Webster: ‘If the Warriors want me, I want to stay here forever’

Andrew Webster, who is looking more and more likely to be crowned the NRL’s coach of the year considering where he’s led the New Zealand Warriors in 2023, has declared he has no intentions of leaving the club and wants to build a dynasty that reaches across the Tasman and all the way to the top of the league.

The rookie head coach left an assistant coaching role with Penrith ahead of the 2023 campaign to take the reigns in New Zealand and has nearly immediately enjoyed a purple patch of success.

Deep into the season and with 23 rounds played, Webster and his Warriors sit in third place on the NRL ladder with 13 wins and seven losses. Only the Brisbane Broncos (16-5) and Webster’s old club the Panthers (15-5) have bettered the New Zealand squad so far this season, and even that leading duo were pushed to their limits when they faced the Warriors.

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Webster, who worked his way through Hull Kingston, Wests, and Penrith before landing in New Zealand, has been asked several times this season if he plans to stick around long-term.

The 41-year-old, who is signed through to 2025, has made no secret of the fact he wants to build an empire where he is right now. He is the 12th coach of the rugby league club and if he has his way—premiership glory this NRL season or not—he will be keeping his feet under the desk well into the future.

“For me, I couldn’t be happier here,” said Webster.

“We [Webster’s family] have lived here in New Zealand before, loved it last time and that’s why we wanted to come back. My wife is loving it. We’re building a family and my son is a Kiwi. I’ve got no interest [in leaving].”

He doesn’t want to just stay at the New Zealand club’s helm indefinitely without a course though; the 41-year-old has lofty ambitions to walk in the footsteps of his idol Alex Ferguson at Manchester United, who oversaw the changing the guard for the English football juggernaut several times through his illustrious career.

Ferguson is one example, Webster added, but there’s plenty in the NRL already too.

“If the club want me, I want to stay here. That’s all I want. My goal is to be here forever. I want to see the next generation come through and I want to coach them. I want to be here like Wayne Bennett was at the Broncos, Craig Bellamy is at the Storm, Trent Robinson at the Roosters and Ivan now in Penrith.

“I don’t want to leave. There are so many reasons for that. I feel like this place suits me and I suit this place The support from the club by Mark Robinson (owner) and Cameron George (CEO), has been really cool.

“We’ve got something set up really well and it’s only going to get better. We’ve only had one crack at it, we’ve had one preseason and there are more things we’ve got to offer as a group together.

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“Then, if you’re happy off the field, why would you leave?”

The Warriors will face the Tigers, Sea Eagles, Dragons, and Dolphins on the run home. At least one win from the next four should lock their spot in finals quite early.