Warriors coach Andrew Webster has expressed strong opposition to the idea of introducing a second New Zealand team to the NRL in the near future, following the emergence of bid teams from Christchurch.
The Warriors’ remarkable popularity, evidenced by a season anticipating 14 sold-out home games, has led to discussions about fast-tracking a second New Zealand team into the competition by 2026.
A prominent bid for this new franchise is led by former NRL boss David Moffat, proposing the South Island Kea. This team aims to join the Auckland-based Warriors, playing out of Christchurch’s Te Kaha Stadium, set to open in April 2026.
Rugby league’s rising popularity has even influenced New Zealand Rugby and SANZAR’s scheduling decisions. They chose to hold the Super Rugby Pacific semi-final between the Hurricanes and Chiefs in Wellington on Saturday afternoon to avoid clashing with the Warriors’ match against the Melbourne Storm that evening.
The Warriors vs. Storm game, expected to draw around 24,000 fans, sold out three weeks in advance, and tickets for their round-17 home game against the Broncos were snapped up five weeks prior.
Super Rugby tournament director Matt Barlow, while not explicitly linking the schedule change to avoiding competition with the Warriors, acknowledged the desire to allow fans to enjoy a range of sports.
“The finals schedule has some flexibility around time slots, so we looked at all sporting action taking place across the weekend to ensure we’re giving fans the opportunity to enjoy as much sport as possible,” Barlow explained.
Despite these developments, Webster is cautious about rushing NRL expansion in New Zealand, fearing it could dilute the Warriors’ brand.
Webster admitted his view might seem “biased” to some.
He believes that solidifying the Warriors’ presence in New Zealand, a country traditionally dominated by rugby, should be the priority.
“I really do hope that we keep one team in New Zealand for a lot longer, just keep making this product even better,” Webster stated to reporters on Tuesday.
He emphasized that the club is not complacent and still has goals to achieve before considering expansion.
“There’s certainly no complacency from us as a club, as players, or staff or anyone in the club that we’ve hit where we want to hit, so I’d like us to nail that first before we did that (expand). Not to say that it can’t happen one day.”
Webster also addressed potential criticism of his stance.
“People would say I’m being biased and that I’m holding back the rest of the country, but I think it doesn’t matter where you are in New Zealand right now, they want to go home and watch the Warriors. I think the community, from the top of the country down to the bottom, is behind the Warriors, so I don’t know why we need to ruin that.”
In summary, while the idea of a second New Zealand NRL team is gaining momentum, Webster is advocating for a cautious approach to ensure the Warriors’ brand and success continue to grow.
