Staff Andrew Webster

[Wrighty]

My take aways from the interview, in some cases by reading into what he was saying

1) Luke back round 7 as you say. I guess that means round three or four for Barnett who got injured four rounds earlier.
2) Leka will not be an 80 minute player in 2026. He wasn't clear if this means he will come off the bench or start but I suspect off the bench by his gist.
3) AKP will be 1st drop back up winger behind the incumbents. He did not say this directly. He said the three wingers would be a unit.
4) Taine Tuapiki is not going anywhere and he was mentioned as being our back up fullback for next year.
5) Centres are a concern for him. He says we have three great centres but two of them have been injured frequently. He didn't seem to offer a solution. But overall is happy with our team and says we don't need anyone else for 2026.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If centre is a concern, I wonder if Toeava and Fatialofa could get some time there?

 

[Wrighty]

If centre is a concern, I wonder if Toeava and Fatialofa could get some time there?

Maybe. He needs to give someone some reps there as a 4th centre option so it isn't Capewell or Leka.
I personally like the idea of Charnze being used as our centre back up when needed and Tuapiki going to fullback. Maybe Charnze's time at centre for the Kiwis this year could sway Webster to give it another try.
Interestingly Rocco Berry is signed to the end of 2026 and to the best of the knowledge has not been extended yet. He is now open to offers from Perth as it is after Nov 1. I would say we are going to look at his time on the park before we renew him. So probably won't make an offer before mid season.

 

[Kav1]

I would ask, is he good enough in THIS system?

I'm leaning into the idea that we really need an xfactor halfback for Webby ball. Someone who can setup a play that is really left field and unexpected.

If this is the question, then I'd say the signs say no.

He has shown so far that he has no trouble setting up plays for his outside men by passing deep to his support to run onto the ball. What with his superior goal kicking and kicking in general play, I think he fulfilled his duties well and, in fact, added a variety in his play which the opposition found difficult to master. This will be further enhanced with a full pre-season, trials and gametime before LM is available.

 

[Kav1]

Great summation JLSO. I would add Webster could benefit from having a director of football or whatever to mentor him in matters like making the most from his bench. Someone like John hart , Bennett or someone similar to bounce ideas off. We certainly need at lease one OB with pace preferably 2.
We are wasting the few opportunities that we create now.

Ivan Cleary perhaps?

 

[Kav1]

Weekly chest pain for 2 months took a toll

It started round about round 1 and, with a few exceptions, continued on throughout the season.

 

[Naynay]

.
Interestingly Rocco Berry is signed to the end of 2026 and to the best of the knowledge has not been extended yet. He is now open to offers from Perth as it is after Nov 1. I would say we are going to look at his time on the park before we renew him. So probably won't make an offer before mid season.

Im a berryliever but got to say if he can’t string a season with no major injuries he might just be unlucky with his career.

Good player but I don’t think we can resign him if he copes another long stint on the sideline.

 

[snake77]

Andrew Webster must be thinking his coaching term here is stuck in a cycle.

1 - Good year on the field.
2 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.
3 - Good year on the field.
4 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.

Let's hope results for point/year 4 don't match those of point/year 2.

 

[MaybeTop8]

Andrew Webster must be thinking his coaching term here is stuck in a cycle.

1 - Good year on the field.
2 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.
3 - Good year on the field.
4 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.

Let's hope results for point/year 4 don't match those of point/year 2.

Very quick thought - could we have built the club around Mitch Barnett in the next 5 years? Maybe, but we need six or seven of these leaders to work as a unit, along with the coaching staff.

Hopefully we can develop these from within, and attract two or three from the outside on a regular basis.

So Mitch Barnett is a bit of a blow, but only by a year imo.

You make a good point though

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Andrew Webster must be thinking his coaching term here is stuck in a cycle.

1 - Good year on the field.
2 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.
3 - Good year on the field.
4 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.

Let's hope results for point/year 4 don't match those of point/year 2.

Very different circumstances to the AFB "blow up the pre-season" request for release. We now have depth, a year to plan and a player in Barnett that is treating his contract with respect.

It hurts, but we may be losing Barnett at a decent stage in his career, and be able to invest in higher needs areas with our "Australian contract" money. A player like Barnett investing 4 years in NZ is a win.

I agree that there is always the feeling that the club is getting somewhere, and then change happens and we miss the mark. The nearly there club. A heck of a lot better than the black hole club of a few years ago though.

 

[CWC]

Andrew Webster must be thinking his coaching term here is stuck in a cycle.

