Round 21 - Faither 5 Pre Game vs Penrith Panthers

Coming off the 2nd heart breaking golden point loss in as many weeks and the 3rd in the previous 4 matches, as a fan it's hard not to dream about what could have been. If we just got a lucky bounce of the ball or a referee decision went our way we could be heading into the Panthers game with 7 wins on the trot, leaving us sitting comfortably in 6th position with a real chance of cracking the top 4.

It's Not Just A Game

Written by Ryan Lamont

Ok let's be honest. There are more important things in life like family,friends,health etc.
But to a lot of us, the Warriors are also important. If you go into work on a Monday and brag about the Warriors, then to you it's not just a game.

If you get upset about a result, then to you it's not just a game. If you're part of a Warriors group on FB, Twitter, season member, whinge about team selection, watch every Jeff Robson match or just get excited because it's Warriors game day, then whether you want to admit it or not, to you it's not just a game.

Late Fightback not Enough for Warriors

Written by Brad Inger

NRL 2016 Round 20 Review: Late fightback not enough for Warriors

The Warriors lost 26-22 in their second Golden Point defeat in a row in what was their third Golden Point loss in Four Games. The 26-22 scoreline was flattering for the Warriors as the Raiders were on their way to a large victory until Thomas Leuluai and David Fusitu’a clawed the Warriors back into the game. Unfortunately, the Warriors continued their recent trend and could not close out the game and succumbed to the third try of a Jarrod Croker hat trick.

Flash Back Friday - Round 24 vs Penrith Panthers 2011

Date: Saturday, August 20th, 2011 
Kick Off: 7.30pm (Local Time)
Referees: Gavin Badger, Brett Suttor
Venue: Penrith Park (Sydney)
Crowd: 11,644
Score: NZ Warriors 26 def Penrith Panthers 12

Round 20 Faither of the Week

Round 20
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Raiders 26 def Warriors 22
Faither of the Week: Thomas Leuluai

Most tries

McFadden Needs his Thinking Cappy for Team Selection

It's time to go back to basics with team selections. We've seen too much tinkering and experiments with the 17 that are being selected during the 2016 season. Far too often we've seen a bench include not only a utility but also a back, which to me is a selection based on "what if's" instead of what is best for the side. There is a reason we don't see NRL teams opt to go with a back on the bench and that's because it simply does not work. When it's combined with a utility player on the bench it makes the decision even worse.

Round 20 - Faither 5 Pre Game vs Canberra Raiders

The Warriors went 17 years without a victory against the Raiders in Canberra. Coincidentally, it was a team coached by a man that cops plenty of criticism by fans that guided them to a drought breaking victory in his 14th  game as an NRL head coach. 2014 proved to be a fruitful year for the Warriors playing against the Raiders with the club managing to score a combined total of 108 points while only conceding 30 in the process. Since breaking the Canberra hoodoo the Warriors have now won 2 games on the trot in the nations capital and look to make it a trifecta as they head into this Round 20 fixture.

Flash Back Friday - Warriors Destroy 17 Year Hoodoo. Round 21 vs Raiders 2014

Date: Sunday, August 3rd, 2014
Kick Off: 2pm (Local Time)
Referee: Gavin Morris, Gavin Reynolds
Venue: Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Crowd: 7,094
Score: NZ Warriors 54 def Canberra Raiders 18

Player Profile - Monty Betham

NAME: Monty Betham
WARRIOR NUMBER: 61
BORN: Auckland 12/3/78
CLUB DEBUT: Round 1, 1999 vs Sydney Roosters
POSITION: Lock, Hooker

Round 19 Faither of the Week

Round 19
NIB Stadium, Perth
Manly 15 def NZ Warriors 14
Faither of the Week: Thomas Leuluai

Most Games

Bench Selection and Rotation is a Shambles

The big talking point to come out of the weekends game against the Manly Sea Eagles is undoubtedly focused on Tui Lolohea being not only named to play from the bench but also the lack of game time he was given. Running with a hooker or utility as part of the 4 man bench is not an uncommon scenario within the NRL so it comes as no surprise to see the Warriors adopt the same set up. The problem that the Warriors face and the inevitbile trouble they get themselvves into is when they run a hooker/utility (let's use Jazz Tevaga as the example here) while at the same time they seem hell bent on including a back just for good measure.

