Sign up now!!! <\/a><\/p>\nWhy Matty thinks Parra are on the rise | 01:57<\/p>\n
THE BIG BREAKDOWN – ANNIKA LEGG<\/p>\n
STRENGTH<\/p>\n
New recruits and returning stars. The Warriors had a promising year in 2025, appearing poised for a top four finish for most of the season until they lost two of their biggest stars in Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf to injury. However, with both set to make a return and the side making some key recruits over the off-season, the Warriors are well positioned for another finals run. During the pre-season, the Warriors picked up English Super League star, Morgan Gannon as well as Titans Alofiana Khan-Pereira who is sure to ignite the backline. With Khan-Pereira set to control the backline, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will likely shift to the wings, adding more versatility and depth to the side\u2019s defence. In the absence of bigger names last season, 2025 gave way for break-out seasons for Dally M Lock of the Year Erin Clark and Rookie of the Year nominee Leka Halasima. With a pool of new talent mixed with the returns of their two biggest stars, the Warriors are a side with a lot of talent and if they can develop a good team chemistry they could make a deep run. <\/p>\n
New Zealand Warriors signing Morgan Gannon.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
WEAKNESS<\/p>\n
Lack of forward depth. While injuries played a huge role in the way the Warriors last season ended, the lack of depth in their forward pack was ultimately why they could not close the deal. New Zealand relied on their biggest names in Barnett, Metcalf and James Fisher-Harris in 2025, however when they were absent they struggled to fill out their squad. Despite picking up new recruits, the forward pack is still relying on Barnett and ageing forwards in Fisher-Harris and Kurt Capewell, as well as newcomers in Leka Halasima and Erin Clark, but if injuries strike like last year their forward depth will again be tested. <\/p>\n
Andrew Webster needs some luck with injuries in 2026.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
IT\u2019S A BIG YEAR FOR<\/p>\n
Mitch Barnett. The 31-year-old captain has hit his stride since joining the Warriors in 2023, yet an ACL injury during round 13 last year was a huge blow for the prop and for the New Zealand side. The loss of Barnett paired with Luke Metcalf who went down four weeks later, also tearing his ACL was a major factor in the Warriors 2025 season. The Warriors will be relying on Barnett to make some big moves in his opening weeks back with the club, which is set to be within the first few weeks of the season. Tanner Stowes-Smith is a chance to replace Barnett, especially while he is out, but the side will be hoping to see the Captain return to his best and guide the team back into the finals. A lot of the Warriors success will come down to how well Barnett is able to adjust back into the game, with another finals run dependent on his performance. At 31-years-old, this will be a huge year for Barnett to prove he can compete with the top teams while guiding the Warriors younger forwards. <\/p>\n
Mitch Barnett returns from knee injury.Source: Supplied<\/p>\n
WHO\u2019S UNDER PRESSURE<\/p>\n
Luke Metcalf. Metcalf was the major force behind the Warriors success in 2025, as he led the Dally M leaderboard and drove the Warriors to a finals finish before facing an ACL injury in round 17. Despite heading towards a top four finish, the loss of Metcalf saw the Warriors enter the finals in sixth before being quickly taken out in week one against the Panthers. Now, he is set to return in round seven with New Zealand\u2019s hopes of a deep run resting on his shoulders. The Warriors will be hoping to perform right off the bat, but if they are relying on the five-eighth to turn around a slow early season, the pressure will be on for the returning forward. <\/p>\n
Luke Metcalf returns from an ACL injury.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
THE RISING STAR <\/p>\n
Leka Halasima. This 20-year-old made a huge mark on the Warriors in 2025, where he was a Dally M Rookie of the Year nominee. He scored 13 tries during his rookie season, becoming the Warriors top try scorer in 2025 equalling Melbourne\u2019s Eliesa Katoa\u2019s record for the most tries scored by a forward in the NRL. With Metcalf and Barnett set to sit out the first few weeks of the season, Halasima will be one to watch on the forwards as he continues to cement his place as a Warriors fixture. The second rower will be hungry for another incredible season and is guaranteed to be a competition force. <\/p>\n
Leka Halasima had a breakout year in 2025.Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n
PREDICTED FINISH: 10th<\/p>\n
BEST 19<\/p>\n
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad<\/p>\n
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak<\/p>\n
3. Rocco Berry<\/p>\n
4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck<\/p>\n
5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira<\/p>\n
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita<\/p>\n
