Warriors coach responds to ex-All Black’s interest in returning to NRL

New Zealand Warriors coach Andrew Webster has dismissed talk of Ngani Laumape potentially returning to the NRL club after the former All Black watched a training session and later expressed a desire to “get some stuff sorted.”

Laumape, 31, is more well-known in New Zealand for what he achieved in rugby union but the bulldozing centre’s professional career started in league. The future cross-code star played 30 games for the Warriors during a promising three-year stint.

While Laumape always seemed destined for higher honours after playing for the Junior Kiwis and later being named in a train-on squad with New Zealand in 2014, he would end up finding that fame and realising his potential in rugby union.

Manawatu and the Hurricanes signed the former leaguie in 2015 and the rugby recruit went on to impress. Laumape scored a flurry of tries during a memorable 80+ game career with the Canes and was rewarded with more than a dozen appearances for the All Blacks.

But after heading overseas to pursue opportunities with Paris-based Stade Francais and Kobe Steelers in Japan, Laumape has hinted a return to the NRL after visiting the Warriors before last week’s clash with the Wests Tigers.

“I came back and watched captain’s run and it definitely lit a little fire to finish off what I started,” Laumape said in a quote graphic shared on the Warriors’ social media channels. “So we’ll never know what will happen.

“Hopefully my agent can get some stuff sorted. I’d like to come back.”

The Warriors sit in 12^th place and appear and long odds to rise into the top eight before the end of the regular season. But there are still reasons to be positive for the future with another former All Black showing signs of promise during the 2024 season.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored four tries in 14 appearances for ‘the Wahs’ this season, has broken 66 tackles, made six line breaks and completed at 82.6 per cent accuracy on the defensive side of the ball.

Adding another ex-All Black to that mix could come as a major boost.

However, coach Andrew Webster has insisted that there haven’t been any conversations with the “terrific player” about returning to the Warriors.

“Ngani was here last time I was here but unfortunately he had an ACL (injury) so I didn’t get to coach him for long and then he went to rugby,” Webster told reporters.

“I’ve seen him play for the All Blacks. Obviously, transitioned really well back into rugby.

“Look, quality players, we’ll explore it all but I’ve not have one conversation with him around coming back and playing.

“He came to our training session the other day, on captain’s run and we embrace a lot of our ex-players. He just happens to be an ex-player that’s still active and playing rugby union or league.

“I think his comments have sort of blown things out of proportion a little bit but we were interested in quality athletes that want to come and play for the Warriors.”

Three-time premiership-winning prop James Fisher-Harris is also heading to the Warriors after inking a multi-year deal.

This is a side that continues to build as they repay the faith shown by supporters, with the Warriors becoming the first NRL club to sell out every home game in a season.