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| 9 July |
| after 10 years at the Canberra Raiders Rueben Wiki has signed with the Warriors for 3 years from 2005. A solid backbone for his club's performance he has played 217 games (59 tries) with the Raiders and was the club player of the year in 2002 & 2003. An inspiring force Wiki 31 is the current Kiwi captain and has played 39 test from 1994 to 2004. |
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| Steve Price joins the Warriors |
| Canterbury Bulldogs captain and Kangaroo forward Steve Price has signed a 3 year deal with the Vodafone NZ Warriors believed to be worth around $1.2 million.
A veteran of 11 seasons with the Dogs, 3 grand finals, winners '95, 4 tests for Australia and 16 State of Origins for Queensland he started his NRL career at the Bulldogs as a
17-year-old in 1992. A tough, honest player the 30 year old Price (193cm & 101kg) like recent recruit Rueben Wiki will bring a lot of mana to the Warriors in 2005, as Bulldogs CEO Malcolm Noad said: "He has been an inspiration to our fans, our players, our sponsors and our officials over the years for the way he has played the game and just as importantly the way he has conducted himself off the field." Price admits he was attracted to NZ by much more ..check the story @ ONE Sport |
| 12 July |
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| best viewed @ 1024 x 768 |
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| Webb 4 the Kiwis |
| Out to make every post a winner Aussie born fullback Brent Webb has pledged his availability for Kiwi selection in the Tri Nations series. The Kiwis first match is against the Australia on Saturday October 16 at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland. Both teams continue the series with Gt Britain in the UK. The 23 year old qualifies by virtue of residency since his arrival at the Warriors in 2001. "The chance to play international football against the best players in the world was a great opportunity. I'll be playing bloody hard for New Zealand" says Webb |
| 18 August |
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| Cleary & Campion back in 2005 |
| Former Warriors Ivan Cleary and Kevin Campion wll rejoin Warriors head coach Tony Kemp next year as part of a revamped coaching squad. Cleary (33), takes over as assistant coach while Campion (32) will be the clubs defensive coach. "I'm looking forward to going back," said Cleary the current Roosters Premier league coach who's excited about rejoining the old partnership
he had at the Warriors with Campion and Kemp in 2001-02 adding "it's a great opportunity for me and it's also an opportunity to get the club back on track." Former Kiwi Tony Iro will provide IT and strategic analysis, Bruce Sharrock starts next week as the Warriors' new football manager and ex-Kiwi, John Ackland, will be the club's recruitment and welfare manager. |
| 27 August |
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Panthers 31 v Dragons
30 Broncos 14 v Storm 31 Bulldogs 22 v Cowboys 30 Roosters 38 v Raiders 12 The Dragons & Raiders eliminated. The Panthers & Roosters go to the Finals |
| 2004 |
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| Give them a break, they're done and dusted, finishing 14 of 15. All up a lousy 2004 NRL season is over and behind them. The Canterbury Bulldogs won the NRL 2004 Telstra Premiership Grand Final 16-13 over the
Sydney Roosters. Into fitness training since October 2004, the Vodafone New Zealand Warriors rugby league team are bolstered by recruits forward Rueben Wiki (Canberra), prop Steve Price (Bulldogs), halfback-hooker Nathan Fien and centre Todd Byrne (Roosters). Tony Kemp's coaching staff takes on another dynamic with the addition of two former Warriors; assistant coach Ivan Cleary who coached the Sydney Roosters reserve grade that won the 2004 reserve grade grand final and the legendary Kevin Campion as defensive coach. The squad continues their rigorous off season training regime in an effort to purge the demons that plagued a disastorous 2004 and to prepare for their 2005 campaign with renewed stamina and confidence. Training shifts to Waitakere Stadium West Auckland until Ericsson's Stadium's new Eastern Stand and facilities are opened in early 2005. |
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| audio Allen McLaughlin reviews the Warriors' 2004 season courtesy Radio Sport |
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| Cowboys 10 v Broncos 0 Bulldogs 43 v Storm 18 Broncos and Storm eliminated |
| Panthers 14 v Bulldogs 30 Roosters 19 v Cowboys 16 Panthers & Cowboys eliminated |
| Rueben Wiki |
| Steve Price |
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| Nathan Fien |
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| qualifying finals |
| finals |
| semi finals |
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| Captain Darren Lockyer is one of 6 Broncos in the 25-man Australian Kangaroos squad.
To be coached by the Broncos coach Wayne Bennett the squad features 4 players from the NRL premiers the Bulldogs - Willy Tonga, Andrew Ryan, Willy Mason and prop Mark OMeley. Beaten grand finalists the Roosters
have 4 players Craig Wing, Crocker, Minichello and Fitzgibbon. Surprise selection is Broncos lock Tonie Carroll who has won 5 caps for New Zealand but is yet to play a Test for Australia. Brilliant Cowboys fullback Matt Bowen also gained selection. check the full squad @ Tri-Nations site |
| ABC audio .. Bulldogs win Grand Final 16-13 |
| ABC audio .. interview with Bulldogs Sonny Bill Williams and Mark O'Meley |
| Andrew Ryan left and Bulldogs captain Steve Price lift the Telstra Premiership trophy |
| Willy Mason winner of the Clive Churchill medal for the best grand final player |
| Bulldog Sonny Bill Williams smashes Chris Flannery in the 2004 NRL Grand Final |
| Bulldogs winger Matt Utai scored 2 tries in the 2004 Grand Final |
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| Kangaroo squad for the Tri Nations series |
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| 5 October |
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| Thomas Leuluai's selection in the Kiwi squad to play the Kangaroos on October 16 is tempered by the fact that he is being released from the Warriors.
