Player Tohu Harris

[Makasene]

I blame @MrFrankWhite

 

[tyrael]

The missus and I call him 'puppydog' because he looks like one at the post-game press conferences.

We will miss his sad puppydog demeanor.

My biggest memory of him is actually of him not in a Warriors jersey but when Kearney had no integrity and picked SBW after the squad was announced, leaving Harris in the dirt.

Go well my friend. You've earned retirement and all the praise you are going to get.

 

[Canonball]

The missus and I call him 'puppydog' because he looks like one at the post-game press conferences.

We will miss his sad puppydog demeanor.

My biggest memory of him is actually of him not in a Warriors jersey but when Kearney had no integrity and picked SBW after the squad was announced, leaving Harris in the dirt.

Go well my friend. You've earned retirement and all the praise you are going to get.

Those press conferences were comedy gold at times - with hot mic moments and other stray jokes - have to go back and find the one when the sponsor screen fell down, think it was Canberra at Canberra '23?

 

[Playdaball]

I wonder what he'll do now?
Stay involved with the Warriors or media? Stay in Akld? Return to the Hawkes Bay or Melbourne?

 

[Inruin]

Warriors captain Tohu Harris announces immediate retirement from NRL​

By Will Toogood
Online Sport Editor·NZ Herald·
9 Jan, 2025 10:14 AM3 mins to read

---

Tohu Harris will leave a sizeable hole in the Warriors camp. Photo / Photosport
The Warriors have been dealt a New Year’s blow ahead of the 2025 NRL season as captain Tohu Harris has called time on his NRL career.
Harris has informed the club he was set for his 13th NRL campaign but cannot play on as he struggled to make his return from a wrist injury that ended his 2024 season.
The 32-year-old managed 14 appearances in the 2024 season before having surgery on the wrist injury, only to have him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.
“I had high hopes of returning from the injury this year but I’m devastated I won’t get the chance to pull on the jersey again,” said Harris.
“I’m dealing with pain in everyday life as well as footy. My body has been feeling good in training but the reality is I can’t perform as a player with this injury.

“While it’s not easy finishing like this, I’m so grateful to the One New Zealand Warriors for the opportunities they’ve given me, for the chance to wear the jersey and to lead our great club, and also for the support we’ve had as a family,” said Harris.
With the departure of another experienced leader in Shaun Johnson, Harris’ reported retirement would mean the likes of Mitch Barnett, who stood in as captain for Harris in 2024, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kurt Capewell and new arrival Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris would have to shoulder extra leadership in the Warriors camp.
Harris’ 234 game NRL career began in 2013 with the Melbourne Storm, winning a premiership in his final game for the Storm in 2017, before joining the Warriors and becoming not only one of the best locks in the game but most steadfast leaders

He ends with 117 appearances for the Warriors, a dead even split with the Storm.
“It’s a sad way for Tohu to go out but I just want to celebrate him,” said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
“You really don’t know how good a player is until you’ve coached him. I’d admired Tohu from afar throughout his career but when I returned to the club I got to admire him even more every day.
“I’m so grateful to have built a relationship with him and for the way he helped me so much in my transition as a head coach.”
Warriors CEO Cameron George said the 2025 captain would be announced closer to the start of the season.

Warriors captain announces shock retirement

The club has been dealt a blow ahead of the 2025 NRL season.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

One of my favourites. (hence my handle)

A true elite talent at his peak. Will leave a massive hole.

 

[Inruin]

 

[Lets Eat (YeahNah)]

Absolute legend and respect coming to a warriors outfit that needed skill, pride, professionalism and mana

I know our backline in average and I hope we have a dominant half lined up for 2026, but if webby gets this right with youth and bench we could have a young hungry forward pack to take us into the next 4 years

 

[Playdaball]

One of my favourites. (hence my handle)

A true elite talent at his peak. Will leave a massive hole.

Change your handle to, 'Tohu's_Wrist'

 

[Possum11]

Enjoy your retirement . All the best

 

[Inruin]

Tohu Harris’ retirement is fate intervening and ending a career that had so much left to give - Mike Hosking​

By Mike Hosking
Mike Hosking is a breakfast host on Newstalk ZB.·NZ Herald·
9 Jan, 2025 01:00 PM3 mins to read

Warriors captain Tohu Harris has announced his retirement from the NRL. Photo / Photosport

THREE KEY FACTS

• Warriors captain Tohu Harris has announced his immediate retirement from the NRL.
• A wrist injury ultimately ended his career short, he says.
• He played 117 matches for the Warriors.

I feel bad for Tohu, this is not the way to end a great career.
In life once you have been around a while, proven yourself, developed a track record and a reputation that is admired you reach a stage where you have earned the right to exit on your terms.
An injury you can’t come back from is not that way, he deserves better.

