Rugby league: The next Warriors captain? Senior leader Tohu Harris puts his hand up

Tohu Harris of the Warriors reacts during the round eight NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the North Queensland Cowboys. Photo / Getty Images.

Tohu Harris would be honoured to be the next Warriors captain – but isn't taking anything for granted.

The departure of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who had been skipper since 2017, means the role is up for grabs heading into the 2022 season.

It's been filled by a select few over the years, despite the numerous coaching changes and turnover within the squad.

Across the last 17 years the Warriors have had just four club captains, though other individuals have led the match day team when injuries intervened.

Australian Steve Price had the role for five years between 2005 and 2009, accumulating 90 games as skipper.

Simon Mannering then got the job as a 23-year-old in 2010 and completed six campaigns, with a record 137 matches as captain.

Ryan Hoffman took charge in the 2016 season when Mannering stepped aside, before Stephen Kearney anointed Tuivasa-Sheck as his captain, a considerable shock at the time.

Harris is the logical choice for the next leader.

He has been vice captain since 2019, leading the team whenever Tuivasa-Sheck was unavailable. The 29-year-old is the second most experienced player in the squad (182 NRL games, only behind Shaun Johnson) and was in the Storm emerging leaders' group during his five year Melbourne stint.

"It's not up to me," Harris told the Herald earlier this year. "Obviously if I was asked to do the role it would be extremely humbling, especially with the people who have held the position before."

"When Roger was here, doing that role was never even a thought in my mind but with him leaving it has obviously opened up that opportunity. I would love to take the challenge on but it is a decision that is up to the coach and CEO."

Harris is the outstanding candidate, though he won't be available for the first third of the season, as he continues his recovery from ACL knee surgery.

Marquee prop Addin Fonua-Blake could fill the role while Harris is unavailable, as he did in the latter part of 2021, while Kiwis skipper Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is an option, even though he is new to the club.

Johnson will be the senior voice in the backline, though captaincy responsibilities may be too much on top of his much-hyped return to the club.

During a media call last week, Harris said his rehabilitation and recovery was "on track".

He has done some on field running in the last few weeks and is cautiously targeting a return in mid-May, after the ACL rupture suffered against the Panthers in round 18 of last season.

"I'm trying not to look too far ahead because I'll get too impatient with where we're at now and try and push things too much," said Harris.

"The nine month mark is generally a good guideline of when people return from an ACL injury. Obviously there's cases where they can come back earlier and in cases where they take a little bit longer."

But that nine month mark is a really loose guideline, [which] for me is about mid May."

Harris said the recent news about the staged border opening next year was well received by the squad, firming the possibility of the five scheduled Mt Smart games in 2022 going ahead.

"Fingers crossed, it would be great to be able to run out in front of our home fans," said Harris.

The club hope for a full return home in 2023 but the fixed base at Redcliffe for next year was a relief, with players in their own accommodation rather than living together in a hotel or resort like the last two seasons.

"It does feel a bit more normal," said Harris. "It's still not home, but it does feel a lot more like home than it was living in each other's pockets."

"It's been nice to have your own space, being able to spend more time with the families and get that quality time."