Round 19 Faither Five vs Manly Sea Eagles

The Manly Sea Eagles have certainly become a thorn in the side of the NZ Warriors and are undoubtedly the clubs bogey side with the club winning just 1 game from the last 12 meetings stretching back to 2010. While the Warriors continue to show plenty more pride in the jersey and a willingness to be able to compete for an entire game instead of switching off after 60 mins, it's 2 points that have gone begging and with plenty of teams fighting for those last few spots in the 8 it was a game that needed to be won and may come back to haunt them in their quest for finals footy this season.

Victory in Mannering Milestone

Written by Brad Inger

NRL 2016 Round 17 Review: Victory in Mannering Milestone

Round 17 saw the Warriors face the Gold Coast Titans in a hard fought encounter. In a match that was not only Simon Mannering’s 250th game as a Vodafone Warrior but also the 250th game played at Mount Smart Stadium, the Warriors came from behind to defeat the Titans 27-18.

Flash Back Friday - Round 13 vs Manly Sea Eagles 2013

Date: Sunday, June 9th, 2013 
Kick Off: 4pm (Local Time)
Referee: Ben Cummins, Brett Suttor
Venue: Mt Smart
Crowd: 11,142
Score: NZ Warriors 18 def Manly Sea Eagles 16

Coaches

Cappy: Have the Fans Been too Harsh?

Plenty have called for his head but have those calls been warranted? Have the fans brought out the pitch forks and called for the axe to swing a little early?

Best Signing in Warriors History

I know what you're thinking. You're here expecting to see me wax on lyrically about Kevin Campion, Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Micheal Luck, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, etc right? Well i hate to disappoint you but the signing I personally believe is the best in Warriors history isn't any of those guys. In fact, its not even a player. In my opinion the best signing this club has ever made is the guy sitting in the top job right now.

Captains

Round 17 Faither of the Week

Round 17
Mt Smart Stadium
NZ Warriors 27 def Gold Coast Titans 18
Faither of the Week - Bodene Thompson

Flash Back Friday - Round 16 vs Melbourne Storm 1998

***Flash Back Friday***

Date: Saturday, June 27th, 1998
Referee: Moghseen Jadwat
Venue: Olympic Park, Melbourne
Crowd: 13,127
Score: Warriors 24 def Storm 21

Player Profile - Steve Buckingham

NAME: STEVE BUCKINGHAM
WARRIOR NUMBER: 43
NICKNAME: BUCK
BORN: NEW ZEALAND
CLUB DEBUT: 17/03/97
POSITION: FIVE-EIGHTH/ HALFBACK

Simon Mannering - 250 and Counting

Written by Stone

Over the last two decades there have been many great players who have donned the NZ Warriors colours with true distinction since the franchises inception in 1995, but none more so than Simon "Juju" Mannering.

Warriors Best 1-17: Leading Try Scorer Edition

Have you ever wondered what the NZ Warriors Best 1-17 would look like if the players were selected in the team purely because they had scored the most tries in their preferred position. No? Well, I've gone over the numbers and thrown together a team anyway.

1999: The Tainui Era

Former Kiwi Mark Graham took over as head coach for the 1999 season. The club was sold off to a consortium that included ex-kiwi coach Graham Lowe and the Tainui Tribe. The club was again disappointing on the field but a mid season ultimatum saw the team string together 5 wins from their last 6 games.

The Run Home

As we head into the second bye of the season, the Warriors have managed to claw themselves out of a fairly decent sized hole that they managed to dig themselves with their early season form, or lack thereof.

Tui Lo(ck)lohea - Left Field Positional Switch?

I have no doubt in my mind that this opinion is going to cause plenty of backlash and likely be ridiculed to no end but bare with me.


To point out the blatantly obvious, no player can continue on playing forever and as it stands we have 2 players currently playing in our back row who have a very good chance of retiring and/or leaving the club at roughly the same time. Those two players i am referring to are Ryan Hoffman and Simon Mannering.

Flash Back Friday - Round 25 vs Gold Coast Titans 2014

***Flash Back Friday***

Date: Sunday, August 31st, 2014
Kick Off: 4pm (local time)
Referees: Gavin Badger, Chris James
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Crowd: 13,540
Score: NZ Warriors 42 def Gold Coast Titans 0