Harris earns his stripes as captain

AuthorLEAGUE
Published date26 January 2023
Publication titleDaily Post, The (Rotorua, New Zealand)
Hawke’s Bay’s Harris, 31, will remain in the role he assumed from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the end of the 2021 season, but only after first asking Webster to judge him on his actions through pre-season training

“Tohu didn’t want it handed to him.

“He said ‘Webby, I want to earn this, I want you to have a look at me, I want the staff to look at me, I want the players to judge me and see if you think I’m the right person,” Webster said.

“I’ve seen nothing but that he is the right person.

“When I had the first phone conversation with Tohu, I was impressed by his passion and what he wanted for the club.”

Along with the captaincy decision, Webster also shed light on how he intends to use new recruits Marata Niukore and Mitchell Barnett this coming season.

Despite the Warriors’ recent struggles in the position, and his experience playing there for the Eels last season, Niukore won’t play centre and will instead move between edge and middle forward roles.

That will be the case for former Knights enforcer Barnett as well, with Webster keen to use both players in different parts of the field depending on how games are unfolding.

“He [Niukore] won’t play centre. He’ll only play centre if something goes on halfway through a game, and I see Dylan Walker playing that [back-up centre] role anyway,” Webster said.

“He’s a good option there and I understand why Parramatta has done that in the...

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