New Zealand Warriors: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing

Troy Whittaker

New Zealand Warriors: 2019 preview, draw, squad changes, news, every player, odds and ticketing image

Unbeaten after the opening seven games of 2018, the New Zealand Warriors fought off a mid-year slump to scrape into the finals for the first time since 2011.

But a week one playoffs exit against the Penrith Panthers was a severely disappointing result, especially when New Zealand led 12-2 at the 15-minute mark of that match.

Ultimately, the season summed up the team's playing style in recent years – utterly awesome in patches but underwhelming when it mattered most.

There were still many positives, though, like fullback and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck becoming the first Warrior to win the Dally M Medal.

Hooker Isaac Luke recaptured his menacing best, David Fusit'ua claimed the NRL's top try-scorer mantle, Jazz Tevaga was a sensation off the bench and recruit Blake Green proved a calming influence at five-eighth.

Green will be given total control of the Warriors' attack in 2019, with long-time halfback Shaun Johnson suddenly departing the club during the off-season to join the Cronulla Sharks. 

Rising teenagers Chanel Harris-Tavita and Hayze Perham are the likely candidates to become Green's halves partner.

Harris-Tavita impressed in reserve grade in 2018 and created headlines playing for the junior Kiwis in October when he produced a freakish scorpion kick to set up a try.

Perham, who also showed his wares in the NSW Cup last season, is naturally a fullback but is seen as possessing the playmaking skills to play in the front-line.

Former Panthers second stringer Adam Keighran is another who could start at No.7.

New Zealand's back-line is stacked with internationals, including Fusit'ua, the reliable Ken Maumalo and the powerful centre pairing of Solomone Kata and Peta Hiku.

The Warriors' forwards are the key to their success, however, with Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and Leeson Ah Mau headlining a sizeable pack.

There's no shortage of talent at the club, but if the big men don't dominate through the middle then the Warriors could be in for a long year.

#Adam Blair

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS PRE-SEASON NEWS

Test halfback Shaun Johnson's dramatic departure from New Zealand was the most intriguing part of the Warriors' pre-season.

Johnson, who played 162 matches for the Warriors and helped them to the 2011 grand final, walked away from the final year of his rich contract having been notified he wasn't wanted beyond 2019.

He subsequently signed with the Sharks on a three-year deal.

It was heavily reported that New Zealand were chasing Brisbane Broncos halfback Kodi Nikorima as Johnson's replacement but nothing eventuated.

Instead, club general manager Brian Smith indicated the Warriors could rotate players in the No.7 jumper throughout the season – similar to how the Melbourne Storm successfully interchanged Brodie Croft, Ryley Jacks and Jahrome Hughes at halfback in 2018.

"I push everyone's eyes backwards to this time last year when Cooper Cronk left Melbourne and everybody was talking about who was going to replace him," Smith said on Radio Sport New Zealand.

"They came up with a method that most clubs wouldn't have the kahunas to do – they used two or three guys in that role, and that's something that could come up for us as well."

Chanel Harris-Tavita

PRE-SEASON TRIALS

February 22 – Warriors 12 def. Storm 6

March 2 – Warriors 26 def. Wests Tigers 16

Hayze Perham Chanel Harris-Tavita

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS' 30-MAN NRL SQUAD

Shaun Johnson is at the top of the departures list for the Warriors.

Veteran lock Simon Mannering has retired, while prop James Gavet (Newcastle Knights) and centre Anthony Gelling (Widnes Vikings) are also gone.

In an ironic twist, promising half Mason Lino left for the Knights in search of an opportunity having been stuck behind Johnson.

The Warriors would love to have Lino on their books now.

Ex-St George Illawarra Dragons front-rower Leeson Ah Mau is New Zealand's key signing.

Ah Mau hit career-best form in 2018 for the Dragons and was rewarded with a Test debut for the Kiwis.

The 29-year-old began his career at the Warriors in 2009, playing two games before moving on to the North Queensland Cowboys.

 PlayerDate of BirthHeight, weightPositionNRL matchesRep honours
1Adam Blair20/2/1986188cm, 109kgProp289New Zealand, NRL All Stars
2Adam Keighran24/4/1997183cm, 89kgHalfback0Nil
3Agnatius Pasi30/11/1991182cm, 111kgLock78Tonga
4Blake Ayshford15/4/1988190cm, 100kgCentre167Nil
5Blake Green19/9/1986179cm, 87kgFive-eighth139Nil
6Chanel Harris-Tavita3/4/1999183cm, 83kgHalfback/Five-eighth0Nil
7David Fusitu'a16/10/1994189cm, 97kgWing80New Zealand, Tonga
8Gerard Beale18/7/1990181cm, 92kgCentre/Wing175New Zealand, World All Stars
9Hayze Perham2/7/1999184cm, 88kgFullback/Halfback0Nil
10Isaiah Papali'i20/9/1998182cm, 103kgSecond-row25New Zealand, Samoa
11Isaac Luke29/5/1987175cm, 91kgHooker254New Zealand
12Bunty Afoa20/8/1996188cm, 101kgProp44Samoa
13Jackson FreiNot listedNot listedProp0Nil
14Jazz Tevaga4/9/1995178cm, 92kgHooker/Lock35Samoa
15Karl Lawton29/11/1995185cm, 92kgHooker18Nil
16Ken Maumalo16/7/1994191cm, 105kgWing64New Zealand, Samoa
17Lachlan Burr27/9/1992188cm, 102kgSecond-row24Nil
18Leeson Ah Mau20/12/1989185cm, 110kgProp179New Zealand, Samoa
19Leivaha Pulu27/3/1990192cm, 111kgSecond-row57Tonga
20Ligi Sao11/10/1992187cm, 109kgLock39Samoa
21Nathaniel Roache15/4/1996180cm, 90kgHooker20Nil
22Patrick Hebert10/1/1997181cm, 95kgCentre/Fullback0Nil
23Peta Hiku4/12/1992181cm, 94kgCentre102New Zealand
24Roger Tuivasa-Sheck5/6/1993182cm, 93kgFullback137New Zealand
25Sam Lisone19/2/1994184cm, 104kgProp74Samoa
26Solomone Kata3/12/1994177cm, 97kgCentre87New Zealand, Tonga
27Taane Milne19/5/1995182cm, 99kgCentre18Fiji
28Tevita Satae22/10/1992191cm, 114kgProp13Nil
29Tohu Harris7/1/1992195cm, 110kgSecond-row134New Zealand
30TBC