The trouble with contact sport, of course, is sometimes these things are beyond your control. Not that he didn’t look permanently injured.
In talking with Harris in 2023, I joked about the tape and whether he had an endorsement from some bandage company, given he covered himself head to toe in the stuff, in a ‘walking wounded’ sort of way. Lord knows how long it took to put on each week.
What surprised me was the revelation that most of it was for show.
He didn’t need it, but had got used to it so carried on with it each game

Warriors captain Tohu Harris leaves a hole in the club, writes Mike Hosking. Photo / Photosport

What the Warriors will miss is the leadership. Yes, is he a great player; yes, he has a presence; yes, he is respected, effective, and probably feared. Imagine him coming at you full tilt and thinking about stopping him.
But the greats also had the leadership quality about them as well; from Price to Wiki, Harris joined the group of big blokes who also led the way.
In Harris’ case he was eloquent with it as well. He always seemed to have something considered to say, he avoided the league-wide passion for cliche and actually said something.
When I watched Webster and him in the post-game presser when things hadn’t gone so well ... and let’s be honest there was far too much of that sort of game last year, you were left in no doubt that loss hurt, that lack of performance was unacceptable.

Any number of professionals can explain away a bad day on the field‚ but you are never really sure whether it’s a line or they are out to make things better next week.
Harris left you in no doubt
Given those skills, I hope he has some sort of future in the game if he wants it - it would be a shame to lose all that talent and experience and 32 is too young to walk away with so much left to give.
League or not, I hope he has a plan.
I will miss his relentlessness, so many hard-fought yards, when he had already run and earned so many hard-fought yards. When he played, he played a lot, and on big guys. That drains you and on some you can see the tank emptying in front of your eyes.
Not Harris.

Captain? That is for later this year, fortunately they have several good contenders, but between the talent, the power, the pace, the eloquence he leaves big shoes.
For Webster and co, what a blow, what an unexpected, unplanned-for surprise out of left-field.
With Johnson it was a lovely send off, but he had done his best and the time was right.
With Harris, fate intervened, it ended too soon.

Mike Hosking: Tohu Harris' retirement is a cruel intervention of fate

OPINION: I feel bad for Tohu, this is not the way to end a great career.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

View: https://open.spotify.com/episode/74AFDp9NL41AxrxKQVOVoE?si=0R8h9ziSQjGJFpijsW7cUQ

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I was once in Silvia park mall and saw a huge human towering over the crowds… then realised it was king Tohu!

On the field he looks tall but amungst normal humans he was an absolute giant.

All the best Tohu!

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Hosking is a bit of a numpty

I feel bad for Tohu, this is not the way to end a great career.
In life once you have been around a while, proven yourself, developed a track record and a reputation that is admired you reach a stage where you have earned the right to exit on your terms.

That's complete nonsense. Life is entirely unpredictable and you are owed nothing

In talking with Harris in 2023, I joked about the tape and whether he had an endorsement from some bandage company, given he covered himself head to toe in the stuff, in a ‘walking wounded’ sort of way. Lord knows how long it took to put on each week.
What surprised me was the revelation that most of it was for show.
He didn’t need it, but had got used to it so carried on with it each game

Nek Minnit.

Love the bloke but lets not turn him into Jesus.

 

[Leon Black]

Great leader, exceptional talent, best of luck in retirement Zombie. Elastaplast shares will plummet

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Good call to retire. Had a long and decorated career. Has the injury toll of playing the sport. Never looked comfortable in the media. Best decision for him, his family and the club.

 

[Juno]

Hosking is a bit of a numpty

That's complete nonsense. Life is entirely unpredictable and you are owed nothing

Nek Minnit.

Love the bloke but lets not turn him into Jesus.

Tohu would be horrified lol.
He admitted publicly a while back the knee bandage was to mollify his wife. She's seen him go thru ops on both shoulders (one twice) both knees (one twice) pins in his foot/ ankle (still there today) and now a busted wrist. Unfortunately, a few bandages on game day just don't cut it for this injury.
Thing to watch is I heard Barney got the same type of injury during origin. Lets hope the club and he don't leave it or make sure its rehabbed fully.
Not be as bad obviously but play on & it could get there...hope not

 

[snake77]

I haven't been keeping up with the news. Been enjoying the holidays and some quiet time while the kids are away.

My wife comes in and asks if I had heard the news about Tohu Harris.

Me. What news?
Her. He's retired.
Me. From?
Her. League

I was trying to ascertain if it was immediate or at the end of the season. It serves me right to do the male thing and half concentrate on the conversation with her while gaming and giving her short answers. I walked right into the above comedy routine.

 

[Akkerz]

Tohu, great respect for the way you played the game & maintained your dignity. We wish you well & thanks for always giving it your best.

 

[Wrighty]

Thank you Tohu for coming to the warriors and being there in the tough times.