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| Roosters captain courageous Brad Fittler lifts the Telstra Premiership trophy high |
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| 2002 didnt get any bigger than an awesome Grand Final showdown between the two best teams that earned the right to be there. The bookies favourites, the Sydney Roosters coming off an 8 game winning streak, and Minor Premiers the New Zealand Warriors before a deafening crowd of 80,000 people at Telstra Stadium, Sydney. With few signs of pre-match nerves the Warriors won the toss and got straight down to business full of enthusiasm, hunger & desire. Defence was punishing, in a closely fought half where little separated the sides. A critical error by the Warriors marker defence turned lucky for the Roosters as Fletcher found Mullins who ripped down the flank for Hegarty to score. The Roosters led 6-2 at halftime. Then Warriors captain Stacey Jones stunned the Roosters when he took on the line and broke through for a brilliant solo try. With 20 minutes to go the Warriors led 8-6 but it was anybodys game. The Roosters played a basic game with a relentless brutal defence. They threw everything on the line to restrict the Warriors attacking flair. Still a battered and bruised Roosters captain Brad Fittler proved the difference with a few crucial touches when the big plays really mattered; the 40/20 and the headbutt proved critical turning points in the game. Star halfback Craig Wing playing a prominent role as the Roosters took control going forward and forced many decisions on a backpedalling defence. The Warriors were stretched, the marker defence was slow, the mistakes creeped in. Three unanswered tries followed in quick succession as Fittlers men lifted in intensity. The Roosters cut loose with 24 points to win the 2002 Telstra Premiership 30-8, their first NRL grand final win in 27 years. For 60 minutes the Warriors, gave it everything - and more, but defence wins the big ones. With massive support from the New Zealand public they made a bold bid for the NRL crown with a formidable squad and an unpredictable style of play that had its own unique rythmn. All they needed was an ounce of luck. |
| Ericsson Stadium Auckland was positively rocking to the sounds of 21,000 excited Warriors fans on 15 September 2002 when they thumped the Canberra Raiders 36-20 in the NRL quarter final. After the game the victorious New Zealand Warriors, as 2002 National Rugby League Minor Premiers for the regular season, were presented with the JJ Giltinan Shield (right), a true blue symbol of Aussie rugby league tradition. |
| Two weeks later the Warriors knocked out the Cronulla Sharks 16-10 in the preliminary final before 45,000 at Telstra Stadium Sydney on Saturday 29 September. This huge upset gave the Warriors their first shot at a Grand Final where they met the Sydney Roosters. |
| Warriors stand off half Motu Tony (left) and hookerPJ Marsh knuckle down to the Grand final game plan. |
| world heavyweight boxing contender David Tua (white) poses with the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium 2002. |
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| Warriors coach Daniel Anderson (left) and captain Stacey Jones front the Sydney press |
| Warriors star second rower Ali Lauitiiti fends off Roosters lock Luke Ricketson in the grand final |
| Warriors centre Clinton Toopi storms past Cronulla's great David Peachey to touchdown in the preliminary final won by the Warriors 16-10 |
| Roosters star Craig Wing looks to unload to his support |
| The Warriors only grand final try scorer captain Stacey Jones scores just after halftime |
| After beating Cronulla 16-10 Warriors forwards Jerry Seuseu, Kevin Campion and Richard Villisanti are ecstatic at making the grand final. |
| Centre John Carlaw had a bruising game on attack and defence |
| Sydney Roosters V NZ Warriors 6 October 2002 Telstra Stadium Sydney |
| A massive gang tackle by Campion and co drives Roosters forward Adrian Morley back |
| A ruthless tackler Kevin Campion led the Warriors defence by example |
| NRL Qualifying Final Warriors v Canberra |
| NRL Preliminary Final Warriors v Cronulla |
