The 2016 New Zealand Warriors season was the club’s 22nd campaign in the National Rugby League (NRL). The Warriors competed in the NRL’s 2016 Telstra Premiership, playing home matches primarily at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, with a limited number of games staged at Westpac Stadium (formerly known as Rotorua).
Coaching and Management
- Head coach: Andrew McFadden began the season as head coach. He was dismissed on 13 July 2016 after a run of poor results. Interim head coach Tony Iro took charge for the remainder of the season.
- CEO: Jim Doyle served as the club’s chief executive officer.
Captaincy
- Captain: Shaun Johnson retained the captaincy throughout the season, leading the side on and off the field.
Season Performance
- Regular‑season record: 9 wins, 15 losses (no draws).
- League position: 13th out of 16 teams, missing the finals series.
- Points for / against: The Warriors scored 469 points while conceding 591 points over the course of the season.
- Key statistics:
- Top try‑scorer: Ken Sio (13 tries).
- Top point‑scorer: Shaun Johnson (166 points, comprising 70 goals and 6 tries).
Player Movements
- Gains: Notable additions included prop forward Sam Hassell (from the Sydney Roosters) and centre James Bell (from the Manly‑Warringah Sea Eagles).
- Losses: The club saw the departure of forward Jacob Lau (to the Sydney Roosters) and winger Alex Tuynman (released).
Notable Matches
- Round 1 (vs. Canterbury‑Bulldogs): The Warriors opened the season with a 20‑16 victory at Mt Smart Stadium.
- Round 16 (vs. Sydney Roosters): A 38‑16 loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground contributed to the mid‑season coaching change.
- Round 24 (vs. South Sydney Rabbitohs): The Warriors secured a narrow 24‑22 win, marking their final victory of the year.
Season Summary
The 2016 campaign was characterised by inconsistent form and a mid‑season coaching transition, resulting in a lower‑mid table finish. Despite the overall disappointing result, individual performances from players such as Shaun Johnson and Ken Sio were highlights. The club used the season to assess its roster and coaching structures ahead of the 2017 season, when Stephen Kearney was appointed head coach.
