Why sustainable pathways are crucial to Warriors success in NRLW return

The One NZ Warriors will make their return to the NRLW next season after a five-year hiatus.

On Monday, the club announced the appointment of Ron Griffiths as their head coach to guide the wahine through what will be a pivotal three-year period for the club.

Juggling his current role with the Newcastle Knights, where he coaches their NSW Cup side, Griffiths told SENZ Mornings that he is already putting in the overtime to build a competitive roster for 2025.

“I’ve been up early in the mornings working my way through things in terms of off-contract players, and players we’d like to bring back to New Zealand, to bring home,” said Griffiths.

“Been reaching out to respective managers and garnering new information around the salary cap and working out how that looks for us in terms of relocation for players, so we’ve got plenty on.”

With rumours of Black Ferns’ World Cup hero Ruby Tui making the leap to rugby league, and Portia Woodman-Wickliffe impeding retirement from international rugby union fueling further speculation of another code switch, the incoming coach is open to the idea of bringing across stars from rugby sevens or XVs.

“We would certainly explore that; they’re world-class athletes and the game isn’t too dissimilar. Further to that, they know how to prepare and train at a really high level and that’s something we’re looking for, to be able to set a standard from the word go.”

Griffiths comes into the role with an impressive coaching pedigree in the women’s game, having won back-to-back NRLW titles with the Knights in 2022 and 2023.

That first title saw the completion of an incredible turnaround for the club who had finished last in their inaugural season the previous year. Across those championship-winning NRLW seasons with Newcastle, Griffiths tallied a strong 16-2 win-loss record.

The New South Wales-native has also enjoyed success in the men's game when the coached the Indigenous All Stars to consecutive victories against the Māori All Stars in 2023 and 2024.

The Warriors’ 2025 expansion will be the club’s second foray into the women’s competition – the previous iteration an unfortunate casualty of the financial pressures created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Griffiths’ experience with taking a fresh team and building them into contenders is a challenge that excites the 46-year-old.

“To be involved in the inaugural side of things and set it up, and build something sustainable, I think that was really attractive.

“But further to that, I think the whole process from when the Warriors reached out was smooth and easy. I watched the ground swell of support for ‘The Wahs’ and I think we can build something similar for the wahine.”

That ground swell has seen the men’s side continue to sell-out home games through 2024 despite a rollercoaster of results.

Immersing himself and his family into the local Auckland community and to have “an experience of a lifetime” is an opportunity provided by his beloved sport that the coach is grateful for.

The three-year deal also allows Griffiths to get involved with Andrew McFadden, the club’s General Manager of recruitment, pathways, and development.

It has been an area of concern that the Warriors have worked hard to rebuild following the pandemic - on-field benefits have already taking shape in that department with their under-17 side recently winning the Harold Matthews Cup in their first year.

“By the time we leave there, we want to have a sustainable, successful female pathway where we can roll players off the production line and staff as well,” Griffiths added.

“Our job is to develop and promote within – I’m really looking forward to that opportunity as well, to work with the staff, and come up with a succession plan for when I’m not there.”

With Griffiths working towards a vision of sustained success and development, the Auckland-based club rejoin the NRLW as part of the planned expansion to 12 teams.

Listen to the full interview: