In focus: Warriors back-rowers

The Warriors have been blessed with a plethora of engine-room backbones and freakish talents in the back-row.

WARRIORS 1995-2025 BOOK CHAPTER MENU

Strong, skilful Kiwis back-row staple Stephen Kearney was arguably the Auckland Warriors’ best player across their troubled first four seasons. In contrast, high-priced Great Britain superstar Denis Betts failed to live up to his reputation during his 1995-97 stay. Tony Tuimavave, Tony Tatupu and Mark Horo were regulars during the club’s formative years, before long-serving guns Logan Swann, Awen Guttenbeil and Ali Lauitiiti – a Dally M Second-rower of the Year recipient in 2002 – emerged.