The 1998 Auckland Warriors season was the 4th in the club's history. Coached by Frank Endacott and captained by Matthew Ridge, they competed in the 1998 NRL season, finishing the regular season 15th (out of 20 teams).
Milestones 10 April – Round 5: Joe Vagana plays his 50th match for the club. 19 April – Round 6: Syd Eru plays his 50th match for the club.
Jersey and sponsors For 1998 the Warriors again used a similar style of jersey, produced by Nike, Inc. DB Bitter remained the major sponsor while Bartercard joined as the sleeve sponsor.
Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1997, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Pre-season trials Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report13 FebruaryTrial 1 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, AucklandLost22–26Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz22 FebruaryTrial 2 Auckland selectionCarlaw Park, AucklandWin 22–4 Rugby League Teamsrugbyleague.co.nz28 FebruaryTrial 3 Canterbury BulldogsQueen Elizabeth II Park, ChristchurchWin20–8Ngamu, Eru, N.VaganaNgamu (4)Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report13 MarchRound 1 South Sydney Rabbitohs Ericsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 18–24 Ngamu, Kearney Ngamu (5) 9,500NRL 1998 – Round 1 rugbyleagueproject.org21 MarchRound 2 Newcastle Knights EnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss 4–33 Hoppe 23,503NRL 1998 – Round 2 rugbyleagueproject.org27 MarchRound 3 Sydney City Roosters Ericsson Stadium, AucklandWin 25–14Hoppe, Jones, Seuseu, N.Vagana Ridge (4), Ngamu (FG) 9,000 NRL 1998 – Round 3 rugbyleagueproject.org4 AprilRound 4 St. George DragonsOki Jubilee Stadium, SydneyLoss 24–28N.Vagana (2), Ropati, Smith Ridge (4) 10,003NRL 1998 – Round 4 rugbyleagueproject.org10 AprilRound 5 Melbourne Storm Ericsson Stadium, AucklandWin16–12Hoppe, Jones, Tatupu Ridge (2) 14,503 NRL 1998 – Round 5 rugbyleagueproject.org19 AprilRound 6 North Sydney BearsNorth Sydney Oval, SydneyLoss 26–44Jones, Lauitiiti, Tatupu, N.Vagana Ridge (5) 10,945NRL 1998 – Round 6 rugbyleagueproject.org26 AprilRound 7 Newcastle Knights Ericsson Stadium, AucklandLoss14–38Ropati, N.Vagana Ridge (3) 7,500 NRL 1998 – Round 7 rugbyleagueproject.org2 MayRound 8 Sydney City RoostersSydney Football Stadium, Sydney Loss 4–22Oudenryn 5,308NRL 1998 – Round 8 rugbyleagueproject.org8 MayRound 9 Cronulla Sharks Ericsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 8–20Ropati Ridge (2) 7,500 NRL 1998 – Round 9 rugbyleagueproject.org16 MayRound 10 Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Sports Ground, Sydney Win 20–6Jones, Oudenryn, A.Swann Ridge (4) 5,224NRL 1998 – Round 10 rugbyleagueproject.org24 MayRound 11 Canberra Raiders Ericsson Stadium, AucklandWin 25–14Hoppe (2), N.Vagana (2) Ridge (4), Whittaker (FG) 8,000 NRL 1998 – Round 11 rugbyleagueproject.org30 MayRound 12 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, Sydney Loss6–14Kearney Whittaker (1) 13,218 NRL 1998 – Round 12 rugbyleagueproject.org7 JuneRound 13 Penrith PanthersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win15–14Ngamu, Whittaker Ngamu (3 & FG) 7,000NRL 1998 – Round 13 rugbyleagueproject.org13 JuneRound 14 Western Suburbs MagpiesCampbelltown Sports Ground, Sydney Loss 16–18 Jones, Oudenryn, Jones Ngamu (2) 5,933 NRL 1998 – Round 14 rugbyleagueproject.org21 JuneRound 15 St. George DragonsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 31–14Eru, Jones, Kearney, Ropati, L.Swann Ngamu (5 & FG) 8,300 NRL 1998 – Round 15 rugbyleagueproject.org27 JuneRound 16 Melbourne StormOlympic Park Stadium, Melbourne Win 24–21Eru, Galuvao, Ngamu, Tatupu Ngamu (4) 13,127 NRL 1998 – Round 16 rugbyleagueproject.org4 JulyRound 17 Illawarra SteelersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 17–14Eur, Kearney, J.Vagana Jones (1) 12,500 NRL 1998 – Round 17 rugbyleagueproject.org11 JulyRound 18 Gold Coast ChargersCarrara Stadium, Gold Coast Loss 18–31Endacott, Eru, Staladi Ridge (3) 5,490NRL 1998 – Round 18 rugbyleagueproject.org17 JulyRound 19 Balmain TigersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win21–20Ridge, Tatupu, N.Vagana Ridge (4), Jones (FG) 6,000NRL 1998 – Round 19 