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'What we need in a leader': Warriors back new captain Capewell against Raiders - NZ Herald
<div data-test-ui="article-section-bottom-main"><p class>Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has captained the Warriors in the past, while <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...s-after-2024-snub/KHG6E27FJJBILL77O4JIJU3D5I/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...s-after-2024-snub/KHG6E27FJJBILL77O4JIJU3D5I/">Wayde Egan has long been part of the team’s leadership group</a> and is described by his coach as “our brains on the field”.</p><p class>In another, though, it makes complete sense.</p><p class>Capewell was one of <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...arriors have got their,end of the 2026 season." target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...arriors have got their,end of the 2026 season.">Webster’s first major signings</a>, albeit a year after he arrived at Mt Smart. The pair had previously worked together in the early stages of the Penrith Panthers’ NRL dynasty.</p><p class>As a premiership winner with Penrith and as a 10-time QLD Morons representative, there are few on the Warriors’ books with the same pedigree as Capewell. </p><p class>When the Brisbane Broncos made the call to let Capewell go to make salary cap room for their younger back rowers, Webster didn’t waste his chance in bringing his former charge to Auckland. </p><p class>Now, having seen what Capewell brings to the table at more than one club, Webster <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/warriors/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/warriors/">didn’t hesitate to name the 31-year-old as his leader</a> – for this week at least.</p><p class>“I don’t think he needs to change anything this week, or overdo anything because he’s captain,” said Webster. “He’s just got to be himself.</p><p class>“If he is himself, he stands out for his efforts all the time. His dad is 100% right, he won’t get beaten on effort.</p><p class>“We saw on the weekend, against a great player like [Herbie] Farnworth, he went after the occasion and made sure that if he needed to he’d scramble, and if he needed to, he’d come up with the right play.</p><p class>“That’s what Kurt’s always been about.”</p><p class>The clash against Canberra comes at a vital time.</p><p class>The Warriors enter round 12 of this year’s NRL season <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...from-nrl-round-11/S3OQDIGLGBFW5JN5EVZGXW7SDQ/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...from-nrl-round-11/S3OQDIGLGBFW5JN5EVZGXW7SDQ/">off the back of five-straight victories.</a></p><p class>What’s more, they’re up against the same side that handed them a <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/nz...-canberra-raiders/KI7ZA5N2ZZE7FNWCUVS2FOOWQQ/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/nz...-canberra-raiders/KI7ZA5N2ZZE7FNWCUVS2FOOWQQ/">30-8 humiliation</a> in the season-opening fixture in Las Vegas.</p><p class>For his part, Webster said the Las Vegas mauling hasn’t entered the team’s thoughts, with this week being anything but a revenge mission. </p><p class>As far as his teammates go, Capewell’s elevation is as deserved as much as it’s welcomed.</p><p class>At fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has the best seat in the house to see what happens as part of the Warriors’ attack and defence.</p><p class>In a time where the NRL is rapidly becoming about skill and attack, players who excel in defence are often overlooked.</p><p class>But for Nicoll-Klokstad, it’s the things that don’t get picked up week-to-week that make Capewell stand out among his peers.</p><div data-test-ui="article-media"><figure data-test-ui="figure"><img src="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...6&height=11&quality=70&smart=true" data-srcset="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...6&height=11&quality=70&smart=true 16w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=214&quality=70&smart=true 320w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=384&quality=70&smart=true 576w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=512&quality=70&smart=true 768w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=662&quality=70&smart=true 992w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=960&quality=70&smart=true 1440w" alt="Kurt Capewell of the Warriors celebrates his try against Canberra in Las Vegas. Photo / Photosport" data-test-ui="article-media__image"><figcaption data-test-ui="figure__caption">Kurt Capewell of the Warriors celebrates his try against Canberra in Las Vegas. Photo / Photosport</figcaption></figure></div><p class>“If you watch the game closely, and you’re able to identify all the effort areas, you’ll see Capey right up there in a lot of it,” he said.</p><p class>“He leads by example, that’s what we need in a leader. He hasn’t had the captain symbol next to his name at all this year. </p><p class>“But for him to get that opportunity, it’s rightly deserved. You’re going to see someone that just competes, gives his all and leads by his actions.</p><p class>“That’s everything he’s done since round one.”</p><p class>On top of making his Warriors’ captaincy bow, Capewell will also be out to prove a point on Sunday.</p><p class>Earlier this week, he was overlooked by QLD Morons coach Billy Slater and won’t feature for the Morons in the State of Origin season opener later this month.</p><p class>But as far as his coach is concerned, Capewell isn’t sulking and will get on with the job at hand. </p><p class>“I don’t think there’s any sour grapes,” Webster said. “Kurt is a proud Queenslander and he wants to wear that jersey bad.</p><p class>“He loves it so much. If he got that opportunity, he’d do anything for it. He was annoying yesterday, he had his QLD Morons hat on.</p><p class>“He’ll get on with things, I know he’ll be supporting QLD Morons like he normally does. But he’d love to be there.”</p><p class><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/alex-powell/" target="_self" rel="noreferrer"><b>Alex Powell</b></a><b> is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.</b></p></div>
