Andrew Webster: Warriors Coach ahead of their first match of the NRL season

Cautious optimism from Warriors league coach Andrew Webster that his side can make another NRL leap this year. 

They start their campaign tomorrow against the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart without co-captain Mitch Barnett and halfback Luke Metcalf, as both are returning from knee injuries. 

Webster told Mike Hosking that last year's opening match serves as a reminder of over evaluating a pre-season. 

He says they’re comfortable where they are, but until you get punched in the face round one, you don’t really know where you’re at. 

The Warriors finished sixth last year, exiting in the first round of the finals to Penrith. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So here we go. The Warriors are beck this is
our year twenty twenty six. Styles Tomorrow the opener against
the Roosters, Lup Metcalf, tomorraw Martin still out, Mitch Barnett
is there, but of course going Coach Andrew Webster's back
with this morning.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Morning to you.

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Andrew. You enter the season with what level of optimism.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
Twenty I'm laughing because identally like every year, I've got optimism.
I'm an optimistic person, and yeah, I'm excited. If we
improve on last year and we stay healthy, I think
we can definitely improve in the competition.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
Let's stay healthy thing? I mean, is there anything a coach,
any organization can do about things that you just can't
see happening or coming?

Speaker 2 (00:44):
Well, Like, a lot of clubs put a lot of
time and effort and resources into preventing injuries, and we
do that. We're very good at it. Also a lot
of time in once the player returns, putting a lot
of effort in that doesn't reoccur the same injury, particularly
around soft tissue. But broken barones, acls, big ones like that.

(01:07):
The only thing you could stop them from her themselves
is put them in the garage and don't let them out.
But the big thing you can do to have a
successful years have real depth in your squad, which in
certain positions. I certainly think we've.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Got the preseason and what we've seen, what have you
got out of it? And no, are you happy?

Speaker 2 (01:27):
Yeah, we're fit and well. I think every year probably
said that, but the boys took it upon themselves this year.
They definitely came came back from their breaks fitter. We
obviously send them away. They have strong player union represent representation,

(01:49):
so they get good time off, but they came back
in a real professional standard and they're fit and ready
to go, so that's that's good. I'm definitely I'm definitely happy.
The thing I compare it to previous pre seasons and
I think it's certainly one of the better ones. We're not.
The thing I'd say is we're not completely healthy is

(02:10):
in we've got some players to return early rounds, but
we pride ourselves on next man up and yeah, I'm
completely comfortable where we are. But until you get punished
in the face round one, which we experienced last year
in Vegas, you kind of don't know where you're at.

Speaker 1 (02:27):
And what do you make of the draw I mean
does the draw matter. It is what it is.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
I think there's I think there's different things that can
event be an advantage, but it is what it is.
Like I don't put time or energy wasting. I don't
get an opportunity to control it myself as the head coach.
So we go on the road in New Zealand twice,
which is awesome, go to Wellington and christ Church which
we'd expand our network outside of Auckland, which is awesome.

(02:56):
I haven't gotten in too much detail. If you looked
at last he's a top eight team. How often we play.
I just worry about the first block of games and
it's a tough run. But if we want to be successful,
going to have to beat those teams.

Speaker 1 (03:10):
Those that you've signed off season, they settled, they look good,
you feel good about them.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, they're all definitely, there are all different stages of
their career. Hates Meloge is a young guy who's you know,
on his way up. He's got a basketball background, he's
learning the game. He's come to us really professional state.
He hasn't debut yet, but he's progressing well. Morgan gann

(03:38):
and he's come from the UK. He's played a lot
of football for a young guy, but he obviously hasn't
played in the NRL, and I think he's done a
really good job to get close to a Round one
and to see where he's at. And we'll know that
in the next sort of a week or so, So
Ye're really happy there. And Lofty Camperera like he's he's

(03:59):
done any exceptional job to fit in as a person.
He shows his how athletic and how fast he is,
So yeah, they've all done a good job at different
stages of the development. I mean, Loft's played a lot
of first grade so Roger, him and Dallan are finding
it out for Round one right now.

Speaker 1 (04:13):
Mitch Bunnett, did that for you? Come out of nowhere
or not?

