NZ Warriors have extended the contract of head coach Andrew Webster for another three years through the 2028 NRL season.
In his first year in charge of any team, Webster guided the Auckland club through a breakout year, reaching the post-season for the first time since 2018, finishing fourth in regular season standings and falling one win short of a third Grand Final appearance.
When he took over the Warriors, they were coming off their worst-ever regular season record (6-18) in 2022, but he virtually flipped that form around (15-7) to claim NRL Coach of the Year honours at the Dally M awards.
"Andrew has confirmed to us that he's the right fit for our club and his skills as a coach are what we need to cement our long-term development through our pathways," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George.
"He did an extremely good job this season and we have every confidence that he’ll continue to grow into the role. Both Andrew and I share the same vision, passion and commitment for success at our club on all levels.
"Another important element of extending his contract is that the stars of the future can see stability in long-term planning in the head coaching role and they see a coach who is driven to develop players of all age groups to become NRL players of the future for the Warriors."
Webster had served as Warriors assistant coach under Andrew McFadden from 2015-16, before filling the same role at Wests Tigers and Penrith Panthers, where he won back-to-back championships.
He was initially signed at the Warriors for three years, but as the 2023 season wore on, pressure mounted to secure him for longer.
One of the club's biggest mistakes in its history was letting Ivan Cleary slip through its fingers, after he guided the Warriors to the 2011 Grand Final. He has since won three championships with the Panthers.
Webster's holistic style has seen him compared to popular TV supercoach Ted Lasso, an American football guru hired to manage the fictional AFC Richmond soccer team in the English Premier League.
Under Webster's influence, several veterans produced the best form of their careers to power the Warriors campaign. Halfback Shaun Johnson, who had considered retirement, finished one vote short of the Dally M Medal for NRL Player of the Year, while Johnson, prop Addin Fonua-Blake and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak were also named in the Team of the Year.
He initially rebuffed talk of a contract extension, choosing to focus on the imminent playoff run, but has now confirmed his long-term future at Mt Smart.
"I never wanted to leave in the first place, so now I get to lock up the future, which I'm really grateful for," he said. "It was great being here as an assistant when I was at the club the first time and it's even better now.
"There’s a bright future from our pathways through to our NRL roster and especially in the front office, with [owner Mark Robinson] and Cameron). I truly feel we will have sustained success."
