General Warriors Preseason 2026
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NZWarriors.com
NZWarriors.com
Blocker is never wrong, we've always had a monster pack!
Can somebody unlock this please?
I couldn't unlock that one but have found another one that is on the same subject.
Can somebody unlock this please?
New Zealand pathways battle: 40 First XV schoolboy rugby stars in Warriors NRL system
The number of schoolboy rugby stars in the Warriors’ pathways system has skyrocketed in the past 12 months as the NRL continues to threaten the rival code across the ditch. See the full list of cross-code talents.
Fatima Kdouh@FatimaKdouh_
2 min read
November 26, 2025 - 5:00AM
News Sport Network
The Warriors’ pathways system is stacked with schoolboy rugby talent.
The number of schoolboy rugby stars in the New Zealand Warriors’ pathways system has skyrocketed by over 50 per cent in just 12 months, as a record influx of cross-code talent join the NRL club.
This masthead can reveal the Warriors’ NRL pathways boasts 40 First XV rugby schoolboys players across Harold Matthews Cup (under-17s), SG Ball (under-19s) and Jersey Flegg (under-21s).
The list of rugby schoolboys players is the largest in the Warriors’ 31-year history, surpassing last year’s record of 26 players in the club’s development pathways.
Last year, the Warriors only had five cross-code talents in the Harold Matthews program.
But on the back of consecutive Harold Matthews title wins, the number of rugby players in under-17s has surged to 20 schoolboys stars.
Of those 20 players, eight were part of the Warriors’ second-straight Harold Matthews premiership win in 2025.
From the current cohort of cross-code stars, 11 players are part of rugby programs at the prestigious Kelston Boys’ High School, which has dominated Auckland’s 1A First XV rugby competition over the past five years.
The New Zealand Warriors now boast a record number of rugby schoolboy First XV stars.
The Warriors have emerged as a genuine threat to rugby union pathways, as more schoolboy players defect into the club’s development system.
Warriors general manager of recruitment and pathways Andrew McFadden said the club’s structured pathways - which aren’t as defined in rugby - are becoming increasingly attractive to emerging talent in the 15-man game.
“I think they’re seeing an opportunity in a clear pathway,” McFadden said.
“If you’re performing and you’re showing a lot of talent, we will prioritise you.
“I think the growth in numbers is an organic one.
SCROLL TO SEE EVERY FIRST XV SCHOOLBOYS STAR IN THE WARRIORS’ SYSTEM
“That’s where a lot of the best athletes are playing, they’re playing First XV rugby.
“That’s the premier age group competition at school, that’s something they all aspire to, is to play First XV and we know that.
“So we just have to get out there and have a look at these competitions, these games, because we’re looking for the best athletes with the best potential, regardless of the code.”
But the threat to rugby union pathways in New Zealand isn’t just coming from the Warriors, with most NRL clubs now having a presence, through satellite academies, across the ditch.
This masthead revealed NZ Rugby is using a ‘loyalty agreement’ to garner a commitment to the code from schoolboys players in a bid to ward off the threat from rugby league.
NZ Rugby's Loyalty Agreement and the battle for the best talent against the NRL
“It is very competitive. There used to be half a dozen NRL clubs that are over here,” McFadden said.
“I think every club is over here now. All it just means is that we’ve got to be really smart about how we operate and what we provide.
“We prioritise our backyard. We want to develop kids in New Zealand and we have done a really good job to build up our reputation over time, so that kids actually want to stay here, want to play for the Warriors.
“But it is very competitive, with the Super Rugby and now with all the NRL clubs.
“It’s pretty ruthless.”
NZWarriors.com
I wanted to see the list haha
I don't really believe it's 40. Remember when we were young, the league players would play 1st 15 on Saturdays and work it in with their league commitments. School league was on Wednesdays and sometimes we could fit Saturday league games in too. I am confident some of those 40 would originally be league players who dabbled in 1st 15 rugby.
