1996 Auckland Warriors season
ARL Rank11th
1996 recordWins: 10; draws: 0; losses: 11
Points scoredFor: 412; against: 427
Team information
CEOIan Robson
CoachJohn Monie
Captains
StadiumEricsson Stadium
Avg. attendance20,126
Top scorers
TriesJohn Kirwan (10)
GoalsGene Ngamu (50)
PointsGene Ngamu (120)
< 1995 1997 >

The Auckland Warriors 1996 season was the Auckland Warriors 2nd season in first-grade. 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

Jersey & Sponsors

The Warriors retained the same jersey design as in 1995. The official jersey supplier were Lenco. The Jersey was blue with a Green, Red and White "V". Only one jersey was used for both home and away games. The main sponsor was DB Bitter. 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

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
FebruaryMatch 1 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss24 - 38

Regular season

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
Round 1 Brisbane BroncosWin*
31 MarchRound 2 Illawarra SteelersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin18 - 10T.Ropati (2), BlackmoreAlexander (2), Hill (1)17,246
4 AprilRound 3 Western Suburbs MagpiesCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyLoss8 - 22J.VaganaAlexander (1), Hill (1)10,088
1 AprilRound 4 North Sydney BearsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin12 - 8JonesHill (2), Alexander (1),
Ellis (1)
22,500
7 AprilRound 5 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss10 - 22Blake, NgamuNgamu (1)18,588
16 AprilRound 6 Illawarra SteelersSteelers Stadium, WollongongWin30 - 20Alexander, Blake, Ellis, Jones, TatupuNgamu (3), Hill (2)8,055
23 AprilRound 7 Parramatta EelsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin28 - 4Kirwan (2), Alexander, Hoppe, HoroNgamu (3), Hill (1)23,432
30 AprilRound 8 Sydney City RoostersSFS, SydneyLoss16 - 28Blackmore, Hoppe, T.RopatiNgamu (1), Hill (1)13,471
7 MayRound 9 Newcastle KnightsEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss18 - 22Kirwan (2), BettsNgamu (1), Ellis (1)17,000
14 MayRound 10 Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss24 - 28Hoppe, Kearney, Kirwan, NgamuNgamu (4)22,810
4 JuneRound 11 Sydney TigersLancaster Park, ChristchurchLoss22 - 34Blackmore, Ellis, Kirwan, T.RopatiNgamu (2), Ellis (1)10,000
18 JuneRound 12 Penrith PanthersPenrith Park, SydneyWin26 - 16Ellis (2), Hoppe, Horo, KirwanNgamu (3)6,981
25 JuneRound 13 Western Suburbs MagpiesEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin32 - 16Jones (2), Alexander, Eru, Hoppe, KirwanNgamu (4)17,500
1 JulyRound 14 South Sydney RabbitohsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin24 - 10Eru (2), Jones, KirwanNgamu (4)20,000
9 JulyRound 15 Gold Coast ChargersCarrara Stadium, Gold CoastWin28 - 14Ellis, Henare, Horo, Kearney, SwannNgamu (4)11,870
16 JulyRound 16 Western RedsWACA Ground, PerthLoss12 - 32Ellis, SwannNgamu (2)12,760
23 JulyRound 17 South Queensland CrushersEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin16 - 12Blackmore, SwannNgamu (3), Ellis (1)17,000
29 JulyRound 18 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin52 - 6Ngamu (3), Betts, Blake, Hoppe, Horo,
Jones, Kirwan
Ngamu (8)14,600
6 AugustRound 19 St George DragonsKogarah Oval, SydneyLoss6 - 35GuttenbeilNgamu (1)14,256
11 AugustRound 20 Canterbury BulldogsEricsson Stadium, AucklandWin18 - 12Betts, Blackmore, RopatiNgamu (3)23,300
18 AugustRound 21 Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, CanberraLoss6 - 30BlackmoreNgamu (1)14,528
27 AugustRound 22 Brisbane BroncosEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss6 - 38HoppeNgamu (1)26,000

