Latest news with #TohuHarris
RNZ News
4 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
23-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Origin snub elevates Kurt Capewell into NZ Warriors captaincy against Canberra Raiders
Kurt Capewell will assume the Warriors captaincy against Canberra Raiders on Sunday, formalising a leadership role he has filled behind the scenes this season. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport Warriors v Raiders Kickoff 6pm Sunday, 25 May Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport If Kurt Capewell harbours any ill will over his State of Origin snub, he doesn't show it. The NZ Warriors second-rower-cum-centre and 10-game Queensland veteran - including the last two of last year's lost series - isn't wanted by Maroons coach Billy Slater for next week's opening clash with New South Wales at Brisbane, but instead, he's inherited the next best thing. With Mitch Barnett (NSW selection) and James Fisher-Harris (suspended) unavailable , Capewell, 31, will assume the Warriors captaincy against Canberra Raiders on Sunday, formalising a leadership role he has filled behind the scenes this season. "I don't think there's any sour grapes," observed coach Andrew Webster, an ardent Blues supporter. "Kurt is a proud Queenslander and he wants to wear that jersey bad. "He loves it so much. If he got that opportunity, he would do anything for it. "He was annoying yesterday, with his Queensland hat on, so it doesn't look like any sour grapes. I know he will be supporting Queensland, like he normally does, but I know he'd love to be there." When former skipper Tohu Harris conceded a losing battle against injury and retired pre-season, Capewell was one of a handful of candidates that stood out for the role. Ultimately, Barnett and Fisher-Harris were appointed co-captains, but you don't always need the 'C' by your name to be a leader. While Fisher-Harris spent a month sidelined by a pec (chest) injury and Barnett shouldered the responsibility alone, he leant heavily on his interstate rival for support and advice. "Capes is really good for me personally," he said. "We're good mates and 500 partners in cards. "He's been around a while, he's got a lot of knowledge and played in some big games. A lot of the time, he can read the room - he knows what to say and when to say it. "It's good for me, for someone who hasn't been that way for a big part of my career. Sometimes, I let the emotions get the better of me, but he's a level head and has helped me out." Webster sprang the appointment on Capewell this week. "I rang him and woke him up in the lounge, where he was snoozing. "I said, 'I would have liked to do this in person, but the team's getting announced and we want you to be captain this week. You've done a great job with your leadership this year'. "We always have Wayde Egan as our vice-captain, he's our brains on the field and our calmness. Outside of Barney and Fish, and then you throw Charnze [Nicoll-Klokstad] in there and Wayde, Capey's been a standout with his leadership. "He doesn't have to change anything this week or do anything different because he's captain, he's just got to be himself. "If he is himself, he stands out for his effort. We saw on the weekend, against a great player like Farnworth, he went after the occasion." During an 8-2 start to the Warriors' 2025 campaign, Capewell's experience and versatility has proved invaluable, as Webster shuffles his deck to cover a plague of backline injuries that have claimed centres Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua, with Adam Pompey required to move to the wing on occasion. The second-row specialist debuted for Queensland in the midfield and what he may lack in pace, he more than makes up for in cunning and an instinct for being in the right place at the right time. Capewell has featured in two memorable, long range tries this season, galloping anywhere between 40-80 metres (depending on who's telling the story) to put Luke Metcalf across against Brisbane Broncos and then looming alongside his halfback for the final pass against the Dolphins last week. At the other end of the field, those around him have had particular reason to appreciate his defensive reads. "Capey's selection as captain is well deserved," fullback Nicoll-Klokstad said. "He leads by example and that's what we need in a leader. "You're going to see someone who competes, gives his all and leads by his actions - that's everything he's done since round one. "We definitely value everything he does inside our four walls. If you know what you're looking at in terms of the detail and effort areas, you'll see that he's got a real high work rate and he's leading all those things, week in and week out." Capewell has been named in the centres again this week against the Raiders, but with Leiataua on the extended bench and poised for a return from his ankle sprain, don't be surprised if Webster springs some changes, as kickoff approaches. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Mitch Barnett's journey from 'bad boy' to inspirational NZ Warriors captain
