Richard Becht `N photosport.nzMon 10 Mar 2025, 05:00 am
It was 30 years ago today … March 10, 1995, a date like no other in the
annals of the Warriors’ history.
The 30th anniversary of the arrival of the Auckland Warriors when they
debuted in the Winfield Cup facing the glamour side of the times
Brisbane.
The birth was like no other, this child’s entrance watched in a
delivery suite which had more than 30,000 crammed into it with millions
more seeing the event beamed live on television.
Steven Gerrard with the Scottish Premiership trophy
The arrival was far from uneventful as he/she entered the world not so
much kicking and screaming as literally exploding, assaulting the senses
in every way imaginable. It was a birth to behold, a precursor to a life
which has never had a dull moment since.
Today’s 30th birthday is a time to reflect, to allow memories to flood
back of that unforgettable night. It was one of those events when most
people have a story about where they were and what that match meant to
them.
The club has gone on to total 731 matches and 290 players since that
tumultuous night kicked it all off.
Steven Gerrard with the Scottish Premiership trophy
As either the original Auckland Warriors, the Vodafone Warriors or now
the One New Zealand Warriors, the club has had 14 official captains in
Dean Bell (1995), Greg Alexander (1996), Matthew Ridge (1997-99), John
Simon (2000), Stacey Jones and Kevin Campion (2001), Monty Betham
(2002-04), Steve Price (2005-09), Simon Mannering (2010-2015), Ryan
Hoffman (2016), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2017-2021), Tohu Harris (2022-2024)
and Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris (2025).
The coaches across 30 years have been John Monie, Frank Endacott, Mark
Graham, Daniel Anderson, Tony Kemp, Ivan Cleary, Brian McClennan, Tony
Iro, Matt Elliott, Andrew McFadden, Stephen Kearney, Todd Payten, Nathan
Brown, Stacey Jones and Andrew Webster.
Twice the club has reached the NRL grand final and won the minor
premiership in 2002; it had the distinction of having all three sides at
ANZ Stadium on grand final day in 2011; the Vodafone Junior Warriors won
the now-defunct NYC premiership three times while losing in the grand
final in 2013; and last year the Warriors won the Harold Matthews Cup
(under-17) premiership on debut.
Steven Gerrard with the Scottish Premiership trophy
Through it all, though, one date – March 10, 1995 – means everything.
And at the forefront of it on that day was Dean Bell. On this day 30
years later it couldn’t be more appropriate to recount how it played out
for him in this edited extract from the opening chapter of his biography
‘Dean Bell – Warrior’ published soon after the inaugural season.
The birth was like no other, thisIt used to be known as Mt Smart
Stadium; now it rings to the name of Ericsson Stadium, courtesy of the
age of selling naming rights. It’s not the same ground in appearance
either. It has been totally transformed to suit its new purpose as a
rugby league arena. And a few minutes before 8.30pm on March 10, 1995,
it’s counting down not just to rugby league history but an important
chapter in New Zealand sporting history. child’s entrance watched in a
delivery suite which had more than 30,000 crammed into it with millions
more seeing the event beamed live on television.
He had played 26 Tests for New Zealand and 36 matches in all for the
Kiwis. He could count seven Challenge Cup final appearances at Wembley
among his 253 matches for Wigan, plus 40 Winfield Cup appearances for
Eastern Suburbs. Not to mention stints with Carlisle and Leeds,
appearances for Oceania and the Rest of the World, Auckland and the New
Zealand Māori. But those moments, those precious moments on the night of
March 10, 1995, found Dean Bell as nervous as he had ever been.
