2003 New Zealand Warriors season

2003 New Zealand Warriors
League 6th NRL
2003 record 15-0-9
Points for 545
Points against 510
Team information
CEO Mick Watson
Coach Daniel Anderson
Assistant Coach Tony Kemp
Captain Monty Betham
Alternate captains Stacey Jones
Awen Guttenbeil
Ground Ericsson Stadium
Average attendance 16,842
Top scorers
Tries Francis Meli (23)
Goals Stacey Jones (29)
Points Francis Meli (92)
 < 2002 2004 > 

The 2003 New Zealand Warriors season was the 9th in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2003 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in 6th place. The Warriors then came within one game of the grand final, losing to eventual premiers the Penrith Panthers. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Monty Betham was the club captain.

Milestones

Jersey & Sponsors

The Warriors launched a new jersey design in 2003, finally removing completely the blue and white colours the owners had inherited when the purchased the company.[3]

Fixtures

The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2003, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Pre-season

The Warriors played a pre-season trial match against the Penrith Panthers in Invercargill on 28 February. 15,000 fans attended the match, which was sold out.[4]

Regular Season

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
16 MarchRound 1 Newcastle KnightsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 26-36 Hohaia (2), Carlaw, Fa'afili, Meli Jones (3) 16,291
23 MarchRound 2 Canterbury BulldogsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 24-20 Hohaia (2), Fa'afili, Guttenbeil, Meli Marsh (2) 16,229
29 MarchRound 3 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyWin20-16 Toopi (2), Fa'afili, Swann Marsh (2) 14,273
6 AprilRound 4 South Sydney RabbitohsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 38-16Fa'afili (2), Hohaia (2), Meli (2), Seuseu, Tony Marsh (2), Hohaia (1) 13,614
13 AprilRound 5 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneWin32-12Meli (2), Faumuina, Marsh, Swann, Tuimavave Marsh (3), Tuimavave (1) 18,959
21 AprilRound 6 North Queensland CowboysMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 30-24Fa'afili, Jones, Marsh, Meli, Tony, Toopi Marshs (3) 19,722
27 AprilRound 7 Penrith PanthersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 14-28Fa'afili, Koopu, Tony Jones (1)15,732
2 MayRound 8 BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss 12-18Meli, ToopiWebb (2) 21,989
10 MayRound 9 Parramatta EelsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 18-16Meli (2), Marsh, Swann Webb (1) 15,397
Round 10 Bye
23 MayRound 11 Canberra Raiders Westpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss10-18Fa'afiliWebb (1) 13,130
31 MayRound 12 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyLoss 12-34Betham, Tony Jones (2) 20,280
7 JuneRound 13 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 23-6Faumuina, Jones, Meli, MellarsJones (3 & FG) 16,172
14 JuneRound 14 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 26-28V.Anderson, Betham, Faumuina, Meli, WebbJones (2), Webb (1) 8,076
22 JuneRound 15 Canberra RaidersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 26-18Swann (2), Tony, Toopi, VillasantiJones (3) 18,375
29 JuneRound 16 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 31-30 (a.e.t)Jones, Meli, Tony, Toopi, WebbJones (5 & FG) 9,109
5 JulyRound 17 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss 10-30Swann (2)Jones (1) 16,028
12 JulyRound 18 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 20-12V.Anderson, Latu, Webb Jones (4) 15,528
19 JulyRound 19 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Park, SydneyWin 31-24Toopi (2), Murphy, Villasanti, WebbJones (5 & FG)13,565
Round 20 Bye
2 AugustRound 21 Melbourne StormMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12-14V.Anderson, Toopi Hohaia (2) 15,207
10 AugustRound 22 St. George Illawarra DragonsOki Jubilee Stadium, SydneyWin 30-20Carlaw, Hohaia, Lauiti'iti, Leuluai, Villasanti, Webb Hohaia (3)12,595
15 AugustRound 23 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss 20-36Toopi (2), Meli, VillasantiHohaia (2) 17,198
24 AugustRound 24 Brisbane BroncosMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 22-14V.Anderson, Faumuina, Latu, Meli Webb (3)19,439
31 AugustRound 25 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 26-24Meli (2), Toopi, Villasanti Webb (5) 18,726
6 SeptemberRound 26 Wests TigersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin32-16Toopi (3), V.Anderson (2), Meli Webb (4) 20,392

Final Series

Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report
13 SeptemberQualifying Final Bulldogs Showgrounds, Sydney Win 48 - 22 Meli (5), Webb (2), Faumuina, Tony Webb (5), Faumuina (1) 18,312
20 SeptemberPreliminary Final Canberra Raiders Aussie Stadium, Sydney Win 17 - 16 Fa'afili, Swann, ToopiWebb (2), Jones (FG) 31,616
28 SeptemberPreliminary Final Penrith Panthers Telstra Stadium, Sydney Loss 20 - 28 Swann, Toopi, Villasanti, WebbWebb (2) 43,174

