THE RIVALRY: WARRIORS V BULLDOGS
We'll always have the 2003 finals.
The Warriors’ rivalry with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs intensified during the early-2000s following a string of spectacular comebacks and upset victories by the Auckland-based club, while the Bulldogs’ consistently large contingent of Kiwi imports ensured an extra bit of fire and physicality in the clubs’ showdowns. The Warriors came within a win of squaring the all-time ledger thanks to a long winning streak during the 2020s, but the Bulldogs have again opened a decent head-to-head lead.
Overall record: Played 46 – Canterbury won 24, Warriors won 20, draws 2; Canterbury scored 1,052 points, Warriors scored 999 points.
Biggest wins: Canterbury – 54-10 at Mt Smart Stadium, 2004; Warriors – 48-22 at Sydney Showgrounds, 2004 (final).
Longest winning streaks: Canterbury – 6 matches (2004-07); Warriors – 6 matches (2019-23).
Finals: Played 1 – Warriors won 1.
Most appearances: Hazem El Masri (Canterbury) – 24; Stacey Jones (Warriors) – 21; Steve Price (Canterbury and Warriors) – 19; Simon Mannering (Warriors) – 17; Logan Swann (Warriors) – 16.
Most tries: Hazem El Masri (Canterbury) – 13; Francis Meli (Warriors) – 10; Nigel Vagana (Warriors and Canterbury) – 9; Manu Vatuvei (Warriors) – 9; Matt Utai (Canterbury) – 8.
Most points: Hazem El Masri (Canterbury) – 178; Daryl Halligan (Canterbury) – 80; Shaun Johnson (Warriors) – 65; Stacey Jones (Warriors) – 61; Francis Meli (Warriors) – 40.
1995-99 – Auckland Warriors’ early wins memorable
Inspired by 19-year-old halfback sensation Stacey Jones and a memorable showing off the bench from Willie Poching, the Auckland Warriors surged to a stunning 29-8 victory over a Bulldogs side that included Kiwi stars Daryl Halligan and John Timu in the inaugural meeting between the clubs in 1995.
Phil Blake scored two tries off the bench for the Warriors, while fellow veteran Greg Alexander also turned back the clock with a four-pointer in the five-tries-to-one upset at Parramatta Stadium. It would be the besieged Bulldogs’ last loss of the season – they subsequently won six straight games to clinch a phenomenal premiership triumph in the Super League-affected season.
Canterbury won its next three against Auckland, before another unlikely success by the erratic Warriors in 1998. Despite the first-half send-off of prop Jerry Seuseu, the Warriors held the Bulldogs try-less in their Belmore Oval backyard, carving out a remarkable 20-6 win. Auckland’s combative captain Matthew Ridge was also sin-binned during the match to leave his side with 11 men at one stage, emphasising the visitors’ momentous defensive display.
1999-2003 – Bulldogs foiled by Warriors bogey
The Warriors’ lack of on-field success in the late-1990s did not extend to their rivalry with the Bulldogs, while they continued to have the wood on the blue-and-whites after becoming a force in the early-2000s, losing just two of 10 games between the sides from 1999-2003.
