New Zealand Warriors have played two pre-season games with a 12-12 draw vs Cronulla Sharks and a 36-10 win vs Melbourne Storm, offering plenty of funky wrinkles to digest before the NRL season starts. The game vs Storm in Hamilton drew a crowd of 23,344 and this is a notable place to start for 2025 as this was a trail game, outside of Auckland that hit the same 23,000 benchmark that NZW had at Mt Smart last season.

Super Rugby started with a smaller crowd in Christchurch that was roughly around the 13,000 mark, which is the minimum for Auckland FC at Mt Smart in their first A-League season. Credit to the Blues vs Chiefs crowd at Eden Park which was 25,200 - slightly higher than a warm up game for NZW.

Super Rugby would love these consistent crowds that Auckland FC draws *in their first season*

vs Brisbane: 24,492
vs Sydney: 14,253
vs Newcastle: 13,138
vs Wellington: 26,253
vs Western: 13,681
vs Melbourne Victory: 14,997
vs Melbourne City: 14,132
vs Macarthur: 14,051
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 13, 2025

NZW consistently draw the biggest crowds in Aotearoa sport. The rugby union bias in New Zealand media steadily overlooks this and the foundations of kiwi sport are shifting with football drawing bigger crowds than rugby union, meanwhile there are no issues selling tickets for Blackcaps in any format vs any opponent. NZW are leaders in Aotearoa sport and a bumper crowd for a trial game in Hamilton reinforced this idea early in 2025.

The funkiest observation from the two pre-season games is excitement around the middle forward combo of James Fisher-Harris, Mitchell Barnett and Erin Clark. The addition of Clark has added speed and aggression to the forward pack, two attributes that made Clark stand out as the best NZW player across both trial games.

Fisher-Harris and Barnett didn't play the second game vs Storm, boosting Clark's case as the best performer. Barnett has previously spent time at edge forward so there is still the option of deploying him there and Dylan Walker has previously played as a starting small forward which could clutter the brutal middle forward trio combo.

Barnett played through the middle vs Sharks and Clark started both trials as the small forward ahead of Walker though. Clark's background as half and hooker helps him play the distribution role that is then aided by Walker's injection off the bench. The versatility of the NZW roster should also allow Barnett to stay in the middle as they have a variety of players who can do the edge forward role.

Kurt Capewell appears to be locked in as one edge forward. Marata Niukore spent most of his pre-season minutes as an edge forward and Jacob Laban is brewing as a youngster who could start, then play big minutes as an edge forward. Laban enjoyed a nifty development bump for Aotearoa Maori with 51 minutes at edge forward which could result in him starting with Niukore rolling off the bench, or Niukore starting and Laban on the bench.

Demitric Vaimauga and Leka Halasima can play middle/edge but are most likely to add impact through the middle. Bunty Afoa was impressive in both warm up games and has shown improvement in his third season being coached by Andrew Webster, giving him a slight advantage over Tom Ale. Interestingly, Ale played most of his minutes vs Storm on the right edge where he looked comfortable thanks to his mobility and footwork.

In this pocket of forwards there are plenty of lads who can play middle and edge. Afoa is typical middle forward and while he has flirted with middle forward minutes, Laban is almost strictly an edge forward. Niukore, Vaimauga, Halasima and now Ale can cover both roles. Capewell, Halasima and Niukore have played centre at this level before as well.

At some point soon, perhaps round tahi, there will be a notable takeover by this crop of local juniors. Ali Leiataua appears certain to be a starting centre and there are possible top-17 combinations that include Laban, Vaimauga and Halasima. The best way to do this given Niukore's versatility is to have Laban start with a bench of Walker, Niukore, Vaimauga and Halasima.

Along with another incredibly versatile local junior in Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, these youngsters are primed to settle down in the NRL with sneaky amounts of NSW Cup experience as foundations to build upon.

Ali Leiataua (22yrs)

NRL: 7 games
NSW Cup: 26 games

Jacob Laban (20yrs)

NRL: 7
NSW Cup: 31

Demitric Vaimauga (20yrs)

NRL: 7
NSW Cup: 20

Leka Halasima (19yrs)

NRL: 4
NSW Cup: 30

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (20yrs)

NSW Cup: 29

Classy improv touches from Eddie Ieremia-Toeava #UpTheWahs pic.twitter.com/VaYgaQESIf
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) February 15, 2025

The main tweak in the backline was Taine Tuaupiki starting on the wing. This first came when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak suffered an injury vs Sharks and Tuaupiki came off the bench to take his place, then he kept that wing spot vs Storm. Tuaupiki's best position is fullback but his selection on the wing suggests that he has demanded an opportunity in any position over the summer and coach Webster wants him on the field.