COACH: Stephen Kearney


Additions (Players who weren't in 2019): Leeson Ah Mau (St George Illawarra Dragons), Lachlan Burr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Adam Keighran (Penrith Panthers), Taane Milne 

Losses: Manaia Cherrington (unsigned), James Gavet (Newcastle Knights), Anthony Gelling (Widnes Vikings), Shaun Johnson (Cronulla Sharks), Mason Lino (Newcastle Knights), Simon Mannering (retired), Zac Santo (unsigned), Albert Vete (Melbourne Storm)

Re-signed: Bunty Afoa (2021), David Fusitu'a (2023), Sam Lisone (2020), Issac Luke (2019), Ken Maumalo (2022), Isaiah Papali'i (2020), Nathaniel Roache (2020), Chris Satae (2021), Jazz Tevaga (2020), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2022)

Off-contract beyond 2019: Blake Ayshford, Jackson Frei, Solomone Kata, Karl Lawton, Issac Luke, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Agnatius Paasi, Ligi Sao

leeson ah mau

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS' BETTING ODDS

Despite their return to the finals last year, the bookies aren't expecting much of the Warriors in 2019.

At $26 (via TAB on 20/2/19), New Zealand are 11th in the betting to win the upcoming premiership. It would be the club's maiden title.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is $13 to claim back-to-back Dally M medals and is third in the market overall.

The Warriors are $8 to finish in the top four, $2.75 to make the top eight and $8 to suffer the most losses.

#roger tuivasa-sheck

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS' 2019 DRAW

Games played on

Thursday: 1

Friday: 7

Saturday: 12

Sunday: 4

 

Teams they play twice

Manly Sea Eagles, Gold Coast Titans, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm, Newcastle Knights, Penrith Panthers, Brisbane Broncos, Cronulla Sharks, Canberra Raiders

 

RoundDateOpponentVenue
1Saturday 16 March 3:00pmCanterbury BulldogsMt Smart Stadium
2Sunday 24 March 6:10pmWests TigersCampbelltown Stadium
3Saturday 30 March 3:00pmManly Sea EaglesChristchurch Stadium
4Friday 5 April 6:00pmGold Coast TitansMt Smart Stadium
5Saturday 13 April 3:00pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsSunshine Coast Stadium
6Saturday 20 April 5:30pmNorth Queensland CowboysMt Smart Stadium
7Thursday 25 April 7:50pmMelbourne StormAAMI Park
8Sunday 5 May 2:00pmNewcastle KnightsMt Smart Stadium
9Saturday 11 May 5:30pmSt George Illawarra DragonsSuncorp Stadium
10Friday 17 May 6:00pmPenrith PanthersPanthers Stadium
11Saturday 25 May 5:30pmBrisbane BroncosMt Smart Stadium
12BYE
13Saturday 8 June 3:00pmMelbourne StormMt Smart Stadium
14Friday 14 June 6:00pmGold Coast TitansCbus Super Stadium
15Sunday 30 June 2:00pmPenrith PanthersMt Smart Stadium
16Saturday 6 July 7:35pmNewcastle KnightsMcDonald Jones Stadium
17Saturday 13 July 5:30pmBrisbane BroncosSuncorp Stadium
18Friday 19 July 6:00pmCronulla SharksWestpac Stadium
19Saturday 27 July 3:00pmParramatta EelsBankwest Stadium
20Friday 2 August 6:00pmCanberra RaidersMt Smart Stadium
21Friday 9 August 6:00pmManly Sea EaglesMt Smart Stadium
22Sunday 18 August 2:00pmSydney RoostersSydney Cricket Ground
23Saturday 24 August 3:00pmCronulla SharksShark Park
24Friday 30 August 6:00pmSouth Sydney RabbitohsMt Smart Stadium
25Saturday 7 September 3:00pmCanberra Raiders GIO Stadium

 

It's a big year for...

Blake Green.

Green was lauded as the perfect foil for Shaun Johnson in 2018; his collected nature complimenting Johnson's off-the-cuff brilliance.

This season, the five-eighth will be forced to bear a heavy load of responsibility in Johnson's absence. 

A journeyman of six NRL clubs, Green has yet to assert his dominance and take full control of a team.

The 32-year-old will be expected to do that during 2019 – not an easy task given the Warriors' notorious inconsistency.

The Warriors' hopes of going deep into September will largely rest on Green's ability to steer the ship and organise the attack.

#Blake Green

MEMBERSHIP AND TICKETING

As of February 16, the Warriors had 13,840 members for the 2019 season.

At this rate, the club are on track to better their 2018 membership total of 18,566.

Membership packages can be viewed here.

General tickets for the season are available here.

#New Zealand Warriors fans

Troy Whittaker