Andrew Webster is back at the scene of his debut as an NRL head coach for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round eight encounter with the Dolphins at Hnry Stadium in Wellington tonight.
It was also in that season-opening game against Newcastle on May 3, 2023, that current co-captain Mitchell Barnett made his first appearance for the club (and against his former team).
While that contest was of special moment for both coach and player – and delivered a solid 20-12 victory – this 2026 visit is on another level.
First and foremost because it’s on Anzac Day, which has such deep meaning and significance for both New Zealand and Australia: A day to remember and honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for those to follow.
In bringing their traditional Anzac Round match to the Capital for the first time, the Warriors have generated unprecedented passion for a rugby league game in Wellington by selling out the 34,500 capacity Hnry Stadium.
That means the crowd has more than doubled in size from the 16,676 attendance for the match against the Knights three years ago, reflecting the level of nationwide fervour for the Warriors. It will be the fourth biggest crowd for a Warriors game in New Zealand (sitting behind only three games at Eden Park in 2011, 2012 and 2013).
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
2nd Position
away Team
Dolphins
12th Position
Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
On arrival in Wellington on Thursday the Warriors immediately embraced the Anzac Day tone of the game when Webster, Barnett and co-captain James Fisher-Harris paid their respects at the Gallipoli: The Scale of our War exhibition at Te Papa.
“Traditionally we used to go to Melbourne and play against the Storm (on Anzac Day) but this is the third year in a row that we’ve been able to host it in New Zealand,” said Webster.
“We were in Auckland two years ago, Christchurch last year and now Wellington.
“It’s really nice to be a part of Anzac Day. The occasion gets the boys in the frame of mind where they want to do their best to pay their respect.”
Of the 2023 Warriors side, the only players still in the lineup for tonight’s match are Barnett, hooker Wayde Egan and prop Jackson Ford. Other 2026 squad members Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Te Maire Martin and Marata Niukore all played that night but are missing this time.
Webster will be coaching the Warriors for the 84th time tonight.
