Squad breakdown: Warriors 2025 NRL Supercoach analysis

The New Zealand Warriors come into 2025 with a fairly fresh roster in key positions.

A new guard has been ushered in, with club legends Shaun Johnson, Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake out, paving the way for four-time premiership winner James Fisher-Harris to take over the leadership void.

After a disappointing season in 2024, the Warriors will be forced to shake-up their structures which always presents Supercoach opportunities.

They have a mixed opening to the season, including a trip to Vegas and a round 5 bye.

Let’s take a look at their Supercoach prospects to begin the NRL season.

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New Zealand Warriors

1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Taine Tuaupiki
3. Adam Pompey
4. Ali Leiataua
5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
6. Te Maire Martin
7. Luke Metcalf
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Kurt Capewell
12. Jacob Laban
13. Erin Clark
14. Dylan Walker
15. Demitric Vaimauga
16. Marata Niukore
17. Jackson Ford

Unavailable: Rocco Berry (wrist, in doubt for round 1), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wrist, round 6-12)

Analysis: There’s a battle for the fullback role between incumbent Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki.

I expect CNK to get the start, if they did opt for Tuaupiki it could see Charnze shift to centre.

With Dallin Watene-Zelezniak out injured, Tuaupiki also finds himself in a battle with Edward Kosi for a wing spot.

Promising rookie Ali Leiataua is expected to cement himself at centre in 2025.

Rocco Berry is in doubt for round 1, with Adam Pompey likely to start at centre.

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Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will shift to the wing in place of the departed Marcelo Montoya.

Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin are the likely round 1 halves, however recruit Tanah Boyd may push Te Maire Martin to a utility bench role.

The Warriors are lacking a long kicking game which Boyd possesses.

The retirement of Tohu Harris will likely see Erin Clark start at lock, although Dylan Walker is also an option.

Jacob Laban is also pushing for a starting edge back-row role, with Jackson Ford moving into a middle role.

Impressive forward Leka Halasima could force his way onto the bench.

DRAW

Raiders (Vegas), Sea Eagles (H), Roosters (H), Tigers (A), bye, Storm (A), Broncos (H), Knights (H)

First five rounds rating: 5/10

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GUNS

Mitchell Barnett I FRF-2RF I $661,000

Barnett will be an option at some stage of the season, but I feel he’s priced pretty accurately to begin the year.

He spent 2024 playing middle and edge, averaging 68 points per game.

In games at prop he averaged a slight downtick on that with 66.2 points per game.

He already played big minutes at prop, so I don’t see there being enough additional game time in the absence of Addin Fonua-Blake to warrant starting him.

Buy rating: 4/10

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MID-RANGERS

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck I CTW I $553,100

RTS is a big pre-season watch on position, at centre I have no interest.

If on the wing, where I believe he’ll play, he becomes very relevant.

Before pulling out due to a minor niggle he was named on the wing for the Warriors trial match, suggesting he’s all but confirmed for a positional switch.

On the off chance he plays fullback, unlikely, he’d be a near must-have in my eyes.

In three games on the wing last season he averaged 72 points per game, scoring in all three fixtures.

He was at times on the edge of Shaun Johnson which was very beneficial.

If he lands on the wing he could have 25+ runs per game in which case I’d be extremely tempted, pending a big eye test on how the Warriors look in life without Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris.

Buy rating: 6/10 (on wing)

Jackson Ford I 2RF-FRF I $548,200

There’s probably better options than Ford, but if he lands an 80 minute edge role there’s a genuine case to be made to start him in the front-row.

In 11 games of 70+ minutes on the edge last season he averaged 64.36 points per game.

He’s priced on an average of 56 points in 69 minutes per game.

Probably not one to start with due to concerns of job security, but if he comes out and plays 80 on the edge the first few rounds he could be a pick-up before initial price rises.

Buy rating: 3/10

Dylan Walker I 2RF I $484,800

I’ve seen a bit of interest around Walker with the hope he’ll start following the retirement of Tohu Harris, but there’s not a lot of improvement to be had.

He averaged 50 points per game in 63 minutes per game last season, so there’s unlikely to be any major uptick in scoring and minutes.

Buy rating: 2/10

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Luke Metcalf I 5/8 I $443,000

Provided there’s no Tanah Boyd and he goal-kicks, I see Luke Metcalf as the value pick up at five-eighth to start the season.

If Boyd does partner him in the halves and takes the goal-kicking duties I won’t consider him.

He averaged 50 points per game last season, but has been priced on a 45 point average after the reduction due to limited games played.

Take out his injury impacted game and he averaged 58.3 points per game in his six games.

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Note he goal-kicked in just three of these six fixtures, including one game with just one conversion from two attempts.

There were four games at the start of the season which are typically tougher for scoring, while the final three games were at the end of the season after an extremely lengthy injury layoff.

He averaged 47 points per game in 2023 without any goal-kicking duties.

I can see him averaging around the 50-60 point mark which would make him an easy upgrade to a fallen gun.

He was named at halfback in the trial, if he maintains this in the regular season he’d get dual HFB-5/8 by round 6 which would be great.

Buy rating: 8/10

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CHEAPIES

Tanah Boyd I HFB-5/8 I $329,600

I believe Metcalf and TMM will get first crack in the halves, but Boyd is very much in the frame.

For argument’s sake let’s say he does get named in round 1.

In his eight 80 minute games for the Titans last season he averaged just 36.87 points with the addition of goal-kicking duties in several games.

With his numbers I don’t love the buy, but at $329k with goal-kicking duties and dual HFB-5/8 positioning he does look enticing enough.

The 5/8 position is relatively weak in terms of finding early value, so he may loom as a decent option for the backup 5/8 slot.

Buy rating: 5/10 (if named to start in round 1)

Demetric Vaimauga I 2RF I $232,600

Vaimauga was devastating in limited opportunity late last year.

He’s likely to nab a bench role to begin the season and will warrant watching.

He may need an injury or two to get enough minutes to generate cash, but monitor him throughout the pre-season and of the course the Vegas team list.

Buy rating: 3/10

Jacob Laban I 2RF I $232,600

Laban has been named to start on the edge in the Warriors first trial clash in what is a very strong team.

Note though that one of his main rivals in Jackson Ford wasn’t named anywhere in the squad, suggesting he may have a niggling injury.

In limited games last season he averaged 24 points in 32 minutes, with next to no attacking stats.

He’s a devastating ball runner, so they’ll come.

It’s pretty easy with Laban, if named to start on the edge in round 1 (on merit, not injury), he’s an easy selection at a bargain rate.

Buy rating: 10/10 if winning a starting spot, 3/10 if bench