, Joe Vagana, Grant Young.

Last Four Years

      PL WN DR LS BY  FOR  AGA  DIF PTS   PLACE
Coach: John Monie
1995  22 13  0  9  0  544  493   51  24*  10/20
1996  21 10  0 11  0  412  427  -15  22   11/20
  * two points deducted for a breach of the replacement rule.
Coach: Frank Endacott
1998  24  9  0 15  -  417  518 -101  18   15/20

Honours -- Club

First Grade highest placing: 10th in 1995.

Honours -- Players

Test Captains, New Zealand: Stephen Kearney (1997), Matthew Ridge (1997)..
Internationals, New Zealand (17): Richard Blackmore, Logan Edwards, Marc Ellis, Syd Eru, Sean Hoppe, Stacey Jones, Stephen Kearney, Gene Ngamu, Hitro Okesene, Matthew Ridge, Tea Ropati, Anthony Swann, Logan Swann, Tony Tatupu, Tony Tuimavave, Joe Vagana, Grant Young.

First Grade Records

Note: These records are for the first grade competition only, and do not include records from other competitions.

Single match:
- Most tries: 4--Phil Blake v Wests, 26 Mar 1995; 3--Tea Ropati v Gold Coast, 9 Jul 1995; Gene Ngamu v North Queensland, 3 Aug 1996.
- Most goals: 8--Gene Ngamu v North Queensland, 3 Aug 1996; 7--Gene Ngamu v Wests, 26 Mar 1995; 6--Frano Botica v Balmain, 4 Jun 1995; Frano Botica v Gold Coast, 9 Jul 1995.
- Most points: 28--Gene Ngamu (3T,8G) v North Queensland, 3 Aug 1996; 18--Gene Ngamu (1T,7G) v Wests, 26 Mar 1995; 16--Phil Blake (4T) v Wests, 26 Mar 1995; Frano Botica (1T,6G) v Gold Coast, 9 Jul 1995.
- Attendance at Ericsson Stadium: 30,112 v Manly Warringah, 7 Apr 1995.
Season:
- Most tries: 19--Sean Hoppe, 1995; 14--Phil Blake, 1995; 12--Tea Ropati, 1995; 10--John Kirwan, 1996; 8--Greg Alexander, 1995.
- Most points: 120--Gene Ngamu (5T,50G) 1996; 84--Gene Ngamu (3T,36G) 1995; 76--Sean Hoppe (17T) 1995; 56--Phil Blake (14T) 1995; 48--Tea Ropati (12T) 1995.
For club:
- Most tries: 26--Sean Hoppe; 17--Phil Blake, Tea Ropati; 13--John Kirwan; 11--Greg Alexander, Richard Blackmore, Stacey Jones.
- Most points: 204--Gene Ngamu (8T,86G); 104--Sean Hoppe (26T); 68--Phil Blake (17T); Tea Ropati (17T); 64--Stacey Jones (11T,9G,2FG).
- Most appearances: 42--Sean Hoppe; 41--Stephen Kearney, Gene Ngamu, Tea Ropati; 37--Greg Alexander; 35--Stacey Jones, John Kirwan, Andy Platt.
Best wins: 52-6 v North Queensland at Ericsson Stadium, 3 Aug 1996; 40-4 v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, 23 Apr 1995; 46-12 v Wests at Ericsson Stadium, 26 Mar 1995; 44-16 v Gold Coast at Ericsson Stadium, 9 Jul 1995; 38-12 v Illawarra at Ericsson Stadium, 16 Apr 1995.
Worst losses: 48-6 v Newcastle at Marathon Stadium, 6 May 1995; 48-10 v Norths at North Sydney Oval, 1 Apr 1995; 44-6 v Brisbane at ANZ Stadium, 27 Aug 1995; 47-14 v St George at Ericsson Stadium, 6 Aug 1995; 38-6 v Brisbane at Ericsson Stadium, 30 Aug 1996.
First Grade Coaches: John Monie (1993-mid 1997); Frank Endacott (mid 1997-present).

First Grade Premiership record (1997)

