# 2007 New Zealand Warriors season

The New Zealand Warriors 2007 season was the New Zealand Warriors 13th first-grade season. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Ivan Cleary while Steve Price was the club's captain.

## Milestones

* 25 March - Round 2: Evarn Tuimavave made his 50th appearance for the club.
* 8 April - Round 4: Logan Swann became the third player to play 150 first grade games for the Warriors.
* 5 May - Round 8: Nathan Fien made his 50th appearance for the club.
* 20 May - Round 10: Ruben Wiki made his 50th appearance for the club.
* 3 June - Round 12: Tony Martin made his 50th appearance for the club.
* 7 July - Round 17: Manu Vatuvei and Steve Price made their 50th appearances for the club.
* 26 August - Round 24: Wairangi Koopu made his 150th appearance for the club and Epalahame Lauaki made his 50th appearance for the club.
* 16 September - Semi Final: Micheal Luck and Simon Mannering made their 50th appearances for the club.

## Jersey & Sponsors

* The Warriors did not change their home jersey from 2006, sticking with the predominantly Black & White design supplied by Puma AG. The away jersey also remained unchanged, being mainly Grey with Black details. Sponsored by Lion Red and Vodafone

## Fixtures

The Warriors used Mt Smart Stadium as their home ground in 2007, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.

### Trial Matches

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 18 February | Trial 1 | Auckland Lions | Mt Smart Stadium No 2, Auckland | Win | 64–4 | Hohaia (3), Byrne 2, Martin, Lawrie, Vuna, Witt, Gatis, Packer, Crockett | Witt (5), Martin (3) | 5,000 |
| 24 February | Trial 2 | North Queensland Cowboys | Leprechaun Park, Mackay | Loss | 14–32 | Vatuvei, McKinnon, Lauaki | Martin (1) | 8,000 |
| 3 March | Trial 3 | Bulldogs | North Harbour Stadium, Auckland | Win | 36–6 | Vatuvei, Crockett, Swann, Fien, McKinnon, Byrne | Martin (6) | 15,122 |

