When Greytown’s Rocco Berry signed with NZ Warriors straight out of high school in 2019, he did so with the intention of staying in Aotearoa and slowing developing into a rugby league player. Berry started round one of the 2020 NSW Cup season at fullback for Warriors and his first game of notable rugby league, then became his only game for over a year.

A bunch of Warriors reserve graders and youngsters went through the Warriors-Redcliffe pipeline during the pandemic, but Berry and Tom Ale stand out as lads who spent the most time grinding away in Australia. They were consistent troopers in Queensland Cup for Redcliffe when not battling injuries and the immense disadvantage Warriors endured during the pandemic is most evident in these youngsters.

Berry was still learning how to play league. The plan was probably to leave Berry in NSW Cup for 2020 and allow him to grow into his footy. Instead, Berry was thrown into NRL footy in 2021 and many folks judged Berry on these performances which again overlooks the inconvenience of Warriors being in Australia. While Berry went 3-12 when playing NRL for Warriors, Berry was 10-3 in Q Cup with Redcliffe across the 2021-22 seasons and his class slowly peeped through the adversity.

Having returned to Aotearoa for the 2023 season, Berry battled injuries over the summer and during start of the NSW Cup season. Berry played three games in a row of NSW Cup before missing a few rounds due to injury and returning for a fourth game in round 10. Those four games of NSW Cup produced 2 tries, 3 try assists, 4 offloads, 114m/game and 92.8% tackling.

Warriors coach Andrew Webster was quick to get Berry back into NRL footy as soon as he was fit and able. Berry played round 10 of NSW Cup and then played round 11 in NRL, the first of his six games this season. Aside from an early exit in the win over Dolphins, Berry has played 80 minutes in five games and he has slotted seamlessly into a slick centre pairing with Adam Pompey.

This yarn highlights the similarities between Berry, Pompey and Viliami Vailea. Now it can be updated with Ali Leiataua joining the equation as all four played 1st 15 rugby and all four have ample skill for their roles. Mid-way through the 2023 season, Berry and Pompey have settled as the starting centres where their passing has been crucial in Warriors shifting the footy to their wingers.

Berry has 4 try assists this season, after none in his first couple of seasons. Averaging 67m/game this season highlights Berry’s centre role as there is plenty of oomph offered by the back-three, as well as a robust forward pack. Berry and Pompey are willing workers in running the footy, yet their ability to draw-and-pass is their best attacking skill.

The win over Eels saw Berry line up against Bailey Simonsson. Berry's old man Marty played for the All Blacks and had a long career in rugby union, while Bailey's father Paul also featured in All Blacks squads without playing a Test match and also had a long career in Aotearoa and Australia. This added some funk to their centre match up and Simonsson's impressive mahi for Eels offered a tricky defensive match up for Berry, who has low key developed into a fine tackler.

Berry had 4 missed tackles against Eels, the most he has had in a game this season. Berry has no missed tackles in three of his six games this season though and he has tackled above 90% in all three NRL seasons. Defensive reads are the hardest thing about playing centre and Berry's lack of experience in league was exposed in the early stages of his NRL journey. Berry now combines strong tackling with growing experience and if he continues to play alongside Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Shaun Johnson, their defensive chemistry will keep improving.

When Warriors signed Berry, it was all about "Warriors fight to keep young talent in NZ". A year later and Berry was stuck in Australia, unable to play reserve grade and simmering on one game of NSW Cup as his league experience. Now Berry has 20 games of footy in reserve grade and 21 games of NRL as he continues to develop in a Warriors system that makes the most of his talent.

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