Opinion Are the Warriors close to their first premiership?

[James Rick]

The Warriors have quality coming through as shown by their strong performance in the NSW Cup in 2025 and their NRL side looked good before Barnett and Metcalf got injured. Had these two remained fit I have no doubt the Wahs could have been a premiership contender in 2025 but sadly it wasn't to be. What are your thoughts on the Wahs do you think they can win their maiden premiership in the near future?

 

[Rabbit toes]

If they can be better than the 16 other teams then maybe

 

[Nuke]

They are one year closer to their first premiership now than they were 12 months ago..!

 

[Nealo 12]

Nope , to much travel

 

[Dogs Of War]

Just need to get hot like the Broncos did at the end of season. I think the biggest challenge is finishing top 4 which is critical to getting to the grand final.

 

[Wizardman]

Until they have a gun half that can last more than half a season, no.

 

[Canard]

Their window is now, but it's closing.

 

[taste2taste]

The Warriors have been getting closer every since 1995 lol

Thier pathways have taken huge strides in the past few years, the fact thier lower grades are stacked with union talent and are thrashing the Aussie teams is a promising sign for the future.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Their window is now, but it's closing.

I dunno, with Metcalf locked in until 2028 I feel a lot more buoyant (if his body can hold up, and it's a big if)

I feel like with a couple of big signings in key positions (back 3 is absolutely essential for quality) we have so many potential gun forwards coming through for the first time in ages - Leka, Demetric, Ieremia-Toeava, Laban, Fatialofa etc - it's not inconceivable.

 

[Canard]

I feel like with a couple of big signings in key positions (back 3 is absolutely essential for quality)

You could apply this to multiple clubs.

This is a huge if.

It also remains to be seen if Metcalf returns with the same form he had pre-injury.

 

[Thatwasnthighref]

The Warriors have been getting closer every since 1995 lol

Thier pathways have taken huge strides in the past few years, the fact thier lower grades are stacked with union talent and are thrashing the Aussie teams is a promising sign for the future.

This is without doubt where the biggest gains have been made recently.

It might not be widely known but for all the talk about NZ's talent pool, '24 was the first year the Warriors have ever had a full pathway system from Mats > SG > Flegg/NYC > Cup > NRL.

For nearly 30yrs before that, various owners/club leaders have scrimped on investment by trying to leverage the local scene instead for different stages of players' development.

I agree with @Penrose Warrior that we're still 1-2 key players short of being genuine title contenders, so short term prospects of breaking our drought... hard to say. We'll always struggle a bit to recruit really elite players without paying overs.

But with an owner who's finally investing in pathways properly and the game attracting more young union players now, the medium/longer term is encouraging.

 

[flippikat]

Nope , to much travel

The Breakers found a way to manage that in the NBL - so it's not a completely insurmountable hurdle.

 

[alexwilliams_66692007]

I believe so, yes.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

You could apply this to multiple clubs.

This is a huge if.

It also remains to be seen if Metcalf returns with the same form he had pre-injury.

Of course you could. My point is I reckon there'd be few clubs who have the up and coming talent in the pack like we do.

It is a huge if, but we've never had a base of local junior talent to build a side around and (hopefully) those guys will stick around long-term. Then yeah, we need to get a bit lucky, or smart, in filling the key spots.

 

[BLN2]

Their window is now, but it's closing.

Maybe if we had no juniors coming through. But you're probably missing the back to back Harold Matts titles and NSW Cup title last year which was full of young guys. SG and Flegg we are competitive, but generally we are playing the good guys up a grade or even 2.

I would say the window is starting to open, not close. Turning over the likes of Capewell, Nuikore, DWZ and CNK over the next year or 2 in favour of young guns will add spark which we lack currently for being a contender.

We are coming up to year 3 with a full junior program in place, so the rest of the NRL will start to see these boys come through the next couple years. Domination in NSW Cup is a great sign, plenty of young boys in that team.

I really think an elite centre and fullback would take us up a level. I think the pieces are there in centres with Berry and Leiataua, fullback is the big question mark. I think we are a bottom 8 team until those positions get sorted.

I would say we are a couple years away of being a contender, if the squad and coaching team stay solid. Add a couple NRL season experience onto Halasima, Metcalf, Laban, Healey, Vaimauga, AKP, EIT.. Cleary? Should be trending up, not down.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Nope , to much travel

Probably something the warriors should explore asking the NRL to have out of there last 6 games like at least 4 at home to allow them to prepare for the finals and reduce travel before it's all pretty much travel for them.

 

[Exsilium]

Aside from my own team, the Warriors are the only other that I’d like to see win it.

A Warriors premiership is great for RL. Can they do it this year? Yes, their window is wide open right now and they’ve steadily been recruiting the right players for a couple years now.

I have them top four this year but that’s a heart minded prediction.

 

[Matua]

As a day one Warriors supporter and noted pessimist about the team (for good reason) I'm going to say no.

I'm also a non drinker of the Metcalf kool aid. I think he had a purple patch last year but that teams would have worked him out if he'd stayed fit and our season would have ended as it did anyway. Egan was the same a couple of years ago, had a purple patch, was raved about, and hasn't been able to replicate that season's form since then.

I think we're still a few years away from seeing the effects of the involvement in the Oz lower grades. We've also been dominant in Oz lower grades in the past (U20s) and that didn't lead to success.

I don't think travel is an issue these days, we've gotten to the finals enough that it's hard to constantly claim that as an issue anymore. In a couple of years we're not even going to be in the top two teams by travel distance.

As ever I hope I'm proved 100% wrong.

 

[The Axe of Druss]

The Warriors have been getting closer every since 1995 lol

Thier pathways have taken huge strides in the past few years, the fact thier lower grades are stacked with union talent and are thrashing the Aussie teams is a promising sign for the future.

Sure they came 1st in NSW Cup, however their lower grade results dont exactly scream "thrashing" the opposition

Flegg - 8th
Ball - 13th
Matts - 3rd

 

[Dogs Of War]

Sure they came 1st in NSW Cup, however their lower grade results dont exactly scream "thrashing" the opposition

Flegg - 8th
Ball - 13th
Matts - 3rd

I think a lot of that is due to them probably limiting those guys to those who live in Auckland, and allowing other identified juniors to stay close to their families or are in programs such as a Union school and believe they would be better served staying in that environment.