Ladder

Team Pld W D L B PF PA PD Pts
1 Penrith 24 18 0 6 2 659 527 +132 40
2 Sydney 24 17 0 7 2 680 445 +235 38
3 Bulldogs 24 16 0 8 2 702 419 +283 36
4 Canberra 24 16 0 8 2 620 463 +157 36
5 Melbourne 24 15 0 9 2 564 486 +78 34
6 New Zealand 24 15 0 9 2 545 510 +35 34
7 Newcastle 24 14 0 10 2 632 635 -3 32
8 Brisbane 24 12 0 12 2 497 464 +33 28
9 Parramatta 24 11 0 13 2 570 582 -12 26
10 St George Illawarra 24 11 0 13 2 548 593 -45 26
11 North Queensland 24 10 0 14 2 606 629 -23 24
12 Cronulla 24 8 0 16 2 497 704 -207 20
13 Wests Tigers 24 7 0 17 2 470 598 -128 18
14 Manly 24 7 0 17 2 470 791 -321 18
15 South Sydney 24 3 0 21 2 457 758 -301 10

Squad

Twenty eight players were used by the Warriors in 2003, including five players who made their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
24Jones, StaceyStacey JonesNew ZealandHB23 April 199522329474
33Guttenbeil, AwenAwen GuttenbeilNew Zealand / TongaSR14 April 1996201004
42Swann, LoganLogan SwannNew ZealandSR1 March 19972390036
50Seu Seu, JerryJerry Seu SeuNew Zealand / SamoaPR16 August 1997241004
55Lauitiiti, AliAli LauitiitiNew Zealand / SamoaSR19 April 1998121004
61Betham, MontyMonty BethamNew Zealand / SamoaHK / LK8 March 1999242008
64Koopu, WairangiWairangi KoopuNew ZealandCE / SR9 April 1999251004
65Meli, FrancisFrancis MeliNew Zealand / SamoaWG2 May 199927230092
66Toopi, ClintonClinton ToopiNew ZealandCE2 May 199922170068
76Tookey, MarkMark TookeyAustraliaPR6 February 2000170000
81Fa'afili, HenryHenry Fa'afiliNew Zealand / SamoaWG26 March 200024100040
87Villasanti, RichardRichard VillasantiAustralia / TongaPR18 February 20011660024
90Tony, MotuMotu TonyNew Zealand / SamoaUH9 March 20011870028
92Murphy, JustinJustin MurphyFranceWG7 April 200181004
93Paleaaesina, IafetaIafeta PaleaaesinaNew Zealand / SamoaPR1 June 2001240000
95Carlaw, JohnJohn CarlawAustraliaCE24 March 2002102008
96Marsh, PJPJ MarshAustraliaHB / HK24 March 200211312036
97Webb, BrentBrent WebbNew ZealandFB1 April 200221826084
98Faumuina, SioneSione FaumuinaNew ZealandCE / LK1 April 20022451022
99Hohaia, LanceLance HohaiaNew ZealandUB6 April 20021678044
100Anderson, VinnieVinnie AndersonNew Zealand / TongaCE7 July 20022760024
102Tuimavave, EvarnEvarn TuimavaveNew ZealandPR1 September 200291106
103Temata, KarlKarl TemataCook IslandsPR / SR6 September 2002100000
104Robinson, MarkMark RobinsonNew ZealandHK2 May 200310000
105Leuluai, ThomasThomas LeuluaiNew ZealandHB2 May 2003121004
106Mellars, VinceVince MellarsNew ZealandCE7 June 200341004
107Latu, TevitaTevita LatuNew Zealand / TongaHK7 June 200372008
108Ropati, JeromeJerome RopatiNew ZealandCE / FE31 August 200310000

Staff

Coaching Staff

Transfers

Gains

Player Previous Club Length Notes
Robinson, MarkMark RobinsonNorth Harbour Rugby Union

Losses

Player Club Notes
Pai, JeremiahJeremiah PaiWests Tigers
Morgan, JustinJustin MorganToulouse Olympique
Campion, KevinKevin CampionNorth Queensland Cowboys
Hape, ShontayneShontayne HapeBradford Bulls
Myles, DavidDavid MylesNorth Queensland Cowboys
Cleary, IvanIvan ClearyRetired

Other Teams

Players not required by the Warriors were released to play in the 2003 Bartercard Cup. This included Motu Tony and Jerome Ropati at the Marist Richmond Brothers, Mark Robinson at the North Harbour Tigers and Richard Villasanti at the Canterbury Bulls.

Awards

Francis Meli won the Player of the Year award.[5]

References

  1. John Coffey Warriors youngest in NRL The Press, 30 November 2002
  2. Francis Meli will play his 50th NRL match for the Warriors Western Leader, 4 April 2003
  3. John Coffey Warriors' new strip The Press, 29 November 2002
  4. We're first - angry Roosters call for ad to be dropped Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February 2003
  5. Vodafone Warriors RED BALL Awards warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2014

External links

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