-------------------------------------------------------------
Adelaide Rams           2   1   0   1    30    24     6  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   0   0   1    12    16    -4  0.00
  Adelaide Oval         1   1   0   0    18     8    10  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Balmain                 2   1   0   1    58    46    12  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    36    12    24  2.00
  Lancaster Park Canterbury
                        1   0   0   1    22    34   -12  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Brisbane                5   0   0   5    54   155  -101  0.00
  Ericsson Stadium      3   0   0   3    46    97   -51  0.00
  ANZ Stadium           2   0   0   2     8    58   -50  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Canberra                4   1   0   3    55    89   -34  0.50
  Ericsson Stadium      2   0   0   2    18    35   -17  0.00
  Bruce Stadium         2   1   0   1    37    54   -17  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Canterbury              4   1   0   3    89   106   -17  0.50
  Ericsson Stadium      2   0   0   2    42    58   -16  0.00
  Parramatta            1   1   0   0    29     8    21  2.00
  Belmore               1   0   0   1    18    40   -22  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Cronulla                4   2   0   2    66    88   -22  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      2   1   0   1    35    36    -1  1.00
  Shark Park            2   1   0   1    31    52   -21  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Eastern Suburbs         2   1   0   1    42    50    -8  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    26    22     4  2.00
  SFS                   1   0   0   1    16    28   -12  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Gold Coast              2   2   0   0    72    30    42  2.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    44    16    28  2.00
  Carrara Stadium       1   1   0   0    28    14    14  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Hunter Mariners         2   1   0   1    28    32    -4  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    18    14     4  2.00
  Topper Stadium        1   0   0   1    10    18    -8  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Illawarra               4   3   0   1   114    82    32  1.50
  Ericsson Stadium      2   2   0   0    56    22    34  2.00
  WIN Stadium           2   1   0   1    58    60    -2  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Manly Warringah         2   0   0   2    24    48   -24  0.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   0   0   1    14    26   -12  0.00
  Brookvale Oval        1   0   0   1    10    22   -12  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Newcastle               2   0   0   2    24    70   -46  0.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   0   0   1    18    22    -4  0.00
  Marathon Stadium      1   0   0   1     6    48   -42  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
North Queensland        4   3   0   1   152    68    84  1.50
  Ericsson Stadium      2   2   0   0   102    28    74  2.00
  Stockland Stadium     2   1   0   1    50    40    10  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
North Sydney            2   1   0   1    22    56   -34  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    12     8     4  2.00
  North Sydney Oval     1   0   0   1    10    48   -38  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Parramatta              2   2   0   0    68     8    60  2.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    28     4    24  2.00
  Parramatta            1   1   0   0    40     4    36  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Penrith                 4   2   0   2    80    90   -10  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      2   1   0   1    32    48   -16  1.00
  Penrith               2   1   0   1    48    42     6  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
St George               2   0   0   2    20    82   -62  0.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   0   0   1    14    47   -33  0.00
  Kogarah               1   0   0   1     6    35   -29  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
South Queensland        2   2   0   0    38    22    16  2.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    16    12     4  2.00
  Suncorp Stadium       1   1   0   0    22    10    12  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
South Sydney            2   2   0   0    62    30    32  2.00
  Ericsson Stadium      1   1   0   0    24    10    14  2.00
  SFS                   1   1   0   0    38    20    18  2.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Western Reds            4   2   0   2    88    88     0  1.00
  Ericsson Stadium      2   2   0   0    64    32    32  2.00
  WACA Perth            2   0   0   2    24    56   -32  0.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
Western Suburbs         4   3   0   1   102    62    40  1.50
  Ericsson Stadium      2   2   0   0    78    28    50  2.00
  Campbelltown          2   1   0   1    24    34   -10  1.00
-------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL                  61  30   0  31  1288  1326   -38  0.98
-------------------------------------------------------------

1996 results

Premiership:
  1. Mar 24  * Brisbane             W Forf.  4
  2.     31  H Illawarra            W 18-10  4  17,246
  3. Apr  4h A Western Suburbs      L  8-22  9  10,088
  4.     14  H North Sydney         W 12-8   7  22,500
  5.     19f A Manly Warringah      L 10-22  9  18,588
  6.     28  A Illawarra            W 30-20  8   8,055
  7. May  5  H Parramatta           W 28-4   6  23,432
  8.     11s A Sydney City          L 16-28  7  13,471
  9.     26  H Newcastle            L 18-22  8  17,000
 10. Jun  8s H Cronulla Sutherland  L 24-28  9  22,810
 11.     16  * Sydney Tigers        L 22-34 11  10,000
             at Lancaster Park, Canterbury, New Zealand.
 12.     23  A Penrith              W 26-16 10   6,981
 13.     29s H Western Suburbs      W 32-16 10  17,500
 14. Jul  5f H South Sydney         W 24-10  7  20,000
 15.     14  A Gold Coast           W 28-14  7  11,870
 16.     20s A Western Reds         L 12-32  7  12,760
 17.     28  H South Queensland     W 16-12  6  17,000
 18. Aug  3s H North Queensland     W 52-6   6  14,600
 19.      9f A St George            L  6-35  7  14,256
 20.     16f H Canterbury Bankstown L 18-20  9  23,300
 21.     23f A Canberra             L  6-30 10  14,528
 22.     30f H Brisbane             L  6-38 11  26,000

Results for the last two years

Balmain:                          North Sydney:
    1995 W 36-12 (h)                  1995 L 12-14 (Parramatta)
    1996 L 22-34 (Canterbury)              L 10-48 (a)
Brisbane:                             1996 W 12-8  (h)
    1995 L 22-25 (h)              Parramatta:
         L  6-44 (a)                  1995 W 40-4  (a)
    1996 W Forf. (a)                  1996 W 28-4  (h)
         L  6-38 (h)              Penrith:
Canberra:                             1995 L 16-34 (h)
    1995 L  8-15 (h)                  1996 W 26-16 (a)
    1996 L  6-30 (a)              South Queensland:
Canterbury Bankstown:                 1995 W 22-10 (a)
    1995 W 29-8  (a)                  1996 W 16-12 (h)
    1996 L 18-20 (h)              South Sydney:
Cronulla Sutherland:                  1995 W 38-20 (a)
    1995 W 23-18 (a)                  1996 W 24-10 (h)
    1996 L 24-28 (h)              St George:
Gold Coast:                           1995 L 14-47 (h)
    1995 W 44-16 (h)                  1996 L  6-35 (a)
    1996 W 28-14 (a)              Sydney City:
Illawarra:                            1995 W 26-22 (h)
    1995 L 28-40 (a)                  1996 L 16-28 (a)
         W 38-12 (h)              Western Reds:
    1996 W 18-10 (h)                  1995 W 34-10 (h)
         W 30-20 (a)                  1996 L 12-32 (a)
Manly Warringah:                  Western Suburbs:
    1995 L 14-26 (h)                  1995 W 46-12 (h)
    1996 L 10-22 (a)                       W 16-12 (a)
Newcastle:                            1996 L  8-22 (a)
    1995 L  6-48 (a)                       W 32-16 (h)
    1996 L 18-22 (h)
North Queensland:
    1995 W 28-10 (a)
    1996 W 52-6  (h)