HAROLD MATTHEWS (Under-17s)
- Ammon Levea-Lilomaiava (Sacred Heart College)
- Blake Bruce (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Christian Palu (Mount Albert Grammar School)
- Christiano Elia (St Thomas of Canterbuy College)
- CJ Henry-Poutoa (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Hanita Takulua (Mount Albert Grammar School)
- Kaian Olsen (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Kenny Lafituanai (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
- Koia Cook (Sacred Heart College)
- Liam De Har Elliott (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
- Luke Mostert (Christ College)
- Malakai Havealeta (Wesley College)
- Nathandavid Tapusoa (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Rilee Huggins (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Satali Asolelei-Fretton (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Shannon Pai (St Peters College)
- Steven Luatua (Dilworth College)
- Tupouniua Otutaha (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Liam Fanolua (De La Salle College)
- Vilikesa Nawaqavonovono (Marlborough Boys’ College)
- Jeremiah Lemana (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Ezekiel Davidson-Fa’aiuaso (St Paul’s College)
- Hinckley Ioka (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Connor Bowden (Botany Downs College)
- Joseph Ratcliffe (Palmerston North Boys’ High School)
- Rico Lemalie (Christ College)
- Sione Telefoni (Christchurch Boys’ High School)
- Lennox Tuiloma (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
- Bishop Neal (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
- Micah Sula (St Thomas of Canterbury College)
- Soane Ma’asi (Sacred Heart College)
- Ronley Kolomalu (Wesley College)
- Ngatatatafu Vake (Rotorua Boys High School)
- Harry Inch (Nelson College)
- Dezman Laban (Kelston Boys’ High School)
- Maui Winitana-Patelesio (St Patrick’s College, Silverstream)
- Sio Kali (St Paul’s College)
- Mikaele Ilaiu (Rotorua Boys High School)
- Caelys Putoko (Hamilton Boys’ High School)
- Motu Pasikala (Liston College)
NZWarriors.com
At least 20 of the boys listed started in club league before playing school rugby. That's not to say that school rugby hasn't played a part in their development.
I suspect the story gets a bit meh if you think about how many League players in the NZ Schools system also play rugby Union anyway.
Totallly. They’re trying build some sort of narrative that league is dominating here now, but in reality nothing has changed.
NZWarriors.com
This isn't the best place for this post but we are discussing the demise of rugby...
I used to be a big rugby fan. I stopped being a fan for the following reasons. These reasons are no doubt out of date now since I havn't watched or followed in over 8 years.
1) The All Blacks getting favoured by the refs and this ruining the contest. Once I waited all week for a springboks vs ABs test at eden park. Bismark got a ludicrous yellow card for smashing Dan Carter in a fair tackle and was then got another yellow for something marginal and it was then 15 vs 14 for the rest of the match. Afterwards the ab fans said it was a great game.
2) Some really poor and unintelligent analysts that beggared belief. The following conversation was a doozie "This week in the world cup we play scotland. Because of their dark blue jerseys there will be a coin toss and the loser wears their alternate jerseys. Now it is real important we play in our black jerseys for our pride and All Blacks brand. So we need to win this coin toss and that will help set us up for victory".
3) Marginal head highs equals red card and the end of the match for the spectator.
4) This rule. If you are the last defender and trying to stop a two on one break away. If they attempt a draw and pass on you and you bat down the pass to stop the try it is a penalty try and you are sent to the sin bin in disgrace. It is a shit fest of the rule where if you bat it down looking for an intercept you are off the hook and not deemed to be a dishonourable player, What they should do is instead of referring it to the TMO to read the player's mind, they should have an independent priest for each match who races on to the field and you put your hand on his bible and answer whether you knocked it on deliberately or not.
I used to be a big rugby fan. I stopped being a fan for the following reasons. These reasons are no doubt out of date now since I havn't watched or followed in over 8 years.
1) The All Blacks getting favoured by the refs and this ruining the contest. Once I waited all week for a springboks vs ABs test at eden park. Bismark got a ludicrous yellow card for smashing Dan Carter in a fair tackle and was then got another yellow for something marginal and it was then 15 vs 14 for the rest of the match. Afterwards the ab fans said it was a great game.
2) Some really poor and unintelligent analysts that beggared belief. The following conversation was a doozie "This week in the world cup we play scotland. Because of their dark blue jerseys there will be a coin toss and the loser wears their alternate jerseys. Now it is real important we play in our black jerseys for our pride and All Blacks brand. So we need to win this coin toss and that will help set us up for victory".