rugbyleagueproject.org26 JulyRound 20 Adelaide RamsHindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide Loss 20–22Ridge, N.Vagana, J.Vagana Ridge (4) 7,445NRL 1998 – Round 20 rugbyleagueproject.org31 JulyRound 21 North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win34–18N.Vagana (3), Iro (2), Staladi Ridge (5) 4,500 NRL 1998 – Round 21 rugbyleagueproject.org9 AugustRound 22 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Football Stadium, Sydney Loss 18–20Lauitiiti (2), Seuseu Ridge (3) 3,733NRL 1998 – Round 22 rugbyleagueproject.org16 AugustRound 23 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, Brisbane Loss 4–16 Ridge (2) 16,456NRL 1998 – Round 23 rugbyleagueproject.org23 AugustRound 24 Manly Sea EaglesEricsson Stadium, AucklandLoss 12–38Kearney, Lauitiiti Ridge (2) 12,000 NRL 1998 – Round 24 rugbyleagueproject.org
Kiwi Trial matches After the National Rugby League season had finished the Warriors played in two trial matches against a New Zealand XIII. These matches acted as a trial for the New Zealand national rugby league team before the October test against Australia and the tour of Great Britain. Date Opponent Venue Result Score Report17 September New Zealand XIIIRugby Park, New PlymouthWin66–4Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz23 September New Zealand XIIICarlaw Park, AucklandWin60–16Rugby League Teams rugbyleague.co.nz
Ladder
Squad
Twenty nine players were used by the club in 1998, including four players who made their first grade debuts. No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 3WG10 March 19951550020 6FE10 March 199517319353 11SR10 March 19952150020 12SR10 March 19951940016 13PR / LK10 March 199590000 15CE / FE10 March 19951540016 18PR18 March 1995222008 19HK28 March 19951340016 24HB23 April 19952461127 29FB / WG31 March 199620000 32CE4 April 199623130052 33SR14 April 1996100000 36CE23 June 199691004 37PR23 June 1996240000 38SR23 July 199610000 40FB1 March 1997182510110 42SR1 March 1997241004 44FE29 March 1997171004 45WG27 April 1997112008 47WG6 July 19972030012 48HB29 June 199771117 50PR16 August 1997172008 51CE13 March 1998162008 52PR13 March 1998180000 53SR13 March 1998101004 54HK13 March 199850000 55SR19 April 1998840016 56FB / CE2 May 1998111004 57PR23 August 199810000
Staff Chief Executive Officer: Bill MacGowan
Coaching staff Head Coach: Frank Endacott
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesWarrington WolvesWarrior 1995–1996Warrington WolvesWarrior 1996Hunter MarinersCanberra RaidersNorth Queensland Cowboys
Losses Player Club NotesWhitehavenRetiredWigan WarriorsWigan WarriorsRetiredRetiredLondon BroncosMount Albert LionsAdelaide Rams
Mid-Season Losses Player Club NotesNorth Harbour Rugby UnionNew Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.58
Other teams Due to the axing of the Reserve grade competition the Auckland Warriors reserve team played in a series of matches against New Zealand Provincial sides.New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998.
Date Opponent Result Score Venue ReportMarch–April Auckland Win 26–24 AucklandMarch–April AucklandWin 26–24 Auckland26 April Waikato CougarsWin 54–0 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland2 May Canterbury RedsWin 35–0 Rugby League Park, Christchurch24 May Canterbury RedsWin 38–14 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Northland Wild BoarsWin54–12 Jubilee Park, WhangareiWaikato CougarsWin 76–0 Resthills Park, Hamilton Coastline MarinersWin 66–6 Tauranga Domain, TaurangaWest Coast ChargersWin 56–2 Ericsson Stadium, Auckland West Coast ChargersWin 46–8 Wingham Park, West CoastHawkes Bay UnicornsWin 90–10 Nelson Park, HastingsManawatu MustangsWin 32–10 Ericsson Stadium, AucklandManawatu MustangsWin 54–4 FoxtonWellington PumasWin 50–18 Ericsson Stadium, AucklandWellington PumasWin 44–10 Hutt ValleyTaranaki SharksWin 42–8 New PlymouthTaranaki SharksWin 56–10 Ericsson Stadium, AucklandAugust Auckland Win 28–24Ericsson Stadium, Auckland
Awards Joe Vagana was the Player of the Year.New Zealand Rugby League Annual '98, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1998. p.60
References
External links Warriors official site 1998 Warriors Season at rugbyleagueproject.org