NRL 2023: New Zealand Warriors season preview
The Warriors have been by far the club hardest hit by the pandemic in recent seasons and have had to relocate long stretches away from home to Australia.
They returned to Mt Smart Stadium in mid-2022 and have completed all preparations for this campaign in Auckland giving the club a massive boost.
There was a significant makeover on the field and in the coaching box, with Andrew Webster given the reins of a many-new-faced squad for his first outing as senior coach.
Can the Warriors bounce back from their worst season ever, or was 15th place finish from 2022 a sign of things to come?
The sports news previews the Warriors’ season below — including their best 17, the key to their success, and the predicted end for 2023.
WARRIORS TOP 30 SQUAD | WARRIORS OFF-CONTRACT LIST | WARRIORS ROUND 1 PREDICTED TEAM
BEST 17th
| POSITION | PLAYER |
|---|---|
| 1 | Te Maire Martin |
| 2 | Marcelo Montoya |
| 3 | Adam Pompey |
| 4 | Charnze Nicoll Klokstad |
| 5 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak |
| 6 | Luke Metcalf |
| 7 | Shaun Johnson |
| 8th | Addin Fonua Blake |
| 9 | Wayde Egan |
| 10 | Tohu Harris |
| 11 | Marata Niukore |
| 12 | Mitch Barnett |
| 13 | Josh Curran |
| 14 | Dylan Walker |
| 15 | Jazz Tevaga |
| 16 | Bunty Afoa |
| 17 | Bayley Sironen |
SQUAD CHANGES
WIN:
Mitch Barnett, Jackson Ford, Valingi Kepu, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Brayden Wiliame
LOSSES:
Euan Aitken, Daejarn Asi, Lleyton Finau, Jackson Frei, Eliesa Katoa, Matthew Lodge, Dunamis Lui, Jack Murchie, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Kodi Nikorima, Aaron Pene, Pride Petterson-Robati, Junior Ratuva, Ashley Taylor, Reece Walsh
DEPTH SCORING:
With so many questions to be answered, it’s difficult to read Warriors.
It remains to be seen how they will perform at full-back, with Te Maire Martin the most likely option, although Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is also an option.
They still look a little weak when it comes to quality in full-backs, with several position points on the wing and in the middle still up for grabs.
At half-time, it looks like Luke Metcalf will be paired with Shaun Johnson, but with just seven games in the first grade, the 23-year-old still has a lot to prove at this level.
On the bright side, the Warriors have two front rowers they can rely on in Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake, while Mitch Barnett and Marata Niukore should be handy additions to a backrow featuring the dynamic Josh Curran.
STRENGTHS: First row
WEAKNESSES: Outside back
RATING: 6/10
Frankly, the Warriors’ depth chart is better than many other clubs that missed out on the finals last year.
With options like Dylan Walker and Jazz Tevaga on the bench, as well as players who can play multiple positions in defence, Webster has plenty of flexibility in how his squad is lined up.
However, the problem we see is that some of their launchers might not crack it elsewhere in the competition.
THE KEY
It’s difficult to single out a key player in an overwhelming roster – but if the Warriors are to have a chance to cause damage this year, it all has to start there Addin Fonua Blake.
The 26-year-old Enforcer had established himself as one of the game’s best front rowers a few years back, but for a myriad of reasons his form has waned over the course of Warriors’ struggles.
Fonua-Blake will be tasked with leading a solid forward package but that also comes with a lot of expectation and he needs to play big minutes and field big numbers.
If the damaging prop can return to his best, he could create a platform for halves and full-backs to pick up points and pick up some wins along the way.
BEGINNERS WATCH
Valingi Kepu is a huge front rower who will be pushing for a spot on the Warriors squad this season as Webster tries to rebuild the club.
The 20-year-old has previous experience in QLD Cup competition for Redcliffe and is a long-term prospect in which Warriors officials are heavily invested.
Kepu is signed in the club’s top 30 list until the end of 2024 and it would not be a surprise to see him this season.
His twin brother Otukinekina was initially on this list along with Valingi but was released from his contract by the Warriors.
DANGER TIME
Rounds 7-11: Cowboys [H]Storm [A]cocks [H]Panthers [Magic Round]bulldogs [A]
The Warriors’ run for their first bye of the season is enough to have Webster waking up in a cold sweat.
Taking on two of last year’s top four, including the reigning Premiers, as well as two of the competition’s modern powerhouses, the Warriors know exactly what level they need to reach if they are to fight for success anytime soon.
On the plus side, this run comes nearly two months into the regular season, giving the new-look team time to find some chemistry and hopefully rack up a few wins.
Conversely, for the half-empty glass types, if the Warriors are already chasing their tails before taking on the Cowboys in round seven, things are unlikely to improve in the following month.
EXPECTED END: 17
Someone has to finish last and unfortunately for the Warriors, they’re our pick for the spoon.
While they’ve stepped up in some areas, it looks to us like none of the signings will take them to the next level.
If Webster can get them all to move in the right direction and they can get a big enough boost from working full-time in New Zealand, they will definitely prove us wrong.
For now, though, we suspect it could be a long season for the Warriors.