Stacey Jones : Keeping The Faith as told to John Matheson

New Zealand Warriors and Kiwis

Just on 100 pages of and his career with the Warriors and the New Zealand Kiwis. Every page is packed with full colour photographs of Jones and his team mates. Keeping The Faith sums up very well the valuable role that Stacey Jones has played for rugby league in New Zealand. At the end of 2000 he could have walked away from the Warriors - after six seasons of near waste who could have blamed him.

But the Aucklander decided that loyalty to his home town counted, and now the game in New Zealand is reaping the rewards of his decision. Stacey Jones is the man that drives the Warriors and Kiws around the park.

His fellow players and opponents alike all agree.

Much travelled team mate Kevin Campion says: "I have played with some talented players - Allan Langer, Kevin Walters, Anthony Mundine and - and Stacey Jones is right up there with them."

Australia's best player, : "He's one of the greats....the Warriors and the Kiwis should be mighty proud of him."

Jones' book takes us back to his early playing days at Grey Lynn in , where the grandson of Kiwi test player Hone Komanga Emery first got his taste of rugby league. Signed by the Warriors to a scholarship in 1993, he was groomed for a first grade debut in 1997. But Jones and the Warriors couldn't wait - by round seven of the Warrior's debut season, Stacey Jones was on the field and part of a team that demolished Parramatta by 40-4. He never looked back. By the end of the season he was in the Kiwis World Cup side that almost pushed Australia out of the tournament.

Jones takes us through his career at the Warriors and his Test matches. At only 26 years, Jones has already written many records - and has many more in sight. Jones provides us with a candid look at his team mates and coaches that he has come across - amonst them are Ali Lautiiti, , Robbie Paul, , , and (together with Jones, the only remaining original Warriors).

The book also features the thoughts and comments on Stacey Jones by many of his rugby league peers that have had the benefit of seeing and working with Jones up close: coach , the veteran , Steve Kearney, and others.

Jones writes about the unheralded - and unexpected - success of 2001 with the Warriors under the coaching of the unknown Daniel Anderson. Jones though says he remains bitter about exiting the Finals so quickly at the hands of Parramatta. He says it is this experience which is driving him and the Warriors on to the Minor Premiership of 2002 and the longest post-season in the club's 8 year history.

Few sides win a Grand Final without a great half back as their playmaker. The Warriors have the great half back - and very few of them retire without a premiership trophy. For any fan of Jones, the Warriors and the Kiws, this book will be a joy. "Keeping The Faith" sums up Jones, but it also refers to the many players, officials and fans of the game in New Zealand who have perserved since the "1907 All Golds".

In Stacey Jones, the rugby league game in New Zealand finally has a champion who has delivered.

Stacey Jones : Keeping The Faith Published by Hoda Moa Beckett (New Zealand) ISBN 1-86958-919-X

Reference: The Rugby League Hall of Fame(2004) Stacey Jones: Keeping the Faith Text [on-line] http://rl1908.com/rugby-league-books/Stacey-Jones-Warriors.htm sourced 23 October 2005