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NRL finals: Which team should Warriors fans support now?
Sam Ackerman • September 16th, 2025 12:34 pm
NRL Finals | Photo: AP
Warriors fans - lost on who to support for the last three weeks of the NRL season?
For those of us who fell in love with rugby league before the advent of the Warriors, we have heritage supporting other teams. But for those who have only known the sport as a Wahs fan or a fresh to the bandwagon - here’s a rundown of the Kiwi and Warriors connections remaining in the last six teams.
Whether it sways you to get behind them - or puts them in your crosshairs - that call is up to you!
Melbourne Storm
The competition favourites have long had a strong Kiwi connection, but some of the key members of this year’s squad are currently on the sidelines.
2024 Dally M Medalist and first-choice Kiwis halfback Jerome Hughes is fighting the clock to return for the finals after suffering an arm injury, but the season is over for his test and Storm team-mate Nelson Asofa-Solomona. The ‘Human Eclipse’ is one of the NRL judiciary’s most regular visitors, serving a 3 game ban than will end after the Grand Final (should Melbourne make it that far.
There are more with New Zealand heritage in the backlines, with triple international Will Warbrick a feel-good story - back after a season plagued with concussion symptoms and a key weapon on the wing. Centre Jack Howarth played for New Zealand A a few seasons ago - but as he seems to be leaning towards making himself available for Queensland State of Origin selection, that might be a black mark in deciding which team to be your finals fling. But the versatile Joe Chan has a strong Kiwi connection - his father Alex wore the famed black and white jersey in the test arena.
In the pack, star backrower Eli Katoa is one of the Warriors that got away, trading Mt Smart for Melbourne in a move that’s seen the Tongan international become one of the leading try-scoring forwards in the NRL.
Ativalu Lisati has benefited from NAS being regularly sidelined to play a role from the bench, along with Auckland born Alec McDonald - nick-named the Chin.
With former NZ Sevens Olympian Moses Leo and Josiah Pahulu also on the books, there’s a lot to like about the Storm’s links to Aotearoa.
The Storm are a hard team for Warriors fans to barrack for - Melbourne broken their hearts and bruised their ego consistently in recent years.
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Canberra Raiders
The Green Machine have plenty of black and white running through their veins.
It starts with their break-out fullback Kaeo Weekes. A man proud of his Māori whakapapa - he’s named after the Northland town his family is from.
He’s joined in the backline by Kiwi internationals Matt Timoko and Seb Kris, making a mean centre pairing that could be called upon by Stacey Jones for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
A colossus for the Kiwis and Canberra, Joey Tapine is one of the most powerful front rowers in the competition and is the heartbeat of the Raiders pack as captain. ‘Big Papa’ Josh Papali’i is Auckland born, but chose the Maroon path of Queensland and the Kangaroos, before switching allegiance to Samoa.
There are a host of others in the Minor Premiers squad - Ellerslie Eagle Simi Sasagi, Ata Mariota from the Manurewa Marlins, former Kiwi international Danny Levi out of the Randwick Kingfishers and Manaia Waitere and Michael Asomua repping Hastings.
The Raiders have had the Warriors number this season, starting the Las Vegas belting and stealing a win at Mt Smart on the back of a Tapine ‘alpha’ performance.
Cronulla Sharks
Several of the Cronulla boys have Kiwi jerseys among their collection - headlined by try-scoring machine Ronaldo Mulitalo on the wing, a certain selection for the Pacific Championships.
Briton Nikora’s also a New Zealand international adding an important dynamic to the Sharkies pack, while the club’s biggest signing of 2025 came straight from the Warriors. Addin Fonua-Blake’s been immense for Craig Fitzgibbon’s side and is their X-factor for the finals. A former Kiwis international, he’s since shifted his Test loyalties to Tonga. Braden Hamlin-Uele has also reached Test level with the Kiwis.
KL Iro has family heritage with the Kiwis too - son of the great Kevin Iro - but represents his native Cook Islands.
Sione Katoa on the wing is Hamilton born but a Tonga test player, while New Plymouth’s former Junior Kiwi Mawane Hiroti, Pukekohe’s Māori All Star rep Tuku Hau Tupuha and fellow forward Oregon Kaufusi all hail from the land of the Long White Cloud.
The Sharks were the recipient of the Warriors most dominant showing this season and the two sides have had some classics in recent years - with the Wahs regularly coming out on the right side of it.
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Brisbane Broncos
Ask many Wahs fans, and this is THE rivalry, way back to the first-ever game in 1995. And feelings are often strong.
Whether you love him or hate him, Reece Walsh is no question the rockstar of the NRL. His time at the Warriors during the pandemic is a complicated relationship for Wahs fans - he was never going to stay with the club forever, but many hated seeing him leave before ever actually moving to NZ. You can tell his connection to NZ isn’t that strong - otherwise he’d have probably been suspended for his finals week one headbutt (check out Marcus Forbes coming off the long run on this one).
There are more palatable connections in the backline, with Otahuhu Leopards winger Josiah Karapani and Marist Saints centre Diene Mariner both among the try scorers in the epic golden-point win over the Raiders.
Jesse Arthars is often on the selection bubble, the Wellington-born former Warrior always a reliable option for coach Michael Maguire - the man they call ‘Madge’ still a loved figure here after leading the Kiwis to a famous Pacific Championships shut-out of the Kangaroos in 2023.
Heart-throb backorder Jordan Riki is a proud Kiwi and Hornby Panthers junior, with the likes of Benjamin te Kura (NZ A), Delouise Hoeter (Marist Saints), former Warrior Hayze Perham (Taupō), Israel Leota (Wellington) and Xavier Willison (Whatawhata Wolves) proving there’s plenty of love for Kiwis in the Brisbane recruitment system.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The weakest of the links to this side of the Tasman from the clubs still standing.
Popular former Warriors Josh Curran and Marcelo Montoya ply their trade for the Doggies, along with another who briefly featured for the Wahs, Te Atatu Roosters and Glenora Bears Zyon Maiu’u.
One of their key forwards, Sitili Tupouniua, learned his craft playing for the mighty Marist Saints.
The Doggies also belted the Warriors in the rain and dented their confidence late in the season - so not an easy team to get behind.
Penrith Panthers
The men that ended the Warriors’ season have one positive right out of the gate - Wahs fans can always say they lost to the eventual premiers should the Panthers make it 5 titles in a row. But if you can’t shake the grudge that they ended the 2025 dream, that’s fair enough too.
The most prominent link in the eyes of many is the Cleary connection. Former Warriors player and coach (plus one-time Kiwis assistant coach) Ivan at the helm and former Warriors ball-boy, Auckland-born Nathan driving the ship on the field - with little brother Jett part of the Warriors NSW Cup playoff picture.
There are a host of Kiwi internationals in their ranks, front-row leader Moses Leota and backrowers Scott Sorensen and
Isaiah Papali’i are crucial to Penrith’s defence-driven mindset.
After making his test debut for the Kiwis last year with a hat-trick against Papua New Guinea - Casey McLean has become a regular starter at centre, joined in the Panthers squad by brother Jesse McLean and fellow New Zealanders Asu Kepaoa, Luron Patea and Preston Riki. Throw in Riley Price - son of Warriors great Steve Price - and there’s a familiar feel to the defending champions.
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