The Warriors: episode guide


Episode 1

Wed, April 12, 2017
Written by Jon Bell
Directed by Adrian Russell Wills

The Warriors is a landmark Australian television drama series set in the world of elite sport. It follows the once-great Warriors Football Club, which pins its hopes and dwindling reputation on three untested rookies and a jaded star.

Overnight the talented young athletes are thrown head first into the high-stakes world of professional sport.

For Maki, Zane and Scottie, sporting success means leaving home and finding a place in an unfamiliar world. But as the boys encounter temptation and pressure on a level they have never experienced, they must battle to maintain their integrity and a connection to their past. The change is particularly pronounced for the season's number one draft pick, Maki, who swaps the remote Aboriginal community where he grew up for the bright lights of Melbourne.

Under the guidance of bad boy Team Captain, Doc, Maki and his fellow recruits have to navigate new relationships and challenging situations both on and off the field. But will they even make it on to the ground for the first game of the season?

With: Gordan Churchill as Maki, Reece Milne as Doc, Nelson Baker as Zane, Ben Knight as Scottie, John Howard as Bill, Vince Colosimo as Spinner, Lisa McCune as Deb

With: Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Matt Crosby as Kenny, George Vidalis as Tim, Melanie Lockman as Chloe, Rafael Boehmer as Knox, Peter Bedford as Himself, Nicky Winmar as Himself

Episode 2

Wed, April 19, 2017
Written by Jon Bell
Directed by Adrian Russell Wills

When Maki takes a spectacular mark at training which is filmed by the media, Arnie, an internet pundit with his own website claims Maki faked the jump. In an effort to prove that Arnie is lying, Deb asks Maki to do the jump again. But when Maki stays up all night reading the negative comments online he can't manage the jump a second time. In support of their brother player Scottie, Zane and Doc come up with an ingenious plan to exact revenge on Arnie.

With: Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Matt Crosby as Kenny, Lee Beckhurst as Arnie, Lyn Ford as Maureen

Episode 3

Wed, April 26, 2017
Written by Tracey Rigney
Directed by Beck Cole

When Bill becomes angry at Spinner's new-age training methods, he decides to toughen the rookies up with a visit to the infamous gym known as "Onion's Ring". Scottie fights Onion and Zane fights his son Roger and both are humbled in the ring. But when Maki refuses to take part, Bill is disappointed and Zane is furious. Zane and Maki argue and the tensions of their relationship rise to the surface.

With: Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Monica Sayer as Helen the Yoga Teacher, Danny Adcock as Onion, Alexander Bertrand as Roger, Andrew Perry as Butcher, Graham Jahne as Warriors Mascot, Claudia Wonnacott as Mascot Kid, Andrew Wallis as Stunt Player #1, Will Jones as Stunt Player #2

Episode 4

Wed, May 03, 2017
Written by Tony Briggs
Directed by Beck Cole

Zane stops kicking with accuracy. Spinner warns him that his position in the team could be in jeopardy. Physically there appears to be nothing wrong with Zane's kicking style and it seems Zane's problem is all in his head. The boys decide Zane needs to take his mind off things and organise a wild night out. Can Zane get his kick back?

With: Tasia Zalar as Ava, Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Scarlet Vas as Libby, Kate Greer as Jessica, Vanessa Crouch as Dezzy, Ra Ranui as Security Guard #1, Kwali Junior as Security Guard #2

Episode 5

Wed, May 10, 2017
Written by Tracey Rigney
Directed by Steven McGregor

Doc's latest scandal causes The Warriors to lose their sponsorship. With time running out to find a new sponsor, Bill turns to Fast Freddy for help, the unscrupulous owner of a gambling website called TruBet. Freddy agrees to sponsor The Warriors in exchange for information about upcoming games. Doc refuses to get involved until he sees that if he doesn't, Bill will involve Maki instead. Will Doc risk his own career to spare Maki and save the team?

With: Jacek Koman as Fast Freddy, Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Wil Greenway as Hipster #1, Joshua Payne as Hipster #2, Lisa Marie Shaw as Female Fan, Paul Rochford as Doc Stunt Double, George Vidalis as Tim, Matt Crosby as Kenny, Amelia Bishop as Mitsy, Alexander Bertrand as Roger, Karla Hillam as Meryl the Security Guard, Simon Parsons as Male Guard, Celina Yuen as Croupier, Veronica Loiuvros as Waitress

Episode 6

Wed, May 17, 2017
Written by Jon Bell
Directed by Steven McGregor

When Maki is racially vilified during a Warriors training session, the resulting scandal threatens to derail their pre-season. Zane has experienced racism all his life and tries to persuade Maki to ignore it, but soon Zane realises that might not be the honourable course of action. When Bill warns the players not to mix sport with politics, Zane and the other players must decide between ignoring what happened for the good of the sport or taking a stand for something greater.

With: Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Jeff Gobbels as Anchor, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Tasia Zalar as Ava, Tony Briggs as Stuart, Tammy Anderson as Charlene, Lee Cormie as Darren, Brett Swain as Hutton, Claude Jabbour as Journalist

Episode 7

Wed, May 24, 2017
Written by Tony Briggs
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

When Zane, Scottie and Doc wake to discover that Maki has not returned from a trip to visit his sick grandfather, they realise he has left The Warriors with no intention of returning to Melbourne. They travel up north to Maki's hometown of Warmun to convince him to come back. But when they see the beauty of Maki's home and are charmed by a cast of eccentric locals, they realise that bringing him back to Melbourne might be more difficult than they first thought.

With: Dougie Macale as Gungie, Ningali Lawford as Margaret, Jacek Koman as Fast Freddy, Amelia Bishop as Mitsy; Keeza Reid, Saedi Rivers, Iris Carlton, Steven Henry & Nicole Malay as Kids at Phone Box; Shirley Purdie & Gabriel Nodea as Elders at Mantha

Episode 8

Wed, May 31, 2017
Written by Jon Bell
Directed by Catriona McKenzie

Game one of the season has finally arrived and Maki, Zane, Scottie and Doc have all made the team. Scottie is even named starting ruckman. There's only one problem — Scottie's knee is injured and he won't make it onto the field without help. Scottie takes steroids to heal his knee before the game. Then a random drugs test is announced and Scottie is in big trouble. Zane comes up with a plan and takes Scottie to his cousin, Binh, who has a unique way to help Scottie pass the test. Will the plan work and can Scottie fool the drug testers and run out onto the field with the rest of The Warriors?

With: Kaden Hartcher as Meat, Dan Haberfield as Boydy, Danny Adcock as Onion, Jon Prasida as Binh, Jacek Koman as Fast Freddy, Amelia Bishop as Mitsy, Kasia Kaczmarek as Sabrina, Rob Flanagan as Mike, Jake Skukan as Warriors Mascot