{"id":360012,"date":"2026-04-02T08:41:10","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/360012\/"},"modified":"2026-04-02T08:41:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T08:41:10","slug":"warriors-ceo-urges-nrl-to-make-key-move-amid-expansion-debates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/360012\/","title":{"rendered":"Warriors CEO urges NRL to make key move amid expansion debates"},"content":{"rendered":"

The debate over how best to grow rugby league in New Zealand<\/a> and promote its dominance over Rugby Union across the ditch has taken a decisive turn, with Warriors CEO Cameron George urging the NRL<\/a> to prioritise grassroots development over expansion.<\/p>\n

As suggestions circulate for a second New Zealand<\/a> franchise, the Warriors CEO has instead thrown his support behind a nationwide pathways system\u2014one he believes could unlock the country’s vast untapped talent and even lure athletes away from rugby union.<\/p>\n

George, inspired by the well-established junior systems in New South Wales and Queensland, argues that replicating those structures across New Zealand<\/a> is the key to sustainable growth.<\/p>\n

“The sole focus should be to build up junior domestic competitions to the same level as NSW and Queensland,” George said.<\/p>\n

“Having elite domestic competition will help underpin the opportunity for a second team.<\/p>\n

“That’s where we can get the talent out of rugby as well.<\/p>\n

“These competitions will give more kids access to elite development opportunities.”<\/p>\n

Such a shift could have far-reaching consequences, particularly given the dominance of rugby union in New Zealand<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

A strong league pathways system may begin to draw promising athletes away from the traditional First XV pipeline and into the NRL<\/a> system at an earlier age.<\/p>\n

For George, however, the priority is clear: build the foundation first, then consider expansion.<\/p>\n

The Warriors’ own success offers a compelling case study.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Since introducing an under-17s side in 2024, the club claimed back-to-back titles in the NSWRL junior competitions from their inaugural year, highlighting the immediate impact of structured development.<\/p>\n

Beyond results, the system is also designed to keep young players at home longer\u2014an approach that promotes both wellbeing and accessibility, while still offering a pathway to elite rugby league.<\/p>\n

Warriors Head of Recruitment Andrew McFadden<\/a> echoed George’s stance, stressing the importance of carefully building the necessary infrastructure.<\/p>\n

“All that infrastructure needs to be considered carefully,” McFadden said.<\/p>\n

“But the end goal should be that there are quality competitions for players to be able to stay in New Zealand<\/a> and develop while they are with family.<\/p>\n

“Whether that’s school competitions or standalone pathways competitions run by New Zealand<\/a> Rugby League<\/a> or the NRL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“There is definitely enough talent. We would have to capture some of the First XV schoolboy rugby players.<\/p>\n

“But the league under 17’s competitions and schoolboy rugby First XV don’t overlap with rugby, so it will allow these kids to play both.”<\/p>\n

The potential for crossover talent is already evident in players like Rocco Berry<\/a>, whose journey underscores the opportunity for league to tap into union’s traditional strongholds.<\/p>\n

Berry, the son of a former All Black, came through a rugby-dominated school system before being identified by league scouts and joining the Warriors straight out of school.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He made his NRL<\/a> debut in 2021 and has since established himself as a promising outside back.<\/p>\n

“I was straight up rugby, went to a rugby school and got scouted from there and moved up the Warriors straight out of school and I’ve been here since,” Berry said.<\/p>\n

“In the area I’m from, there was no league played at all.”<\/p>\n

“Growing up, I loved watching league but it seemed like a more far fetched thing (to play league).<\/p>\n

“But I started playing first fifteen and we play on TV back home, so it’s a good way to get exposure and there’s league scouts watching.”<\/p>\n

Berry believes the transition between the two codes\u2014particularly for backs\u2014is relatively seamless, making the case for why league should target those athletes.<\/p>\n

“I think the outside backs and the backs in union translates pretty well, it’s probably a lot more similar in the backs than in the forwards,” Berry said.<\/p>\n

“I think these young outside backs, they have the skills and they’re fast, which makes it an easier transition.”<\/p>\n

He also pointed to the Warriors’ revamped development system as a turning point for the club.<\/p>\n

“A few years ago the Warriors revamped their pathways system after Covid, and it’s been shown to be a real plus for the club with all the young talent they have coming through,” Berry said.<\/p>\n

“The pathways gives the young kids more confidence to come to the club and make a career of it.”<\/p>\n

In order to continue to build the game in New Zealand<\/a>, the NRL<\/a> must prioritise sustainable pathways growth if they are going to successfully instill rugby league culture in a nation defined by union.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The debate over how best to grow rugby league in New Zealand and promote its dominance over Rugby…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":360013,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[111,139,69,213],"class_list":["post-360012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360012","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=360012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/360012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/360013"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=360012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=360012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=360012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}