Articles by KiwiLeagueCentral.com

Will and Brad gingerly return from a two-month hiatus for a pow-wow about the NRL’s return, the Warriors’ chances and a whole bunch of injury, signing and line-up stuff ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Dragons – plus a special throwback Music Box featuring ‘Brandy’ Alexander. CLICK HERE TO LISTEN This Warriors Life Podcast 2020: Ep 7 – re-pre-season NZ Top 50 of 2020 | 50-41 Gary Kemble on getting smashed by ‘Artie’, marking a legend and memories of ‘77 NRL to Resume with 20-Round...

Kiwileaguecentral.com is counting down the top 50 New Zealand league players on the planet right now. To qualify for this list a player has to be eligible to play for New Zealand, but can be playing for another second-tier nation currently, hence the inclusion of those currently playing for Tonga, Samoa etc. Here’s spots 50-41… 50 – Elijah Taylor After appearing only 15 times at NRL level last season, Taylor was selected as the Tigers’ starting lock in their opening two games of 2020...

Kiwileaguecentral.com is counting down the top 50 New Zealand league players on the planet right now. To qualify for this list a player has to be eligible to play for New Zealand and have not represented another tier-one nation. But they can be playing for another second-tier nation currently, hence the inclusion of those currently playing for Tonga, Samoa etc. Here’s spots 40-31… 40 – Issac Luke If his first two games of 2020 are anything to go by, Luke is a revitalised man at the...

Kiwileaguecentral.com is counting down the top 50 New Zealand league players on the planet right now. To qualify for this list a player has to be eligible to play for New Zealand, but can be playing for another second-tier nation currently, hence the inclusion of those currently playing for Tonga, Samoa etc. Here’s spots 50-41… 50 – Sione Katoa Managed only seven games last year but scored four tries in that time. The Hamilton-born wing has a proven track record – having topped the...

The boys break down the new-look Warriors line-up and dissect the clash with the Knights, before getting into the other seven matches of Round 1 – including ‘Brad’s Boilover’ and ‘Will’s Wild Tip’. This Warriors Life Podcast 2020: ep 4 – round 1 preview RTS in and two debutants named Warriors secure rookie prop for two years Big guns named for Warriors final trial

Prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown and young second-rower Eliesa Katoa are poised to make their NRL debuts when the New Zealand Warriors open their 2020 campaign against Newcastle at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT). Taunoa-Brown, who also has Maori heritage, featured in the club’s final NRL trial against Wests Tigers in Rotorua on March 1 and now has his first-grade opportunity after playing in lower grades during stints with the Melbourne Storm and the...

Big prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has earned a full-time NRL contract with the New Zealand Warriors after impressing coaching staff throughout the preseason. The Melbourne-born 23-year-old has been signed on a two-year deal following a hectic last fortnight. Brought to Auckland on a trial contract, the 1.94m, 114kg Taunoa-Brown was selected to represent the Warriors at the Perth NRL Nines on February 14-15 and then flew directly to the Gold Coast to join the Australian Indigenous All-Stars for...

Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will lead the strongest available side in the Vodafone Warriors’ final NRL trial against Wests Tigers at the International Stadium in Rotorua on Sunday. After fielding a host of emerging players in last Saturday’s 16-18 loss to Melbourne in Palmerston North, head coach Stephen Kearney has named a vastly experienced squad. Maori Kiwis co-captain Adam Blair and standoff Kodi Nikorima both come into the side after helping their side to a famous 30-16 win over the...

New signing Wayde Egan has been named to make his club debut in the first 2020 NRL trial against the Storm in Palmerston North on Saturday (5.00pm kick-off). The 22-year-old hooker, who made 29 NRL appearances for Penrith in 2018 and 2019, will also be having his first outing since recovering from shoulder surgery last year. Egan is one of 10 players with NRL experience named by head coach Stephen Kearney. Tonga international David Fusitua is the most experienced player named, and is...

New Zealand Warriors prop Bunty Afoa looks set to miss most of the 2020 season after suffering a torn ACL during training last week. Afoa suffered the injury during a contact session, and it leaves the already size-depleted Warriors down a crucial forward ahead of the season kicking off next month. Warriors dealt Afoa injury blow Kiwis abroad – February 17 Wests Warriors to break new ground with Greece trip Warriors to be led by Papali’i at NRL Nines