Warriors CEO, Rocco Berry on growing NZ rugby league

As talks of a second New Zealand franchise continue to gather momentum, the Warriors CEO has weighed in saying he believes the key to growing rugby league across the Tasman lies in building the foundations first.

Cameron George has threw his weight behind a nationwide junior pathways system modelled on the established competitions in New South Wales and Queensland, arguing that sustainable growth must come before expansion in an interview with the Daily Telegraph.

"The sole focus should be to build up junior domestic competitions to the same level as NSW and Queensland," George said.

"Having elite domestic competition will help underpin the opportunity for a second team. That's where we can get the talent out of rugby as well.

“These competitions will give more kids access to elite development opportunities.”

The Warriors' own experience backs up his case. Since introducing an under-17s side in 2024, the club has won back-to-back NSWRL junior competition titles, demonstrating what structured development can produce almost immediately.

Head of recruitment Andrew McFadden stressed the importance of getting the infrastructure right before racing toward expansion with importance being placed on keeping young New Zealand talent closer to home during their development years.

“All that infrastructure needs to be considered carefully,” he said.

"But the end goal should be that there are quality competitions for players to be able to stay in New Zealand and develop while they are with family.

"There is definitely enough talent. We would have to capture some of the First XV schoolboy rugby players. But the league under-17s competitions and schoolboy rugby First XV don't overlap with rugby, so it will allow these kids to play both."

The crossover potential is where things get genuinely interesting. New Zealand's rugby union pipeline produces some of the most athletic outside backs in the world, and both George and McFadden see that as fertile ground for league to mine.

Outside back Rocco Berry is a living example of what that pipeline can deliver. The son of a former All Black, Berry came through a rugby-dominated school system with no league competition in his area before being spotted by Warriors scouts and making his NRL debut in 2021.

"I was straight up rugby, went to a rugby school and got scouted from there and moved up to the Warriors straight out of school," Berry said. "In the area I'm from, there was no league played at all."

Berry believes the skills transfer, particularly for backs, is more straightforward than many assume.

"The outside backs and the backs in union translates pretty well. These young outside backs have the skills and they're fast, which makes it an easier transition."

He also credited the Warriors' revamped development system with changing the culture around league as a career choice for young New Zealanders.

"A few years ago the Warriors revamped their pathways system after Covid and it's been shown to be a real plus for the club with all the young talent they have coming through. The pathways gives the young kids more confidence to come to the club and make a career of it."