Speaker 2 (04:20):
I felt like, but Mitch and I have opened dialogue
all the time. We have a really good relationship. Obviously
he's the captain. We've been through a fair journey together
since twenty twenty three, and he could tell that he
was obviously going through a lot, and it didn't shock
me in the end because I felt like he was

(04:41):
just over time. Him and I were discussing it and
was what needed to happen for him and his family,
and we supported that, so it wasn't like a shock
thing in the last week that this is what's going
to happen. I hoped for big periods of time that
he could he could stay, but in the end, I knew,

(05:04):
I knew that it definitely needed to happen, and I
supported it.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
And you've got no doubt in your mind that a
guy who's leaving is still good for the season.

Speaker 2 (05:10):
Mentally, not every person, but with Mitch Barnett, I've got
no doubt. He's our captain. He plays origin. He cares
so much about this place to the point where I
think the decision was so hard for him. If he
didn't care, he would have come to it that decision easily.
And I think people are going to have to trust

(05:31):
myself that I've been a part of this conversation for
a while with him, and I just know much how
much he cares. So if anything, I think it could
galvanize us for this season. And I think, if you know,
Mitch's the guy that wants to repay people, He really
cares about people showing him loyalty. So I think the

(05:51):
way he will repay that this year and is the
way he plays on the field.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Listen, just broader questions on league. I'm reading a lot
at the moment about Landy's and the broadcasting deal that
may or may not happen soon Vegas, all that sort
of stuff. Rugby league seems to be as hot as
it gets. I mean, is that how it feels to you?

Speaker 2 (06:09):
It is, mate, it really is. Like honestly, it's in
the in the twilight of its of its time that
I can remember, probably the laid eighties of your team,
the Turner and things like that. I've been moments when
the Warriors came in that was a cool time for
rugby league. But honestly, as a as a game across

(06:30):
both countries Australia and New Zealand, it couldn't be going better.
And the NRL is so huge, I mean, they've put
a lot of time into the product, like around ball
and play, what does the what does the fan get
in the grand stand? What does the fan get home?
At television level? And they're done an amazing job, honestly,

(06:51):
the players, the NRL, it's a great product and it's
it's absolutely flying at the moment.

Speaker 1 (06:57):
And also more broadly speaking, yeah, the g and Carlos
thing that the Phoenix the other day. When you look
at a thing like that, how much is on the
coach at.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
The end of the day, where it's our job to
be responsible for the outcome. Now, I think a lot
of fans can say, I can say, well, you're not
out there playing, and you know it's not up to a
year ago out there. The players have got to take
responsibility at some stage, and I definitely agree with that,
But it's our job to get the best out of it,

(07:28):
and the buck stops of us and then the day
and that's why they hire and fire coaches because it's
hard to replace the whole team. Now, I think in
every situation, it's obviously should be measured in its own right.
Is it the right roster? Did that coach inherit that

(07:48):
you know? I mean, is he trying to change things?
Often this pain before success. So I think you've got
to look at it at an individual basis. And I
don't know enough about the A League if I'm being
brought honest, and I don't know enough about that situation
that you mentioned. I just know the scoreline. But he
obviously felt like someone else neanted to take him in

(08:09):
addition direction, and that's fair, so.

Speaker 1 (08:13):
Stop me if I'm getting a hit of myself of
the season. Are you ready? Top eight, top four, final two.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
Well, we're shooting for all of it, or shooting for
the highest point we can. When I talk about it
on a weekly basis, our goal every years to win
the camp. Is it easy though, Like we don't think
it is. We're not taking that for granted. But you've
got to believe in yourselves. If it wasn't realistic, I'd

(08:40):
be very disappointed. You asked me what I thought of
the way where we are and then my optimistic about
the season. Yeah, I am. We've got a great bunch
of guys, like I, got a lot of beliefs in them,
got a great staff. It's a great club. But we're
really going to have to improve and I think we
can good stuff.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
All right, mate, Go well, we'll catch up during the season.
Andrew who Webster, coach of the Warriors, And yes, indeed
we believe that this. For more from the Mic Asking Breakfast,
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