The New Zealand Warriors 2010 season was the New Zealand Warriors 16th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League and finished fifth in regular season before being eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. The coach of the team was Ivan Cleary while Simon Mannering was the club's captain. The Warriors won the club championship award for having the best combined results between the first grade team and the under-20s. The Junior Warriors then went on to win the Toyota Cup grand final, the club's first grand final win in sixteen years.
In 2010 Warriors games were broadcast on New Zealand's Sky network averaged 181,200 viewers.
Milestones
13 February – All Stars Match: Manu Vatuvei represents the NRL All Stars in the pre-season All Stars Match. 14 March – Round 1: Four players made their debuts for the club; Brett Seymour, James Maloney, Jeremy Latimore and Sione Lousi. Lousi also made his NRL debut. 20 March – Round 2: Micheal Luck plays in his 100th game for the club. 28 March – Round 3: James Maloney equals the points club scoring record by scoring 28 points in a match. The record was previously shared by Ivan Cleary and Gene Ngamu. 28 March – Round 3: Wade McKinnon played in his 50th game for the club. 4 April – Round 4: Bill Tupou made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. 18 April – Round 6: Ian Henderson played in his 50th game for the club. 15 May – Round 10: Mataupu Poching made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. 23 May – Round 11: Lance Hohaia played in his 150th game for the club and his 150th NRL match. 6 June – Round 13: Manu Vatuvei played in his 100th match for the club. 17 July – Round 19: Ben Matulino played in his 50th match for the club. 21 August – Round 24: Alehana Mara made his debut for the club and his debut in the NRL. 27 August – Round 25: Sam Rapira played in his 100th match for the club. 10 September – Qualifying Final: Manu Vatuvei became the club's all-time leading try scorer, surpassing Stacey Jones' total of 77. 10 September – Qualifying Final: Russell Packer played in his 50th match for the club. 4 October – Grand Final: The club was presented with the Club Championship and the Junior Warriors won the Toyota Cup.
Jersey and sponsors In 2010 the Warriors jerseys were again made by Canterbury of New Zealand. They retained their black and white home and away jerseys from 2009, however they added a 15-year anniversary blue jersey and a grey Heritage design, similar to the jersey worn for the Awen Guttenbeil testimonial match. The club also had a new white and black training jersey.
The Warriors wore their blue strip in the first round of the season after the Gold Coast Titans opted to wear their white away jerseys for the match in the Gold Coast.Warriors to wear blue against Gold Coast Sydney Morning Herald, 12 March 2010 This decision was repeated in round three after Brisbane opted to wear white in another Sunday afternoon game in Queensland.
Vodafone New Zealand was again the naming rights sponsor of the Warriors in 2009. Lion Red was the sleeve sponsor. Suzuki and HiFX were featured on the shorts while Loadlift was on the back of the jersey.
Fixtures
The Warriors again use Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2010, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Pre-season training The main squad returned to training on 2 November 2009 to start preparing for the 2010 season.Vodafone Warriors Pre-Season Programme Announced leagueunlimited.com, 17 November 2009 Players involved in the 2009 Four Nations and 2009 Pacific Cup returned to training later.
