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#3500420 5-Jun-2026 08:04

Interesting times ahead, Sky won't let go of that easily. IMO its almost as important as Rugby rights for them

"TVNZ is keen to nab lucrative broadcast rights to the NRL and Warriors in a move that - if successful - would end Sky TV’s long-held exclusive New Zealand grip on the league competition. Media Insider understands the state broadcaster has formally expressed interest in the NRL rights with the sport’s Sydney-based bosses. Buoyed by its new pay-TV technology and five-year digital strategy - and its success in winning Football World Cup and UFC rights - TVNZ is fast becoming an aggressive competitor for sports rights. With rugby and now cricket sewn up by Sky TV for the next few years, the NRL offers TVNZ the best opportunity in the short-term to secure a season-long sport that would be a regular, major drawcard for viewers and subscribers.

A new five-year NRL rights deal is on the table, starting from the end of next season. The NRL is seeking to nail down a new broadcast deal for its Australian rights as early as next month. A similar timeframe is expected for a New Zealand broadcast deal, and certainly by the end of this season. Media Insider understands the NRL is second only to rugby in terms of the biggest and most valuable sporting rights available to New Zealand broadcasters - it’s understood to be of higher value than cricket.

The rise of the Warriors this season has only intensified viewer interest. In Sky TV, TVNZ faces an equally aggressive competitor that won’t relinquish rights easily. Sky is about to lose its flagship HBO entertainment content from its Neon streaming channel, and doesn’t need another metaphorical black eye in its content division. There is one positive for Sky in the loss of the HBO contract: it has freed up a lot of rights money. An industry source estimated this to be anywhere between $20 million and $30 million a year. Some of that could presumably be channelled into a fighting fund for Sky and its critical bid to renew NRL rights."

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TeaLeaf

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#3505419 23-Jun-2026 11:43

JPNZ:

IMO its almost as important as Rugby rights for them

I would be stoked if that occurred. I would have no need for a Sky.

Warriors fans in CCH showed just how much support there is for NZ RL, always has been and why so many of the best players in the NRL are kiwis but are forced to leave NZ at a young age to get a chance at the sport simply because NZ is restricted to one team. Of course some view the Warriors lack of success as a sign they are not good enough but that is a really ignorant view of just how strong RL is in NZ. The Warriors have two CCH players in the current starting squad.

The prior two 2pt losses were gutting, especially vs the Sharks with the controversial ref penalty with no play clock for the drop out etc.

So was good to bounce back. Warriors have had a solid 13 and bench team most years, but its times like now when they have so many starters out with injury or due to SoO (currently 9 players, 8 starters) that they would struggle. Especially after we lost Boyd, then RTS. Ford is a huge concern given he was leading the Dally M points (not often a forward is in the list even) with an outrageous amount of metres and tackles per game. Hopefully its not too long a lay off.

It will be a tough game vs Dolphins who are on a major win streak at Suncorp next weekend with those big name players injured. Hopefully the SoO players will back up. Then a bye and hopefully some of the non season ending big names can get back, especially the Captain JFH. CNK with 4 tries is filling in fantastic for Alofiana who has been a try scoring machine since joining the Warriors this year.

TeaLeaf

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#3505652 23-Jun-2026 21:34

Oh man, no luck this season. Ford the Dally M front runner and the Warriors best forward out for 10-12 weeks with pec tear. He didnt have a sling on after so most assumed it wouldnt be that bad.

Thats 8 starters out along with 2 SoO next weekend, possibly 3 with Egan being talked up for the Blues. Thats a big ask near all of the starting forward pack along with RTS and our stand out half Boyd out for the season.

The young guys have been standing up though, so lets hope the next players up are hungry to impress.

TeaLeaf

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#3506996 29-Jun-2026 13:02

Well as per RNZ article yesterday, there is good and bad.

Warriors with 8 "starters" injured have lost 3 grand final level games by only 2 points each the last month, with Penrith being #1 and the Dolphins looking deserved to be up equal with the Warriors sharing #2.