| BYE first game 15 March 2002 H V Sydney Roosters W 21-14 H V Newcastle Knights L 14-32 A V Nth Queensland Cowboys W 50-20 H V Northern Eagles W 68-20 A V Canterbury Bulldogs L 20-28 H V Melbourne Storm W 20-10 A V Wests Tigers W 36-14 H V South Sydney Rabbitohs W 25-18 A V Newcastle Knights W 34-12 A V Melbourne Storm W 28-12 H V Cronulla Sharks W 42-20 H V Nth Queensland Cowboys W 34 - 6 Regular season |
| A V South Sydney Rabbitohs W 46-10 H V St George/Illawarra L 22-32 A V Brisbane Broncos W 26 - 6 A V Cronulla Sharks L 24-36 BYE H V Parramatta Eels W 26 -10 A V Canberra Raiders L 38 - 30 A V Penrith Panthers W 38 -24 H V Canterbury Bulldogs W 22-14 H V Brisbane Broncos W 18-4 A V Sydney City Roosters L 0-44 A V Northern Eagles L 16-18 H V Wests Tigers W 28-12 won 19 lost 7 |
| NZ Warriors 2002 H = Warriors home game A = away game W = won L = lost |
| Finals Warriors 36 V Canberra 20 Warriors 16 V Cronulla 10 Grand Final Sydney Roosters 30 V Warriors 8 2002 Season Warriors won 21 lost 8 |
| 2002 Grand Final click Telstra streaming video |
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| Under Daniel Anderson 2002 was the year the Warriors stepped up and proved themselves a serious finals contender, something previous coaches struggled to achieve. He developed a winning culture and instilled self belief in the team. One of the NRL's drawcards the Warriors established an impressive credibilty and shape up as an exciting force in the NRL. 2002 highlights winning 10 of12 at home & attracting huge crowds consistently. Breaking the away blues winning 7 of12. amongst the NRL's top crowd pullers. stringing together an 8 game winning streak mid season defeating the all conquering Canterbury Bulldogs 22-14 at a packed Ericsson Stadium where they snapped the Bulldogs 17 game winning streak. beating the fearsome Brisbane Broncos home & away winning the NRL Minor Premiers and JJ Giltinan Shield presentation at Ericsson Stadium developing local players to replace released players an awesome effort in the grand final, a real indicator of premiership prospects. Record TV ratings coach Daniel Anderson voted NRL Dally M coach of the year star Ali Lauititi voted NRL Dally M second row forward of the year and the most offloads At the end of the 2002 season Warriors hard man Kevin Campion and centre David Myles were both released to join the Cowboys, fullback Ivan Cleary retired and joined the Roosters coaching squad and prop Justin Morgan was also released. |
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| Sydney Roosters 30 NZ Warriors 8 Tries: Hegarty, Wing, Fitzgibbon Tries: Stacy Jones Fletcher, Flannery Goals: Cleary 2/2 Goals: Fitzgibbon 5/5 halftime Roosters 6-2 |
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| John Carlaw |
| Jerry Seuseu |
| Mark Tookey |
| Awen Guttenbeil |
| Justin Murphy |
| Francis Meli |
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| click thumbnails to enlarge |
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| The Warriors joined the NRL in 1995 finishing 10th out of 20 teams that year. In 2000 they were in big financial trouble, very close to folding but under new owner Eric Watson and dynamic coach Daniel Anderson they performed a radical turnaround in fortunes. Out of the turmoil the Warriors added new blood to the remaining loyal players and mixed in experience, muscle and class in defence and attack and molded a new club that would build a winning attitude. In 2001 they achieved a club milestone finishing 8th out of 14 teams, their first time ever in the NRL finals. Ever since day dot they were never going to be fancied in Australia but that all changed in 2002. The Warriors won the NRL Minor Premiership on their final game defeating Wests Tigers 28-12 and edging out the Newcastle Knights on points differential. This page takes a look at their run to the grand final. |
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| An unforgettable lucky moment as the Warriors bask in the glory of NRL Minor Premiers L-R back Lance Hohaia, David Myles, Jeremiah Pai, Evarn Tuimavave, Wairangi Koopu, Clinton Toopi, Logan Swann, Vinnie Anderson, Mark Tookey, John Carlaw, Motu Tony, Stacey Jones, Ivan Cleary then R-L Awen Guttenbeil, Richard Vilisanti, PJ Marsh, Francis Meli, Henry Faafili and Kevin Campion front |
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| 2005 |