*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-Warringah 221804549191+35836
2 Brisbane 211704607263+34434
3 North Sydney 221525598325+27332
4 Sydney City 221516521321+20031
5 Cronulla-Sutherland 211425399268+13130
6 Canberra 211317538384+15427
7 St. George 211218443360+8327
8 Western Suburbs 221219394434−4025
9 Newcastle 2110110416388+2823
10 Canterbury 2111010375378−322
11 Auckland 2110011412427−1522
12 Balmain 2211011319459−14022
13 Parramatta 219111404415−1121
14 Illawarra 228014403444−4116
15 Penrith 217113363464−10115
16 Western Reds 216114313420−10713
17 North Queensland 216015288643−35512
18 Gold Coast 225116359521−16211
19 South Sydney 225116314634−32011
20 South Queensland 213018220496−2768

Squad

The Warriors used twenty eight players in 1996, including nine who made their first grade debuts.

No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
2Phil BlakeAustraliaFB / HK10 March 19951830012
3Sean HoppeNew ZealandWG10 March 19952070028
6Gene NgamuNew ZealandFE10 March 1995205500120
7Greg AlexanderAustraliaFB / FE / HB10 March 19951634020
8Gavin HillNew ZealandPR10 March 1995708016
10Hitro OkeseneNew ZealandPR / HK10 March 199540000
11Stephen KearneyNew ZealandSR10 March 1995212008
12Tony TatupuNew Zealand / SamoaSR10 March 1995111004
13Tony TuimavaveNew Zealand / SamoaPR / LK10 March 199550000
15Tea RopatiNew Zealand / SamoaCE / FE10 March 19952050020
18Joe VaganaNew Zealand / SamoaPR18 March 1995201004
19Syd EruNew ZealandHK28 March 19951130012
22John KirwanNew ZealandWG16 April 199519100040
23Andy PlattEnglandPR23 April 1995210000
24Stacey JonesNew ZealandHB23 April 19952160024
26Richie BlackmoreNew ZealandCE14 May 19951760024
28Denis BettsEnglandSR4 June 19951730012
29Marc EllisNew ZealandFB / WG31 March 19961864032
30Mark HoroNew ZealandPR / SR31 March 19962140016
31Mark CarterNew ZealandSR31 March 199680000
32Nigel VaganaNew Zealand / SamoaCE4 April 199610000
33Awen GuttenbeilNew Zealand / TongaSR14 April 1996141004
34Doc MurrayNew ZealandFB19 April 199610000
35Iva RopatiNew ZealandCE19 April 199620000
36Anthony SwannNew Zealand / SamoaCE23 June 1996930012
37Brady MalamNew ZealandPR23 June 199680000
38Bryan HenareNew ZealandSR23 July 199631004
39Aaron LesterNew ZealandHK28 July 199630000

Staff

  • Chairman: Peter McLeod
  • Chief Executive Officer: Ian Robson
  • Football Manager: Laurie Stubbing

Coaching Staff

Transfers

Gains

PlayerPrevious ClubNotes
Marc EllisOtago Rugby Football Union
Mark HoroWestern Suburbs Magpies
Mark CarterAuckland Rugby Football Union
Awen GuttenbeilManly Sea Eagles
Iva RopatiParramatta Eels

Losses

PlayerClubNotes
Dean BellRetired
Manoa ThompsonReleased
Whetu TaewaNorth Queensland Cowboys
Duane MannReleased
Se'e SolomonaNorth Queensland Cowboys
Jason MackieReleased
Martin MoanaHalifax Blue Sox
Willie PochingNorth Queensland Cowboys
Logan EdwardsReleased
Mike DorreenSydney Tigers
Frano BoticaLlanelli 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 club's Player of the Year award.[5]

References

  1. Frank Endacott with John Coffey Being Frank:The Frank Endacott Story. Auckland, Hodder Moa Beckett, 2002. ISBN 1-86958-922-X. p.78
  2. Australian Competitions 1996 Archived 1 September 2005 at the Wayback Machine The Vault
  3. Doc detects pain Sunday Star-Times, 29 September 1996
  4. Warriors reserve success comes at big price Sunday Star Times, 29 September 1996
  5. New Zealand Rugby League Annual 2002, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 2002. p.50
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