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RNZ News
18 hours ago
- General
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors take collective approach to replacing injured kingpin Mitch Barnett
Mitch Barnett is now waiting for his knee to stabilise, before undergoing surgery. Photo: Anthony Kourembanas/NRL Photos Warriors v Sharks Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 7 June Sharks Stadium Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster was warned his players not to try filling the void left by injured co-captain Mitch Barnett alone. Barnett's season is over, after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the 36-30 win over South Sydney last weekend, leaving a giant void in the pack, as the Auckland side seek to build on a promising 9-3 start to their NRL season. In his third season at Mt Smart, the inspirational front-rower has taken his leadership to a new level, while fellow skipper James Fisher-Harris was sidelined with a pec (chest) injury. Now an automatic State of Origin selection for New South Wales, Barnett and Fisher-Harris formed a one-two punch that is probably one of the best front-row combinations in the competition, but Webster stressed no one player could be expected to step into his place. "You can't try and be Mitch, or say we've all got to do extra," he said. "Once you start doing that, you start failing at your job - everyone's just got to do their job better. "Whatever your job description is as a player, you have to make sure you improve at that, rather than trying to add workload or different stuff to your game. Everyone agrees with that. "If you try and be Mitch, it won't work out. Everyone's just got to be themselves and find their own way to improve." That blueprint already exists. When Fisher-Harris was missing, Webster moved Marata Niukore into the middle of the park and Leka Halasima off the bench. He's named Jackson Ford to start against Cronulla Sharks this week - as he did in the next game after Fisher-Harris' injury - but don't be surprised if that changes. Webster admitted his loss is a major blow, but also another test of the programme's 'next up' mentality . The Warriors have already endured injuries to marquee players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, while continuing to juggle players through a depleted midfield. This one hits differently though, with the knowledge that Barnett will not be back this season. "There are mixed emotions," Webster admitted. "We want to celebrate Barney too, where he is in the game and what he's achieved for us at the club, playing Origin and for Australia, and finally getting in those circles that you want to be in as a player. "It's pretty heartbreaking, but Barney's been grateful for all the well-wishers he's got, particularly from his teammates and all around the world. "We're gutted, because he's such a good player, but there's optimism that somebody gets to stand up and take his spot and it's a challenge for the whole group." With scans confirming the extent of his injury, Barnett is now waiting for the injury to stabilise, before undergoing surgery. He has been around the team this week, as they prepare to take on the Sharks and now faces a different role than planned. "He was really good at training yesterday with his leadership stuff and talking to the boys about what they have to do next was very impressive," Webster said. "He's very frustrated and emotional about it, but sometimes life's not fair. We're all gutted for him, but he's a tough cookie, Mitch. "He's started that role already, mentoring and helping people. I think you'll find he initially needs to get his knee to the point where the operation can happen and we'll have to let him go for a little bit, then he'll start his rehab process and come back around the boys. "It's pretty raw at the moment, but we all know Mitch has a pretty good footy brain and loves mentoring people, so we'll just get a bit more of that, which is pleasing." Sometimes losing a key player can galvanise his teammates and elevate them to greater heights collectively. "He's been around the club and he's in good spirits," lock Erin Clark said. "We'll definitely miss his hard-nosed footy, his aggression and work ethic, but we're looking forward to the person who gets to step up and wear the jersey next to us. "No-one has to do anything more, maybe just do our job better, now that Barney's out. "He's definitely a smart footy player and, no doubt, he'll sit around with the coaches and help dissect other teams, and help us middles get better." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Warriors co-captain Barnett ruled out for season with knee injury
Mitch Barnett ruptured his ACL against Souths on Sunday. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport NZ Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett will miss the remainder of the NRL season, after suffering a knee injury in their win over South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday. Barnett left the field about halfway through the first half, after falling awkwardly making a tackle, as his right leg buckled underneath him. He tried to hobble back into position, but left the field soon after and never returned. Scans on Monday confirmed he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and would be sidelined for the remainder of their 2025 campaign. The injury will also rule him out of the State of Origin series, after he starred in New South Wales' victory over Queensland in the opener last Wednesday. He will meet with specialists this week to set a date for surgery. Barnett, 31, has