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The culture details that drove the Warriors to the NRL Finals
Alex Chapman • September 9th, 2026 2:27 pm
Warriors celebrate their win over South Sydney in Round 25 | Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
There’s a term that’s consistently uttered at Warriors HQ.
It's spoken, rather than shouted, but it's done so with pride and passion and is believed by many to be the purpose behind their success this year.
Culture.
“I think our whole team is full of good people, and that's why we've been going so well.” half Chanel Harris-Tavita tells Sport Nation.
“I reckon people want to work hard, but there's a balance of working hard and having fun off the field as well.”
But what that culture means to each individual ranges and changes with who you talk to.
For winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, it’s heritage.
“There’s a lot of pūkana getting around.” he laughs.
"I'm used to a lot of Aussie boys, and to have a lot of boys that were brought up somewhere else in a different country. It's kind of cool. You get to learn their lingo, their slang and it's awesome.”
Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira | Photo: Jason O'Brien/AAP
A man of Bundjalung, Māori, Samoan and Pakistani backgrounds, the team’s fastest player is proud of where he comes from, though concedes he’s still unsure who he’ll represent at State and International level.
“It's cool to have that mix. Yeah, it's awesome. I can't really say I'm balanced with any other side of the culture. Honestly, I think I'm evenly balanced all out.
"I'd go to mum's side, and she's making some curries and then go to dad's side and it's like an umu on. It's crazy. It's definitely culturally rich, my family, but to come here and share that with a lot of boys that have similar cultures is awesome.”
For others in the team, culture is about the off-field connection.
The likes of Harris-Tavita credit the closeness of the group with their success.
“I think we invest a lot of energy into building combinations with like when we're talking about footy and stuff, but also when we're not at training and we're not playing footy, we're always hanging out with each other. We're playing golf, playing cards, and just doing random stuff together.”
What does culture look like at the Warriors? | Sport Nation
Playing video game Call of Duty Black Ops is another recent addition.
“Macca (Makaia Tafua) is the best I think at the moment. And Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is the worst.”
Usually found in the bush or water, even hunting and fishing fanatic Te Maire Martin’s been bitten by the golf bug.
His priorities away from footy are still clear though.
“We're starting to get into the nice time of year. Finals footy. Water's getting warmer. Kinas are getting fat. Pigs are getting good. It’s actually a good time for everything. It’s a good time to be alive.
“I was so anti-golf for a little bit there and I can see why they like it. I've had a terrible run the last couple of months where it's been too windy to go fishing, or I can't be bothered driving all the way home to go pig hunting. So, I've been tagging along with them going golfing and it's alright.”
Harris-Tavita jokes that his halves partner “might get some clubs soon, and some lessons, hopefully.”
But it’s veteran Kurt Capewell who’s taking and receiving credit for the influx of teammates who have turned into different sorts of weekend warriors.
"Cameron George (Warriors CEO) actually said to me in the sheds the other day, he came up to me personally and thanked me for the Mulligang and our contributions to the club this year.”
The golf-themed Instagram page which stars Capewell and Harris-Tavita, as well as hooker Wayde Egan and prop Jackson Ford, has garnered more than 27-thousand followers.
Capewell jokes it could be a factor in receiving a one-year contract extension in July.
"It may have something to do with it, I'm sure. Plenty of new supporters for the club but big shout out to the Mullingang supporters, we see you, stay in it, stay over it and appreciate the support.”
Away from the course, Capewell, a State of Origin representative of 192 NRL games, feels the club is in a “really good place”, with the connection off the field arguably more important than on.
“I feel like we've got such a good group of young players come through. They've been through the grades together and they're really happy to be here working hard together and trying to get better and better every week.
"I've been lucky enough to be here over the last few years and see them develop and make their work ethic second to none. Players like Jakey Laban, who's having the best season of his career and really taking the game by storm, but he's showing up training day in day out trying to get better.
"They definitely don't get ahead of themselves, they're as hungry as they've ever been and it's just a pleasure to be a part of it and to be able to keep them going now that it's finals time, and just remind them that it's work as usual.”
Behind the bond between CHT & TMM | Sport Nation
