The Warriors' Australian chief executive, Cameron George, expects newly appointed general manager Brian Smith to be of a boost to the young players coming through the club's ranks.
The Auckland-based club confirmed the hiring of the Australian after a disappointing 2017 season, in which they finished 13th on the ladder.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE, George is confident the rugby league veteran's track record speaks volumes for what the fans can expect he'll bring to the Warriors.
"One thing Bryan's been extremely successful at is implementing very good grassroots and pathways and development programmes through the clubs he's been at.
"That's clearly demonstrated at Parramatta and the likes. He's very well connected in the rugby league landscape internationally.
"In terms of his coaching record, it's extremely good. Despite the fact he hasn't won a premiership, he's certainly been in a number of grand finals."
George says the process of filling the position involved taking a long, hard look at themselves, and coming to the realisation Smith is the ideal candidate to bear the responsibilities.
"We spoke to a number of personnel, and in Bryan Smith we found someone that ticked all boxes from his experience as a coach, from managing football departments at multiple clubs both in Australia and the UK.
"Someone that's got so much knowledge that no one in the organisation even comes near it, so he's going to be a great benefit to us.
"It's an area we can improve, and there's no use hiding that fact or trying to dance around it - it's an area we have to improve in. It's an area every club is very strong at and we need to get better at it."
He also believes Smith will be of great help to coach Steve Kearney, and in lightening the workload he's had to deal with in the past.
He hopes he'll provoke some extra thought and will question any on-going processes at the club he sees fit.
"I thought it was best for the business for Steve Kearney that we get a manger in, hence the GM football role," he says.
"When we started looking at what the role comprises of, it's management; it's overlooking the whole aspect of the football department, also to offer some advice or challenge the status quo in what we're doing - whether it be on the park or off the park in that area."
Newshub.
