The New Zealand Warriors' trajectory under Andrew Webster has become clear. Since his arrival in 2023, the club has shifted toward a defined identity built on defence, patience, and work ethic.
That approach delivered a preliminary final in 2023, followed by a disappointing 2024 where the Warriors struggled to close games and fell out of finals contention.
In 2025, the Warriors responded. After a poor start to the season and heavy criticism following their Las Vegas loss to Canberra, they steadied. Defence tightened. Effort areas improved. For long stretches they sat inside the top four and looked every bit a finals side. Injuries ultimately told the story. Season ending injuries to Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett, combined with ongoing disruption to key forwards, saw the Warriors limp into the finals and exit early against Penrith.
Behind the scenes, the club's pathways system continued to deliver. The Warriors won the NSW Cup in 2025 and followed it up by claiming the Interstate Championship. They also claimed the Harold Matthews Cup in both 2024 and 2025, reinforcing the club's commitment to youth development and long term sustainability. Competition for spots is increasing, and that makes 2026 a defining season for several established players.
These are the five Warriors who must lift again if the club is to turn progress into genuine contention.
2. Marata Niukore
Why his role is important?
Marata Niukore is the Warriors' starting right edge second rower and one of their primary enforcers. In 2025, he played all 25 matches, providing rare durability in a season disrupted by injuries elsewhere. His defensive workload was immense, recording career high tackle counts and setting the physical tone on the edge.
At 29 years old and off contract, Niukore is one of the club's highest paid forwards. His leadership on the right edge is crucial, particularly as younger edge forwards such as Jacob Laban and Heka Halasima continue developing beneath him.
What must improve?
While his defensive output remains strong, Niukore's attacking involvement has not matched his size or capability. Averaging under 80 metres per game, his impact with the ball has been limited. He rarely offloads and too often serves as a decoy rather than a genuine line bending option.
Discipline also remains an area to manage. His aggression is valuable, but poorly timed penalties can undo sustained defensive pressure.
Why his improvement matters?
If Niukore can increase his carries, post contact metres, and attacking involvement without losing defensive intensity, the Warriors gain a far more balanced edge. With younger forwards pushing for opportunity, this is a defining year for his role at the club.
I think you are harsh on Metcalf.
If he can recover from injury to be anywhere near last year’s performance, then there is nothing to complain about.
Improvement is not necessarily a bad thing. All need to play better but some are more critical to the scoreboard and outcomes. After reading the write up it’s more about Metcalfe getting to full fitness to play close to his best with a bit more improvement in his kicking game. He’s a huge talent and if he gets it right, the Warriors are right in the mix.