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The New Zealand Warriors have re-signed promising forwards Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban, a move that confirms the club's continued commitment to nurturing home-grown talent. The Warriors' investment in these young players is a significant step towards establishing a development-focused culture within the club.
Halasima, one of the Warriors' standout players this year, has committed to the Warriors until the end of 2027. The 19-year-old has shown consistent performance, starting in recent games and impressively maintaining a record of no missed games in the 2025 season. His contributions have been instrumental in the Warriors' current competitive stance, as they navigate the State of Origin period.
Jacob Laban, touted as one of the most promising talents to emerge from the Warriors' development pathway, has re-signed until the end of 2026. Despite falling behind Halasima in recent weeks, Laban has returned to Coach Andrew Webster's side, playing in four of the last five matches.
Halasima and Laban, with 14 and 11 career appearances respectively, have both proven their potential since debuting at NRL level last year.
Club’s Confidence in Young Talent
Warriors' General Manager of Recruitment, Pathways and Development, Andrew McFadden, expressed the club's pride in securing long-term contracts with Halasima and Laban. He stated, "Signing Leka and Jacob on long-term deals is a really significant moment for us." He further emphasized that this move underlines their focus on developing local players and building the club around them.
The Warriors are indeed reaping the benefits of their commitment to local talent. Under the leadership of Coach Andrew Webster, now in his third season, the team has been performing exceptionally well. Webster led the Auckland-based team to the preliminary finals in his first season, and the current season is witnessing a continuation of their impressive form.
Webster expressed his joy at the re-signing of the young duo, stating, "It's so exciting for us seeing Leka and Jacob signed for so long. We're really proud of them and what they've already achieved. We have so much belief in them, and they're paying that back with their performances."
This commitment to talent development and the re-signing of these young players is a testament to the Warriors' strategic approach to fostering local talent. The current sentiment amongst fans and forum users on nzwarriors.com is positive, with many hailing this move as a step in the right direction towards securing a promising future for the Warriors.
Halasima, one of the Warriors' standout players this year, has committed to the Warriors until the end of 2027. The 19-year-old has shown consistent performance, starting in recent games and impressively maintaining a record of no missed games in the 2025 season. His contributions have been instrumental in the Warriors' current competitive stance, as they navigate the State of Origin period.
Jacob Laban, touted as one of the most promising talents to emerge from the Warriors' development pathway, has re-signed until the end of 2026. Despite falling behind Halasima in recent weeks, Laban has returned to Coach Andrew Webster's side, playing in four of the last five matches.
Halasima and Laban, with 14 and 11 career appearances respectively, have both proven their potential since debuting at NRL level last year.
Club’s Confidence in Young Talent
Warriors' General Manager of Recruitment, Pathways and Development, Andrew McFadden, expressed the club's pride in securing long-term contracts with Halasima and Laban. He stated, "Signing Leka and Jacob on long-term deals is a really significant moment for us." He further emphasized that this move underlines their focus on developing local players and building the club around them.
The Warriors are indeed reaping the benefits of their commitment to local talent. Under the leadership of Coach Andrew Webster, now in his third season, the team has been performing exceptionally well. Webster led the Auckland-based team to the preliminary finals in his first season, and the current season is witnessing a continuation of their impressive form.
Webster expressed his joy at the re-signing of the young duo, stating, "It's so exciting for us seeing Leka and Jacob signed for so long. We're really proud of them and what they've already achieved. We have so much belief in them, and they're paying that back with their performances."
This commitment to talent development and the re-signing of these young players is a testament to the Warriors' strategic approach to fostering local talent. The current sentiment amongst fans and forum users on nzwarriors.com is positive, with many hailing this move as a step in the right direction towards securing a promising future for the Warriors.