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'Way more togetherness': Webster credits Warriors off-field cohesion for on-field resilience
Stephen Foote • May 6th, 2025 3:30 pm
Photo: NRL/Photosport
One of the biggest pain points for the 2024 version of the NZ Warriors was their inability to close out tight contests.
The side dropped seven matches by six points or less, results that came back to haunt them late in their campaign, as they tried to sneak their way into the top eight.
But looking at the current Warriors edition, lessons have clearly been learned from that experience.
Just eight weeks into their new season, the men from Mt Smart have shown the kind of grit and late-game fortitude that had so often abandoned them last year, no better exemplified than in their dogged effort to hold off the North Queensland Cowboys' charge in Brisbane last weekend.
As to what's behind the reversal of that trend, Andrew Webster says there's been no secret technical antidote - putting it down simply to the team's cohesion as a unit, both on and off the field.
"Honestly, probably the missing formula of all that is just how tight the boys are," Webster explained.
"I'm not saying we weren't close last year, but there's definitely a different level of care towards each other and wanting to have each other's backs.
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"We're certainly not perfect at the moment. I actually think we're probably not playing as good as we were at times last year. We're probably more clinical.
"But this year we've got way more fight and way more togetherness."
Webster was among those sweating out the final 30 minutes of their showdown with the Cowboys, when the momentum of the Warriors' magnificent first half swung dramatically in the Queenslanders' favour, only for his team to showcase their newfound resilience to hold on and bank the two competition points which likely would've gone begging in a similar situation in 2024.
"So many fundamental mental errors," Webster reflected.
"But I thought we were clinical in the first half with our attacking defence, the best half of footy we've played.
"Then I was just really rapt in our fight - to defend your tryline for that long and still win against probably one of the best attacking teams in the competition."
The Warriors now have an opportunity to bank a fourth consecutive win - their sixth in their last seven - across the ditch against the St George Illawarra Dragons, who'll be smarting after a heartbreaking loss to the Wests Tigers at Magic Round.
"I feel like they're working really hard and, particularly going back to their home ground this weekend, will be a tough side to crack.
"Things aren't probably quite going the way they like them but we have a lot of respect for them.
"I think that they've got great variations with the footy and we're just going to have to be ready."
