1997 Auckland Warriors season
Introduction The '''Auckland Warriors 1997 season''' was the Auckland Warriors 3rd first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's Super League. The coach of the team was John Monie until he was replaced by Frank Endacott after Round 9 while Matthew Ridge was the club's captain.
Milestones *'''12 April - Round 7:''' Sean Hoppe plays his 50th match for the club. *'''19 April - Round 8:''' Gene Ngamu and Tea Ropati play in their 50th match for the club. *'''27 April - Round 9:''' Stephen Kearney plays his 50th match for the club. *'''6 July - Round 14:''' Stacey Jones plays his 50th match for the club.
Jersey & Sponsors rightThe Warriors adopted a new  in 1997 that matched the ''Super League'' style used by the other nine teams in the competition. The jerseys were made by Nike, Inc.
Fixtures The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 1997, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.===Regular season===Date Round  Opponent  Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report1 MarchRound 116px Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, Brisbane Loss Ridge (1)42,3618 MarchRound 216px Hunter MarinersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 18 - 14 Hoppe (2), EruRidge (3)20,30017 MarchRound 316px Cronulla Sharks Shark Park, Sydney Loss 8 - 34 BettsRidge (2)16,86021 MarchRound 416px Adelaide RamsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 12 - 16 Jones, TuimavaveEllis (2)13,00029 MarchRound 516px Penrith PanthersEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 16 - 14 Betts, Hoppe, T.RopatiEllis (1), Ridge (1)19,4007 AprilRound 616px Canberra RaidersBruce Stadium, Canberra Win 31 - 24 Henare, Hoppe, Jones, Kearnery, I.RopatiEllis (5 + FG)15,06112 AprilRound 716px Hunter MarinersTopper Stadium, Newcastle Loss 10 - 18 Hoppe, I.RopatiEllis (1)7,71919 AprilRound 816px Canterbury BulldogsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Loss 24 - 38 Eru, Jones, I.Ropati, T.RopatiEllis (4)17,00027 AprilRound 916px North Queensland CowboysStockland Stadium, Townsville Loss 22 - 30 Endacott, Hoppe, T.RopatiEllis (5)12,4644 MayRound 1016px Brisbane BroncosEricsson Stadium, Auckland  Loss 18 - 34 Hoppe (2), T.RopatiEllis (3)16,47126 MayRound 1116px Canberra RaidersEricsson Stadium, Auckland  Loss 10 - 20 Ellis, RidgeEllis (1)15,1001 JuneRound 1216px Western RedsWACA Ground, Perth Loss 12 - 24 Eru, HoppeNgamu (2)10,2036 JuneWCC 116px St Helens R.F.C.Knowsley Road, St. Helens Win 42 - 14 Hoppe (2), A.Swann (2), Jones, Kearney, T.RopatiRidge (7)8,91114 JuneWCC 216px Bradford BullsOdsal Stadium, Bradford Win 20 - 16 Jones, Ridge, StaladiRidge (4)13,13323 JuneWCC 316px Warrington WolvesWilderspool Stadium, Warrington Win 56 - 28 T.Ropati (4), A.Swann (2), Kearney, Ngamu, Ridge, VaganaRidge (8)4,42829 JuneRound 1316px Penrith PanthersPenrith Stadium, Sydney Loss 22 - 26 Eru (2), Jones, StaladiNgamu (3)4,4466 JulyRound 1416px Cronulla SharksEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 11 - 8 EllisRidge (3), Jones (FG)12,56811 JulyRound 1516px Adelaide RamsAdelaide Oval, Adelaide Win 18 - 8 Oudenryn, T.RopatiEllis (3)13,27818 JulyWCC 416px Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 64 - 14 T.Ropati (3), Hoppe (2), Betts, Ellis, Eru, Ngamu, OudenrynNgamu (12)12,50025 JulyWCC 516px St Helens R.F.C.Ericsson Stadium, Auckland Win 70 - 6 Ngamu (3), Eru (2), Hoppe (2), Oudenryn (2), Betts, Ellis, JonesRidge (11)18,3543 AugustWCC 616px Warrington WolvesLancaster Park, Christchurch Win 16 - 4 Eru, Jones, KearneyRidge (2)5,50011 AugustRound 1616px Canterbury BulldogsBelmore Sports Ground, Sydney Loss 18 - 40 Hoppe, Oudenryn, A.SwannRidge (3)5,12616 AugustRound 1716px Western RedsEricsson Stadium, Auckland  Win 30 - 22 Ridge (2), Betts, Jones, KearneyRidge (5)13,14224 AugustRound 1816px North Queensland CowboysEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 50 - 22 Ellis (3), Jones (2), Bailey, Hoppe, Oudenryn, A.SwannNgamu (7)12,000===World Club Challenge Finals===Date Round  Opponent  Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report3 OctoberQualifying Final16px Bradford BullsEricsson Stadium, Auckland Win 62 - 14 Hoppe (2), Ridge (2), Ellis, Eru, Jones, Malam, Ngamu, A.Swann, L.SwannRidge (9)12,06310 OctoberSemi-final16px Brisbane Broncos ANZ Stadium, Brisbane Loss 16 - 22 Oudenryn (2), EndacottRidge (2)9,686
