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Webster: Why breakout Warriors star Leka Halasima's role has been reduced
Stephen Foote • August 28th, 2025 1:46 pm
Leka Halasima | Photo: Photosport
Teen sensation Leka Halasima has undeniably been one of the breakthrough highlights of the NZ Warriors' 2025 NRL season.
The 19-year-old has been a wrecking ball for the Auckland-based side, capturing the imagination of not just the Warriors' fanbase, but NRL fans across the board with his precocious talents, no better exemplified than in his jaw-dropping solo effort to steal a golden-point victory against the Knights last month.
But for the Warriors' last two outings, Halasima has been demoted to a bench role, resulting in his minutes being dramatically reduced.
That shift came after a couple of lacklustre, error-ridden nights out for the former Pt Chevalier Pirate, which coach Andrew Webster says were an indication it was time to pull the reins back on the youngster.
Webster believes Halasima is destined to become a player capable of starting and remaining on the field and impactful for the duration of a match.
But with Kurt Capewell and Marata Niukore recovered from injury and consistently available, he insists both the team and Halasima himself are best served by playing from the pine.
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"I'm not saying I'm smart, but the smart ones bring them along at the right speed and the right time," Webster said.
"They have to play 80 sometimes because of injuries and they play 80 and then you've got to pull them back.
"You saw a couple of weeks ago here at home he dropped the ball almost every time it came to him. That's where he's at in his career. His tackling at times is great, at times it's not.
"We're not okay with it but we understand that's where he's at. He's 19, and we're okay that he's going to improve and eventually he's gonna be an 80-minute player.
"I think a lot of people want him in their (NRL Fantasy). But we're doing the right thing by him."
Earlier this month, Halasima copped some criticism for his involvement, or lack thereof, during the decisive final play against the Dolphins, when his need for treatment from a trainer left the outside defence exposed to allow Jamayne Isaako to score the game-winning try at the death.
Webster went into bat for his young forward, confirming it was a double leg cramp that prevented him taking his place in the defensive line.
"That's all part of his journey," he added.
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"Leka is a beauty, we love him. We're patient and I'll tell you, there's going to be a time when we need him to play 80 again. That'll come."
And recent results make Webster's formula difficult to argue with.
Righting a somewhat shaky ship with consecutive victories, the Warriors have their own top-four fate in their hands.
Wins over the Parramatta Eels on Friday and the Manly Sea Eagles in their regular season finale the following weekend will lock up the all-important fourth-place finish.
Although their playoff chances are dead and buried, the 14th-placed injury-plagued Eels, inspired by red-hot half Mitchell Moses, are fresh off a demolition of the surging Sydney Roosters and looking to give their fans more reasons to be encouraged heading into 2026.
"We're chasing our best football, so an in-form team that's fearless is an awesome challenge for us.
"I honestly believe if they had been healthy this year with injuries, they would have been playing finals. We're aware of that. We don't take them lightly at all. We have a lot of respect for them.
"But we've got to focus on stringing our best performance together. They're in-form, we're playing really good football."
Tune into Sport Nation for live commentary of the NZ Warriors vs Parramatta Eels from Go Media Stadium, this Friday from 6.30pm, kick-off at 8pm.