played 48 games for the Warriors, since arriving at Mt Smart in 2023, after logging seven seasons and 126 games for Newcastle Knights. He has been a major part of the team's transformation under coach Andrew Webster, making his Origin debut off the bench, as the Blues toppled the Maroons at Brisbane last year. Barnett was subsequently selected for Australia in the Pacific Championships in October/November. When Warriors captain Tohu Harris suddenly retired over the summer, Barnett and NZ Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris were named to share the captaincy role, but Barnett carried that duty alone for a month, while his teammate recovered from a pec injury. During that time, the Warriors went on a five-game winning streak that carried them into the competition's top three. After the 36-30 win over Souths in Sydney, Webster was quizzed on Barnett's injury, but knew little more, until his player underwent scans. "There's different grades to each different injury and until you look under the hood, honestly you don't know," said Webster. "He's in good spirits. "We lost Fish for four weeks and he's one of the best front-rowers in the world, so we certainly know how to do next man up. "Life goes on all the time. You'd rather have your best players on the field, but when they're not, this game doesn't wait for anyone. "We've got the belief that the next guy will do it. No-one has to do anything more or change their game - they've just got to do their job." During Fisher-Harris' absence, Webster shifted second-rower Marata Niukore into the front row and promoted teenage sensation Leka Halasima to the starting line-up, where he thrived. He's likely to do something similar without Barnett. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs - what we learned from another heartstopper
Mitch Barnett may face a stint on the sidelines with a knee injury. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport After seeing their five-game winning streak ended last week by Canberra Raiders, NZ Warriors have started another, with their 36-30 win over South Sydney across the Tasman. After threatening to run away with victory at 30-12, once again, they let their opponents back into the contest, which became another heartstopper. The Warriors lost one of their best early, and had to survive a comeback inspired by one of the game's absolute freaks and another headed for the record books, but at the end of the weekend, they have consolidated their top-three spot on the NRL table. Here are some key takeaways from the game. Much has been said about the contribution of co-captain Mitch Barnett this season, especially while fellow skipper James Fisher-Harris was sidelined by injury. During his tenure at Mt Smart, Barnett has become an automatic NSW selection for State of Origin and an inspiration to those around him. His team missed him badly last week against Canberra Raiders, when Kiwis international prop Joseph Tapine bullied the Warriors pack and taunted former Raiders teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. For the first time in 2025, coach Andrew Webster had all his players available against the Rabbitohs, but that lasted just 20 minutes, before Barnett hobbled off with a reported knee injury. He fell badly while making a tackle, with his right knee buckling under him. Barnett tried to play on, but could not, which suggests he may be out for a while. Certainly, his body language wasn't great and scans will determine whether he can be fit for Origin II on 18 June. "There's different grades to each different injury and until you look under the hood, honestly you don't know," said Webster. "He's in good spirits. "We lost Fish for four weeks and he's one of the best front-rowers in the world, so we certainly know how to do next man up." In his absence, Fisher-Harris stepped up , logging 56 minutes and making a game-high 53 tackles, while Jackson Ford continued his outstanding form off the bench, running 15 times for 153 metres and making 37 tackles. Ford also showed his surprising skill, producing a kick that resulted in Rocco Berry's first-half try. If Barnett can't make it back for NSW, the selectors need only look across at Rabbitohs counterpart Keaon Koloamatangi as his replacement. Shifted to the middle this season, he again led his team with 218 running metres from 27 carries and made 39 tackles, while scoring a try. With the Warriors leading 4-0, halfback Luke Metcalf produced a play that must have had him - and Warriors fans - flashing back to the season-opening defeat to Canberra at Las Vegas. Luke Metcalf celebrates his try against Souths. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport On that occasion, they were hot on attack and looking left, when Metcalf had his pass picked off by winger Xavier Savage for a try down the other end - a potential 12-point turnaround. This time, the Warriors were shifting right, when Metcalf tried to float a pass over Alex Johnston to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who was probably already thinking about his gravity-defying dive at the corner. Unfortunately, the Souths winger plucked the ball from the air and dashed the length of the field for his team's opening try, converted by Latrell Mitchell from the sideline for the lead. Another 12-pointer. Leading Dally M Medal standings into this round , Metcalf compounded his error by missing a relatively simple conversion of Berry's try before halftime. To his credit, he turned his performance around in the second half, scoring his eighth try of the season, making two linebreaks and providing a try assist. Metcalf has