Warriors face transition post-retirements, but young team thrives, achieving top-four status mid-season.
The New Zealand Warriors entered the 2025 season at a crossroads. Club stalwarts Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris had both retired at the end of 2024, leaving a massive leadership and experience void. Andrew Webster's side was determined to usher in a new era built around a younger core, with Luke Metcalf tasked with steering the team around the park and Erin Clark assuming greater responsibility in the middle.
The Warriors began the year got off to a bumpy start with a heavy loss to the Raiders in Vegas, but upon returning home they found their form. Their attack clicked early, producing some of their most free-flowing football in years. Go Media Stadium once again became a fortress, and their passionate home crowd helped drive them to a string of wins that had them sitting comfortably in the top four by mid-season. For a while, it looked as though the post-Johnson era would be defined by energy, belief, and a fearless new brand of football.