The NZ Warriors enter the 2026 NRL season looking to finish in the top four after finishing sixth in 2025. With Luke Metcalf returning from injury, the club will be aiming to secure the double chance in September.
Season Preview
After a poor 2024, the Warriors were in top four contention for most of 2025. But season-ending injuries to Luke Metcalf and Mitchell Barnett, and an inability to take advantage of a favourable run home, saw the Warriors eventually drop out of the four and lose the elimination final to Penrith.
While the Warriors will be confident of returning to the top four, the first two months are crucial. They’ll be without Metcalf until at least round 7, so they’ll need to be in touch with the eight to be a realistic contender. A slow start could kill the Warriors’ season before Metcalf returns. His replacement Tanah Boyd played nine games in 2025, and scored 58 points, so he’ll need to keep the Warriors afloat for the start of 2026. The good news is Barnett should be ready to go from round 1.
The Warriors need to fix their home record, with five wins and seven losses at Go Media Stadium in 2025. And they lost four out of the last five home games: by eight points (Gold Coast), two points (The Dolphins), four points (Parramatta), and 16 points (Penrith).
The Warriors have gained Alofiana Khan-Pereira (Titans), Jye Linnane (Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds), Haizyn Mellars (Rabbitohs). They’ve lost Moala Graham-Taufa (Rabbitohs), Ed Kosi (Rabbitohs), Freddy Lussick (Panthers), Bunty Afoa (Wests Tigers), Tom Ale (Panthers), Kalani Going (Panthers), and Morgan Harper. Afoa is arguably the biggest loss after nine seasons and 145 games for the Warriors.
Best Signing
Alofiana Khan-Pereira
Warriors fans will be hoping that the move to Auckland will turn Khan-Pereira into a superstar. While the Gold Coast Titans are a perennial struggler, AKP still scored 53 tries in 54 games, and played two games for the Indigenous All-Stars. He could potentially join a back five of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, and Rocco Berry. If Khan-Pereria flourishes and continues his nearly one-try-a-game strike-rate, he could become a cult hero at the Warriors.
Key Player
Luke Metcalf
The Warriors’ 2025 season can be divided into two lots: pre-Metcalf injury and post-Metcalf injury.
While Metcalf was playing, the Warriors were 10-4 and in third place. After Metcalf went down against Brisbane in round 17, the Warriors won just four more games, and lost four games by eight points or less. As mentioned above, the Warriors will need to be in the race for the eight when Metcalf returns in round 7 (roughly). That will give Metcalf some breathing room to find form again.
Player to Watch
Leka Halasima
Halasima had an outstanding 2025, playing 25 games (either playing on the bench or starting in the second row) and scoring 13 tries, including a wonderful individual try as the Warriors stole a win in Newcastle. Halasima can nail down his spot in the Warriors’ forward pack with an even better 2026 and push for the Tongan squad for the Rugby League World Cup.
Draw Analysis
The Warriors’ first two months are crucial as they wait for Metcalf to return.
They have the Sydney Roosters (Go Media Stadium), Canberra (Go Media), Newcastle (McDonald Jones Stadium), Wests Tigers (Go Media), Cronulla-Sutherland (Ocean Protect Stadium), Melbourne (AAMI Park), Gold Coast (Go Media), and The Dolphins (Sky Stadium, Wellington). They should win at least half of those games, if not five or six, which puts them in the top eight mix as Metcalf comes back.
Their big test could be between rounds 9 and 13, with four games in Australia (three in Sydney and one in Brisbane). Though they have a bye in round 10 and another bye in round 14, which will be much-needed after all that time away.
After the third bye in round 18, they have four games in Auckland, three in Sydney, and two in Queensland (Brisbane and Gold Coast).
Big Questions
- Can Metcalf have an immediate impact when he returns?
- Will Khan-Pereira become a try-scoring superstar at the Warriors?
- Can the Warriors make Go Media Stadium a fortress again?
Predicted Finish
Finals Contender
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Related Items
- 🔁 2025 Season Review: https://rugbyleaguezone.com/new-zealand-warriors-2025-season-review-and-statistical-breakdown/
- 📅 2026 Draw & Fixtures: https://rugbyleaguezone.com/new-zealand-warriors-2026-nrl-fixtures-squad-list-and-player-signings/