If they can perform this well with half the squad being previously NSW cup players, then they are in excellent position when Rocco Berry, Fisher-Harris (C) and Leka return likely in Rnd 19.

Pompy will likely miss 1 game for leg lifting. IMO he needs to remove mistakes that have cost us points.

If both our wingers are out next match (DWZ and Khan-Pereira) imo we should move CNK back into Centre to replace Pompy and play Metcalf on one wing and son of past Warrior Haizyn Mellars should get a game imo. Hes scoring 18 tries from 19 matches. 193cm, 100kg and quick for his size.

Ironically "the knock on effect" of the Warriors NRL injuries has seen last years NSW Cup Premiers out of contention with so many of the teams best players being called up to first grade (and performing).

One position NRL Warriors are not lacking in is hooker with arguably 4 x NRL level hookers/9. Imo Healey looks the future of the Warriors but we can't keep the NSW Cup prodigy out without losing him either. But Egan is in the top few in the comp currently. How we negotiate that transition to retain them is key.

Speaking of current sons of Warriors, Riley Price has signed 2yrs with the Warriors, currently playing Qld cup. "Jett Cleary (son of Warrior #73 Ivan Cleary), Haizyn Mellars (son of Warrior #106 Vince Mellars) and Braelan Marsh (son of Warrior #96 PJ Marsh)"

For me fast showing signs of NRL level is Eddie Ieremia-Toeava who played centre at one point last match. Known for his fitness, he is a quality 2nd row with current defense efficiency at 96%. He may get another game round 19 vs the Tigers who have lost their way.

If Warriors can win 5/9 its an outside chance of the top 4, if they can win 6/9 Im pretty sure that will do it, 7/9 imo will be enough to secure 2nd spot which means a first finals game at Home.

However we have some strong teams for the final 6 rounds. So need to ice the next 3 games.

JPNZ

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#3509265 7-Jul-2026 14:51

In no surprise Sky has beaten TVNZ to the NRL rights..

"Sky has beaten TVNZ to the ball to secure NRL rights for another seven years - at a record price and part of a broader, $A5.3 billion ($NZ6.46b) TV rights deal across Australia and New Zealand.

Sky TV has agreed to a record annual sum for the rights - understood to be about $A50m ($NZ61m) a year, but with the added carrot of a possible second New Zealand NRL team by the end of the decade."

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#3512246 17-Jul-2026 16:12

JPNZ:

Sky TV has agreed to a record annual sum for the rights - understood to be about $A50m ($NZ61m) a year, but with the added carrot of a possible second New Zealand NRL team by the end of the decade."

That seems like nothing compared to those overall rights for Au/NZ. I think Sky would have paid anything but TVNZ just cant afford to compete. Unfortunate but NZ getting a 2nd team is over due, so if thats being promoted thats a positive.

What an awesome game last night with the reigning champs Broncos giving themselves an outside chance of making the 8 by beating top of table Panthers by 2 points in a tight game.

Panthers loss gives the Warriors an outside chance of winning Minor Premiers in a very long time. It sucks having 3/5 of the losses by 2 points but they were finals level games, so good to get practice under that quality despite the narrow losses. Either way its a tough final 6 weeks, so they need to make a statement against the Dragons this weekend.

Warriors should get DWZ, Barnett and Capewell back from injury this week, a major shot in the arm, Ford should be back by finals. What a job our NSW cup guys have done filling in for so many injuries this year to keep us in 2nd place. With both the wingers back, does CNK go back to Full Back or do they play him at Centre leaving Pompey out but retaining Tuaupiki at full back who is breaking records with his foot work and speed off the mark, I think hes doing a great job.

The Sharks last week put major gain in their for and against with a 66-0 win over the Dolphins, who look nothing like the side they were 3 weeks ago.

I think the Roosters are starting to really get it together. Manly imo are flying well under the radar with the 3rd best for and against, 62pts behind the Warriors but have just been inconsistent failing to seal some games. I can see them making a run for the top 4.

