1996 Auckland Warriors season
| 1996 Auckland Warriors | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| League | 11th ARL | |||
| 1996 record | 10-0-11 | |||
| Points for | 412 | |||
| Points against | 427 | |||
| Team information | ||||
| CEO | Ian Robson | |||
| Coach | John Monie | |||
| Captain | Greg Alexander | |||
| Alternate captains | Denis Betts | |||
| Ground | Ericsson Stadium | |||
| Average attendance | 20,126 | |||
| Top scorers | ||||
| Tries | John Kirwan (10) | |||
| Goals | Gene Ngamu (50) | |||
| Points | Gene Ngamu (120) | |||
| ||||
The Auckland Warriors 1996 season was the Auckland Warriors 2nd first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's Australian Rugby League competition. The coach of the team was John Monie while Greg Alexander was the club's captain.
Milestones
- 29 July - Round 18 - Gene Ngamu scores 28 points (3 tries, 8 goals) in the defeat of the North Queensland Cowboys, setting the clubs point scoring record.
Jersey & Sponsors
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The Warriors retained the same jersey designs as in 1995. The jerseys were again produced by Canterbury of New Zealand. The Jersey was blue with a Green, Red and White "V". The main sponsor was DB Bitter, with Ansett Australia as the sleeve sponsor. Asics, Coca-Cola and Mitsubishi also had sponsorship deals. |
Super League
As the Auckland Warriors had, along with seven other clubs, signed with News Limited they did not originally intend to compete in the Australian Rugby League's Optus Cup in 1996. Instead Super League was scheduled to start on 1 March 1996.
Legal proceedings had been ongoing between the ARL and News Ltd since 1995 and on 23 February 1996 Justice James Burchett ruled the new Super League competition to be illegal. As a result, the eight Super League clubs were obliged to compete in the Optus Cup in 1996. However the competition, which was originally planned to kick off on 1 March was delayed and commenced on 22 March.
As a result of the court action the Warriors were not invited to participate in the ARL's 1996 Rugby League World Sevens but many of their players instead took part in Super League's 1996 World Nines, which were won by New Zealand.
All Super League clubs apart from the Warriors forfeited Round One of the Optus Cup. The Warriors board instead directed reserve grade coach Frank Endacott to organise two teams of un-affiliated players to fly to Brisbane. Endacott did so, assembling teams largely made up of the Otahuhu Leopards and Ellerslie Eagles senior sides, and the Warriors first and reserve grade sides were awarded a win each via forfeit as Brisbane refused to play.[1]
Auckland Warriors players were again ineligible for the New South Wales and Queensland State of Origin sides and the Australian Kangaroos due to the Warriors Super League stance.
In October 1996 New Limited won an appeal and Super League was allowed to go ahead in 1997.
Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1996, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Trial Matches
| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February | Match 1 |  Cronulla Sharks | Ericsson Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 24 - 38 |
Regular Season
*Brisbane forfeited Round One. The Warriors had sent a team to Brisbane consisting of players un-signed to Super League.
Ladder
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Manly |
22 | 18 | 0 | 4 | 549 | 191 | +358 | 36 |
| 2 |  Brisbane |
21 | 17 | 0 | 4 | 607 | 263 | +344 | 34 |
| 3 |  North Sydney |
22 | 15 | 2 | 5 | 598 | 325 | +273 | 32 |
| 4 |  Sydney City |
22 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 521 | 321 | +200 | 31 |
| 5 | Cronulla |
21 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 399 | 268 | +131 | 30 |
| 6 |  Canberra |
21 | 13 | 1 | 7 | 538 | 384 | +154 | 27 |
| 7 |  St. George |
21 | 12 | 1 | 8 | 443 | 360 | +83 | 27 |
| 8 |  Western Suburbs |
22 | 12 | 1 | 9 | 394 | 434 | -40 | 25 |
| 9 |  Newcastle |
21 | 10 | 1 | 10 | 416 | 388 | +28 | 23 |
| 10 |  Canterbury |
21 | 11 | 0 | 10 | 375 | 378 | -3 | 22 |
| 11 |  Auckland |
21 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 412 | 427 | -15 | 22 |
| 12 |  Balmain |
22 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 319 | 459 | -140 | 22 |
| 13 |  Parramatta |
21 | 9 | 1 | 11 | 404 | 415 | -11 | 21 |
| 14 |  Illawarra |
22 | 8 | 0 | 14 | 403 | 444 | -41 | 16 |
| 15 |  Penrith |
21 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 363 | 464 | -101 | 15 |
| 16 |  Western Reds |
21 | 6 | 1 | 14 | 313 | 420 | -107 | 13 |
| 17 |  North Queensland |
21 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 288 | 643 | -355 | 12 |
| 18 |  Gold Coast |
22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 359 | 521 | -162 | 11 |
| 19 |  South Sydney |
22 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 314 | 634 | -320 | 11 |
| 20 |  South Queensland |
21 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 220 | 496 | -276 | 8 |
Squad
