Andrew Webster signs long-term deal as Warriors coach

Dally M Coach of the Year Andrew Webster now ranks alongside club legend Shaun Johnson as the fastest-ever deal secured by the Warriors. See the details.

Andrew Webster signed a long-term deal with the Warriors. Picture: NRL Photos

The Warriors’ negotiations to re-sign head coach Andrew Webster took just 10-days - one of the quickest deals in the club’s history.

Webster now ranks alongside club legend Shaun Johnson as the fastest-ever deal secured by the Warriors after the Dally M coach of the year extended his tenure at the club until the end of 2028.

A belief by management that Webster can lead the club to an historic-first NRL premiership was the overriding factor in the decision to re-sign the 41-year-old, just five weeks after the conclusion of his rookie season.

“Webby sat down with Robbo (owner Mark Robinson) and (chairman) Ken Reinsfeld just over a week ago to talk about our future,’’ Warriors CEO Cameron George said.

“It was pretty easy to strike a deal with a guy that wants to stay and a club that wants him to stay long-term.

“Bringing Shaun back (prior to the 2023 season) still takes the cake as the quickest and easiest deal to do, but this was just as easy.

“Webby and I have known each other for a long time and also what the club’s future looks like.

“The belief is there that he can take us there (a premiership).

Andrew Webster signed a long-term deal with the Warriors. Picture: NRL Photos

“The key thing for me is that when times are good, everything is sweet.

“I know there’ll be tough times. You know that, he knows that, we all know that, but I know when we are in those tough times, there’ll be no better bloke to be in the trenches with.

“With our investment in our pathways and development, having stability at the top, with a head coach that is committed to having an impact on their (next generation) careers, it’s a really big bonus.

“It’s just a perfect fit for us to bring success.’’

One of the stories of the NRL season in 2023, Webster took the Warriors from 15th in 2022 to a preliminary final this season and more importantly, the entire country joined the journey, riding a wave of an unprecedented passion and support for the “Wahs’.

Webster had originally joined the Warriors on a three-year deal from Penrith where he was an assistant coach.

In a clear sign of faith from Warriors management, the 2023 Dally M coach of the year has been extended until the end of 2028 – just 12-months into his tenure at the New Zealand franchise.

One of the stories of the NRL season in 2023, Webster took the Warriors from 15th in 2022 to a preliminary final this season and more importantly, the entire country on an unprecedented wave of passion and unbridled support.

Webster had originally joined the Warriors on a three-year deal from Penrith where he was an assistant coach.

Yet just five weeks after the Warriors season came to an end, Webster has been locked into another three-year extension until 2028.

Originally published as Andrew Webster signs long-term deal as Warriors coach