New Zealand Warriors 2025 NRL season preview
2024 recap
After an incredible 2023 in which they came within 80 minutes of the Grand Final, 2024 was a big disappointment for the Warriors.
Inconsistency was arguably their biggest issue, with some impressive wins being followed up by some chastening losses – most notably, a 66-6 loss to the Titans, which was the second worst result in the club’s history.
Ultimately they finished five points away from a finals berth, but they were never really in contention, as they were outside the top eight from round seven onwards.
2024 position: 13th
Key signings
Tanah Boyd (Gold Coast Titans), Erin Clark (Gold Coast Titans), James Fisher-Harris (Penrith Panthers), Samuel Healey (Cronulla Sharks)
Key departures
Addin Fonua-Blake (Cronulla Sharks), Tohu Harris (Retired), Shaun Johnson (Retired), Zyon Maiu’u (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Marcelo Montoya (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Jazz Tevaga (Manly Sea Eagles), Setu Tu (Brisbane Tigers)
Players to watch
As statement signings go, they don’t come much bigger than James Fisher-Harris. The Kiwi international returns to his homeland after nine years with Penrith Panthers and four straight Premierships to his name. And if he’s not the best prop in the world, he’s certainly in the top three, and his arrival is huge for the game in New Zealand.
Tanah Boyd is another new arrival who arrives in Auckland with much less fanfare, but arguably just as much pressure on his shoulders. That’s because he’s first in line to replace club legend Shaun Johnson in the halves following his retirement. Boyd had a stop-start campaign in 2024, playing just nine times for the Gold Coast, but on his day he’s certainly got the talent to replace Johnson, and at 24 he has time on his side too.
Young gun
Exciting young centre Kahu Capper has been lured back to New Zealand after a three-year spell with the Roosters. The 18 year-old will start the year in the Warriors’ age-grade sides, but he’ll be knocking on the door for a first grade debut in 2025.
Our prediction – 15th
I can see the Warriors struggling again in 2025. On their day, they’re a match for any side in the NRL, but 2023 aside, they’ve been too inconsistent over the years to really establish themselves as a fixture in the top eight, and I can’t see that changing this year.