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TeaLeaf

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#3512434 18-Jul-2026 17:43

Ugggh Sharks narrowly beat Knights by 2 points and Roosters are really starting to peak with a solid win, Warriors have to win today to regain outright 2nd place. Roosters have a pretty blimmin average for and against, they must have been in the negatives before they started this run up the table. Still well behind the Warriors but are 2 points in front with the win.

I feel the Warriors should put the Dragons to the sword if its clear weather football tonight at home, its not raining so i don't think there are any exscuses. Its a dang strong team on paper with a very powerful interchange crew. Of course would be nice to have Boyd back but hes out for the year, I say leave CHT goal kicking, nailed them last week, we will get mighty Jackson Ford back just before finals, otherwise its a full crew for once. No excuses, have to play CNK at Centre and Pompey on the bench.

maoriboy

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#3518593 10-Aug-2026 13:18

What a game for the Warriors. Beating the imposing Panthers team and quite convincingly at that. A platform laid by our middle forwards enabled the likes of Metcalf and CHT to control the game well. I would say we dominated 60 minutes of the game, while giving the Panthers a sniff by allowing in 2 tries (nearly 3). Hopefully this is the start of a good run of form leading into the finals!

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#3522119 23-Aug-2026 23:02

Warriors in control of their destiny thanks to the tigers

maoriboy

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#3522131 24-Aug-2026 08:37

Another good win by the Warriors, but the loss of yet another player (DWZ) means the depth of the squad is being tested once again. That right edge with Pompey there looked particularly fragile and I hope that he's not in the team for next week. Otherwise, 2 games to go and hopefully securing that top spot and home playoff games!

TeaLeaf

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#3523655 29-Aug-2026 13:10

maoriboy:

Another good win by the Warriors, but the loss of yet another player (DWZ) means the depth of the squad is being tested once again.

I hear your concern. Webster hates messing with team function, he plays Laulilii given he was traded to the Warriors for this situation. Hes had a good number of starts and looks ok for a wing rookie.

More so if DWZ has any chance of returning during finals, although unlikely imo.

The one player from NSW Cup that I think they should have been looking at in Warriors is Jye Linnane. is an amazing 5/8th imo and should have been in contention given how many HB replacements. He runs a lot like an early version of Metcalf. Not somebody we want to lose either.

We are in a similar position to 2002 points wise, we won a MP 17-7, 224+. Its hard to compare this era to one from the past. But we are on point or better this year and can possibly win 1 more game than 2002, but oddly could still finish 2nd haha. But they have to win both next reg season games and hopefully aim for Panther +-.

Today is going to be a lot harder than some seem to consider, Newc didnt deserve to win last week, but they are no easy beats and with Gagai available, its becoming a very solid team. Sharpe who reminds me of Linanne, straight fast runner, Warriors have to watch him.

Newc will be tough today.

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#3525176 4-Sep-2026 22:24

I wonder how Sky are going to defend their decision to cut to a gambling ad while Jai Arrow was walking out for the final time. No overseas provider to blame this time. Personally thought it was disgusting.

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#3525181 5-Sep-2026 00:22

JarrodM:

I wonder how Sky are going to defend their decision to cut to a gambling ad while Jai Arrow was walking out for the final time. No overseas provider to blame this time. Personally thought it was disgusting.

They have always been morally bereft. When Peter V’landys is the good guy you know you have no soul.

Goosey

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#3525344 5-Sep-2026 20:18

Up The Wahs...

hopefully some learnings to be discussed on Monday morning.

JPNZ

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#3526351 9-Sep-2026 16:35

What an interesting week 1 of Finals ahead..

Souths should take care of the Knights with the Knights missing both starting props

Wahs vs Phins is so hard to pick, take the wahs only because they are at home but if they ship as many points as last week the phins will take em.

Sharks will smash the Cowgirls - Cows were woeful last week and missing Cotter.

Panthers should have enough to take care of the Roosters - Match of the round IMO I expect the Roosters to keep it closer than many realise.

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