Warriors captain Tohu Harris announces immediate retirement from NRL

Tohu Harris will leave a sizeable hole in the Warriors camp. Photo / Photosport

The Warriors have been dealt a New Year’s blow ahead of the 2025 NRL season as captain Tohu Harris has called time on his NRL career.

Harris has informed the club he was set for his 13th NRL campaign but cannot play on as he struggled to make his return from a wrist injury that ended his 2024 season.

The 32-year-old managed 14 appearances in the 2024 season before having surgery on the wrist injury, only to have him sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

“I had high hopes of returning from the injury this year but I’m devastated I won’t get the chance to pull on the jersey again,” said Harris.

“I’m dealing with pain in everyday life as well as footy. My body has been feeling good in training but the reality is I can’t perform as a player with this injury.

“While it’s not easy finishing like this, I’m so grateful to the One New Zealand Warriors for the opportunities they’ve given me, for the chance to wear the jersey and to lead our great club, and also for the support we’ve had as a family,” said Harris.

With the departure of another experienced leader in Shaun Johnson last year, Harris’ reported retirement means the likes of Mitch Barnett, who stood in as captain for Harris in 2024, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kurt Capewell and new arrival Kiwis skipper James Fisher-Harris will have to shoulder extra leadership in the Warriors camp.

Harris led the Warriors 52 times after first being appointed captain following the 2022 season. Harris’ 234-game NRL career began in 2013 with the Melbourne Storm, winning a premiership in his final game for the Storm in 2017, before joining the Warriors and becoming not only one of the best locks in the game but most steadfast leaders. He ends with 117 appearances for the Warriors, a dead-even split with the Storm.

“It’s a sad way for Tohu to go out but I just want to celebrate him,” said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.

“You really don’t know how good a player is until you’ve coached him. I’d admired Tohu from afar throughout his career but when I returned to the club I got to admire him even more every day.

“I’m so grateful to have built a relationship with him and for the way he helped me so much in my transition as a head coach.”

Warriors CEO Cameron George said the 2025 captain would be announced closer to the start of the season.

Tohu Harris

Born: January 7, 1992

Birthplace: Hastings, NZ

Junior club: Tamatea Sports Club

Position: Loose forward/second row/prop

Height: 195cm

Weight: 112kg

NRL points: 136 (30 tries, 8 goals)

• Melbourne Storm: 88 (18 tries, 8 goals)
• One New Zealand Warriors: 48 (12 tries)

Representative: 16 Tests New Zealand (2013-16), Four Nations (2014, 2016), Māori All-Stars (2019)

Will Toogood is an online sports editor and golf reporter for the NZ Herald. He enjoys watching people chase a ball around on a grass surface so much he decided to make a living out of it.