### Regular season

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 17 March | Round 1 | Parramatta Eels | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 34–18 | Crockett (2), Hohaia, Mannering, McKinnon, Price | Martin (5) | 13,587 |
| 25 March | Round 2 | Brisbane Broncos | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 24–14 | Crockett (2), Price, Witt | Martin (4) | 16,738 |
| 1 April | Round 3 | Melbourne Storm | Olympic Park, Melbourne | Loss | 12–30 | Rapira, Vatuvei | Martin (2) | 12,874 |
| 8 April | Round 4 | Manly Sea Eagles | Brookvale Oval, Sydney | Loss | 10–13 | Mannering, Martin | Martin (1) | 16,358 |
| 15 April | Round 5 | North Queensland Cowboys | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 34–14 | Byrne, Fien, Price, Rovelli, Vatuvei, Witt | Martin (5) | 11,260 |
| | Round 6 | Bye | | | - | | | |
| 29 April | Round 7 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | Telstra Stadium, Sydney | Win | 18–16 | Byrne, McKinnon, Rovelli | Martin (3) | 13,044 |
| 5 May | Round 8 | Cronulla Sharks | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 20–22 | Anderson, Rapira, Witt | Martin (4) | 13,587 |
| 12 May | Round 9 | Newcastle Knights | EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle | Loss | 18–24 | Fien, Ropati, Wiki | Hohaia (3) | 15,107 |
| 20 May | Round 10 | Wests Tigers | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 26–30 | Ah Van, Hohaia, Mannering, Ropati, Vatuvei | Martin (3) | 10,282 |
| 28 May | Round 11 | Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Stadium, Sydney | Loss | 6–30 | Swann | Martin (1) | 11,160 |
| 3 June | Round 12 | Bulldogs | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 20–40 | Ah Van, Mannering, Ropati, Swann | Martin (2) | 10,041 |
| 10 June | Round 13 | Melbourne Storm | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 2–4 | | Martin (1) | 6,209 |
| 16 June | Round 14 | Cronulla Sharks | Toyota Park, Sydney | Win | 12–2 | Vatuvei, Witt | Witt (2) | 4,202 |
| 22 June | Round 15 | Penrith Panthers | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 54–14 | McKinnon (2), Witt (2), Anderson, Gatis, Koopu, Lauaki, Vatuvei | Witt (6), Martin (3) | 9,978 |
| 30 June | Round 16 | Gold Coast Titans | Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast | Win | 22–6 | Gatis, McKinnon, Rapira | Witt (5) | 17,608 |
| 7 July | Round 17 | North Queensland Cowboys | Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville | Loss | 12–18 | Ah Van, Vatuvei | Witt (2) | 19,648 |
| 15 July | Round 18 | St. George Illawarra Dragons | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 44–16 | Mannering (2), Crockett, Gatis, McKinnon, Ropati, Tuimavave | Witt (8) | 10,037 |
| 22 July | Round 19 | Wests Tigers | Campbelltown Stadium, Sydney | Win | 28–16 | Rovelli (2), Koopu, Luck, Ropati | Witt (4) | 14,012 |
| 28 July | Round 20 | Newcastle Knights | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 52–10 | McKinnon (2), Ropati (2), Rovelli (2), Koopu, Price, Vatuvei | Witt (8) | 11,301 |
| 5 August | Round 21 | Sydney Roosters | SFS, Sydney | Draw (G.P.) | 31–31 | Lauaki (2), McKinnon, Ropati, Vatuvei | Witt (5 & FG) | 15,124 |
| 11 August | Round 22 | Gold Coast Titans | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 30–6 | Rovelli (3), Ropati (2) | Witt (5) | 20,609 |
| 18 August | Round 23 | Canberra Raiders | Canberra Stadium, Canberra | Loss | 24–26 | Crockett, Fien, Lauaki, Vatuvei | Witt (4) | 8,134 |
| 26 August | Round 24 | Manly Sea Eagles | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Win | 36–14 | Koopu (2), Gatis, Lauaki, Mannering, Vatuvei | Witt (6) | 25,070 |
| 1 September | Round 25 | Penrith Panthers | CUA Stadium, Sydney | Win | 24–20 | Byrne (2), Rapira, Rovelli | Witt (4) | 14,473 |

### Finals

| Date | Round | Opponent | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 7 September | Qualifying Final | Parramatta Eels | Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland | Loss | 10–12 | Byrne, Witt | Witt (1) | 28,745 | |
| 16 September | Semi Final | North Queensland Cowboys | Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville | Loss | 12–49 | Crockett, Martin | Witt (2) | 21,847 | |

## Ladder

2007 NRL seasonvte :
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | B | PF | PA | PD | Pts |
| 1 | Melbourne Storm | 24 | 21 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 627 | 277 | +350 | 44 |
| 2 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | 24 | 18 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 597 | 377 | +220 | 38 |
| 3 | North Queensland Cowboys | 24 | 15 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 547 | 618 | −71 | 32 |
| 4 | New Zealand Warriors | 24 | 13 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 593 | 434 | +159 | 29 |
| 5 | Parramatta Eels | 24 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 573 | 481 | +92 | 28 |
| 6 | Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 575 | 528 | +47 | 26 |
| 7 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | 24 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 408 | 399 | +9 | 26 |
| 8 | Brisbane Broncos | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 511 | 476 | +35 | 24 |
| 9 | Wests Tigers | 24 | 11 | 0 | 13 | 1 | 541 | 561 | −20 | 24 |
| 10 | Sydney Roosters | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 445 | 610 | −165 | 23 |
| 11 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 463 | 403 | +60 | 22 |
| 12 | Gold Coast Titans | 24 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 409 | 559 | −150 | 22 |
| 13 | St George Illawarra Dragons | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 431 | 509 | −78 | 20 |
| 14 | Canberra Raiders | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 522 | 652 | −130 | 20 |
| 15 | Newcastle Knights | 24 | 9 | 0 | 15 | 1 | 418 | 708 | −290 | 20 |
| 16 | Penrith Panthers | 24 | 8 | 0 | 16 | 1 | 539 | 607 | −68 | 18 |

