23 Oct 2023

Andrew Webster rewarded for breakthrough NRL season with three-year extension

3:31 pm on 23 October 2023
Dylan Walker of the Warriors (L) with coach Andrew Webster (R) during the NRL Semi Final match between the New Zealand Warriors and Newcastle Knight

Photo: Fiona Goodall

The Warriors have extended the contract of head coach Andrew Webster for another three years through to the end of the 2028 NRL season.

The former Panther's assistant's initial contract ran until the end of 2025, but he has agreed to a further three years.

In his first year in charge, Webster guided the Auckland side to the NRL finals for the first time since 2018, falling just short of a Grand Final appearance last month and winning over the club's supporter base.

It was the side's first preliminary final since 2011, with the Warriors overwhelming the Knights in the semi-final, before going down to the Broncos in the preliminary final in Brisbane.

Webster rejuvenated the perennially underachieving club with a 17-10 win-loss record, the second equal best in the club's history.

"Both Andrew and I share the same vision, passion and commitment for success at our club on all levels," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George.

"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 was named Dally M Coach of the Year for his 2023 debut as head coach. As well as the 41-year-old claiming the NRL coach of the year accolade, halfback Shaun Johnson came close to winning the Dally M Medal.

Johnson was named in the team of the year along with winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and prop Addin Fonua-Blake.

Before joining the Warriors, Webster was assistant to Ivan Cleary at Penrith winning back-to-back premierships in 2021 and 2022.