{"id":264322,"date":"2026-02-02T19:48:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-02T19:48:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/264322\/"},"modified":"2026-02-02T19:48:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T19:48:10","slug":"warriors-the-tough-call-andrew-webster-will-need-to-make-in-pursuit-of-premiership-glory-ben-francis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/264322\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors: The tough call Andrew Webster will need to make in pursuit of premiership glory \u2013 Ben Francis"},"content":{"rendered":"

On the books, the Warriors have Luke Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, Tanah Boyd and Jye Linnane in their top 30, with Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson on development deals. Jack Thompson and former Tasman Mako Harry Inch<\/a> are part of the Jersey Flegg (Under-21) side, highlighting the club\u2019s growing depth in key positions.<\/p>\n

This is where a changing of the guard feels inevitable. Harris-Tavita, Martin and Boyd are all off contract on November 1, and it would be surprising if all three remain beyond this season, particularly with Cleary getting a top-30 promotion in 2027.<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Webster said he wouldn’t be surprised if Jett Cleary made his NRL debut in 2026. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

Harris-Tavita has been the Warriors\u2019 primary five-eighths since returning from a break from the game, while Martin has filled almost every role imaginable, most recently as a bench utility. Boyd, meanwhile, stepped into the starting halfback role after Metcalf\u2019s injury last season, having patiently bided his time in reserve grade.<\/p>\n

With Metcalf expected to miss the opening six to 10 rounds, Boyd is likely to get first crack at the No 7 jersey in the season-opener against the Sydney Roosters, with Harris-Tavita again partnering him at five-eighth.<\/p>\n

But don\u2019t be surprised if Webster hands Linnane and Cleary their first-grade debuts at some stage this year.<\/p>\n

Webster has big wraps on Linnane, admitting he tried to sign him three years ago. Coming off two ACL injuries, there is no urgency to rush him, but the 20-year-old\u2019s standout attribute is speed \u2013 something the Warriors desperately need in the side.<\/p>\n

\"WarriorsWarriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

There will inevitably be more pressure on Cleary, as the younger brother of Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary and the son of former Warriors player and coach Ivan Cleary. That reality was part of the reason he chose Auckland, escaping the intense Sydney spotlight while still being offered a genuine pathway.<\/p>\n

Webster has indicated he would not be surprised to see Cleary make his debut this season, while remaining mindful of the weight his surname carries.<\/p>\n

Taking all of this into account, it feels likely that at least one, if not two, of Harris-Tavita, Martin and Boyd will move on.<\/p>\n

Harris-Tavita has spent his entire 95-game NRL career at the Warriors and enjoyed his most productive attacking season in 2025, recording 18 try assists \u2013 almost matching the 20 he managed across the rest of his career.<\/p>\n

Martin was the subject of speculation midway through last season but remained loyal, signing a one-year extension with a clear understanding of his role as a utility.<\/p>\n

\"AndrewAndrew Webster. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

Boyd joined the club from the Gold Coast Titans knowing he would be deputy to Metcalf, but he still enjoyed his time so much that he exercised a player option to extend his stay, even before making his Warriors debut.<\/p>\n

It is difficult to see Harris-Tavita or Martin wanting to leave New Zealand, although the former\u2019s younger brother, Calvin Harris-Tavita,<\/a> has signed with the Brisbane Broncos so there could be an appetite to be closer to him.<\/p>\n

All three would be attractive options for the Perth Bears, who enter the competition in 2027 and are already building their roster, with 13 players contracted, including two halves already. Quality playmakers are in demand \u2013 and the Warriors simply can\u2019t keep everyone.<\/p>\n

Whatever unfolds, there will be robust internal debate about who stays, who goes and who complements Metcalf the best long-term.<\/p>\n

\"LukeLuke Metcalf is back training, but won’t return to the field until April at the earliest. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n

A similar dilemma is emerging in the second row, with veterans Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore also off contract at the season\u2019s end. Beneath them sits an abundance of emerging talent, including Leka Halasima<\/a>, Jacob Laban, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Kayliss Fatialofa, all locked in long term, while Morgan Gannon<\/a> looms as an exciting prospect after arriving from the Leeds Rhinos.<\/p>\n

After being stripped back during the Covid years, the Warriors have rebuilt their pathways and now boast some of the best young talent in rugby league.<\/p>\n

The premiership window is open, along with many other clubs, but it can close with the snap of your fingers.<\/p>\n

As the next generation learns the trials and tribulations of the competition, Webster faces tough calls on who stays and who goes.<\/p>\n

If he is to lead the Warriors to a maiden premiership, these decisions will shape not just the 2026 season, but the club\u2019s future for years to come.<\/p>\n

Warriors contract situation<\/p>\n

2026: Chanel Harris-Tavita, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Taine Tuaupiki, Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin.<\/p>\n

2027: Adam Pompey, Ali Leiataua, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelzniak, Erin Clark, Jackson Ford, Kayliss Fatialofa, Mitch Barnett, Sam Healey, Wayde Egan, Jett Cleary.<\/p>\n

2028: Tanner Stowers-Smith, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Morgan Gannon, Luke Metcalf, Jye Linnane, James Fisher-Harris, Haizyn Mellars, Demitric Vaimauga, Alofiana Khan-Pereira.<\/p>\n

2029: Jacob Laban, Leka Halasima.<\/p>\n

Ben Francis<\/a> is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"On the books, the Warriors have Luke Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, Tanah Boyd and Jye Linnane…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":264323,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[20251,15361,3043,3278,6643,6758,78,5812,5971,111,139,69,1118,13180,85522,213,223,61,13983,3006,20252,1533],"class_list":["post-264322","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-andrew","tag-ben","tag-call","tag-facts","tag-francis","tag-glory","tag-in","tag-make","tag-need","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-of","tag-premiership","tag-pursuit","tag-sports","tag-the","tag-to","tag-tough","tag-warriors","tag-webster","tag-will"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264322","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=264322"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/264322\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/264323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=264322"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=264322"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=264322"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}