2011 New Zealand Warriors season

Milestones

• 12 February – All Stars Match: Feleti Mateo represents the NRL All Stars and Joel Moon represents the Indigenous All Stars in the pre-season All Stars Match.
• 16 April – Round 6: Micheal Luck played in his 200th National Rugby League match.
• 4 June – Round 13: Lewis Brown played in his 50th match for the club.
• 8 July – Round 18: Jacob Lillyman played in his 50th match for the club.
• 15 July – Round 19: Aaron Heremaia played in his 50th National Rugby League match.
• 24 July – Round 20: Shaun Berrigan played in his 200th National Rugby League match.
• 3 September – Round 26: Joel Moon played in his 50th match for the club.
• 10 September – Qualifying final: Kevin Locke played in his 50th match for the club.
• 24 September – Preliminary final: James Maloney played in his 50th match for the club.

Jersey and sponsors

Fixtures

The Warriors opened the season by hosting the Parramatta Eels at Eden Park in Auckland. This was the first time that the Warriors played a home match away from Mount Smart Stadium. The remaining 11 home games were played at Mount Smart Stadium, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

Pre-season training

The main squad returned to training on 15 November 2010 to start preparing for the 2011 season. Players involved in the 2010 Four Nations and other representative matches returned to training later.

Pre-season matches

A fourth match was added to the Warriors schedule to raise money for the West Coast region after the Pike River Mine disaster. In a joint partnership with the NZRL, NRL and Newcastle Knights, all money raised was donated to the Pike River mining relief fund and the West Coast Rugby League. The teams arrived early on 3 February to carry out community appearances in the region.

The final trial match against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles was also later made a fundraiser match, with North Harbour Stadium donating all profits of the match to the February 2011 Christchurch earthquake victims.

Regular season

Finals

Grand Final

Main article: 2011 NRL Grand Final

Ladder

Squad

The Warriors used thirty players during the season. Eight players made their debut for the club, including five who made their NRL debuts.

Staff

• Chief executive officer: Wayne Scurrah
• General manager: Don Mann Jr
• Recruitment and development manager: Dean Bell
• High performance manager: Craig Walker
• High performance assistant: Ruben Wiki
• Medical services manager: John Mayhew
• Welfare and education manager: Jerry Seuseu
• Media and communications manager: Richard Becht

NRL staff

• NRL head coach: Ivan Cleary
• NRL assistant coach: Tony Iro
• NRL assistant coach: David Fairleigh
• NRL trainer: Dayne Norton
• NRL physiotherapist: Hamish Craighead

NYC staff

• NYC head coach & assistant NRL coach: John Ackland
• NYC assistant coach: Frank Harold
• NYC trainer: Andrew Souter
• Development coach: Ricky Henry

Transfers

Gains

Losses

Re-signings

Other teams

In 2011, the Junior Warriors again competed in the Toyota Cup while senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.

2011 Auckland Vulcans

The Auckland Vulcans were coached by former Warrior, Richie Blackmore. The Vulcans lost the NSW Cup Grand Final to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 28-30.

Grand Final Team: Glen Fisiiahi, Willie Peace, Sione Lousi, Ivan Penehe, Niuvao Taka; Brett Seymour, Pita Godinet; James Gavet, Alehana Mara, Jeremy Latimore; Ukuma Ta'ai, Matt Robinson; Isaac John (c). Interchange: Darin Kingi, Upu Poching, Steve Rapira, Anthony Gelling.

On 18 February the Vulcans announced the following eight-man squad, with a six-man reserve squad. The squad was topped up with Warriors squad members each week.

Upu Poching was the Player of the Year with Darin Kingi named as runner up. Willie Pearce Jnr was named the Rookie of the Year.

| Reserve squad

|}

2011 Junior Warriors

The Junior Warriors won the Toyota Cup, defeating the North Queensland Cowboys 31-30 in extra time in the Grand Final.

Grand Final Team: George Maka, Adam Henry, Sosaia Feki, Konrad Hurrell, DJ Collier, Carlos Tuimavave, Jordan Meads, Ligi Sao, Eko Malu, Donald Tony, Samiuela Lousi, Ben Henry [c], Sebastine Ikahihifo. Siliva Havili, Agnatius Paasi, Siua Taukeiaho, Toka Likiliki, Siulongua Fotofili, John Palavi.

Along with players from the Melbourne Storm, Cronulla Sharks, Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles, the new members of the Junior Warriors attended a Toyota Cup Rookie Camp on 11–12 December 2010 which was held in New Zealand for the first time. The camp provided extensive training in media, cultural awareness, drugs and alcohol, social media, money matters, community work, social responsibility and personal presentation.

The Junior Warriors squad was again captained by Ben Henry and included Stephen Shennan, Omar Slaimankhel, Vili Lolohea, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Konrad Hurrell, Sosaia Feki, James TePou, Carlos Tuimavave, Jordan Meads, Siliva Havili, Henry Chan-Ting, Sam Lousi, Sheldon Brown, Adam Henry, Toka Likiliki, Agnatius Paasi, Lance Su'a-Poe, Anthony Lama, Siulongua Fotofili, Eddie Aki, Donald Tony, Levi Holland, DJ Collier, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Nathaniel Peteru, Sirovai Makatoa, Simon Gibson, Ben Kingi, Falaniko Leilua, Kane Hannan, Eko Malu, John Palavi, Malakai Houma and Chris Ofanoa.

