The Warriors' new route strategy brings advantages in the first year

Investing in a multi-pronged development strategy has delivered a solid dividend for One New Zealand Warriors in its first year.

With five teams for the first time in the club's history and a sixth to be added next year with the return to NRLW competition, the Warriors have now opened their doors to opportunities that were previously unavailable and even unimaginable.

The highlight of the first year of the track redevelopment was the debut success in the Harold Matthews Cup (U17) premiership when the Warriors stunned the judges and pundits by winning the grand final in April.

This gave 31 players the experience of taking part in an elite path competition and showing all local young hopefuls that they can now achieve their dreams without having to leave home.

In total, 131 players wore the One New Zealand Warriors colors in the NRL, New South Wales Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup, SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup, but true success is measured in the details.

Crucially, of these 131 players, almost 50 appeared for two of the club teams and in six cases, three. This is what development looks like.

Harold Matthews players are not eligible to play above their grade in the same season, but from SG Ball (under 19) the pathways are open. And they weren't.

So much so that 22 of the 28 players who started the season in the club's SG Ball squad in February-March-April were named to compete alongside more experienced footballers in the 24-round U21 Jersey Flegg competition play.

Even more impressively, six of them – all 18 at the start of the year – were playing at New South Wales Cup level with fullback Motu Pasikala, winger Sio Kali, hooker Jaydee Auloa, second rower Kayliss Fatialofa and prop Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea and Nganatatafu Vake center.

Sophomore rower Eddie Ieremia (19) was again eligible to play for SG Ball, but missed that grade as well as the Jersey Flegg Cup and spent the entire season in the New South Wales Cup, appearing in all 25 games.

Five players who still met the age criteria for the lower grades had either made their NRL debut last year or would do so in 2024, so they continued their development at a higher level (Ali Leiataua, Demitric Vaimauga, Jacob Laban, Zyon Maiu'u and Leka). Halasima). Likewise prop Tanner Stowers-Smith (19 at the start of the year), who has been a mainstay in the New South Wales Cup for the second year in a row, apart from an appearance in the Jersey Flegg Cup.

Of the 51 players used during the Jersey Flegg season, a total of 12 played in the New South Wales Cup at some point, while of the 42 players used during the NSW Cup season, 18 also played for the NRL team.

It is instructive to break down the seasons of the six players who featured at the SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup levels (Kali's season was limited by an injury layoff):

Jaydee Auloa
SG Ball Cup: 8 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 10 appearances
NSW Cup: 8 appearances

Kayliss Fatialofa
SG Ball Cup: 7 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 12 appearances
NSW Cup: 8 appearances

Sio Kali
SG Ball Cup: 3 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 4 appearances
NSW Cup: 8 appearances

Motu Pasikala
SG Ball Cup: 8 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 5 appearances
NSW Cup: 13 appearances

Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
SG Ball Cup: 8 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 18 appearances
NSW Cup: 3 appearances

Nganatatafu Vake
SG Ball Cup: 8 appearances
Flegg Cup jersey: 14 appearances
NSW Cup: 2 appearances

Player Development Breakdown

Players who appeared in the NRL and NSW Cup (18):
Bunty Afoa
Tom Ale
Moala Graham-Taufa
Leka Halasima
Chanel Harris Tavita
Edward Kosi
Jacob Laban
Ali Leiataua
Freddy Lussick
Zyon Maiu'u
Te Maire Martin
Luke Metcalf
Marcelo Montoya
Adam Pompey
Paul Roache
Jazz Tevaga
Taine Tuaupiki
Demitric Vaimauga

Players who appeared in the NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and SG Ball Cup (6):
Jaydee Auloa
Kayliss Fatialofa
Sio Kali
Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea
Motu Pasikala
Nganatatafu Vake

Players who appeared in the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup (6):
Toby Crosby
Harry Durbin
Luke Hanson
Caleb Laiman
Tanner Stowers Smith
Makaia Tafua

Players who appeared in the Jersey Flegg Cup and SG Ball Cup (16):
Alvin Chong-Nee
Tallan Egan
Jeriko Filipi-Talisau
Augustino Filipo
Malachi Filipo
Mikaele Ilaiu
Andrew Nansen
Kalani Peyroux Donaldson
Lyrakai Posimani
Jason Salalilo
Junior Sikuvea
Raphael Sio
Jesse Soric
Francis Tuimauga
Hiraki Waitai Haenga
Maui Winitana-Patelesio