While he's not big and lacks the physicality of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback or Watene-Zelezniak on the wing, Tuaupiki offers another dose of speed like Clark and lively footwork. Now 25-years-old with 26 games of NSW Cup experience in the coach Webster system, Tuaupiki offers a point of difference in a group of outside backs who are bigger and more robust.

Tuaupiki gets busy with the rugged mahi though and he has never had issues making metres. He has averaged 170m and 157m per game in his two NSW Cup seasons for NZW, then he churned out 150+ metres in both pre-season games...

vs Sharks: 1 try, 18 runs - 166m @ 9.2m/run, 3 tackle breaks, 2 tackles @ 100%
vs Storm: 2 tries, 13 runs - 151m @ 11.6m/run, 2 tackle breaks, 1 tackle @ 50%

Below are some notable statistical pockets for NZW last season (full list was part of a newsletter dispatch). As you can see, NZW dominated running metres but couldn't convert their 'best in NRL' time spent down the opposition end. With Tuaupiki on the wing there could be a dip in how efficiently NZW get down the field compared to a possible Nicoll-Klokstad/Watene-Zelezniak/Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back three, but along with better play-making from the halves, Tuaupiki could add more funk to the NZW attack.

Run Metres: 3rd - 1,489 (per game)
Kick Return Metres: 2nd - 122
Completion Rate: 1st - 82%
Tackled in Opposition 20m: 1st - 35.1
Points: 11th - 21.3
Tries: 12th - 3.8

Coach Webster also selected Te Maire Martin at fullback vs Storm which can weaken the running mahi while adding a better passing presence than Nicoll-Klokstad. The best halves combo still seems like Metcalf/Martin with Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tanah Boyd (hasn't played pre-season) offering cover, perhaps rolling with Harris-Tavita on the bench.

There could be a desire to pursue with Martin at fullback, especially if Tuaupiki is playing on the wing. Nicoll-Klokstad is highly likely to be the starting fullback though as coach Webster hasn't shown any intention to select others ahead of Nicoll-Klokstad, especially after a crisp performance from Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback vs Sharks.

A hole at centre could force a shuffle. Adam Pompey seems likely to join Leiataua as the centres, but if Pompey isn't fit and with Rocco Berry out injured then the best scenario could be Nicoll-Klokstad. Moala Graham-Taufa offers depth in this position and Sio Kali is quietly simmering as a high quality prospect at centre.

The thread of versatility flows through the backline as well. Pompey recently had his contract extended and he adds value as someone who can slide between centre or wing without much fuss. Tuaupiki is a fullback who has plugged a hole on the wing, Nicoll-Klokstad has played fullback, centre and halves over the past 12 months, Martin and Harris-Tavita are halves who have covered other roles when required.

Sam Healey has snapped up his opportunity to emerge as the back up dummy half behind Wayde Egan, probably ahead of Freddie Lussick. Healey is a crisp passer who shares the same slo-mo weaving running style of Egan and his defence stood out the most in two pre-season games, thanks to his bigger body for a hooker and intent to smash blokes.

Early in 2025, this signing appears to be another example of NZW scouting and recruitment. Given what Fisher-Harris and Clark have already added to the forward pack, NZW have injected a 22-year-old dummy half who will probably make his NRL debut this year. Here's his mahi in two pre-season games...

vs Sharks: 5 runs - 55m @ 11m/run | 27 tackles @ 96.4%
vs Storm: 6 runs - 43m @ 7.1m/run | 29 tackles @ 93.5%

Below are the kicking duties from the two pre-season games. Some aren't included such as Nicoll-Klokstad having a one kick going dead vs Sharks and Ale having a kick vs Storm. These games were different with the grind vs Sharks requiring more of the kick/defend style which Metcalf was responsible for, while NZW dominated the opening exchanges vs Storm.

NZW previously had one bloke doing the majority of their kicking and played their best footy when the kicking was shared, especially when kicking from both sides of the ruck. Coach Webster hasn't shown any major trend in this kicking mahi so far this year and the variety of kickers, as well as the kicks they do will be a crucial element to watch out for early in the season.