Pre-season matches Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report13 FebruaryTrial 1 Sydney Roosters Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Win 26–8 Heremaia (2), Locke, Ah Van, Ta'aiSeymour (3) 9,600 20 FebruaryTrial 2 North Queensland CowboysBarlow Park, CairnsWin28–6Hohaia (2), Heremaia, Ah Van, TupouSeymour, Locke, Heremaia, Johnson10,000 27 FebruaryTrial 3 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesNorth Harbour Stadium, AucklandDraw16–16Vatuvei, Moon, Latimore Seymour, Johnson 17,362
Regular season
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report14 MarchRound 1 Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastLoss18–24Vatuvei (2), LockeSeymour (3)16,11220 MarchRound 2 Cronulla SharksMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin30–16Vatuvei (3), Heremaia, Mannering, RapiraLocke (2), Maloney (1)15,31428 MarchRound 3 Brisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium, BrisbaneWin48–16Maloney (3), Ropati (2), Mannering, Hohaia, MoonMaloney (8)32,3384 AprilRound 4 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss6–14RopatiMaloney (1)19,23010 AprilRound 5 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsANZ Stadium, SydneyWin30–24Tate, Vatuvei, Lillyman, Locke, HohaiaMaloney (5)17,09518 AprilRound 6 Penrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss12–40Ta'ai, TateMaloney (2)14,62025 AprilRound 7 Melbourne StormEtihad StadiumLoss6–40Ta'aiMaloney (1)23,9061 MayRound 8 Canberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss16–23Ta'ai, Ah Van, TateMaloney (2)11,499Round 9Bye – 15 MayRound 10 North Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin24–12Ta'ai, Brown, Henderson, LockeMaloney (4)10,80023 MayRound 11 South Sydney RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin26–24Ropati (2), Hohaia, Tate, PackerSeymour (3)10,48528 MayRound 12 Wests TigersCampbelltown Stadium, SydneyLoss6–50MoonSeymour (1)10,0616 JuneRound 13 St George Illawarra DragonsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss20–22Maloney, Mannering, JohnMaloney (4)8,31213 JuneRound 14 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleWin32–24Vatuvei (2), Moon, Latimore, MaloneyMaloney (6)10,535Round 15Bye – 27 JuneRound 16 Sydney RoostersAMI Stadium, ChristchurchWin20–18Locke (3), VatuveiMaloney (2)20,7214 JulyRound 17 Parramatta EelsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin35–6Brown (2), Matulino, Ta'ai, Vatuvei, MaloneyMaloney (5), John (FG)9,91211 JulyRound 18 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyWin12–6Maloney, VatuveiMaloney (2)9,98317 JulyRound 19 Melbourne StormMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 13–6 Vatuvei, Ropati Maloney (1 & FG) 13,118 25 JulyRound 20 South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyLoss28–38Brown (2), Vatuvei, Latimore, MaloneyMaloney (4)13,8951 AugustRound 21 Gold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss20–28Mannering, Hohaia, Vatuvei, SeymourMaloney (2)12,0177 AugustRound 22 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Stadium, SydneyWin37–10Tupou (3), Tate, Maloney, MoonMaloney (6 & FG)7,51015 AugustRound 23 Newcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium, AucklandWin22–10Vatuvei (3), TupouMaloney (3)12,82421 AugustRound 24 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyLoss 16–19 Maloney, ManneringMaloney (4)13,09527 AugustRound 25 Brisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium, Auckland Win 36–4 Brown(2), Hohaia(2), Vatuvei, Mannering, MatulinoMaloney(4)21,6274 SeptemberRound 26 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyWin26–12Ropati, Tate, Royal, Locke, VatuveiMaloney (3)11,383
Finals
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report10 SeptemberQualifying Final Gold Coast TitansSkilled Park, Gold CoastLoss16-28Heremaia, Moon, VatuveiMaloney (2)27,026
Ladder
Squad
