New Zealand Warriors have lost both their NRL preseason games and as the Under 17 Harold Matthew Cup team and the Under 19 SG Ball Cup team both had two losses to start their seasons, the organisation has lost all six of their games played in 2026. All games for the two junior teams were played in Auckland and those home losses are packaged with the NRL group losing both preseason games for the first time in the Preseason Challenge era (2023 onwards).

NZW went 1-1 in 2023 and 2024, then they had a win and a draw last year. This means that NZW have three wins, one draw and four losses in their preseason phase under coach Andrew Webster. Of course, it's just preseason and a splash of nuance is also required for the junior teams as NZW were ready to roll with an excuse in their report of the first U19 loss as they had no preseason games while their opponents were busy preparing for the junior representative season with multiple warm up games in Sydney.

Regardless of where you sit on the worry wobble board, losing four games across the organisation to start 2026 should be at least a little bit humbling. Also humbling is conceding 30+ points in the two preseason losses but the main focus in preseason is learning about how coach Webster views his players and all the new lads now in the mix.

Here's a few notes for each position bracket...

Fullback

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad hasn't done anything to lose his starting fullback role. He is always in defensive frames and his defensive efforts are matched by his communication to organise the defensive line. Nicoll-Klokstad churns through plenty of work with the footy as well and the combination of him at fullback with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak as the wingers ensures that NZW should be rolling down the field early in sets.

Taine Tuapiki is one of the most vibrant attacking players at Mt Smart though. He is dragged back and surrenders in tackles more than Nicoll-Klokstad but he's faster and has better passing skills. Most notably, Tuaupiki has grown into an NRL player and he should be a regular at this level so he could get a spot on the bigger bench at the very least, although coach Webster is most likely to stick with the veteran fullback.

Outside backs

Nicoll-Klokstad is also a good centre and the best way to squeeze Tuaupiki into fullback is to shift Nicoll-Klokstad to centre, forcing a hefty battle between Adam Pompey, Ali Leiataua and Rocco Berry for selection. Otherwise Pompey and Leiataua are the leading candidates as starting centre, with Nicoll-Klokstad offering cover along with forwards like Leka Halasima.

NZW have three pure centres who should all be approaching their best NRL footy. There are at least two others who can cover centre mid-game or game to game if the depth is challenged even further. That's roughly five blokes who can do their job at centre and below this level are Sio Kali and Caelys Putoko who have had the most game time at centre for the younger bracket. Kali and Putoko have NRL potential and will benefit from regular mahi in NSW Cup while commanding further opportunities.

This depth is also evident on the wing with Tuivasa-Sheck, Watene-Zelezniak and Alofiana Khan-Pereira all comfortable at the NRL level. Haizyn Mellars has had plenty of game time in preaseason and is a useful fourth option, while Tuaupiki was handy on the wing last season as well. Focus on the top-three here and the fact that the third winger in Khan-Pereira has x-factot that the others lack (speed) shows how competitive this battle will be.

Mellars will need at least two injuries/suspensions to get a crack. Motu Pasikala has gathered experience on the wing during preseason and seems to be zoned in on this role having played fullback, wing and centre in the Mt Smart system. Daeon Amituanai should be at a similar level as Mellars but he hasn't progressed as quickly as Pasikala through the pipeline, yet he's also capable of building towards NRL footy this season.

Halves

Nothing celebrates NZW depth like the halves injury crisis. Luke Metcalf, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin are out injured as three of the top-four halves. Jett Cleary and Jye Linnane are also injured right now as younger depth halves, leaving Tanah Boyd as the matua alongside youngsters in Luke Hanson and Jack Thompson.

Boyd has minimal x-factor so comparisons to Metcalf or even Harris-Tavita are ridiculous. Boyd is a classical halfback who organises the team, controls matters with his kicking and passing while running every so often. The key thing to track with Boyd is how others play around him and by doing his job, Boyd looks his best when putting others in positions to get busy with speed/power/footwork.

Hanson is the ideal style of halves partner for Boyd as he's a fast runner, similar to Metcalf. Hanson has shown defensive grit in preseason and he wasn't a target, which with more comfort at this level should see him settle with the physicality. He's a capable kicker who isn't required to do heaps of kicking alongside Boyd and Hanson's speed is notable because of how slow most of the squad is.

Thompson just turned 19-years-old, has a track record of excellent winning halves mahi in two systems (Knights and Warriors) and has now flashed his talent in preseason footy. Prior to this opportunity, the forecast for Thompson was Under 21 footy where he'd most likely partner Harry Inch and dabble in NSW Cup footy. Now Thompson is a contender to start the season in NSW Cup and folks should be open minded to him being the best half in the system.

Hooker/utility

Wayde Egan will be the starting hooker once again and the sneakiest winner from Martin's injury is Samuel Healey. The expanded bench benefits Healey as well, but Martin was the leading utility last season and played more footy at hooker than in the halves despite Healey being better in that role. Now Healey is locked in for a bench spot as the next best hooker and as NZW need more attacking funk, Healey should share game time with Egan this season.

Healey has a dash of experience as a small forward as well, so he can plug a hole on the field with Egan. Makaia Tafua is the best at this role though as his dummy half craft is matched up rugged physicality and along with Jacob Auloa, they are younger lads who could feature on the bigger benches this season.

Middle/edge forwards

James Fisher-Harris, Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore and Demitric Vaimauga didn't play vs Dolphins. Niukore's in an intriguing zone as a middle/edge forward who could be overtaken soon by younger lads who are at the very least, playing to the same level as Niukore has done. It's a similar vibe for Jackson Ford but he has the ability to sustain NRL standards in big minutes and coach Webster will keep selected for because he trusts his effort, plus his work rate can open things up for the senior and younger forwards.

Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava look like capable NRL forwards right now though. Not only did these lads debut sooner than expected last season and made folks forget about Zyon Maiu'u, they looked comfortable at this level while playing more minutes than expected. This also applies to Jacob Laban who could be a starting edge forward ahead of Niukore and most wouldn't be bothered, as well as Morgan Gannon who has played edge and middle in preseason.

Kurt Capewell's going be starting on an edge and if Niukore's not available, then there is a battle between Laban, Halasima and Gannon for the other edge forward spot. Laban has started at edge forward ahead of Halasima a few times and NZW have steadily slowed down hype for their younger players, which along with Halasima excelling as an impact player who can cover multiple positions, could mean his best role is on the bench.

Gannon is super similar to Ieremia-Toeava in their size, style and versatility. Both should play lots of NRL footy this season and along with Stowers-Smith, these forwards could shake things up or at least put pressure on older players as well as younger forwards like Vaimauga. It's highly possible that a younger forward commands selection ahead of Vaimauga and if that's happening, folks should expect others like Niukore to be overtaken.

Selection will mainly revolve around availability though and depth is most important here because two forwards will probably be out of action for each game due to injury/suspension. NZW are already at that stage with Barnett, Niukore and Vaimauga currently injured so assuming that two forwards will be unavailable isn't that crazy.

Kayliss Fatialofa and Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea will be hungry to complicate this even further. They aren't close to top-19 matters right now but Fatialofa is likely to crack a bench spot some stage soon and Tuipulotu-Vea has looked comfy at this level just like all the other young forwards, plus he's a bit bigger than the others.

NZW also have a reserve grade trial vs Redcliffe in Logan being played today (Saturday). A bunch of players have already been in the wider NRL mix and so the funkiest thing is learning about others who have worked through the system as well as the new players popping out of nowhere.

Players named for NSW Cup trial who have been in NRL preseason:

Geronimo Doyle, Daeon Amituanai, Sio Kali, Motu Pasikala, Harry Inch, Jack Thompson, Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea, Makaia Tafua, Kayliss Fatialofa, Junior Sikuvea, Jacob Auloa, Brandon Norris, Harry Tauafiafi-Iutoi.

Nganatatafu Vake: Centre from Tonga and Rotorua Boys High School. Could be a regular in NSW Cup but may also be eligible for U21s again.

Emosi Ravosai: Fijian big bopper who came through Southern Cross Campus. Played U19s and U21s last year, mainly U21s and could get a NSW Cup role early this season while still being able to roll with U21s.

Kahu Capper: Was initially a centre when NZW recruited him from Roosters but the Taranaki youngster also dabbled in edge forward for U19/U21s last year and is named at edge forward for this game.

Mikaele Ilaiu: Another Tongan who came through Rotorua Boys High School. Illaiu is the second big bopper of note in this team and after playing U19/U21s in 2024 he progressed into U21s last year.

Tepatasi Laumalili: The third big bopper of note comes out of Mangere East/De La Salle College and looks like the biggest forward currently in the NZW system. Last year was his first with NZW and he did the U19/U21 double.

Maui Winitana-Patelesio: Coming out of Wellington as a Te Aroha junior, Winitana-Patelesio has played in the halves and at hooker for NZW. He has had two years doing the U19/U21 double and there aren't many NZW juniors who have done that for two years during the two Andys era, plus Winitana-Patelesio is the best local halves junior in the mix aside from Inch who is starting in the halves vs Redcliffe. He is likely to settle at the U21 level and NSW Cup selection would reinforce impressive indicators of his talent.

Josh Tanielu: An outside back who joins NZW from local premier footy with Bay Roskill. Tanielu was an impressive junior also coming through Kelston Boys High School and his best position is centre. Every year NZW have a few deep cuts and Tanielu is the first example of NZW recruiting from local footy for 2026.

Tama Darlington: Another example of NZW doing nifty scouting/recruitment is Darlington who is originally from the Waikato region but spent the last few years in Australia with Burleigh/Runaway Bay junior teams. Darlington is a half/hooker and he will probably start the season in U21s, with a similar versatility to Winitana-Patelesio.

Samuel Waterworth: The Hibiscus Coast forward is another player entering the NZW system from local footy. Waterworth has earned a few representative honours from his mahi in Fox Memorial and he is likely to be rolling through the middle in NSW Cup this season.

Hohepa Chandler: Coming out of Tauranga Boys College 1st 15 and premier men's rugby with Te Puna, Chandler is the deepest cut of NZW recruitment. Chandler was also involved with Coastline rugby league and was mainly a loose forward for Te Puna last year, which may translate to middle forward mahi for NZW.

Taipari Wikitera: An outside back from Marist in Auckland, Wikitera has been in the NZW system for a few years but has only played four games across U19/U21s. That started with two games of U21s in 2024 and then two games of U19s last year, which suggests he's battled injuries. His presence with NZW also suggests that they love his talent and Wikitera will probably look to get consistent game time for the U21s this year.

Dezman Laban, Joseph Ratcliffe, Tyson Hansen and Gordon Afoa are part of the NSW Cup trial squad having played for the U19 team already this season. Laban, Ratcliffe and Afoa also played U21s last year and Hansen is one of the best youngsters on the rise at Mt Smart as a small forward who can play in the halves. Laban's the younger brother of Jacob and is from Wellington, Ratcliffe is from Palmerston North, Hansen's from Rotorua and Afoa is from Auckland.

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