The New Zealand Warriors are yet to win an NRL premiership, but off the back of their best start to a season and their longest match winning streak in 19 years \u2013 six games, the last time that happened, Ivan Cleary was coach \u2013 there is a mounting case that 2026 will be their year.<\/p>\n
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For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n As the Warriors prepare for their toughest assignment of the season this Sunday, a top of the table clash against the Penrith Panthers, insiders are treating the occasion as a major litmus test for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n Having faltered at the grand final step on two occasions, the primary change this year is being credited to coach Andrew Webster.<\/p>\n In this foxsports.com.au feature, commentators, Kiwi greats and the Warriors\u2019 own give an insight into why 2026 will be a breakthrough, and why Webster is the unequivocal centerpiece of their success.<\/p>\n THE COACH, AND HIS RUTHLESS SELECTION CRITERIA<\/p>\n Andrew Webster\u2019s strict hiring policy probably tells you everything you need to know about the New Zealand Warriors right now.<\/p>\n Webster loves work ethic, and as a general rule of thumb, if your natural talents speak louder than your on-field efforts, then the 2023 Dally M Coach of the Year tends to look the other way.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they don\u2019t compete and they don\u2019t work hard, but they\u2019re very talented, then they\u2019re probably not for us,\u201d Webster told SEN Radio this week.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they want to compete hard and they\u2019ve got some rough edges then we see those ones as diamonds in the rough and want to work hard with them, and prove them.\u201d<\/p>\n Andrew Webster has made some crucial calls. (Photo by Joe Allison\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Webster has a strong track record of converting decent NRL prospects into diamonds.<\/p>\n Since taking the reins at the Warriors as a new NRL coach at the beginning of 2023, Webster has pushed the likes Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Wayde Egan into a different playing paradigm, and is widely credited for expanding Shaun Johnson\u2019s game.<\/p>\n This season is no different. Webster has worked his magic on Jackson Ford, Erin Clarke and James Fisher-Harris to develop arguably the NRL\u2019s most dangerous pack. At the other end of the scale, he has converted three play making options in Tanah Boyd, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin into career-best form; so much so, former halves staple Luke Metcalf is now waiting for an opening to get his way back into the starting side.<\/p>\n What\u2019s more, Webster has done so in a new era of set restarts and a faster state of play.<\/p>\n \u201cAs the year has gone on they\u2019ve got this energy and connection that everyone is talking about. That\u2019s their superpower,\u201d said former Kiwi international Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t actually have individuals that are going to get them there, but because they believe that they\u2019re going to do it as a collective, they\u2019re going to turn up in the toughest moments with players that provide balance in the team.<\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s got to be Andrew. You\u2019ve got to recruit players that can adapt and they have forwards that can play long minutes. You\u2019ve got a guy like Jackson Ford and Erin Clarke \u2013 all of their front rowers can adapt, they can play long minutes. I believe depth is important nowadays with the style of the game.<\/p>\n \u201cThe balance is definitely among their forward pack \u2013 they can all play long minutes, they can get through a mountain of work and I feel like they\u2019ve got the right ingredient at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Ciraldo unloads on dubious ref decisions | 07:57<\/p>\n Fox League\u2019s Paul Crawley agrees, declaring this Warriors side the best he\u2019s seen since the franchises\u2019 introduction into the ARL in 1995: \u201cI honestly don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen a better Warriors team. In 2002 and 2011 they made a grand final (but) I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve seen a more complete Warriors team,\u201d Crawley said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey don\u2019t rely on one single player. Even with the halfback situation at the moment, it doesn\u2019t matter who comes in they do the job.\u201d<\/p>\n What the NRL giveth, the NRL taketh away. The Daily Telegraph\u2019s David Riccio identifies equal value in the way the Warriors have reacted to the news of losing their big names to other clubs in recent months.<\/p>\n \u201cThey make decisions that are in the benefit of the club,\u201d he said. \u201cThey let Addin Fonua-Blake go, they bring James Fisher-Harris. They\u2019ve decided to let Mitch Barnett go. Think about the potential of that upsetting your season: Mitchell Barnett wanting a release. They gave it to him. Metcalf wanted a release. They gave it to him. But they\u2019re completely unflustered by it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Warriors are surging in 2026. (Photo by Phil Walter\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n The Warriors have been similarly unfazed at their growing injury toll, losing the likes of Boyd and club great Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to separate knee injuries in recent weeks.