Andrew Webster will become the One New Zealand Warriors’ longest-serving head coach in history after signing a four-year contract extension to end of the 2032 NRL season.
The deal means the 44-year-old’s tenure will stretch to 10 seasons taking him well clear of Ivan Cleary’s existing record of six seasons from 2006-2011.
The announcement comes as the Warriors are counting down to finals football for the third time in Webster’s four years in charge.
It also coincides with the 2023 Dally M Coach of the Year preparing to achieve the first of two 100-game coaching career milestones over the final three rounds of the regular season.
This Saturday’s match against the South Sydney Rabbitohs will be his 100th game overall as a head coach including two matches in an interim capacity with the Wests Tigers in 2017.
Match: Rabbitohs v Warriors
Round 25 -
home Team
Rabbitohs
7th Position
away Team
Warriors
3rd Position
Venue: Accor Stadium, Sydney
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Then in the round 27 encounter with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, Webster will become the second coach after Cleary to guide the One New Zealand Warriors in 100 games.
“From the moment he started with us, Andrew showed what a tremendous fit he was for the club and since then he has gone on to become one of the best head coaches in the NRL right now,” said One New Zealand Warriors CEO Cameron George.
“He has achieved fantastic results turning the One New Zealand Warriors into a consistent top eight side, one that everyone can be proud of.
“Andrew’s contribution is about much more than results alone. He has galvanised us, setting in place a sustainable culture throughout the entire club.
“What he has also done is to turn good players into better players and to bring through some of the most exciting young players this club has ever seen.
“We have every confidence in Andrew taking the One New Zealand Warriors forward to be a real force in the NRL. We’re so proud to have him with us until at least 2032.”
In 2023 Webster guided the club to the NRL finals for the first time since 2018 and the first preliminary final since 2011 before again making the finals in 2025 and now this year.
“It’s humbling to be able to secure my future here for this long,” said Webster.
“I’m super proud every game I get to be a head coach in the NRL. It’s a dream and to do it with this club and these players is extra special.
“I love this club, I have the greatest belief in what we can achieve and I’m excited knowing I’m going to be here until 2032. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity.”
In his 97 games as the One New Zealand Warriors’ head coach so far, Webster has a record of 55 wins, a draw and 41 losses, a winning success rate of almost 57 per cent.
Profile | Andrew Webster
Date of birth: January 17, 1982
Birthplace: Sydney, NSW
Current position: One New Zealand Warriors head coach (2023-2026)
Previous appointments:
Penrith Panthers assistant coach (2021-2022)
Toa Samoa assistant coach (2022)
Wests Tigers NRL assistant coach (2017-2020)
Wests Tigers NRL interim head coach (2017)
One New Zealand Warriors NRL assistant coach (2015-2016)
Hull Kingston Rovers assistant coach (2006-2007, 2009-2011)
NRL coaching career: 99 matches
Wests Tigers: 2 matches (2017)
One New Zealand Warriors: 97 matches (2023-2026)