Mitch Barnett greets Warriors fans at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport Warriors v Dragons Kickoff: 7.30pm Saturday, 10 May WIN Stadium, Wollongong Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett is literally counting the days - and press conferences - until running mate James Fisher-Harris returns from injury. Since the NZ Kiwis skipper left their game against Melbourne Storm early with a pec (chest) strain, Barnett has had to carry the captaincy responsibilities alone, inspiring his team to three straight wins, as they carved out a spot in the NRL's top three. "I'd prefer if [Fisher-Harris] was there, but it's not new to me," he said. "I enjoy it a lot more with him around, that's for sure." Barnett has warmed to the task and performed it admirably, but he can see his cohort slowly returning to fitness on the side of the training field - and he's keeping score. One of the duties that doesn't come naturally to Barnett is facing the media after every game and often midweek. He can't wait to share that particular chore with Fisher-Harris again. "I've tallied them all up, mate, and he's ready to go." To his credit, Barnett has proven himself far more talkative than his partner, who exudes mana from every fibre of his being, or predecessor Tohu Harris, who was a deep thinker that used words sparingly. "He's a bit more vocal than Tohu, but like Tohu, he leads with his actions," five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita said. "As much as he talks at training or during games, he's always doing the little things right that not many people want to do and that's why he has the respect of the whole team. Mitch Barnett willed his team to tense victory over North Queensland Cowboys. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport "Fish has been a big loss for us in the leadership, but I think Barney has really progressed as a leader. It's similar to last year, when we lost a few players and went through a period when we were down on troops, but Barney really stepped up through that tough time. "It's the same now and it's good that we're getting results off the back of it." Barnett remains a man of deeds, but concedes he's had to adjust. As the Warriors grimly hung onto their tenuous winning margin over the closing moments against North Queensland Cowboys last weekend, he could be seen throwing himself at wave after wave of opposition attack, willing his team-mates to follow. Barnett finished with a game-high 46 tackles. "I've always wanted to lead that way and I feel like that's when I play my best, going with my actions," he reflected. "Now I've had to add some detail in conversations, and talk in behind tries and that sort of thing. I feel like I've come a long way, but I've always wanted to be an actions-first guy." When Barnett first signed with the Warriors in April 2022, he was serving a six-game ban for an ugly, off-the-ball forearm hit on Penrith counterpart Chris Smith. In the midst of their worst-ever season and already struggling with discipline, bringing another "bad boy" to the club didn't seem like a great idea. At the time, current Warriors coach Andrew Webster was still a Panthers assistant and he saw something different in the Newcastle Knights renegade. "When I got the job, I started watching him closely," Webster recalled. "I just couldn't believe his work ethic and how hard he tried, and I thought he was going to make a big impact. "When I rang him and spoke to him on the phone, I couldn't believe how much he cared about the team and how much impact he had, and I thought that was leadership straight away." Barnett, 31, admits he probably wasn't ready for captaincy, when he arrived at Mt Smart. Mitch Barnett addresses media at NRL season-opener in Las Vegas. Photo: Alex Whitehead/ "I came over here, not wanting to be a leader, but just to work on myself, to grow as a player on and off the field as well. "When Tohu was out for a period last year, I thought it was time to step up in my career and did that. I thought it suited me a little bit, but I've still got to work on it a lot. "I fell into it, wasn't looking for it and I'm glad I did." Stepping into the captaincy and leading by example, Barnett caught the attention of others across the Tasman, earning a well-deserved State of Origin call-up for New South Wales and, ultimately, the Kangaroos. "I had sort of given up on Origin last year, and just wanted to play good footy, represent the Warriors well and win for them," he said. "It just fell into place, because I was playing good footy, so I'm going with a similar mindset. "If you're playing good footy, they'll pick you up. For us to win games, I need to play good footy and so does the rest of the team. "If my name gets called out, I'll be going hell for leather for them [NSW]. I loved that opportunity last year, loved being in camp… it was awesome, but right at the moment, I'm focused on the Dragons this weekend." Webster hinted Fisher-Harris was close to selection this week, but missed the final squad cut. That means at least one more post-game press conference for his captaincy buddy - and another added to the ledger for Fisher-Harris' seemingly imminent return.
