2013 New Zealand Warriors season


The 2013 New Zealand Warriors season was the nineteenth season in the club's history. Coached by Matthew Elliott and captained by Simon Mannering, the Warriors competed in the National Rugby League's 2013 Telstra Premiership. They finished the regular season in 11th, failing to make the finals for the second consecutive year.

Milestones

Fixtures

Pre-season training

Pre-season training began on 5 November 2012. Australian wrestler and mixed martial arts fighter Brad Morris was employed on the Warriors coaching staff. The team was based at the Millennium Institute of Sport and Health and North Harbour Stadium during the pre-Christmas period. Four players joined the squad on pre-season trial contracts; Charlie Gubb, Suaia Matagi, Atelea Nafetalai, Nathaniel Peteru.

Pre-season matches

Regular season

The Warriors will play ten home matches at Mount Smart Stadium, one at Eden Park and another at Westpac Stadium in Wellington. This will be the Warriors first home match held outside of Auckland.
DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
9 MarchRound 1 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss10-40Lillyman, NielsenJohnson 13,351
16 MarchRound 2 Sydney RoostersEden Park, AucklandLoss14-16Johnson, Godinet, TupouJohnson 32,740
24 MarchRound 3 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksShark Stadium, SydneyLoss4-28Hurrell12,183
1 AprilRound 4 North Queensland CowboysMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin20-18Taylor, Hurrell, JohnsonJohnson 10,572
7 AprilRound 5 South Sydney RabbitohsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss22-24Matulino, Hurrell, Laumape, GodinetJohnson 13,513
13 AprilRound 6 Canberra RaidersCanberra Stadium, CanberraLoss16-20Vatuvei, HenryJohnson 9,699
25 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormAAMI Park, MelbourneLoss18-28Henry, Tupou, JohnsonJohnson 25,480
5 MayRound 8 Gold Coast TitansMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin25-24Vatuvei, Mateo, Tupou, Johnson, HenryJohnson 9,465
11 MayRound 9 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss16-24Vatuvei, Leuluai, FisiiahiJohnson 30,116
18 MayRound 10 Penrith PanthersCentrebet Stadium, SydneyLoss6-62VatuveiHenry 9,386
26 MayRound 11 Newcastle KnightsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin28-12Vatuvei, Leuluai, Rapira, Mannering, TaylorJohnson 9,257
3 JuneRound 12 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneWin56-18Vatuvei, Fisiiahi, Hurrell,
Leuluai, Packer, Locke		Johnson 21,259
9 JuneRound 13 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin18-16Taylor, Fishiiahi, HurrellJohnson 11,143
16 JuneRound 14 Sydney RoostersAllianz Stadium, SydneyWin23-12Taylor, Laumape, Fishiiahi, VatuveiMateo,
Johnson 		11,040
Round 15Bye-
30 JuneRound 16 Brisbane BroncosMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin18-16Vatuvei, Taylor, HurrellJohnson 15,515
7 JulyRound 17 South Sydney RabbitohsNIB Stadium, PerthLoss13-30Mannering, HurrellJohnson 20,221
Round 18Bye-
19 JulyRound 19 Wests TigersLeichhardt Oval, SydneyWin24-14Johnson, Hurrell, ManneringJohnson 11,436
28 JulyRound 20 Melbourne StormMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30-22Laumape, Leuluai, Hurrell, LockeJohnson 20,126
3 AugustRound 21 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss14-18Vatuvei, HurrellJohnson 15,209
11 AugustRound 22 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesCentral Coast Stadium, GosfordLoss12-27Laumape, JohnsonJohnson 12,090
18 AugustRound 23 Penrith PanthersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss24-28Leuluai, Taylor, Matagi, HurrellJohnson 11,596
24 AugustRound 24 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastWin24-22Ropati, Nielsen, HurrellJohnson 15,786
31 AugustRound 25 Canberra RaidersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin50-16Vatuvei, Johnson, Taylor, Mannering, LaumapeJohnson 15,121
7 SeptemberRound 26 St. George-Illawarra DragonsWIN Stadium, WollongongLoss10-19Taylor, VatuveiJohnson 9,022

Ladder

Squad

No.NamePositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
105HB2 May 20032460024
108CE31 August 200342008
115WG23 May 200419160064
125SR26 June 20052340016
131PR20 May 2006221004
141PR4 May 200891004
142PR14 June 2008241004
146PR14 March 2009221004
152FB31 May 2009202008
159SR14 March 201000000
160WG4 April 2010930012
162HK21 August 201000000
163FB12 March 20111150020
164SR12 March 2011241208
167SR3 April 20112380032
168HB4 June 20112410673177
169SR4 June 201130000
170HB24 July 2011102008
171SR4 March 2012731014
172HK4 March 2012210000
173CE4 March 201220130052
175SR21 July 201200000
176LK28 July 201280000
177FE5 August 201230000
178CE9 March 2013172008
179SR9 March 2013210000
180WG24 March 20131460024
181PR11 May 2013111004
182CE3 June 2013130000
183PR7 July 201310000
184SR7 September 201310000

Staff

Gains

Losses

Other teams

The Junior Warriors again competed in the Holden Cup while senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.

Holden Cup Squad

In John Ackland's last season with the club, the Junior Warriors made the grand final, before losing 30-42 to the Penrith Panthers juniors.
Grand Final team: David Fusitua, Metia Lisati, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Ngataua Hukatai, Viliami Lolohea, Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino, James Taylor, Siliva Havili, Albert Vete, Michael Sio, Raymond Faitala-Mariner and David Bhana. Bench: Eko Malu, Sam Lisone, Kouma Samson, Solomone Kata.
Seventeen Junior Warriors attended an NRL rookie camp on 24 and 25 November 2012. They were Vincent Afoa, Katamiro Atera, Trent Bishop, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Sione Feao, David Fusitua, Ngani Laumape, Mason Lino, Sam Lisone, Kouma Samson, Kurt Robinson, Lafu Feagaiga, Tama Koopu, Kenneth Maumalo, Eric Newbigging, Sam Cook and Esera Esera.

Vulcans squad

The Vulcans were coached by Willie Swann, who was assisted by Brent Gemmel.
The Vulcans made the finals, losing to the Wests Tigers 24-34 in an elimination final.
The 2013 squad was Aaron Nootai, Agnatius Paasi, Atelea Nafetalai, Daniel Palavi, Murray Iti, Nathaniel Peteru, Steve Waetford, Tangi Ropati and Zoram Watene. In addition, the Vulcans were able to select players contracted to the Warriors and not selected for first grade, including four under 20 players; Ngani Laumape, Siliva Havili, Trent Bishop and Visesio Setefano.
Suaia Matagi was named the player of the year, ahead of runner up Tangi Ropati. John Palavi was named the rookie of the year.

Awards

Captain Simon Mannering won the Player of the Year award while Ngani Laumape won Rookie of the Year. The Clubman of the Year was Manu Vatuvei and Shaun Johnson won the People's Player of the Year, decided by public vote. Jerome Ropati was presented with a special Legacy Award.