The Warriors have suffered a major blow to their NRL campaign with captain Tohu Harris ruled out for the rest of the season following surgery.
A chronic wrist injury has been impacting the 234-game veteran’s performance for much of the season.
After playing the first 10 games of the campaign, Harris was given a four-week break after the clash against the Roosters on 12 May to treat the wrist injury.
The 32-year-old returned for the round 14 match against the Cowboys and then played in the following three games against the Storm, Titans and Broncos. Used off the bench in three of the encounters, he was on the field for just 25 minutes in the win over Brisbane.
While Harris was originally named for the round 18 clash against the Bulldogs on 6 July, he was subsequently withdrawn and initially ruled out indefinitely before a decision was made to have surgery.
In his 14 appearances this season, Harris averaged 132 metres and 37 tackles a game.
Captain Tohu Harris re-signs with Warriors until end of 2025 season
New Zealand Warriors captain Tohu Harris has added another year to his stay with the club by re-signing until the end of the 2025 NRL season.
Preparing for his third year as captain, the 31-year-old, off contract at the end of the 2024 campaign, has re-committed for an eighth season with the club.
The inspirational Harris led the New Zealand Warriors to their first preliminary final in 12 years this season as he achieved twin milestones of playing his 200th career game and his 100th for the club.
“It’s tremendous for us knowing we’ll have Tohu for another season,” New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden said.
“He has been so critical in helping us to where we are today, a job he started in the tough times away from home in Australia.”
Warriors head coach Andrew Webster, recently re-signed until 2028, said Harris’ re-signing was a major boost ahead of the 2024 campaign.
“I’m a huge fan of Tohu’s. He’s an unbelievable player and person who means so much to our club,” he said.
“Without him and his leadership on and off the field we certainly wouldn’t be where we are right now.
“When I first talked to him before returning here I was so impressed by his passion and what he wants for the club. He proved that throughout the last season and now he has the opportunity to take the team further as we seek more improvement.”
Harris became the New Zealand Warriors’ 12th captain when he took over from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of the 2022 season; now the pair will be reunited with Tuivasa-Sheck back at the club for a second stint.
The 2023 season was the busiest of Harris’ six years with the club. He played 23 of the 27 matches averaging 69 minutes, 140 metres and 40 tackles a game.
A two-time winner of the Simon Mannering Medal in 2020 and 2021, Harris was a finalist for the 2023 Dally M Captain of the Year award.
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