2025 NRL: New Zealand Warriors Season Preview

The Warriors will be aiming to return to the finals in 2025.

Season Preview

After their fairytale run in 2023 (when everyone adopted “the Wahs” as their second team), the Warriors fell to earth in 2024, missing the finals.

While they could blame a number of key injuries, they also lost seven games by six points or less: they started the season with two four-point losses to Cronulla-Sutherland and Melbourne and that became the theme of their season. They also drew with Manly Warringah and had the record 66-6 loss to the Gold Coast. But they also had a 34-4 win over Souths, consecutive wins over Penrith and The Dolphins, and beat Brisbane a week after the Titans loss. And their loyal home fans didn’t abandon them, with an average crowd of over 23,000.

The Warriors named a relatively strong squad for the Pre-Season Challenge: drawing with Cronulla 12-12 and belting a reserve grade-strength Melbourne 36-10. If nothing else, the Warriors will go to Las Vegas with some winning momentum.

The Warriors have a decent draw for 2025: they play the Wests Tigers, Canberra, Newcastle, St George Illawarra, Gold Coast, Brisbane, The Dolphins, and Manly twice. They also have 16 seven-day turnarounds, seven six-day turnarounds, and no five-day turnarounds. They also have the honour of opening the 2025 season in Vegas, playing Canberra.

Though the Warriors may struggle to return to the finals, with a mid-table finish most likely.

Best Signing

James Fisher-Harris

James Fisher-Harris is arguably the Warriors’ biggest signing since Shaun Johnson’s return. His CV is untouchable: 203 games in nine seasons for Penrith, five straight grand finals, and the “Bash Brothers” combination with Moses Leota. The Warriors’ Round 16 clash with Penrith will hopefully see Fisher-Harris and Leota face off for the first time. The Warriors had a bad habit of losing close games in 2024: can Fisher-Harris’ big-game experience change that?

Key Player

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad

Since returning home from Canberra in 2023, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has used his Raiders experience to become a vital part of the Warriors’ side, playing 40 games combined in 2023 and 2024. It’s time for CNK to step up as a senior player and (assuming he stays injury-free) ideally drive the Warriors back to the finals.

Player to Watch

Te Maire Martin

Te Maire Martin will be the halves successor to Shaun Johnson at the Warriors. Martin’s been a journeyman in his eight seasons: 13 games for Penrith, 42 for North Queensland, 13 for Brisbane, and 25 for the Warriors. He played 16 games in 2024 (his second-best season after 23 with the Cowboys in 2018), so he should be ready to build on that. The Warriors will need him.