Twenty nine players played for the Warriors during the season. Seven players made their debut for the club, including four making their NRL debuts. No.NamePositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 99UB6 April 20022360024 108CE / FE31 August 20031970028 115WG23 May 200419200080 121PR13 March 200500000 125CE26 June 20051860024 126SR12 March 2006200000 129WG9 April 200611004 131PR20 May 2006161004 132FB17 March 200760000 137CE17 March 20082160024 138HK23 March 2008171004 141PR4 May 2008241004 142SR14 June 2008252008 145CE / FE14 March 20091750020 146PR / SR14 March 2009121004 148PR22 March 2009211004 149SR22 March 20092050020 151HK / LK3 May 20092370028 152FB / WG31 May 20091772032 153HB / HK31 May 2009252008 154FE / HB19 July 200951015 155CE15 August 200900000 157FE / HB14 March 20101318018 156HB14 March 20102410732188 158PR14 March 2010162008 159SR14 March 201070000 160WG4 April 20101240016 161PR15 May 201010000 162HK21 August 201030000 -FEUncapped00000
Staff Chief executive officer: Wayne Scurrah Football operations manager: Don Mann Jr Recruitment and development manager: Dean Bell High performance manager: Craig Walker High performance assistant: Ruben Wiki Medical services manager: Jude Spiers Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu
NRL staff NRL head coach: Ivan Cleary NRL assistant coach: Tony Iro NRL technical assistant: David FairleighBears coach stays in NRL with Warriors northsydneybears.com.au, 23 February 2010Warriors named in Cook Islands squad voxy.co.nz, 22 September 2011 NRL assistant trainer: Dayne Norton Club doctor: John Mayhew Kicking coach: Daryl Halligan
NYC staff NYC head coach & assistant NRL coach: John Ackland NYC assistant coach: Frank Harold NYC manager: Jerry Seuseu
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length NotesBrett SeymourCronulla Sharks2010, with optionJames MaloneyMelbourne Storm2011, with optionJeremy LatimoreParramatta Eels2010, with option
Losses Player Club NotesStacey JonesRetiredEvarn TuimavaveNewcastle KnightsDenan KempBrisbane BroncosWarriors release winger Kemp AAP, 24 August 2009Leeson Ah MauNorth Queensland CowboysAiden KirkReleasedMalo SolomonaReleasedDaniel O'ReganMelbourne Storm
Mid-season losses Player Club NotesWade McKinnonWests TigersMcKinnon granted release from contract Warriors.co.nz, 26 May 2010
Contract extensions Micheal Luck – until end of 2012.Luck re-signs with Warriors NRL.com, 10 May 2010
Other teams In 2010 the Junior Warriors again competed in the Toyota Cup while senior players who were not required for the first team play with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup. The Vulcans finished ninth out of twelve teams and missed the finals by just one point. Brent Gemmell was the coach of the Vulcans. Pita Godinet was the Vulcans player of the year while Johnny Aranga won the Rookie of the year award.Auckland Rugby League 2010 Awards Winners Auckland Rugby League
2010 Junior Warriors
Grand Final The match was the club's sixth grand final appearance in sixteen seasons after the 2002 NRL, 1996 and 1997 Reserve Grade, 1997 Under 19's and 1995 Lion Red Cup grand finals. The club led 12–10 at halftime before going on to win 42–28.
Under-20s: Glen Fisiiahi, Omar Slaimankhel, Sosaia Feki, Siuatonga Likiliki, Elijah Niko, Carlos Tuimavave, Shaun Johnson, Neccrom Areaiiti, Henry Chan-Ting, Mark Ioane, Matt Robinson, Elijah Taylor (C), Sebastine Ikahihifo. Bench: Nafe Seluini, Charlie Gubb, Sam Lousi, Daniel Palavi. Coach: John Ackland.
Captain Ben Henry withdrew before the match started due to injury while John Palavi was omitted from the bench. Carlos Tuimavave won the man of the match award.
Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report4 OctoberGrand Final South Sydney RabbitohsANZ Stadium, SydneyWin42-28Taylor (2), Likiliki, Fisiiahi, Lousi, Niko, SeluiniJohnson (7)82,334
Awards Manu Vatuvei was named the Lion Red Player of the Year and the Vodafone One Tribe Player of the Year at the club's annual awards function.Vatuvei named Lion Red Player of the Year warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2010 James Maloney was the Vodafone Young Player of the Year while Aaron Heremaia was named the Canterbury of New Zealand Clubperson of the Year.
Micheal Luck, Vatuvei and Sam Rapira were all presented with rings to celebrate them playing there 100th match for the club during the season.
References
External links Warriors official site Warriors 2010 season rugby league project