For 30 seasons backs – mainly wingers and centres – reigned as the One New Zealand Warriors’ top try scorer but with his 13th try of the campaign on Saturday, rookie Leka Halasima has become the first forward to top the charts.
The 19-year-old back rower is also level with Melbourne’s Eliesa Katoa for the most tries by a forward in the entire NRL competition.
As it happened the try that moved Halasima clear of winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck came as a centre after being moved to start there for the first time in the elimination final defeat by the Panthers.
Tuivasa-Sheck finished with 12 tries from 19 appearances and centre Adam Pompey 11 from 25.
In the previous three seasons Dallin Watene-Zelezniak was the Warriors’ top try scorer joining other wingers Sean Hoppe, John Kirwan, Henry Fa’afili, Francis Meli, Todd Byrne, Manu Vatuvei, David Fusitu’a and Ken Maumalo who had previously headed the list.
NRL Highlights: What the Halasima - watch out it's Leka!
No one has come close to matching the remarkable Vatuvei – the club’s record try scorer with 152 in 226 matches – who was the top or equal top try scorer for eight straight seasons.
Others to take the honour or share it have been Nigel Vagana, Stacey Jones, Clinton Toopi, Brent Webb, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli, Konrad Hurrell, Shaun Johnson, Solomone Kata, Peta Hiku and Reece Walsh.
Top try scorers 1995-2025
| Season | Player | Tries | Games |
| 1995 | Sean Hoppe | 19 | 22 |
| 1996 | John Kirwan | 10 | 19 |
| 1997 | Sean Hoppe | 11 | 18 |
| 1998 | Nigel Vagana | 13 | 23 |
| 1999 | Stacey Jones | 15 | 24 |
| 2000 | Nigel Vagana | 12 | 26 |
| 2001 | Henry Fa'afili | 14 | 27 |
| 2002 | Clinton Toopi | 18 | 26 |
| 2003 | Francis Meli | 23 | 27 |
| 2004 | Francis Meli | 10 | 16 |
| 2005 | Todd Byrne | 14 | 22 |
| 2006 | Brent Webb | 11 | 22 |
| 2007 | Jerome Ropati | 10 | 12 |
| Grant Rovelli | 10 | 23 | |
| Manu Vatuvei | 10 | 23 | |
| 2008 | Manu Vatuvei | 16 | 17 |
| 2009 | Manu Vatuvei | 13 | 19 |
| 2010 | Manu Vatuvei | 20 | 19 |
| 2011 | Manu Vatuvei | 12 | 19 |
| 2012 | Konrad Hurrell | 12 | 17 |
| Shaun Johnson | 12 | 22 | |
| Manu Vatuvei | 12 | 20 | |
| 2013 | Manu Vatuvei | 16 | 19 |
| 2014 | Manu Vatuvei | 17 | 23 |
| 2015 | Solomone Kata | 12 | 24 |
| 2016 | Solomone Kata | 15 | 21 |
| 2017 | David Fusitu'a | 12 | 24 |
| 2018 | David Fusitu'a | 23 | 23 |
| 2019 | Ken Maumalo | 17 | 23 |
| 2020 | Peta Hiku | 8 | 18 |
| 2021 | Reece Walsh | 9 | 16 |
| 2022 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | 9 | 18 |
| 2023 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | 24 | 20 |
| 2024 | Dallin Watene-Zelezniak | 15 | 22 |
| 2025 | Leka Halasima | 13 | 25 |
