It was 30 years ago: Reliving debut night
Richard Becht `N photosport.nzMon 10 Mar 2025, 05:00 amIt 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 trophyThe 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 trophyAs 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 trophyThrough 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.
