Pathways players and their families were given an insight into what lies ahead in 2025 when they gathered for the One New Zealand Warriors’ annual fiafia – or celebration – night.
A family night was introduced last year as the club readied itself for fielding a full stable of five teams in 2024 covering the under-17, under-19 and under-21 grades leading to the New South Wales Cup and the NRL.
“It’s basically an evening where our pathways teams come together for the opening of our campaign for the new season,” said Harold Matthews Cup coach TJ Ashford, who this year guided the club’s under-17 side to premiership success in its debut in the competition.
“It’s (also about) our cultural identity. You have a look at the population playing rugby league here in New Zealand and it’s predominantly of Pasifika and Māori descent. This means a lot to everyone involved here. It’s part of our identity at the club.”
A number of this year’s Harold Matthews players will move out of the grade and into the SG Ball Cup (under-19) squad with some likely to feature at Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) next season.
“The fiafia night is a chance to celebrate the (young players) beginning their journey, that is the Warriors’ pathway to the NRL,” said One New Zealand Warriors wellbeing and education manager Jerry Seuseu.
“We had a few items, a sing song together, basically saying come as you are because we want to use that strength from those boys together as we look for that premiership.”
For the wide-eyed group of players coming into the Harold Matthews environment for the first time a new world awaits while the bulk of those in the pathways squads have had a taste of what is expected of them.
“It’s really cool for the parents to be involved so they get an idea of what the boys go through each day and also for the boys to get an understanding of what they’ll go through in preseason and into the season,” said One New Zealand Warriors wellbeing and education officer Brayden Wiliame.
“For a lot of these younger boys, especially those in Harold Matthews, it’s their first experience of being involved at a high-performance level,” said Future Warriors development coach Tony Iro.
“(Fiafia night) is an opportunity to meet all the other boys and parents who are going to going through the same thing. It’s a great initiative in terms of celebrating who we are, our culture, and welcoming them into the fold of the One New Zealand Warriors.”
