Andrew Webster: Warriors Ready To Rock Despite Barnett Departure, Taine Tuapiki Extends Until '28

New Zealand Warriors coach Andrew Webster says his side is 'ready to rock' as he brushed off any concerns around losing more Australian players as they prepare for a first round match at their Mt Smart base.

The Warriors will lose Australian and NSW forward Mitchell Barnett at the end of the season after releasing him from the final year of his contract on compassionate grounds.

While Webster conceded it's a big loss for the club, he told reporters he isn't worried about losing more.

"It’s something that I always knew was something that could happen either way, either an Australian returning back to Australia to be closer to family, or a Kiwi returning home to be closer to family," he said at a media conference on Wednesday.

"If players aren't returning home for the same reason we probably don't get Fish (James Fisher-Harris). Addin (Fonua-Blake) left for those reasons and then we got Fish. It's just the way the game goes."

Ahead of a first round clash against the Roosters, Webster said it was nice to be in comfortable in Auckland compared to the rush of Las Vegas in 2025.

"I am looking forward to the challenge for the boys, it’s going to be a tough game," he said.

"Being home, Round 1 Mt Smart where we don’t have to travel and there’s not a circus around it… yeah a lot more comfortable being home." 

Asked on the influence of Daly Cherry-Evans, Webster said he expects the extra experience will help balance the Roosters side.

"A lot of things go through Sammy Walker and Tedesco so now they can balance the field up and he can be very dominant, like we know he can be.

"They're a dangerous spine and I think Cherry's going to add a lot."

One of the big stories out of New Zealand over the off season was 26 year-old fullback Taine Tuapiki extending until the end of the 2028 season.

"He’s a team guy first, he’s unbelievably ambitious," Webster said of Tuapiki.

"He’s not just sit here and be number two, he wants to play [and] when he does, he does an awesome job. 

"Him and Charnzre [Nicoll-Klokstad] are really good friends. They push each other, make each other better. As a result of that I think it’s a no brainer. Lot’s of clubs would love Taine and we love him at our place and wanted to keep him, so I'm just really grateful that he loves it here and wants to stay."

While the NRL's new six-man interchange rule is still in its infancy, Webster said Tuapiki is highly valuable.

"You might have to hold your nerve a little bit on the way you do your subs," he said.

"If you just put the specialist player on straight away and they play for 15 minutes then that means a forward missed out. It’s something that’s not that clear yet, until we get into the scenarios I think we’ll know a little better.  

"We've certainly gone through every single scenario if something happens and I think guys like Taine add a lot of value to your team."

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