Auckland Warriors - 1999

After a rocky start under Mark Graham, the Warriors showed genuine promise with some mid-season arrivals playing a key role.

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Warriors Mourn Savea

Many of the Warriors’ younger contingent carried heavy hearts into the 1999 season following the death of former teammate Tai Savea on New Year’s Day. The 20-year-old, who had taken up a contract with Balmain, drowned while on a fishing trip in Port Waikato; 17-year-old Billy Roebuck also drowned while trying to save his mate. The blockbusting Savea represented the Junior Kiwis and featured in the Warriors Under-19s’ grand final loss to Penrith in 1997. Monty Betham, who starred alongside Savea in both teams, remembers an exceptional and popular player: “Tai was the most talented junior that I ever played with or against. He was a barnstorming centre and what he could do was freakish – the footwork, the speed, the power for a big guy. People said he had the build of Olsen Filipaina. [He had] the balance and speed to do some wonderful things.” Tragically, memories of Savea’s death came flooding back when fellow Mangere East junior and Warriors phenom Sonny Fai died, presumed drowned, after becoming caught in a rip at Te Henga (Bethells Beach) just over 10 years to the day later.

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Incoming Warriors coach Mark Graham commanded automatic respect by virtue of his standing as New Zealand’s greatest-ever player. Revered for his toughness, dedication and all-round class for Otahuhu, Auckland, Brisbane Norths, North Sydney, Wakefield Trinity and in 29 Tests for the Kiwis (1977-88), the champion back-rower served a solid coaching apprenticeship at Manly, North Sydney and North Queensland during the 1990s.