2003 proved an awesome debut year for the brilliant Warriors half ending in the Kiwis triumph over the Kangaroos. With Stacey, Lance and Jerome Ropati to be joined by new recruit Nathan Fien the Warriors are a crowded house around the halves. The situation has forced Leuluai to consider offers from Parrammatta whom he visited last week and also UK clubs. The Eels have also signed released Warrior Marcus Perenara and his brother Henry (St George). |
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| Thomas Leuluai |
| 6 October |
| The Warriors have signed Sydney Roosters outside back Todd Byrne to a 3 year contract.
A Rooster since his NRL debut in 2001 26-year-old Byrne (1.89m 90 kg) has scored 30 tries in 62 first grade games. Says Byrne "I had another year on my contract with the Roosters but when they signed Amos Roberts (from Penrith) and Joel Monaghan (from Canberra) it was obvious my cards had been marked. Then the chance came up to sign with the Warriors for three years. There's plenty of talent at the club and they've also made some really good signings for next year." Byrne also likes hangi's. |
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| Todd Byrne signs up |
| 6 October |
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| Player of the Year Wairangi Koopu |
| Special Award Jerry Seuseu |
| Clubman Herewini Rangi |
| Rookie of the Year Louis Anderson |
| Viewers Choice Award Brent Webb |
| Coach's Award Monty Beetham |
| Canterbury Bulldogs 16 v Sydney Roosters 13
Telstra Stadium Sydney Sunday 3 October 2004 |
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| It was an awesome grand final victory to the Bullldogs who held out the Roosters 16-13. The Bulldogs' Willy Mason had a massive game on attack and won the Clive Churchill medal as the best player. Both teams turned in a stunning performance in front of a capacity crowd of 82,000. Bulldogs 16: Tries: Matt Utai (2), Hazem El Masri. Goals: El Masri (2) Roosters 13: Tries: Chris Walker, Anthony Minichiello. Goals: Craig Fitzgibbon (2). FG Brett Finch |
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| click 2 check the Kiwis 2004 Tri-Nations campaign, reports, teams, pics. |
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| Jerome extends to 2007 |
| Warriors utility back Jerome Ropati has extended his contract with the Warriors to the end of 2007. Ropati, (19) who made his NRL debut against the Roosters in 2003, says it was an easy decision to make adding "I love playing for the Warriors. I wasnt comfortable about going overseas. In Auckland I have my family, my church and I've always been a homeboy. This gives me an incentive to train and play hard to give something back to the club." A talented player with a huge future coach Tony Kemp plans to use him at stand off half although he can cover at fullback, centre or wing. |
| 14 November |
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| Warriors boss eyes London Broncos. Leuluai signs |
| 21 November |
| Warriors owner Eric Watson is poised to buy the English Super League club, the London Broncos. The Broncos have already signed Warriors and Kiwi test halfback Thomas Leuluai on a one-year deal. |
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| Price to captain Warriors |
| 17 December |
| As expected Steve Price will captain the New Zealand Warriors in the 2005 season. Fresh from his three-year role as skipper of the 2004 premiers Bulldogs, the 30-year-old says says he is honoured by the call-up and bolstered by the fantastic support of his Warriors teammates. Monty Beetham has been appointed vice captain. The Vodafone Warriors can now point to three players with 200-plus NRL appearances � Wiki (225), Price (222) and halfback Stacey Jones (215) � plus Awen Guttenbeil with 124 games while Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Tony Martin, Wairangi Koopu, Richard Villasanti, Fien and Betham are all poised to reach the 100-match milestone during the 2005 season. |
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| East Stand completed |
| 18 December |
| The new East stand at Ericsson Stadium, home of the New Zealand Warriors is now complete and will seat 8,000 people.
The Warriors move into their new clubrooms and sports science centre in January. click pics for enlarged view of the new stand |
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| Congratulations to the eight players from the Warriors who toured the UK with the Kiwis Tri-nations squad. They were Louis and Vinnie Anderson, Wairangi Koopu, Thomas Leuluai, Francis Meli, Brent Webb, Clinton Toopi along with new recruit and Kiwi captain Rueben Wiki. |
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| click 2 check the Kiwis Tri-Nations campaign, reports, teams, pics. |
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| Played Won Lost Bye For Against Standing Points Home win/loss Away
Warriors 24 6 18 2 427 693 14/15 16 4/8 2/10 |
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| click 4 pics of the Warriors pre-season training courtesy Warriors.co.nz |
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| Matt Bowen |
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