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Warriors icon Simon Mannering will rejoin the club this year to help out with coaching and mentoring.
The club's former captain, who played 301 games for the Warriors between 2005 and 2018, has decided he wants to be involved again after talks with Warriors CEO Cameron George.
"Simon has agreed to join the club in a specialised role," George told Stuff.
"He'll work across the whole playing group, through the pathways and particularly the NRL.
"He'll be there in a mentoring capacity, as well as being involved in the reviews of games and any other parts that the coaching staff see fit, particularly with forwards and their plays."
When Mannering retired after the 2018 season he said he wanted to have some time away to refresh. He moved to Australia and had a part-time job working with the Broncos' WNRL team.
But he's now recharged his batteries, is relocating back to New Zealand and wants to be hands on again with the club that's meant so much to him.
"When Simon finished playing footy, mentally and physically he had done so much for our club and the country that he was exhausted," George said.
"But his time away from the game has really sparked that interest again, particularly with how he can help our club.
"He loves the club, he's passionate about it and its future and we've been talking for a number of months about what sort of role he could come back and play.
"He thought very carefully about what he wanted to do and it's like when he played football, he wanted to put his heart and soul into the right areas to improve the club's immediate and long-term future."
Only Stacey Jones matches Mannering for iconic status at the Warriors. As a captain Mannering was known for his give everything attitude and never taking a backwards step.
"It's a part-time role and he's committed to following his other passion, which is in the building industry," George said.
"So we're complementing that by having him at the club and he's going to play a pivotal role in not only this season, but years to come, particularly with his influence working with the young get forwards and players at the club in general.
"If they're ever going to aspire to be like a player that's worn the jumper recently, Simon is certainly that person."
All of the current players at the Warriors are sure to still hold Mannering in high regard.
When dealing with the media, Mannering was often quietly spoken and didn't enjoy being in the limelight. But behind a closed changing shed door, is where the now 33-year-old comes into his element.
"Something about Simon that I love in anyone is that he's a no bulls... person," George said.
"That's with the attitude, the accountability and that's what we need across the whole club when we're dealing with things.
"Culturally he's going to have a huge influence and being that no bulls..t person is the best way forward for all of us to understand what our culture is, which is honesty, working hard, sticking together and it's about working as one unit.
"Simon was known for many years for being that person, so as a club we're absolutely excited to have Simon back involved and it's been something I've been working on for a while with him."
Mannering will start working with the Warriors players during the preseason.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...akes-up-coating-and-mentoring-job-at-warriors
The club's former captain, who played 301 games for the Warriors between 2005 and 2018, has decided he wants to be involved again after talks with Warriors CEO Cameron George.
"Simon has agreed to join the club in a specialised role," George told Stuff.
"He'll work across the whole playing group, through the pathways and particularly the NRL.
"He'll be there in a mentoring capacity, as well as being involved in the reviews of games and any other parts that the coaching staff see fit, particularly with forwards and their plays."
When Mannering retired after the 2018 season he said he wanted to have some time away to refresh. He moved to Australia and had a part-time job working with the Broncos' WNRL team.
But he's now recharged his batteries, is relocating back to New Zealand and wants to be hands on again with the club that's meant so much to him.
"When Simon finished playing footy, mentally and physically he had done so much for our club and the country that he was exhausted," George said.
"But his time away from the game has really sparked that interest again, particularly with how he can help our club.
"He loves the club, he's passionate about it and its future and we've been talking for a number of months about what sort of role he could come back and play.
"He thought very carefully about what he wanted to do and it's like when he played football, he wanted to put his heart and soul into the right areas to improve the club's immediate and long-term future."
Only Stacey Jones matches Mannering for iconic status at the Warriors. As a captain Mannering was known for his give everything attitude and never taking a backwards step.
"It's a part-time role and he's committed to following his other passion, which is in the building industry," George said.
"So we're complementing that by having him at the club and he's going to play a pivotal role in not only this season, but years to come, particularly with his influence working with the young get forwards and players at the club in general.
"If they're ever going to aspire to be like a player that's worn the jumper recently, Simon is certainly that person."
All of the current players at the Warriors are sure to still hold Mannering in high regard.
When dealing with the media, Mannering was often quietly spoken and didn't enjoy being in the limelight. But behind a closed changing shed door, is where the now 33-year-old comes into his element.
"Something about Simon that I love in anyone is that he's a no bulls... person," George said.
"That's with the attitude, the accountability and that's what we need across the whole club when we're dealing with things.
"Culturally he's going to have a huge influence and being that no bulls..t person is the best way forward for all of us to understand what our culture is, which is honesty, working hard, sticking together and it's about working as one unit.
"Simon was known for many years for being that person, so as a club we're absolutely excited to have Simon back involved and it's been something I've been working on for a while with him."
Mannering will start working with the Warriors players during the preseason.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...akes-up-coating-and-mentoring-job-at-warriors
