JANUARY 18, 1995 The Auckland Warriors’ impending premiership debut created a hype train with runaway momentum rarely seen in the history of New Zealand sport. Less than two months out from Round 1 of the 1995 Winfield Cup, the Warriors… Read More ›
auckland warriors
THIS DAY IN WARRIORS HISTORY: WIGAN SPIT DUMMY AT MONIE, WARRIORS
JANUARY 2, 1994 More than 14 months out from Auckland Warriors’ intensely anticipated premiership debut, Wigan chairman Jack Robinson ramped up a trans-hemispheric club feud by accusing John Monie of attempting to decimate the British heavyweight’s roster. The Warriors’ capture… Read More ›
WARRIOR-ROO BLOG NO.5: 1997 – SUPER LEAGUE, ARL & PRINCESS DI
Robert Anderson is a Brisbane-based Warriors fan and long-time member of the club. Throughout 2020, he will share his memories and thoughts on his beloved team for This Warriors Life. Here’s the fifth edition of Robert’s ‘Warrior-Roo’ blog (find previous entries… Read More ›
25TH ANNIVERSARY FLASHBACK: RD 1 – WARRIORS V BRONCOS
To mark the 25th anniversary of the Warriors’ maiden season in the Australian competition, This Warriors Life is reliving each match from that unforgettable 1995 campaign. First up, of course, is the Auckland Warriors’ first-ever premiership match against the Brisbane Broncos… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: LEE OUDENRYN
LEE OUDENRYN – Warrior #47 Journeyman flyer Lee Oudenryn spent four seasons at wing and fullback for the Warriors after building a reputation as one of the game’s fastest players at Parramatta and Gold Coast. Parramatta (1992-95): 50 games –… Read More ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: JOHN KIRWAN
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 ›
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 ›
ONCE WERE WARRIORS: TONY TUIMAVAVE
Tony Tuimavave – Warrior #13 (1995-2000): 78 games – 9 tries (36 points). New Zealand (1995): 1 Test – 0 points. Western Samoa (1995): 2 Tests – 0 points. Tough, creative back-rower Tony Tuimavave was the best of a prolific… Read More ›
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: WARRIORS IN THE ’97 WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE
As the Melbourne Storm and Leeds Rhinos prepare to square off in the World Club Challenge tonight – with ex-Warriors Ryan Hoffman and Joel Moon set to feature – TWL’s inaugural Flashback Friday revisits the Auckland Warriors’ memorable campaign in… Read More ›