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2020 NRL preview: New Zealand Warriors team guide

After a disappointing 2019 campaign, the Warriors will likely benefit from the return of their best forward.

Alexandra Plesa
Alexandra Plesa

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New Zealand Warriors

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What's in this guide?

  1. How to watch New Zealand Warriors NRL matches
  2. Watch New Zealand Warriors matches overseas
  3. When do New Zealand Warriors play next?
  4. New Zealand Warriors squad
  5. New Zealand Warriors history

The New Zealand Warriors had a tough NRL season in 2019, despite the team being jam-packed with talent. They finished 13th on the ladder and missed the finals, managing 9 wins and 14 losses overall. Yet a few key changes might enable the Warriors to jump up the ladder in 2020.

Second-rower Tohu Harris missed the second half of last season due to injury, but is back on the field for the 2020 campaign. Wayde Egan has also joined the team from the Panthers, ready to fill the void left by Issac Luke's departure.

Here's hoping these shifts will help coach Stephen Kearney turn the club's fortunes around as 2020 marks the Warriors' 25th year in the NRL. That might give them that little extra bit of motivation to make this their most memorable campaign yet. Considering their initial travel troubles following the pandemic, a successful season would be even more impressive.

How to watch New Zealand Warriors NRL matches

Bad news for fans of the Warriors – this season, only one of their games is airing live and free on the Nine Network. They have to wait all the way to round 17 for their lone free-to-air clash against the Eels. Meanwhile, 19 fixtures are exclusive to FOX LEAGUE.

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So you might want to consider getting a subscription to Kayo Sports, Foxtel or Foxtel Now. That way, you won't miss a minute of the action as the 2020 NRL season unfolds. Feel free to check out our Kayo vs Foxtel guide to see which service is better for you.

Out of the three, Kayo Sports is a particularly appealing option, with no lock-in contracts and a generous content catalogue. Subscriptions start at $25/month, which buys you access to more than 50 sports. Besides, features like SplitView and Interactive Stats will likely appeal to sports enthusiasts.

To celebrate the Warriors' 25th year in the NRL, the platform put together a special miniseries called Keeping the Faith which looks back on some of the highs and lows the club has experienced during its time in the competition. Episodes are available on demand. New Kayo Sports users can enjoy a 14-day free trial.

You can also stream NRL games with NRL Live Pass, which is available for free to Telstra customers. That being said, live streaming is limited to a seven-inch display size, so watching on the big screen is out of the question. If you're out and about it's worth looking into.

We have a full guide on how to stream the 2020 NRL season if you're keen to do more research on the subject.

Watch New Zealand Warriors matches overseas

If you're travelling outside Australia, you can use Watch NRL to keep up with your favourite team. We have a detailed article on how to stream the 2020 NRL season from overseas.

When do New Zealand Warriors play next?

You can see the complete NRL draw here.

New Zealand Warriors squad

Besides Egan, new players for 2020 include Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Adam Pompey and Eliesa Katoa. Here's how the squad looks ahead of the 2020 NRL season.

New Zealand Warriors history

The Warriors were formed in 1995 and became the first club from outside Australia to be admitted to the ARL premiership, the predecessor to the NRL.

The Warriors haven't managed to win a title since joining the competition, but they do have a minor premiership under their belt from back in 2002. That was the year they reached their first grand final, a feat they repeated in 2011 without yet managing to get over the line in the big one.

They've never won a wooden spoon and have made it to the finals eight times. The Warriors play their home games at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.

Image source: New Zealand Warriors Team website

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