## Squad

Twenty three players were used by the club in 2007. Four players made their debuts for the club, although only one (Corey Lawrie) made his National Rugby League debut. In addition Aidan Kirk was in the squad but did not play a game due to injury.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Position | Warriors Debut | App | T | G | FG | Pts |
| 42 | Logan Swann | | SR | 1 March 1997 | 25 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 64 | Wairangi Koopu | | CE / SR | 9 April 1999 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 99 | Lance Hohaia | | UB | 6 April 2002 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| 102 | Evarn Tuimavave | | PR | 1 September 2002 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 108 | Jerome Ropati | | CE / FE | 31 August 2003 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 109 | Tony Martin | | CE | 14 March 2004 | 13 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 76 |
| 110 | Epalahame Lauaki | / | SR | 14 March 2004 | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 112 | Louis Anderson | | LK | 28 March 2004 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 115 | Manu Vatuvei | | WG | 23 May 2004 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 121 | Steve Price | | PR | 13 March 2005 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 122 | Todd Byrne | | WG | 13 March 2005 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 123 | Ruben Wiki | | PR | 13 March 2005 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 124 | Nathan Fien | | HK | 13 March 2005 | 26 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 125 | Simon Mannering | | CE | 26 June 2005 | 26 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 126 | Micheal Luck | | SR | 12 March 2006 | 26 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 127 | Grant Rovelli | / | HB | 12 March 2006 | 23 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 40 |
| 128 | George Gatis | / | HK | 25 March 2006 | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 129 | Patrick Ah Van | | WG | 9 April 2006 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| 131 | Sam Rapira | | PR | 20 May 2006 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 |
| 132 | Wade McKinnon | | FB | 17 March 2007 | 22 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 36 |
| 133 | Michael Crockett | | WG | 17 March 2007 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
| 134 | Michael Witt | | FE | 17 March 2007 | 25 | 7 | 62 | 1 | 153 |
| 135 | Corey Lawrie | | LK | 15 April 2007 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Staff

* Chief Executive Officer: Wayne Scurrah

### NRL Staff

* Head coach: Ivan Cleary
* Assistant coach: John Ackland
* Welfare and Development Coach: Tony Iro
* In August 2007 Dean Bell was appointed the club's Development Manager with the intention that he would manage the Toyota Cup (Under-20s) team from 2008.
* Trainer: Craig Walker

## Transfers
### Gains

| Player | Previous Club |
| Wade McKinnon | Parramatta Eels |
| Michael Crockett | Wests Tigers |
| Michael Witt | Manly Sea Eagles |
| Aidan Kirk | Sydney Roosters |

### Losses

| Player | Club |
| Awen Guttenbeil | Castleford Tigers |
| Clinton Toopi | Leeds Rhinos |
| Richard Villasanti | Cronulla Sharks |
| Brent Webb | Leeds Rhinos |
| Sione Faumuina | Harlequins RL |

### Mid-Season Losses

| Player | Club | Notes |
| Cooper Vuna | Newcastle Knights | Released, made Newcastle debut 27 May |

## Other Teams

Senior players who were not required for the first team played with the Auckland Lions in the NSWRL Premier League. Graeme Norton coached the side which finished in tenth spot (out of thirteen), just two wins outside of the top eight.
The Auckland Lions featured many players who were yet to make their first grade debuts for the Warriors, such as Leeson Ah Mau, Sonny Fai, Isaac John, Aidan Kirk, Kevin Locke, Russell Packer and Malo Solomona.

## Awards

Steve Price won the Player of the Year award.