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NZ Warriors extend 'resilient' centre Rocco Berry
Sport Nation • October 8th, 2026 2:36 pm
Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
The New Zealand Warriors have announced the extension of centre Rocco Berry for the 2027 NRL season.
Berry missed a large part of the 2026 NRL season through injury, but the Warriors have opted to extend the 25-year-old centre for another season.
The Warriors previously extended Berry to the end of 2026 after an impressive 2023 season in New Zealand, and have continued to show faith in the 50-cap centre.
Berry featured six times in 2026, all for the New South Wales Cup side.
Head coach of the NZ Warriors Andrew Webster, who extended his contract at the club until the end of the 2032 season, said the club have a lot of belief in Berry.
“Rocco adds so much to our team when he’s fit, and he’s determined to be ready for next season,” said Webster.
“We have so much belief in him. He competes like mad, he’s so fit, he makes our edges chase as he does and he gives balance to our team. He’s such an important part of our squad.”
Rocco Berry has been using the Warriors’ NSW Cup side as a stepping stone in his return from injury | Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Andrew McFadden echoes Webster's thoughts, praising Berry's resilience.
“We know the player Rocco can be, and we’re committed to giving him every opportunity to return to his best,” McFadden.
“While he has faced challenges along the way, especially this year, Rocco has shown how resilient he is as he does all he can to return to the NRL.”
NZ Warriors CEO Cameron George sat down with Sport Nation's Scotty & Izzy on Tuesday, where he mentioned the possibility of Berry re-signing with the Auckland-based franchise.
Rocco Berry's future with Warriors? | Scotty & Izzy
George said the club is also focused on celebrating good qualities in their players, as well as their on-field quality.
“Rocco shows the young guys what adversity looks like and how you push through it and he brings something to the table that other people can't," George said on Tuesday to Sport Nation.
“That's going to add value to when other players are getting injured and he's being seen to be pushing through the pain barrier to get back on the field and when things go against him, he keeps his head up. He is a positive influence around the club.
“Those people we want to keep as much as we can, along with all of our other great leaders, and we celebrate them like they are great people, great leaders, and they'll leave something in the jumper behind.
“One thing that the game, the club, really, really focuses on is celebrating those really good qualities in the person before the footballer.”