7. Luke Metcalf<\/p>\n
8. James Fisher-Harris<\/p>\n
9. Wayde Egan<\/p>\n
10. Mitch Barnett<\/p>\n
11. Kurt Capewell<\/p>\n
12. Leka Halasima<\/p>\n
13. Erin Clark<\/p>\n
14. Te Maire Martin<\/p>\n
15. Jacob Laban<\/p>\n
16. Morgan Gannon<\/p>\n
17. Marata Niukore<\/p>\n
18. Samuel Healey<\/p>\n
19. Taine Tuaupiki<\/p>\n
WARRIORS SQUAD<\/p>\n
Top 30: Adam Pompey (2027), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (2028), Ali Leiataua (2027), Chanel Harris-Tavita (2026), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (2027), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (2026, 2027 MO), Demitric Sifakula (2028), Erin Clark (2027), Freddy Lussick (2026), Haizyn Mellars (2028), Jackson Ford (2027), Jacob Laban (2029), James Fisher-Harris (2028), Jye Linnane (2028), Kurt Capewell (2026), Leka Halasima (2029), Luke Metcalf (2028), Marata Niukore (2026), Mitchell Barnett (2027), Morgan Gannon (2028), Rocco Berry (2026), Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (2026), Sam Healey (2027), Selumiela Halasima (2027), Taine Tuaupiki (2026), Tanah Boyd (2026), Te Maire Martin (2026), Wayde Egan (2027)<\/p>\n
Development players: Jett Cleary (2027)<\/p>\n
2026 gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Gold Coast Titans), Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)<\/p>\n
2026 losses: Bunty Afoa (Tigers), Tom Ale (Panthers), Moala Graham-Taufa (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Edward Kosi (Rabbitohs)<\/p>\n
Coach: Andrew Webster (2028)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s a great lesson in happiness to remember what would have made you happy five years ago. Think…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":516686,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[246132,160409,10748,64,63,689,258184,228963,4532,4600,258186,258201,10288,258199,224238,168668,87606,81371,4550,258195,220668,258194,10398,48043,258190,4612,258200,231345,258181,231342,4739,4584,4479,4415,258192,258185,3512,4487,231229,231333,10747,122762,34950,236779,258193,174147,82842,761,762,1736,2613,4495,158,677,137909,13390,4598,258191,62842,2625,3752,159,27144,4561,258198,14867,4439,85,4546,4427,230932,208048,130570,258183,211650,258187,258189,258197,258196,4461,19054,4604,258182,258188],"class_list":{"0":"post-516685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nrl","8":"tag-advantage-line","9":"tag-andrew-mcfadden","10":"tag-andrew-webster","11":"tag-au","12":"tag-australia","13":"tag-australia-and-new-zealand","14":"tag-break-out-seasons","15":"tag-cameron-george","16":"tag-canberra-raiders","17":"tag-chanel-harris-tavita","18":"tag-cold-reminder","19":"tag-competition-force","20":"tag-completion-rate","21":"tag-defensive-toughness","22":"tag-defensive-unit","23":"tag-development-players","24":"tag-elimination-final-loss","25":"tag-english-super-league","26":"tag-erin-clark","27":"tag-expert-warriors-verdict","28":"tag-eye-contact","29":"tag-finals-finish","30":"tag-finals-run","31":"tag-finals-success","32":"tag-game-breaks-open","33":"tag-gold-coast-titans","34":"tag-growth-the-piece","35":"tag-head-finals-bound-trio","36":"tag-hoist-trophies","37":"tag-horror-top-eight","38":"tag-injury-blows","39":"tag-jacob-laban","40":"tag-james-fisher-harris","41":"tag-james-tedesco","42":"tag-key-recruits","43":"tag-kick-return-meters","44":"tag-knee-injury","45":"tag-kurt-capewell","46":"tag-ladder-bubble","47":"tag-luai-q-and","48":"tag-luke-metcalf","49":"tag-maiden-title","50":"tag-mark-robinson","51":"tag-mick-crawley","52":"tag-middle-third-rotation","53":"tag-mitchell-barnett","54":"tag-nathan-brown","55":"tag-national-rugby-league","56":"tag-nationalrugbyleague","57":"tag-new-zealand","58":"tag-new-zealand-warriors","59":"tag-newcastle-knights","60":"tag-nrl","61":"tag-oceania","62":"tag-one-hit-wonder","63":"tag-payne-haas","64":"tag-penrith-panthers","65":"tag-permanent-longing","66":"tag-rocco-berry","67":"tag-roger-tuivasa-sheck","68":"tag-rookie-season","69":"tag-rugby-league","70":"tag-sam-healey","71":"tag-samuel-healey","72":"tag-second-phase-play","73":"tag-south-sydney","74":"tag-south-sydney-rabbitohs","75":"tag-sports","76":"tag-stephen-crichton","77":"tag-stowers-smith","78":"tag-stowes-smith","79":"tag-survival-mode","80":"tag-team-chemistry","81":"tag-trans-tasman-juggernaut","82":"tag-try-scorer","83":"tag-veteran-head","84":"tag-warriors-preview","85":"tag-warriors-signing-morgan","86":"tag-warriors-squad","87":"tag-wayde-egan","88":"tag-young-talent","89":"tag-zealand-warriors","90":"tag-zealand-warriors-preview","91":"tag-zealand-warriors-signing"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516685","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=516685"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/516685\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/516686"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=516685"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=516685"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=516685"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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