John Kirwan – Warrior #22 (1995-96): 35 games – 13 tries (52 points) One of the most decorated All Blacks of all time, prolific rugby union winger John Kirwan joined the Auckland Warriors as a 30-year-old during the club’s inaugural… Read More ›
FEATURES
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: AARON WHITTAKER
Aaron Whittaker – Warrior #48 Canterbury great and former New Zealand Test half Aaron Whittaker turned out eight times in first grade for the Warriors, but he arguably holds a more important place in the club’s folklore as a lower-grade… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: KEVIN CAMPION
Kevin Campion – Warrior #86 This special feature on renowned former Warriors hard-man Kevin Campion originally appeared as part of Commentary Box Sports’ Sounding The Siren series in December 2017. Kevin Campion’s remarkable career spanned 12 seasons and 241 games… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: AIDAN KIRK
AIDAN KIRK – Warrior #136 (2008-09): 20 games – 8 tries (32 points) Gosford product Aidan Kirk was a dependable performer on the wing for the New Zealand Warriors during the 2008-09 NRL seasons. Kirk featured at fullback in the… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: NATHAN WOOD
Nathan Wood – Warrior #91 Diminutive and tough utility Nathan Wood spent the last of his nine seasons in the Australian premiership with the Warriors, making 17 appearances during the club’s breakthrough 2001 campaign before embarking on an impressive stint… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: SHANE ENDACOTT
Shane Endacott – Warrior #44 (1997-99): 42 games – 3 tries (12 points) After his first professional stint with English club Hull FC, the versatile Shane Endacott – a Junior Kiwis representative and Canterbury provincial star from 1992-94, and the… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: MANU VATUVEI
Manu Vatuvei – Warrior #115 This Warriors Life pays tribute to our all-time favourite Warrior, the incomparable Manu Vatuvei. TWL’s chief writer and editor Will Evans – an unabashed fan of Vatuvei – interviewed ‘The Beast’ at length in late-2015… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: COOPER VUNA
Cooper Vuna – Warrior #118 Warriors (2004-06): 5 games – 1 try (4 points) Newcastle (2007-10): 54 games – 35 tries (140 points) FIRST GRADE TOTAL: 59 games – 36 tries (144 points) Robust winger Cooper Vuna progressed through the… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: HITRO OKESENE
Hitro Okesene – Warrior #10 (1995-97): 22 games – 3 tries (12 points) New Zealand (1994-95): 5 Tests – 1 try (4 points) Playing 22 first grade games over three seasons isn’t the traditional path to club legend status, but… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: GENE NGAMU
Gene Ngamu – Warrior #6 Manly (1992-93): 9 games – 1 try (4 points) South Sydney (1994): 1 game – 0 points Warriors (1995-99): 81 games – 11 tries, 118 goals, 3 field goals (283 points) PREMIERSHIP TOTAL: 91 games… Read More ›