the lowest conversion success rate of all the fulltime kickers in the competition at 65 percent, but many of them seem to be from the sidelines. After slicing his gimme in the first half, he nailed a couple from out wide in the second, showing the temperament you want from your kicker in the clutch. "I was just talking to him and I don't think he's that pumped with parts of his game, but that try he scored was at a great time," said Webster. "He finds a way to have a moment like that in every game. "We were defending our sets for big periods there, so everyone's doing their part. Luke's fast, he sees the moment and takes it, but I felt like it was a team try. "He's the guy finishing it off, but I felt like the whole team had a big part in that one." This wasn't his best outing of the campaign, but it was likely enough for Metcalf to add to his Dally M tally, with voting now behind closed doors until the end of the season. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad continues to show why extending his stay at Mt Smart was so important for the Warriors. His 342 running metres from 28 carries included 100 metres after contact and were the most by a Warriors player this season - beating his own mark of 316 against Sydney Roosters. In fact, he has been the leading runner for his team six times this campaign and they've won all six. He was concussed against Melbourne Storm and missed the next game against Brisbane Broncos, otherwise he'd be higher in the competition leaders. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores a try against South Sydney. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport A quick tally puts him third in this category now with 2259 metres, behind Manly's Lehi Hopoate (2432) and Roosters veteran James Tedesco (2430). Look up the expression 'rocks and diamonds' in the dictionary, and you'll find Latrell Mitchell's picture next to it. When he's engaged, he's an absolute superstar - epitomised by his outrageous 55-metre field goal against Brisbane Broncos - but when he's not, he can be absolutely terrible. When he was pulled from the field late in the first half for a concussion test, his Rabbitohs were teetering. Mitchell took a head knock in the contest for a high ball that led to the Warriors' second try and, while he was off the field, counterpart Nicoll-Kolkstad scored their third to put the visitors ahead at the break. That momentum switch carried into the second half, but at 18 points down, Mitchell began to put his imprint on the contest, throwing a long pass for Johnston to score his second try. Moments later, he repeated that effort for Johnston's third. He had Nicoll-Klokstad in sixes and sevens, as his opposite slipped into touch trying to cover a long, probing kick, and eventually had his own try, taking a short pass and powering over from short range. He converted all five of his team's tries and tormented the Warriors back three with is towering kicks. Without injured veterans Cody Walker and Jack Wighton in the backline, Mitchell has had to be all things to everyone for these Rabbitohs, even playing the halves earlier in the season. The Warriors were lucky to see him at his mercurial best, yet survive to take the two competition points. There have been times over the past 12 months when Johnston probably wondered if his NRL career was over. Last season, he scored his 191st try, which was the most by any player at just one club, but suffered a season-ending Achilles tear soon afterwards. He returned to the field in the fourth round this season, but didn't reach halftime, before leaving with a rib injury. Against the Warriors, his hattrick propelled him to 200 tries - second only to former North Sydney and Manly legend Ken Irvine (212). "He's a pretty special player," Souths coach Wayne Bennett said. "He's not only a good athlete, but he's pretty smart with it." Each year, the Ken Irvine Medal is awarded to the NRL's top tryscorer and Johnston has won it three times (2020-22). Fingers crossed his body allows him to break Irvine's record soon. Both the Warriors and Rabbitohs came into this contest unbeaten when leading at halftime. The Warriors were 5/5 and Souths were 4/4, so leading at the break took on added significance. With the siren about to sound, Nicoll-Klokstad stumbled under a couple of tacklers and went again to level the scores, while Metcalf provided the extra points to put his side ahead. The achievement took on added importance, given the Warriors had been outscored after halftime of their five previous games to the value of 56-21. Against Souths, they not only outscored their opponents 22-18, they managed more second-half points than those previous five games combined. This result evens the historic head-to-head record between these two teams at 21-21 and the Warriors now improve to 17-31 against Bennett-coached teams over the past 30 years. "They like making it hard. We've practiced resilience all pre-season, we defended our line really well. They have a tight connection, they believe in each other and they don't want to let each other down." Warriors coach Andrew Webster "These guys never give up, so you never worry about the time, but we were beaten on the scoreboard and we did run out of time in the end." Souths coach Wayne Bennett The Warriors head back across the ditch next Saturday to face Cronulla Sharks, who lurk four points behind in fifth on the NRL table. So far, they have struggled to find consistency, beating the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles and Storm among the top eight, but losing a real headscratcher against Sydney Roosters last week, when they were at full strength and the Roosters were without a handful of Origin reps. They have a genuine star in Nico Hynes, gamebreakers throughout the backline and pack, but the player everyone will watch is former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, who was released early to return to Sydney this season. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
