WARRIORS

It will be a new look Warriors that goes around in 2019.  Veteran captain Simon Mannering announced his retirement, while halfback Shaun Johnson has left the club in acrimonious circumstances to join Cronulla.  Back up halfback Mason Lino has also left to play at Newcastle.

The Warriors scraped into the top eight in 2018, but went down 27-12 to Penrith in the first week of the finals.  Their key attacking weapon will again be winger David Fusitu’a, who scored 23 tries last season.  Solomone Kata bagged 12, but the club will be hoping for more from Ken Maumolo, Peta Hiku, and even 2018 Dally M winner, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.  There will be plenty of pressure on Blake Green until New Zealand settle on a new halfback.

Up front, the Warriors have signed Leeson Ah Mau from St George-Illawarra.  He will join a pack that includes Adam Blair, Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga, Agnatius Paasi, Bunty Afoa, and Isaac Luke.  They just might miss Simon Mannering more than they think.

You can read more about the history of the New Zealand Warriors here.