<div data-test-ui="article-section-bottom-main"><p class>Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has captained the Warriors in the past, while <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...s-after-2024-snub/KHG6E27FJJBILL77O4JIJU3D5I/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...s-after-2024-snub/KHG6E27FJJBILL77O4JIJU3D5I/">Wayde Egan has long been part of the team’s leadership group</a> and is described by his coach as “our brains on the field”.</p><p class>In another, though, it makes complete sense.</p><p class>Capewell was one of <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...arriors have got their,end of the 2026 season." target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...arriors have got their,end of the 2026 season.">Webster’s first major signings</a>, albeit a year after he arrived at Mt Smart. The pair had previously worked together in the early stages of the Penrith Panthers’ NRL dynasty.</p><p class>As a premiership winner with Penrith and as a 10-time QLD Morons representative, there are few on the Warriors’ books with the same pedigree as Capewell. </p><p class>When the Brisbane Broncos made the call to let Capewell go to make salary cap room for their younger back rowers, Webster didn’t waste his chance in bringing his former charge to Auckland. </p><p class>Now, having seen what Capewell brings to the table at more than one club, Webster <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/warriors/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league/warriors/">didn’t hesitate to name the 31-year-old as his leader</a> – for this week at least.</p><p class>“I don’t think he needs to change anything this week, or overdo anything because he’s captain,” said Webster. “He’s just got to be himself.</p><p class>“If he is himself, he stands out for his efforts all the time. His dad is 100% right, he won’t get beaten on effort.</p><p class>“We saw on the weekend, against a great player like [Herbie] Farnworth, he went after the occasion and made sure that if he needed to he’d scramble, and if he needed to, he’d come up with the right play.</p><p class>“That’s what Kurt’s always been about.”</p><p class>The clash against Canberra comes at a vital time.</p><p class>The Warriors enter round 12 of this year’s NRL season <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...from-nrl-round-11/S3OQDIGLGBFW5JN5EVZGXW7SDQ/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...from-nrl-round-11/S3OQDIGLGBFW5JN5EVZGXW7SDQ/">off the back of five-straight victories.</a></p><p class>What’s more, they’re up against the same side that handed them a <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/nz...-canberra-raiders/KI7ZA5N2ZZE7FNWCUVS2FOOWQQ/" target="_blank" rel title="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/nz...-canberra-raiders/KI7ZA5N2ZZE7FNWCUVS2FOOWQQ/">30-8 humiliation</a> in the season-opening fixture in Las Vegas.</p><p class>For his part, Webster said the Las Vegas mauling hasn’t entered the team’s thoughts, with this week being anything but a revenge mission. </p><p class>As far as his teammates go, Capewell’s elevation is as deserved as much as it’s welcomed.</p><p class>At fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has the best seat in the house to see what happens as part of the Warriors’ attack and defence.</p><p class>In a time where the NRL is rapidly becoming about skill and attack, players who excel in defence are often overlooked.</p><p class>But for Nicoll-Klokstad, it’s the things that don’t get picked up week-to-week that make Capewell stand out among his peers.</p><div data-test-ui="article-media"><figure data-test-ui="figure"><img src="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...6&height=11&quality=70&smart=true" data-srcset="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...6&height=11&quality=70&smart=true 16w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=214&quality=70&smart=true 320w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=384&quality=70&smart=true 576w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=512&quality=70&smart=true 768w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=662&quality=70&smart=true 992w,https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/...&height=960&quality=70&smart=true 1440w" alt="Kurt Capewell of the Warriors celebrates his try against Canberra in Las Vegas. Photo / Photosport" data-test-ui="article-media__image"><figcaption data-test-ui="figure__caption">Kurt Capewell of the Warriors celebrates his try against Canberra in Las Vegas. Photo / Photosport</figcaption></figure></div><p class>“If you watch the game closely, and you’re able to identify all the effort areas, you’ll see Capey right up there in a lot of it,” he said.</p><p class>“He leads by example, that’s what we need in a leader. He hasn’t had the captain symbol next to his name at all this year. </p><p class>“But for him to get that opportunity, it’s rightly deserved. You’re going to see someone that just competes, gives his all and leads by his actions.</p><p class>“That’s everything he’s done since round one.”</p><p class>On top of making his Warriors’ captaincy bow, Capewell will also be out to prove a point on Sunday.</p><p class>Earlier this week, he was overlooked by QLD Morons coach Billy Slater and won’t feature for the Morons in the State of Origin season opener later this month.</p><p class>But as far as his coach is concerned, Capewell isn’t sulking and will get on with the job at hand. </p><p class>“I don’t think there’s any sour grapes,” Webster said. “Kurt is a proud Queenslander and he wants to wear that jersey bad.</p><p class>“He loves it so much. If he got that opportunity, he’d do anything for it. He was annoying yesterday, he had his QLD Morons hat on.</p><p class>“He’ll get on with things, I know he’ll be supporting QLD Morons like he normally does. But he’d love to be there.”</p><p class><a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/author/alex-powell/" target="_self" rel="noreferrer"><b>Alex Powell</b></a><b> is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.</b></p></div>