2006 New Zealand Warriors season


The 2006 New Zealand Warriors season was the 12th in the club's history. The club competed in Australasia's National Rugby League. The coach of the team was Ivan Cleary while Steve Price was the club captain.

Milestones

Before the season started the Warriors were investigated by the National Rugby League over alleged salary cap breaches committed by the team's previous administrators. The club admitted to inflating its salary cap to the tune of nearly $1 million during the 2005 season. As punishment, the National Rugby League fined the Warriors club $430,000 and stripped the team of four competition points prior to the beginning of the season. It was the first time in 99 years of rugby league in Australia that a team has started a season on less than zero premiership points.
The Warriors appealed the decision by the NRL to strip the four competition points but accepted the financial penalty. Prior to the beginning of the season, the National Rugby League confirmed that the points penalty would stand. The penalty would prove the decisive factor in the Warriors missing the finals for the third year in succession.

Jersey & Sponsors

Fixtures

The Warriors used Ericsson Stadium as their home ground in 2006, their only home ground since they entered the competition in 1995. On 12 July, the stadium reverted to its original name: Mt Smart Stadium.

Pre-Season

Regular season

Ladder

*New Zealand Warriors were stripped of 4 competition points due to breaches of the salary cap.

Squad

Twenty five players were used by the Warriors in 2006, including several players who made their first grade debuts.
No.NameNationalityPositionWarriors DebutAppTGFGPts
33SR14 April 1996231004
64CE / SR9 April 19992060024
66CE2 May 1999101004
87PR18 February 200110000
97FB1 April 200222110044
98CE / LK1 April 20021740016
99UB6 April 200212514048
102PR1 September 20022340016
108CE / FE31 August 20032290036
109CE14 March 2004206680160
110SR14 March 200481004
112LK28 March 2004231004
115WG23 May 200418100040
118WG21 August 200430000
121PR13 March 20052150020
122WG13 March 200592008
123PR13 March 20052260024
124HK13 March 20052140016
125CE26 June 20051790036
126SR12 March 2006241004
127HB12 March 20062440016
128HK25 March 2006172008
129WG9 April 20061540016
130WG22 April 200650000
131PR20 May 2006101004

Staff

Gains

Losses

Mid-Season Losses

Awards

Players not required by the Warriors were released to play in the 2006 Bartercard Cup. These included Misi Taulapapa for the Mount Albert Lions and Cooper Vuna for the Tamaki Titans. Sam Rapira and Lance Hohaia both made appearances for the Waicoa Bay Stallions while Richard Villasanti played for the Canterbury Bulls.