28-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors' Andrew Webster, James Fisher-Harris push for rep window around Origin
James Fisher-Harris leads the Kiwis haka against Australia. Photo: photosport Warriors v Rabbitohs Kickoff 4pm Sunday, 1 June Accor Stadium, Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster and co-captain James Fisher-Harris have called for a designated representative window during the NRL season to showcase State of Origin and international fixtures. The traditional Aussie interstate series between New South Wales and Queensland kicks off on Wednesday at Brisbane, with Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett lining up for the Blues, as they try to defend the crown they won last year. "I love watching it," NSW fan Webster said. "I don't so much like the disruption it causes, but I can't wait." Origin players sat out last weekend's NRL round, with the champion Penrith Panthers missing five of their stars, as they lost to Newcastle Knights. Barnett was absent from the Warriors' 16-10 loss to Canberra Raiders, who were also without second-rower Hudson Young. Depending on how players emerge from the gruelling 'mate v mate' showdown, they may also miss next weekend's round, with teams facing two more weeks of similar uncertainty in June and July. "I'd like to have chunks of rep footy - New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga all playing in the middle of the year, while Origin's on, with the girls' Origin, and then have a block where it's uninterrupted," Webster said. "We're actually not the most interrupted [team] and I'm not complaining. Origin is one of my favourite things to watch, but I'd love to see other countries showcased through this time and we celebrate them. "Instead of doing it at the end of the year, when the season's over, I feel like everyone should have their talents showcased right now. "I feel like one of the reasons we don't is because of the English Super League, and it would be hard for them to come down and play, but I don't see why we can't have [New Zealand], Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Fiji all playing in this period, and getting that content on television. "If you had tickets to see Penrith playing in Bathurst, you were watching five of their best players not playing, after spending all that money. I don't think that's fair and I don't know any other code in the world that will just rip out their best players to go play for someone else." International football has been an uncomfortable fit with the NRL season over the years. In 2017, the Aussies slammed the door shut on 20 years of Anzac competition with New Zealand, because it disrupted the club season, but did not dare tinker with their Origin concept, which is just as intrusive. The following year, other tests were scheduled around the second Origin game, with the Kiwis taking on England at Denver, Colorado, but Covid stalled that arrangement. In 2022, they played Tonga mid-season, but since 2023, international rivalries have been consigned to an October/November window. "It's a long season and a good little 2-3 week break would be good to just break it up," Kiwis captain Fisher-Harris mused. "Twenty-seven rounds, plus finals, can be draining at times. "Then again, other kids get opportunities through Origin, but I'm always pushing for more international games and I'm sure the other teams would be keen too. Andrew Webster lines up with the Warriors for the Anzac round against Newcastle Knights. Photo: "I've been on teams where seven [players] are gone, so it can be [disruptive] for clubs. "I'm always pushing for international games, even just one throughout the year, but we'll see what happens." New Zealand actually contested the 1997 Super League Tri-series against NSW and Queensland - run in opposition to the NRL Origin event - losing to both state sides. They seemed on the verge of making the final, when winger Sean Hoppe scored a try in the dying moments against NSW, but the try was controversially disallowed, setting up a more commercially palatable NSW v Queensland decider. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris cops one-game suspension
James Fisher-Harris of the Warriors is called out before being sent to the bin, 2025. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Warriors v Raiders Kick-off: 6:05pm Sunday 25 May Go Media Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport The Warriors will be without co-captain James Fisher-Harris for this weekend's NRL game against the Canberra Raiders. The prop has been handed a one-match ban for a careless high tackle . He caught Dolphins front-rower Harrison Graham high in the 77th minute at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday and was sent to the bin. Fisher-Harris had only just returned from injury, which had kept him out of the team for a month. Had he chosen to fight the charge at the judiciary and been found guilty, he would have missed two games. From the same game, Dolphins playmaker Kodi Nikorima was fined $2000 after entering an early guilty plea to a grade 1 careless high tackle charge. The Warriors are second on the NRL table and on a five-game winning streak. They take on the third-placed Raiders on Sunday.
