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'I was always told I wasn’t good enough': Ford’s breakout drives Warriors scorching start
Stephen Foote • March 26th, 2026 10:37 am
Jackson Ford celebrates his try with Sam Healey | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
As you might expect, Jackson Ford isn't getting too far ahead of himself in the wake of his white-hot start to the NRL season.
The front-rower's career form has been a huge factor in the Warriors' 3-0 streak to begin their 2026 campaign.
That consistency hasn't gone unnoticed across the wider NRL, currently standing atop the Dally M voting - five ahead of Penrith Panthers stars Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards.
Reflecting on his efforts, the 28-year-old was quick to temper any plaudits, but concedes the resulting vibes around the squad have been high.
"It's only three weeks in, so I'm not going too far ahead of myself," Ford told Sport Nation's Running It Straight. "I just want to keep building that consistency.
"Around the camp it's been good. Three wins and from three, so you know you can't be disappointed with that.
"But I think we just can't get too far ahead of ourselves."
The New South Welshman had a monster afternoon in Newcastle, where he marked his 100th NRL outing by terrorising the Knights in the Warriors' emphatic 38-12 victory.
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In his first 80-minute outing of the year, Ford recorded a season-best 238 metres from 23 runs, which included 98 post-contact metres - all good enough for best on field in each category.
Throw into that mix two line breaks, two tackle breaks, a team-high 44 tackles, and a try and there's no disputing his standing as the most impressive player to date through the early stages of the competition.
Ford agrees his biggest strength as a player has always been his conditioning, and the faster version of rugby league seen this year, fuelled by the expansion of the "six again" law, has shone a brighter spotlight above his on-field impact.
That said, the 28-year-old concedes even he's been feeling that pinch.
Jackson Ford | Photo: Photosport
"That's definitely my strength, my fitness," he said.
"Really felt it last week. It's pretty hot over there in Newcastle and that first 20 minutes I was blowing, I haven't felt like that for a while. [Coach Andrew Webster] just said 'keep going, keep going' so I got through the first 20, which is probably the hardest part.
"I think some of these big boys, they're definitely starting to feel it with all these six agains now.
"Sometimes you're doing back-to-back 18 tackles and it's a bit of a slog in the middle there."
That self discipline and work ethic were forged by years of being knocked back during his climb through the ranks, forging a determination - and a healthy chip on the shoulder - that has become the bedrock of his game.
"Ever since I was a junior, I always got told I wasn't good enough and just kept having to work really hard to get into those squads," he recalled.
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"When I was with the Dragons, I was in the U16s and then the U18s, I always did the pre-seasons but when it came to the first trial game, I'd always get dropped and then never get to really play. I think that would have a bit to do with it.
"I'd be asked the next year and I'd go in and then the same thing happened. That was probably where I just started to knuckle down even when I was young."
Out to snap the Warriors flawless start this week will be the Wests Tigers, who will head to Mt Smart without injured star Jarome Luai.
Meanwhile, the Warriors welcome back their own prodigious half in Luke Metcalf, who'll play his first game since an ACL tear cruelly cut his 2025 short while he led the Dally M race.
After their first-round bye, Benji Marshall's men have split their two results to sit fourth on the ladder - and Ford admits he's not sure what to expect from them on what shapes to be a wet night in Auckland on Friday.
"You never really know what you're going to get with the Tigers, so we've got to expect they're going to spring their A game over here.
"It's a great game for us. We love that sort of time slot over here. The crowd gets around it, nice and dark, all the drums and the fire.
"We've got to just to keep playing our game. We've done pretty well at that the first few rounds, so we've just got to keep trying to get better at our own game."
Listen to the full interview below:
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