Omar Slaimankhel, Konrad Hurrell, Carlos Tuimavave and coach John Ackland were all named in the Toyota Cup team of the year. John Palavi was named the Vodafone NYC Player of the Year, Siliva Havili won the TNT NYC Young Player of the Year award and Donald Tony was named the DeWalt NYC Club Person of the Year.

Awards

Simon Mannering won the Lion Red Player of the Year award, becoming only the second double winner of the award. Shaun Johnson won the Vodafone NRL Young Player of the Year Award while Jerome Ropati won the Canterbury of New Zealand Club Person of the Year Award and Kevin Locke won the Vodafone People's Choice Award.

References

References

1. (14 October 2011). "Numbers add up for NRL clubs in pursuit of more cash from rights". [[Fairfax Media]].
2. (12 April 2011). "NRL: Luck to join 200 club". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
3. Stanley, Ben. (13 July 2011). "Moon's chance to showcase skills with Warriors". [[The Press]].
4. [http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/sport/5309270/Berrigan-hits-200-NRL-games-with-Warriors Berrigan hits 200 NRL games with Warriors] ''stuff.co.nz'', 20 July 2011
5. (15 February 2011). "Warriors to wear special jersey for Eden Park match". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
6. link. (15 July 2011 ''rleague.com'', 8 March 2011)
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8. (24 November 2010). "NRL: Warriors to open season at Eden Park". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
9. [http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/60899/Default.aspx Warriors to kick off 2011 with NZ based trials] ''NRL.com'', 22 November 2010
10. (11 December 2010). "Warriors to play charity match in Greymouth". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
11. (12 December 2010). "NRL: Warriors to star in West Coast charity match". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
12. (23 February 2011). "Warriors match quake fundraiser". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
13. Kilgallon, Steve. (24 February 2011). "NZRL consider Anzac test venue in wake of quake". [[Stuff.co.nz]].
14. [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10831048 Warriors know how to rebound] ''New Zealand Herald'', 2 September 2012
15. [http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/parramatta-stars-krisnan-inu-and-feleti-mateo-sign-for-new-zealand-warriors/story-e6freuy9-1225864625085 Parramatta stars Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo sign for New Zealand Warriors] ''Daily Telegraph'', 10 May 2010
16. [https://web.archive.org/web/20121111041800/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/01/2887906.htm?site=news Rapira to return to Warriors] ''ABC News'', 1 May 2010
17. link. (12 January 2011 ''rleague.com'', 9 January 2011)
18. (23 June 2010). "Brent Tate joining North Queensland Cowboys on three-year deal". The Daily Telegraph.
19. (31 August 2010). "Warriors: Patrick Ah Van released". [[The New Zealand Herald]].
20. [http://www.bradfordbulls.co.uk/news/4933/WARRIOR%20AH%20VAN%20JOINS%20BULLS Warrior Ah Van joins Bulls] {{Webarchive. link. (23 March 2012 ''bradfordbulls.co.uk'', 31 August 2010)
21. [https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/456526/stone-banks-on-kaufusi-revival/ Stone banks on Kaufusi revival] ''Newcastle Herald'', 21 June 2010
22. [http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/far-from-a-royal-departure-this-warrior-is-just-happy-he-made-the-grade-20100903-14ufr.html Far from a Royal departure, this Warrior is just happy he made the grade] ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 4 September 2010
23. (23 August 2010). "Henderson bids adieu to Warriors". [[Television New Zealand]].
24. [http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/609/McKinnon-granted-release-from-contract McKinnon granted release from contract] {{Webarchive. link. (2 June 2010 ''Warriors.co.nz'', 26 May 2010)
25. link. (26 October 2012 ''rleague.com'', 27 March 2011)
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27. link. (12 October 2012 ''aucklandvulcans.co.nz'', 9 December 2010)
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29. [http://www.sportingpulse.com/club_info.cgi?client=16-4975-91707-90473-0&sID=74125&&news_task=DETAIL&articleID=14852134&sectionID=74125 Auckland Vulcans 2011 squad] ''aucklandvulcans.co.nz'', 18 February 2011
30. link. (10 September 2011 ''aucklandleague.co.nz'')
31. [http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/60922/Default.aspx Toyota Cup Rookie Camp kicks off] ''NRL.com'', 27 November 2010
32. [http://www.nrl.com/NewsViews/LatestNews/NewsArticle/tabid/10874/newsId/61011/Default.aspx First NZ Toyota Rookie Camp a success] ''nrl.com'', 20 December 2010
33. [http://www.voxy.co.nz/sport/henry-again-captain-vodafone-junior-warriors-prepare-defend-nyc-title/5/84532 Henry Again Captain As Vodafone Junior Warriors Prepare To Defend NYC Title] ''voxy.co.nz'', 4 March 2011
34. Robinson, Georgina. (31 August 2011). "Junior Warrior Omar makes team of the year". [[The Press]].
35. link. (30 September 2011 ''rleague.com'', 22 September 2011)
36. link. (14 October 2011 ''rleague.com'', 14 September 2011)