One New Zealand Warriors front rower Jackson Ford has secured a two-year deal to extend his stay with the club until the end of the 2029 season.
Joining the Warriors on a two-year contract in 2023, the 28-year-old will now remain at Go Media Stadium for at least seven seasons.
After starting as a second rower, Ford moved into a front row role midway through the 2024 season establishing himself as one of the NRL’s premier props this season before a pectoral injury sidelined him after the round 16 clash against the Cowboys in Christchurch in June.
“Jackson has transformed his career since starting with us,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“It’s a testament to his work ethic and attitude that he has now established himself as one of the best front rowers in the NRL. It’s fantastic have him here long-term.”
Ford’s performances in the first half of the season saw him on top of the Dally M player of year leaderboard for several weeks before dropping to second just behind Penrith’s Nathan Cleary when voting went behind closed doors.
“Jackson was in the form of his life in the first half of the season. He was awesome,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.
Match: Warriors v Panthers
Round 23 -
home Team
Warriors
3rd Position
away Team
Panthers
1st Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
“We were really confident in what we saw in him when we signed him. We could see he had a massive motor and he worked really hard. He has proved that over and over ever since he came here. We love him.”
In his 13 appearances this year before he was injured early in the North Queensland match Ford averaged more than 173 metres, well in excess of his previous best of 124 a game in 2025. Seven times he has played the full 80 minutes and another three of 70 plus minutes. He has also shouldered a heavy defensive workload making 40-plus tackles in eight of his 13 games (averaging 43 tackles a game).
Profile | Jackson Ford
Born: February 17, 1998
Birthplace: Shellharbour, NSW
Junior club: Gerringong Lions
Position: Prop
Height: 187cm
Weight: 101kg
Previous club: St George Illawarra Dragons (2019-2022)
NRL debut: St George Illawarra Dragons v Gold Coast Titans, Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney, August 10, 2019 (Rd 21)
One New Zealand Warriors No: 276
One New Zealand Warriors debut: v Newcastle Knights, Sky Stadium, Wellington, March 3, 2023 (Rd 1)
NRL games: 111 (2019-2026)
St George Illawarra Dragons: 33 appearances (2019-2022)
One New Zealand Warriors: 78 (2023-2026)
NRL points: 16 (16 tries, 1 goal)
