A standout 2025 season has seen promising One New Zealand Warriors forward Eddie Ieremia-Toeava upgraded to the club’s top 30 NRL squad as well as earning a contract extension to the end of the 2028 season.
It’s a birthday present and Christmas gift rolled into one for the Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior who turned 21 on Monday.
A year after being signed on a development contract, Ieremia-Toeava has filled the NRL roster vacancy created by hooker Freddy Lussick’s departure.
It ices a season in which he made his first-grade debut as Warrior #294, the first of five appearances which included his first NRL try in the away win over the Titans.
He also played a leading hand in helping the One New Zealand Warriors to win the New South Wales Cup minor premiership for the first time and savoured further history with back-to-back title victories in the space of a week in the NSW Cup grand final and the NRL State Premiership.
“It’s just reward for Eddie. He richly deserves this,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“He has grabbed every opportunity as he has worked his way through our pathways, providing an outstanding example of the talent we have in our system.”
After making his first-grade debut against the Dolphins in round 22, Ieremia-Toeava added appearances against St George Illawarra, Gold Coast, Parramatta and Manly Warringah, all off the bench.
“Eddie stands out in so many ways, a real asset to the club and a tremendous example for all aspiring players coming through our pathways,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
“His work rate, energy and attitude are exceptional. When it comes to training few, if any, train harder than him. It’s exciting having him added to our fulltime squad.”
Ieremia-Toeava is the sixth of the Warriors’ current wave of young home-grown players to come through the club’s pathways system since 2023 to make their NRL debuts.
He follows Demitric Vaimauga (22), Ali Leiataua (22), Jacob Laban (21), Leka Halasima (20) and Tanner Stowers-Smith (21) with yet-to-debut second rower Kayliss Fatialofa (20) also joining the top 30 squad from 2026.
Ieremia-Toeava has risen rapidly through the club’s pathways system after earlier juggling his rugby league commitments with the Ōtāhuhu Leopards and First XV rugby union with De La Salle College.
His development was fast-tracked in 2024 when he bypassed both the under-19 (SG Ball Cup) and under-21 (Jersey Flegg Cup) competitions to spend the entire season with the Warriors’ reserve grade side in the New South Wales Cup; not only that, he appeared in all of the team’s 25 games.
Besides his five NRL games he made 17 NSW Cup appearances this year scoring six tries while averaging 90 metres and 37 tackles a game.
Profile | Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Born: December 15, 2004
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Junior club: Ōtāhuhu Leopards
Position: Second row/middle
Height: 190cm
Weight: 96kg
NRL debut: One New Zealand Warriors v Dolphins, Go Media Stadium, August 1, 2025 (Rd 22)
Warriors No: 294
NRL career: 5 appearances (2025)
NRL points: 4 (1 try)
New South Wales Cup appearances: 46 (2023-2025)
New South Wales Cup points: 48 (12 tries)
SG Ball Cup (under-19) appearances: 8 (2023)
SG Ball Cup (under-19) points: 8 (2 tries)