The Warriors used twenty eight players in 1996, including nine who made their first grade debuts.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Warriors Debut | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Blake, PhilPhil Blake |  | FB / HK | 10 March 1995 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 3 | Hoppe, SeanSean Hoppe |  | WG | 10 March 1995 | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 6 | Ngamu, GeneGene Ngamu | | FE | 10 March 1995 | 20 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 120 |
| 7 | Alexander, GregGreg Alexander | | FB / FE / HB | 10 March 1995 | 16 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| 8 | Hill, GavinGavin Hill | | PR | 10 March 1995 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 16 |
| 10 | Okesene, HitroHitro Okesene | | PR / HK | 10 March 1995 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Kearney, StephenStephen Kearney | | SR | 10 March 1995 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 12 | Tatupu, TonyTony Tatupu | /  | SR | 10 March 1995 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 13 | Tuimavave, TonyTony Tuimavave | / | PR / LK | 10 March 1995 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Ropati, TeaTea Ropati | / | CE / FE | 10 March 1995 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 18 | Vagana, JoeJoe Vagana | / | PR | 18 March 1995 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 19 | Eru, SydSyd Eru | | HK | 28 March 1995 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 22 | Kirwan, JohnJohn Kirwan | | WG | 16 April 1995 | 19 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 23 | Platt, AndyAndy Platt |  | PR | 23 April 1995 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | Jones, StaceyStacey Jones | | HB | 23 April 1995 | 21 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 26 | Blackmore, RichieRichie Blackmore | | CE | 14 May 1995 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 24 |
| 28 | Betts, DenisDenis Betts | | SR | 4 June 1995 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 29 | Ellis, MarcMarc Ellis | | FB / WG | 31 March 1996 | 18 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 32 |
| 30 | Horo, MarkMark Horo | | PR / SR | 31 March 1996 | 21 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 31 | Carter, MarkMark Carter | | SR | 31 March 1996 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 32 | Vagana, NigelNigel Vagana | / | CE | 4 April 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | Guttenbeil, AwenAwen Guttenbeil | /  | SR | 14 April 1996 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 34 | Murray, DocDoc Murray | | FB | 19 April 1996 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 35 | Ropati, IvaIva Ropati | | CE | 19 April 1996 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 36 | Swann, AnthonyAnthony Swann | / | CE | 23 June 1996 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 37 | Malam, BradyBrady Malam | | PR | 23 June 1996 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 38 | Henare, BryanBryan Henare | | SR | 23 July 1996 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 39 | Lester, AaronAaron Lester | | HK | 28 July 1996 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Staff
- Chairman: Peter McLeod
- Chief Executive Officer: Ian Robson
- Football Manager: Laurie Stubbing
Coaching Staff
- Head Coach: John Monie
- Reserve Grade Coach: Frank Endacott
- Development Officer: John Ackland
Transfers
Gains
| Player | Previous Club | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Ellis | Otago Rugby Football Union | |
| Mark Horo | Western Suburbs Magpies | |
| Mark Carter | Auckland Rugby Football Union | |
| Awen Guttenbeil | Manly Sea Eagles | |
| Iva Ropati | Parramatta Eels |
Losses
| Player | Club | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dean Bell | Retired | |
| Manoa Thompson | Released | |
| Whetu Taewa | North Queensland Cowboys | |
| Duane Mann | Released | |
| Se'e Solomona | North Queensland Cowboys | |
| Jason Mackie | Released | |
| Martin Moana | Halifax Blue Sox | |
| Willie Poching | North Queensland Cowboys | |
| Logan Edwards | Released | |
| Mike Dorreen | Sydney Tigers | |
| Frano Botica | Llanelli RFC |
Other Teams
The Warriors participated in the ARL's Reserve grade competition that mirrored the senior draw. The Reserve grade side again made the finals, finishing third. Unlike in 1995, the Warriors did not field a Colts side in the Lion Red Cup.
In the Club Championship the Warriors finished fifth overall.
In the Reserve Grade Finals the Warriors first bet Sydney City 19-18 in the Quarterfinals. In the Semifinals they defeated Brisbane 18-12 to make the Grand Final. However, in the Grand Final the Warriors went down 14-12 to the Cronulla Sharks, the second year in a row that a Warriors team had lost a Grand Final.[2][3] The cost of the finals campaign to the club was estimated at between $70,000 and $75,000.[4]
Awards
Stephen Kearney won the clubs Player of the Year award.[5]
References
- ↑ Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. ISBN 1-86958-922-X. p.78
- ↑ Australian Competitions 1996 The Vault
- ↑ Doc detects pain Sunday Star-Times, 29 September 1996
- ↑ Warriors reserve success comes at big price Sunday Star Times, 29 September 1996
- ↑ New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.50
External links
- Warriors official site
- 1996 Warriors Season rugbyleagueproject.org
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