The 2003 New Zealand Warriors season was the 9th in the club's history. They competed in the National Rugby League's 2003 Telstra Premiership and finished the regular season in 6th place. The Warriors then came within one game of the grand final, losing to eventual premiers the Penrith Panthers. The coach of the team was Daniel Anderson while Monty Betham was the club captain.
Milestones The Warriors had the youngest squad out of all the 15 clubs in the 2003 NRL season.John Coffey Warriors youngest in NRL The Press, 30 November 2002 23 March — Round 2: Monty Betham played in his 50th match for the club. 6 April — Round 4: Francis Meli, Wairangi Koopu and Mark Tookey played in their 50th first grade games for the club.Francis Meli will play his 50th NRL match for the Warriors Western Leader, 4 April 2003 22 June — Round 13: Motu Tony played in his 50th match for the club. 12 July — Round 18: Ali Lauitiiti played in his 100th match for the club. 10 August — Round 22: Richard Villasanti played in his 50th match for the club. 6 September — Round 26: Awen Guttenbiel played in his 100th match for the club.
Jersey and sponsors The Warriors launched a design in 2003, finally removing completely the blue and white colours the owners had inherited when the purchased the company.John Coffey Warriors' new strip The Press, 29 November 2002
Fixtures
The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2003, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995.
Pre-season The Warriors played a pre-season trial match against the Penrith Panthers in Invercargill on 28 February. 15,000 fans attended the match, which was sold out.We're first - angry Roosters call for ad to be dropped Sydney Morning Herald, 28 February 2003
Regular season Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report16 MarchRound 1 Newcastle KnightsMount Smart Stadium, Auckland Loss 26-36 Hohaia (2), Carlaw, Fa'afili, Meli Jones (3) 16,291 23 MarchRound 2 Canterbury BulldogsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 24-20 Hohaia (2), Fa'afili, Guttenbeil, Meli Marsh (2) 16,22929 MarchRound 3 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesBrookvale Oval, SydneyWin20-16 Toopi (2), Fa'afili, Swann Marsh (2) 14,2736 AprilRound 4 South Sydney RabbitohsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 38-16Fa'afili (2), Hohaia (2), Meli (2), Seuseu, Tony Marsh (2), Hohaia (1) 13,614 13 AprilRound 5 Brisbane BroncosANZ Stadium, BrisbaneWin32-12Meli (2), Faumuina, Marsh, Swann, Tuimavave Marsh (3), Tuimavave (1) 18,959 21 AprilRound 6 North Queensland CowboysMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 30-24Fa'afili, Jones, Marsh, Meli, Tony, Toopi Marshs (3) 19,722 27 AprilRound 7 Penrith PanthersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 14-28Fa'afili, Koopu, Tony Jones (1)15,732 2 MayRound 8 BulldogsWestpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss 12-18Meli, ToopiWebb (2) 21,989 10 MayRound 9 Parramatta EelsMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 18-16Meli (2), Marsh, Swann Webb (1) 15,397Round 10 Bye 23 MayRound 11 Canberra Raiders Westpac Stadium, WellingtonLoss10-18Fa'afiliWebb (1) 13,13031 MayRound 12 Penrith PanthersCUA Stadium, SydneyLoss 12-34Betham, Tony Jones (2) 20,2807 JuneRound 13 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 23-6Faumuina, Jones, Meli, MellarsJones (3 & FG) 16,17214 JuneRound 14 Parramatta EelsParramatta Stadium, SydneyLoss 26-28V.Anderson, Betham, Faumuina, Meli, WebbJones (2), Webb (1) 8,07622 JuneRound 15 Canberra RaidersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 26-18Swann (2), Tony, Toopi, VillasantiJones (3) 18,37529 JuneRound 16 South Sydney RabbitohsSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 31-30 (a.e.t)Jones, Meli, Tony, Toopi, WebbJones (5 & FG) 9,109 5 JulyRound 17 North Queensland CowboysDairy Farmers Stadium, TownsvilleLoss 10-30Swann (2)Jones (1) 16,028 12 JulyRound 18 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 20-12V.Anderson, Latu, Webb Jones (4) 15,52819 JulyRound 19 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksToyota Park, SydneyWin 31-24Toopi (2), Murphy, Villasanti, WebbJones (5 & FG)13,565 Round 20 Bye 2 AugustRound 21 Melbourne StormMount Smart Stadium, AucklandLoss 12-14V.Anderson, Toopi Hohaia (2) 15,20710 AugustRound 22 St. George Illawarra DragonsOki Jubilee Stadium, SydneyWin 30-20Carlaw, Hohaia, Lauiti'iti, Leuluai, Villasanti, Webb Hohaia (3)12,595 15 AugustRound 23 Newcastle KnightsEnergyAustralia Stadium, NewcastleLoss 20-36Toopi (2), Meli, VillasantiHohaia (2) 17,198 24 AugustRound 24 Brisbane BroncosMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin 22-14V.Anderson, Faumuina, Latu, Meli Webb (3)19,439 31 AugustRound 25 Sydney RoostersSydney Football Stadium, SydneyWin 26-24Meli (2), Toopi, Villasanti Webb (5) 18,726 6 SeptemberRound 26 Wests TigersMount Smart Stadium, AucklandWin32-16Toopi (3), V.Anderson (2), Meli Webb (4) 20,392
Final Series Date Round Opponent Venue Result Score Tries Goals Attendance Report13 SeptemberQualifying Final Bulldogs Showgrounds, Sydney Win 48 - 22 Meli (5), Webb (2), Faumuina, Tony Webb (5), Faumuina (1) 18,31220 SeptemberPreliminary Final Canberra Raiders Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Win 17 - 16 Fa'afili, Swann, ToopiWebb (2), Jones (FG) 31,616 28 SeptemberPreliminary Final Penrith Panthers Telstra Stadium, Sydney Loss 20 - 28 Swann, Toopi, Villasanti, WebbWebb (2) 43,174
Ladder
Squad
Twenty eight players were used by the Warriors in 2003, including five players who made their first grade debuts.
No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors debutAppTGFGPts 24HB23 April 199522329474 33 / SR14 April 1996201004 42SR1 March 19972390036 50 / PR16 August 1997241004 55 / SR19 April 1998121004 61 / HK / LK8 March 1999242008 64CE / SR9 April 1999251004 65 / WG2 May 199927230092 66CE2 May 199922170068 76PR6 February 2000170000 81 / WG26 March 200024100040 87 / PR18 February 20011660024 90 / UH9 March 20011870028 92WG7 April 200181004 93 / PR1 June 2001240000 95CE24 March 2002102008 96HB / HK24 March 200211312036 97FB1 April 200221826084 98CE / LK1 April 20022451022 99UB6 April 20021678044 100 / CE7 July 20022760024 102PR1 September 200291106 103PR / SR6 September 2002100000 104HK2 May 200310000 105HB2 May 2003121004 106CE7 June 200341004 107 / HK7 June 200372008 108CE / FE31 August 200310000
Staff Chief Executive Officer: Mick Watson
Coaching staff Head coach: Daniel Anderson Assistant coach: Tony Kemp Assistant coach: Rohan Smith
Transfers
Gains Player Previous club Length Notes North Harbour Rugby Union
Losses Player Club Notes Wests Tigers Toulouse Olympique North Queensland Cowboys Bradford Bulls North Queensland Cowboys Retired
Other teams Players not required by the Warriors were released to play in the 2003 Bartercard Cup. This included Motu Tony and Jerome Ropati at the Marist Richmond Brothers, Mark Robinson at the North Harbour Tigers and Richard Villasanti at the Canterbury Bulls.
Awards Francis Meli won the Player of the Year award.Vodafone Warriors RED BALL Awards warriors.co.nz, 16 September 2014
References
External links Warriors official site 2003 Warriors Season at rugbyleagueproject.org