Ladder ===WCC Australasia Pool A=== Club  Played  Won  Lost  Drawn  For  Against  Diff. Points 16px Brisbane Broncos  6  6  0  0  270  52  218  12 16px Auckland Warriors  6  6  0  0  268  82  186  12 16px Cronulla Sharks  6  6  0  0  230 54  176  12 16px Penrith Panthers  6  6  0  0  256  120 136  12 16px Canberra Raiders  6  5  1  0  302  108  194  10 16px Canterbury Bulldogs  6  4  2  0  218  121  97  8
Squad The Warriors used 29 players in 1997, including four players making their first grade debuts.No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts 2FB / HK10 March 199520000 3WG10 March 199518110044 6FE10 March 199517012024 10PR / HK10 March 199510000 11SR10 March 1995172008 13† / PR / LK10 March 199571004 15† / CE / FE10 March 19951650020 18† / PR18 March 1995170000 19HK28 March 19951850020 24HB23 April 19951870129 28SR4 June 19951430012 29FB / WG31 March 199616525171 30PR / SR31 March 1996150000 33† / SR14 April 199640000 35CE19 April 1996530012 36† / CE23 June 1996182008 37PR23 June 1996150000 38SR23 July 1996111004 40FB1 March 19979318048 41PR1 March 199790000 42SR1 March 1997130000 43FE17 March 199720000 44FE29 March 199781004 45WG27 April 199741004 46CE / LK1 June 199710000 47WG6 July 1997540016 48HB29 June 199710000 49CE11 August 199731004 50 / PR16 August 199710000*A cross (†) next to a name denotes that the player played in the 1997 World Club Championship.
Staff *Chief Executive Officer: Ian Robson, replaced by Bill MacGowan in February 1997===Coaching Staff===*Head Coach: John Monie, replaced by Frank Endacott in late April 1997. *Reserve Grade Coach: Frank Endacott, replaced by Gary Kemble. *Under 19 Coach: John Ackland
Transfers ===Gains=== Player  Previous Club  Length  NotesManly Sea Eagles|Had initially signed and trained with the side in 1996, until the Super League season was postponed.South Queensland Crushers|Canterbury Country Cardinals|Gold Coast Seagulls|===Losses=== Player  Club  NotesWhitehavenWigan WarriorsWarrington WolvesAuckland Rugby Football UnionSalford City RedsNEC Green RocketsWarrington WolvesRetiredPenrith PanthersLeeds Rhinos
Awards Stacey Jones won the club's Player of the Year award.
Other Teams The Warriors fielded teams in both Super League's reserve grade and the Under-19 competition (The Mal Meninga Cup). The Reserve Grade side finished fourth and then beat Cronulla, Perth and North Queensland to make the Grand Final while the Under 19's finished the regular season as minor premiers, beating Penrith to make the Grand Final. Ultimately however both sides lost their respective Grand Finals, with the reserve grade going down 12-40 and the Under-19's losing 12–27.===Grand Final Teams==='''Reserve Grade:''' Glen Coughlan, Iva Ropati, David Bailey, Joe Galuvao, Paul Staladi, Meti Noovao, Aaron Whittaker, Hitro Okesene, Steve Buckingham, Grant Young, Tony Tuimavave, Jerry Seu Seu, Bryan Henare. Bench: Ben Fahey, Frank Watene, Paul Rauhihi, Ricky Henry. Coach: Gary Kemble. '''Under-19:''' Junior Lemafa, Odell Manuel, Tai Savea, Peter Lewis, Mark Fakahua, Monty Betham, Anthony Clyde, David Solomona, Lee Wetherill, Pewhairangi Jones, Kylie Leuluai, Filimone Lolohea, Ali Lauitiiti. Bench: Steve Murray, Scott Dewhurst, Fale Falemoe, Jonathan Smith. Coach: John Ackland.
References
External links * Warriors official site* 1997 Warriors Season