1 - Good year on the field.
2 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.
3 - Good year on the field.
4 - The following year starts with a front-rower wanting a release from his contract to return to Australia. Will see out the season before returning to Australia.

Let's hope results for point/year 4 don't match those of point/year 2.

Depends on whether Luke’s knee performs like SJ’s calf or not…

 

[WarriorsNrlFanatics]

Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.

 

[BlackToko88]

Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.

Two finals appearances in 3 years. Almost being top 4 without barnett and metcalf (I mean if you use broncos as an example they lose Haas and say Walsh do they make it far)?

He has starter blooding younger guys as well: demi, leka, laban, eit. Only a matter of time until next crop starts coming too

 

[Cces]

Almost being top 4 without barnett and metcalf

I don't think Webster is under pressure but we were almost top 4 because of them. Our record without them wouldn't have got us into the playoffs

 

[sup42]

Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.

The club would be stupid if they put performance pressure on Webster from here.
Every year the team is as fit as the fittest sides in the NRL.

Every year they play near or at the peak of their talent.

Every year a core of players improve and I see Ali Leiatua as the exception that proves the rule, he is the odd man out of the Elite group of developing players that have all made huge gains.

Surely our owner and CEO know the tremendous pressure Webster is under all year, pressure from within, the pressure someone like him puts on themselves....the sleepless nights, the how to fit round pegs into square holes. I dunno how he manages it (or any NRL coach for that matter, none of them look healthier for taking on the job of coaching).

Most of all Webster has built an environment where his staff in the form of his players are having fun, they look happy, they say they are happy and I believe them. Now forget league, if a manager came into my work and performed all those miracles I would be thinking (enjoy it while it lasts, this is a rare time in your working life).

I think this view applies right across the organization, it is people that have turned the Warriors around, not money (although that helps) not luck or some random interweb up the Wahs viral saying (although that helps too, it has grown into a cult fan culture thing despite what the sour old prunes who don't like it say).

I appreciate the question being asked and I certainly think it would be relevant if Webster had the kind of roster access that the Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Broncos can roll over (when those guys need a player they just walk up to the player tree and pluck the ripest fruit - we have grow that shit and pray).

The fundamental landscape/the scaffolding of the Warriors is different to the rest of the NRL. Yesterday our marquee Prop forward, a genuine star player announces he is leaving end of season. The Warriors would be extremely lucky to find like for like replacement. This is our reality, the and unlike Aussie clubs, even winning a title won't stop us being behind the eight ball when it comes to access to the best and biggest player pool.

This problem is even more stark when it comes to recruiting head coaches by virtue of the pool in NZ being non existent and the Warriors have not attracted an established, successful, Australian NRL coach since John Monie. If Webster goes, expect shit to get real.

 

[snake77]

We would need to have a terrible year and his relationship with the players would have become untenable for him to be under pressure.

This time of year, there are a lot of lists. Premiers, top 8, wooden spoon, biggest improvers, team that will slide down the ladder etc.

One other list is the coaches under pressure. He would be higher than he deserves because Bennett, Bellamy, Cleary, and Robinson are unlikely to be fired. Then Ryles, Holbrook, and Hannay are only just starting in their roles, so they have some leeway. That is 7 out of 17 already not under pressure of being sacked.

There are a few coaches under pressure for their jobs. I doubt Webster is one of them

Winning starts in the front office. And for once, we seem to have a CEO, Head of Football/Pathways, and Coach all aligned on a vision for the club.

 

[3rdstriker]

Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.

Webster shouldn't be under any pressure whatsoever, what's he done wrong with a mostly average roster?
If anyone's under pressure right now it's has to be cappy.

 

[jonesy101]

Does anyone see Webster being under a bit of pressure this year and next year
What if we don’t make finals. Cause we haven’t really strung back to back finals appearances under Webby yet. Just a question.

Hey bro, I'm guessing you do the youtube channel of the same name? Are you going to do it again this season as I jumped on the other day to see if there was any new content.

To answer your question I don't think he is under any pressure this year as last season was a pass mark largely derailed by injuries. But a top 8 finish is now expected.

 

[Wah's Up]

Andrew and his recruitment team target no names and make them great. The super coaches on this forum want to spend all the cap on "Big names" and blow the cap. Bringing through locals and sticking to their tried and true formula works for me. Trust the plan.

 

[Inruin]

I think AW is safe and is building the club, along with others, to be a development club looking for long term consistency. I think he has a lot of rope to play with and fair enough too. I don't think he is going to be the one to get us our first premiership but will be given a lot of credit for the building blocks put in place.