‘Dealing with pain in everyday life’: Tohu calls time on eve of 13th NRL campaign

Warriors captain Tohu Harris has made the call to end his NRL career immediately, with the New Zealand veteran prioritising his quality of life over playing a thirteenth season in rugby league’s top-flight comp.

Harris, 33, had had “high hopes” of playing one last campaign with the club, but as preseason got more serious the 234-game veteran realised he would be better off stopping altogether.

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“I had high hopes of returning from the injury this year but I’m devastated I won’t get the chance to pull on the jersey again,” said Harris. “I’m dealing with pain in everyday life as well as footy. My body has been feeling good in training but the reality is I can’t perform as a player with this injury.

“While it’s not easy finishing like this, I’m so grateful to the Warriors for the opportunities they’ve given me, for the chance to wear the jersey and to lead our great club, and also for the support we’ve had as a family.”

Harris captained the Warriors 52 times through his time at the club after getting the armband in 2022.

He played for his home country club 117 times, backing up five seasons with the Melbourne Storm through to 2017.

The forward warrior’s last appearance in the NRL and for the Warriors came on June 29 last year; a 32-16 victory over the Brisbane Broncos at home, Harris played a supporting role off the bench. He had been managing a wrist injury for some time and while he had battled through, that game put a stopper on his ability to play.

“It’s a sad way for Tohu to go out but I just want to celebrate him,” said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.

“You really don’t know how good a player is until you’ve coached him. I’d admired Tohu from afar throughout his career but when I returned to the club I got to admire him even more every day.

“I’m so grateful to have built a relationship with him and for the way he helped me so much in my transition as a head coach.”

Harris has long been lauded as one of the best in the game, both during his five years with the Warriors and in his title-filled half-decade with the Storm before that. While serving under supercoach Craig Bellamy in southern Australia, the multiple-time Dally M lock-of-the-year contender won an NRL  ring in the 2017 decider.

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The Warriors are now expected to announce a new club captain before March.