3) Marginal head highs equals red card and the end of the match for the spectator.
4) This rule. If you are the last defender and trying to stop a two on one break away. If they attempt a draw and pass on you and you bat down the pass to stop the try it is a penalty try and you are sent to the sin bin in disgrace. It is a shit fest of the rule where if you bat it down looking for an intercept you are off the hook and not deemed to be a dishonourable player, What they should do is instead of referring it to the TMO to read the player's mind, they should have an independent priest for each match who races on to the field and you put your hand on his bible and answer whether you knocked it on deliberately or not.
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go and start a thread about that shit rugby game, don't bring that crap here!
NZWarriors.com
You might enjoy watching it now since the ABs are famous for getting cards these days and we’re way behind SA, France and England, probably on par with Argentina and Ireland, no more 50:0 fests
And the pre game theater is on another level when the home crowd brings back singing/drowning and opposition team on a 10 game winning streak literally lick their lips as their response to accepting the challenge, making it like a bird in a cage
And there is gonna be some sacking going on at end of year review….drama drama
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf4n7QT3LvE
On the number of kids in our pathways system. Ideally the club should have been doing this years ago. The main issue is cost.
It's getting attention similar to when the under 20s competition was running. Kids would see the opportunity to travel to Australia every second week, be on TV and get good training. Clubs would also pay for education programs.
That led to NZ Rugby getting more first XV games on TV to say you'd get similar in union.
The Warriors recruiting now is natural as they need to fill the rosters for the different teams. There was some discussion a few years back about the number of kids leaving for Australia as there were better opportunities. Teams would even help out their parents in finding employment in Australia. There was even talk of players being based in NZ all week and getting flights out on the weekend to play.
The Warriors recruiting might increase the level of competition. But it could also be looked at as helping to keep them in NZ. If league doesn't work out they can always fall back to union. Or the league system could help with their union.
The NZ Rugby sign a loyalty agreement did make me laugh. I know financially they are under pressure but so are other sports. A few months ago they were complaining about basketball and football also signing kids as up until a certain age they deem that sport should be amatuer. I agree with that but the top tier talent should be in elite systems.
The professional system NZ Rugby uses is something they moved to under pressure in 1996. The central contracting has it's advantages but overall the structure seems in my opinion a half in scenario.
It's getting attention similar to when the under 20s competition was running. Kids would see the opportunity to travel to Australia every second week, be on TV and get good training. Clubs would also pay for education programs.
That led to NZ Rugby getting more first XV games on TV to say you'd get similar in union.
The Warriors recruiting now is natural as they need to fill the rosters for the different teams. There was some discussion a few years back about the number of kids leaving for Australia as there were better opportunities. Teams would even help out their parents in finding employment in Australia. There was even talk of players being based in NZ all week and getting flights out on the weekend to play.
The Warriors recruiting might increase the level of competition. But it could also be looked at as helping to keep them in NZ. If league doesn't work out they can always fall back to union. Or the league system could help with their union.
The NZ Rugby sign a loyalty agreement did make me laugh. I know financially they are under pressure but so are other sports. A few months ago they were complaining about basketball and football also signing kids as up until a certain age they deem that sport should be amatuer. I agree with that but the top tier talent should be in elite systems.
The professional system NZ Rugby uses is something they moved to under pressure in 1996. The central contracting has it's advantages but overall the structure seems in my opinion a half in scenario.
For sure it’s cost and it’s why we’ve always been let down by past owners and we haven’t been where we rightfully should be being such a breeding ground for oval ball sports. Can’t be underestimated the impact Mark Robinson has had with getting us to where we are and where we’re heading. There’s been the odd bump in the road but his financial input and willingness to leave no stone unturned getting people like Phil Gould in who’s proven and top of the game must easily be one of the clubs brightest eras and all that’s lying ahead
NZWarriors.com
NZ Rugby only make an issue when they go to the Warriors. They didn’t have a problem with RTS signing with the Roosters from the NZ Schools team. They never mention the players the Warriors have lost to rugby recently in Siale Pahulu
Yup. At KBHS, we go roped into 1st XV . Hated rugby myself. Didn't like playing prop. But when Kees was injured we got conscripted. Awen and Bucks got away with no rugby. But not the rest of us.
