Andrew Webster will start Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris together in the NZ Warriors' front row against the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday, bringing back a pairing that has not begun a match side by side in 2026. It is the first time this season the Warriors’ co-captains will be named together in the engine room for the Magic Round meeting.
The change matters because Barnett’s return has been slow and stop-start since he came back from a season-ending knee injury suffered last June, and the Warriors are 7-2 heading into a game that could shape the tone of their campaign. Barnett made his 50th game for the Auckland club on the road against the Newcastle Knights, then broke a thumb in his next appearance, missed two games, played two more and then sat out another week under concussion protocols after suffering a head knock. All four of those outings came off the interchange.
Barnett said he had already accepted the role shift before Sunday’s team was confirmed. “I've become a bit used to it, after last season, but it's good to be back,” he said. “I'm hoping I can get a bit of a run going now and string some games together.” Webster said the plan had always been to use Barnett and Fisher-Harris together at some point, with Jackson Ford providing the carry-off-the-bench option after he had made the No.10 jersey his own.
“We never intended to play Jackson Ford for 80 minutes each week,” Webster said. “I think there have been three occasions when he hasn't played 80 this year.” He said the preferred shape had always been to have Fisher-Harris and Barnett starting with Erin Clark as the passer, and Ford coming on to finish the job. “He could come on after 15-20 minutes and you almost don't have to worry about Jacko - he can go 100mph right through to the end. That's always what we thought would be the best dynamic, but Mitch obviously hasn't got that momentum going,” Webster said.
Webster said the rearrangement was the cleanest way to match the game plan to the personnel available. “That's why we wanted to do it - we've got our two skippers out there in the front row, and Jackson gets to come on and do his job,” he said. Barnett said he had spoken to the coach before the move was made and had no issue with the switch. “That's not really a question for me, but for Webby,” he said. “He approached me and I just said yeah.”
Barnett also made clear he understood the knock-on effect for Ford, who has been in strong form and had been viewed as a Dally M Medal contender. “I feel for Jacko, he's been going really well, but I'm just here to do my role. Webby has obviously picked me, because he wants my style of game at the kickoff,” Barnett said. “The big fella, instead of playing 80 minutes, he might play 70 this week, so nothing really changes for him.” The move comes with State of Origin selection looming after this weekend, adding another layer to a Warriors vs Broncos game that already carries weight for both sides.
