The addition of the Warriors to the then ARL in 1995 is still one of the best things that the game as ever done.
Over the course of their year history, the New Zealand Warriors have made two grand finals (2002, 2011) and had some great players.
Here is my top ten for the New Zealand Warriors.
10. Sean Hoppe
Hoppe was part of the Warriors inaugural side in 1995 and became a regular first team player. He would play 88 games for the club between the 1995 to 1999 seasons.
He was voted the competition’s best winger in 1995 and his 19 tries in the 1995 season remained a club record until 2003 (when it was surpassed by Francis Meli).
He is currently eighth on the club’s all-time try scoring list with 44. He would play 35 Tests for New Zealand.
9. Francis Meli
Coming into the club in the 1998 season Meli would play 110 games for the club scoring 60 tries. In 2003 he would break the all time record for most tries in a season with 23, scoring five of those tries against the Canterbury Bulldogs in a single finals match.
The record still stands to this day. As a result of his great 2003 season he was named the player of the year for 2003. He would represent Samoa in nine Tests and play 14 Tests for New Zealand.
8. Lance Hohaia
Debuting for the Warriors in 2002 he would go on to play 185 games for the club and be the only man to feature in both the club’s grand final appearances (2002, 2011). He is fifth on the all time tries lists with 57. He would represent New Zealand in 28 Tests.
7. Ben Matulino
A one man club for the Warriors Matulino joined the club in 2008 and has been loyal ever since, he has won the player of the year award twice for the 2012 and 2015 seasons. A powerhouse for the club upfront he has played 196 games for the club and scored 16 tries. He was apart of the 2011 grand final and has played 23 Tests for New Zealand.
6. Ivan Cleary
Cleary would be not just a great player for the club but would return as a coach. He played in the 2002 grand final for the club and coached the 2011 side to their grand final appearance.
He played 57 games for the club and coached 137. He is currently number four with 437 for most points at the club.
5. James Maloney
A point-scoring machine for the club, Maloney debuted for the club in 2010. He would play 77 games and score 547 points for the club, currently the fourth highest in the club’s history.
He was a huge part of their 2011 grand final run. He had only a short career at the Warriors but still one of the best.
4. Manu Vatuvei
An entertaining player on the wing, Vatauvei has had 227 (the third highest in the club history) games for the club since debuting in 2004. He has the club record for tries with currently 152 (more than double of his nearest competitor Stacey Jones at 77) and was the player of the year in 2010.
He was a part of the 2011 grand final where he scored a try and he represented his country 29 times.
3. Simon Mannering
Mannering came to the team in 2005 as a forward utility for the club. He is about to break Stacey Jones’ all time game record at 261. He has scored 58 tries for the club. A hard man up front he has been named player of the year for the club a record five times (2008, 2011, 2014, 2014, 2016).
In 2011 he captained the club into the grand final. In 2013 he replaced Benji Marshall as the New Zealand captain and he had 41 appearances for his country.
2. Shaun Johnson
Johnson would debut for the club in 2011 and be a part of the team grand final side. Over his 127 games for the club he has broken Stacey Jones’ all time points record, scored 56 tries and in 2013 scored an incredible 177 points – scoring 26 in one game versus Canberra alone. He is with no doubt the successor of the halfback leader that Stacey Jones was before him.
1. Stacey Jones
No doubt in my mind that Jones is number one and he was and important part of the club. As an original to the club Jones would go on to play 261 games, still a record, be awarded player of the year in 1997, be leading influence of their minor premiership-winning 2002 season and be the only man to score a try for the club in the 2002 grand final.
Do you agree with my list? Who is your favourite Warriors player? If there are any Kiwi brothers and sisters out there I would love to hear your opinion. Next up the Wests Tigers.
Kaui
Guest
In my opinion my favorite nrl player is Shaun Johnson he's got really good foot work and he plays really well.
Kaui
Guest
In my opinion Shaun Johnson is the man he is a legend.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Price will be on the bulldogs list. So he does not qualify for this list. Clearly coaches efforts did not come into it, with over 400 points for the club in only 57 games he certainly derserves his spot. Lautiti was a freak
Aem
Guest
Steve Price shouldn't just be in this list - he should be topping it. Massive oversight. Wiki I can live without - great player, but the Warriors perhaps didn't get his best footy... Price though, he arguably played the best footy of his whole career at the club - at times dragging them single-handedly into the finals. Other than that the only other player that I feel needs to be added is Ali Lauitiiti. The guy was simply freakish. Sean Hoppe, Francis Meli and Ivan Cleary in danger for the chopping block for those guys above... it's top ten PLAYERS, so Cleary's achievements as coach shouldn't be considered. Meli & Hoppe were good but the above were better.
BigJ
Roar Guru
there is no place here for those sort of comments jacko, wake up to yourself !!!!!!!!
Jacko
Guest
Cleary dirtied his playing record by becoming a coach....I rate Cleary as a Massively big stinky, runny no 2....because he walked out on a contract a year early to go and coach a team he ended up getting sacked from......A big RUM night no 2...A big curry night no 2...Haha you get my drift
BigJ
Roar Guru
thats awesome, a nice history lesson, thanks
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Ron Massey Cup. They compete as a joint venture with the Concord Burwood Wolves. Once they can get a full squad, they will, I think, compete on their own as Glebe. Still a top five winning percentage for a professional club - and their last professional match was in 1926. Australia's first professional rugby league club...
BigJ
Roar Guru
do these Glebe mob still exist in some sort local comp???
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Once Burge left Glebe, that was the end of them. That guy was beast.
BigJ
Roar Guru
this one http://www.theroar.com.au/2017/03/17/another-ten-rugby-league-records-will-never-broken/ your mate Frank Burge gets a mention
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Which one?
BigJ
Roar Guru
Hey mate did you read my other records article about one of your glebe mates??
BigJ
Roar Guru
Thats mate, I probably should included some honourable mentions to cover as much players as possible. Toppi was my number eleven and its very hard to make these lists but people are happy enough.
BigJ
Roar Guru
Bazza, Price for the dogs Wiki for the Raiders. This one club rule of mine is really starting to backfire, but oh well. and picky picky, picky Baz. Two points, two points close enough.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Stacey Jones!
JOHNY BULLDOG
Roar Rookie
Yeah,come on Bazza,stop "nick picking" :)
Cedric
Guest
I know you can't fit them all in but these guys, some already mentioned, were special; Steve PRICE.. Rueben WIKI. Nigel VAGANA. Joe VAGANA. Ali LAUTITI. Clinton TOOPI and Jerry SEU SEU. Of the last two they get a mention because Toopi, when he was on, was lethal on attack. Jerry was tougher than a Kenworth and never flinched.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Nice one Big J. I agee with Baz that Ruben Wiki deserves a mention, but apart form that a great effort.
maximillian
Roar Rookie
Good list Big J. I understand these list's can be subjective but as a Warriors fan there are few names that would be close to the top 10. 2 honourable mentions: Jacob Lillyman has played over 150 games & gone on to be part of QLDs dominant side during his time with the Warriors. Clinton Toopi was the clubs top try scorer 3 times & had a brief period where he was 1 of the best centres around. 2 players that should be in there: Michael Luck was a tackling machine & very underrated. Played 150 games & had the heart of a lion. Brent Webb is the Warriors best ever fullback & played 17 tests for the Kiwis so Id fit him in. Id take out Hoppe. 3 wings in the top 10 doesn't seem right, & he is the 3rd best we've had. Id also take out Cleary. He was solid & only played 53 games. I would get him to coach our best ever side though. All things considered a pretty good effort though.