<\/p>\n Webster has put that down to both men putting the club before themselves. As such, Boyd was back at training the following week eager to help the side\u2019s spine pouring through tape for the following week\u2019s game, while RTS is desperate to see the Warriors prosper deep into the finals despite already playing his last game for them.<\/p>\n According to Waerea-Hargreaves, these traits will only strengthen the Warriors\u2019 resolve.<\/p>\n \u201cAn injury like Tanah Boyd will only unite this group. They have depth with Metcalf there, but I believe what happened to Tanner will only galvanise the team,\u201d JWH said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been incredible to watch and it\u2019s a massive credit to the leadership group as well as the coaching staff.\u201d<\/p>\n Webster has already made the call to rest his two Origin stars, Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett, against the Panthers \u2013 citing only moderate minutes for the pair this season and the big recovery required after an Origin contest. There\u2019s confidence that younger players can and will step up in the pair\u2019s absence.<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018TRYING TO WORK IT OUT\u2019: Fitzy\u2019s regret after star\u2019s serious injury blow<\/a><\/p>\n \u2018I WAS IN DENIAL\u2019: Arrow\u2019s fiancee opens up on MND diagnosis with emotional reveal<\/a><\/p>\n Dogs denied through controversial call | 00:23<\/p>\n THE IVAN CLEARY APPRENTICESHIP AND INSTILLING TRUST IN PLAYERS<\/p>\n Unlike so many other NRL head coaches, Webster is not a playing star of yesteryear.<\/p>\n But he does boast a key advantage as a mentor, having learned the ropes under Ivan Cleary \u2013 first at the Wests Tigers before two years at Penrith during their premiership reign.<\/p>\n When asked about his time as an assistant coach at Penrith, Webster pointed to the systems that Cleary established to ensure depth and confidence in younger talent.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve learned plenty,\u201d Webster said. \u201cYou learn off all the coaches you worked under, particularly Ivan \u2013 he was a mentor for me. <\/p>\n \u201cI got to see how it\u2019s done right. I had two years at the Panthers while they were winning, which is great. But also the Tigers, I saw him while he was trying to rebuild that club and how to do that. I learned plenty off him and I\u2019m grateful for my time there.\u201d<\/p>\n A key example is the moving feast around the Warriors halves. Webster has used different combinations to great effect this year, sometimes out of necessity due to injury, other times because he is sticking with what works.<\/p>\n Against the Panthers this weekend, the Warriors will continue with Chanel Harris-Tavita at five-eighth and Te Maire Martin at halfback, pushing Dragons-bound Luke Metcalf to Webster\u2019s list of reserves.<\/p>\n Luke Metcalf has to earn his spot back. (Photo by Matt Blyth\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cWe work really hard at having different combinations in the pre-season, so that if anything happens during the season we know each other\u2019s playing style and it\u2019s not too much of a change,\u201d said Harris-Tavita.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever plays knows they have to come in and do their job. I have confidence knowing I can do my job.\u201d <\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to draw similarities between Webster and Cleary, both as coaches and as people. Warriors captain and former Panther James Fisher-Harris has played under both men and sees similarities in their calmness among the team. <\/p>\n \u201cAndrew has a good way of letting us be ourselves,\u201d Fisher-Harris said. \u201cAnd when we\u2019re ourselves we\u2019re more confident \u2013 we\u2019re not trying to be someone else, we\u2019re not trying to play like someone else.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pretty much given the tick of approval to go out and do our thing. That\u2019s for me anyway. I reckon he\u2019s doing the same for our younger guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Those virtues are extended to players including Jackson Ford, who has reveled in the Warriors structure this season to become one of the most versatile forwards in the NRL. This weekend he will assume the starting place of Mitch Barnett in perhaps the biggest pressure test of his career.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoever comes into our team is hungry and ready to go. They\u2019re primed,\u201d said Fisher-Harris. \u201cLast year set us up for this year, especially the younger boys. They\u2019re doing more than holding their own, they\u2019re playing really well.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1779017096_680_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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