Andrew Webster stands with his Warriors team for pre-game Anzac ceremony. Photo: www.photosport.nz
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Every now and then, even NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster slips up and sneaks a peek at the NRL points table.
Like many professional coaches, Webster is either superstitious about getting too far ahead of himself or pragmatic enough to know (insert favourite sporting cliché here) an NRL season is a marathon, not a sprint.
Riding a 5-2 start to the 2025 campaign, his Warriors are fourth and well in playoff contention, but after only eight rounds of 27, such a lot can still happen to change that before the season enters its business end.
For that reason, Webster isn't overly impressed by their current standing.
For that same reason, he's not overly concerned about the struggles of four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers - his previous club - sitting at the foot of the table.
"I have looked at the ladder," Webster confessed. "Only because I pressed the wrong button the other day, instead of the draw … I'm very angry with myself.
"One thing I notice is it's always inflated, because of byes. Some people have had byes, some people haven't had byes."
Half the teams currently occupying top-eight post-season spots - including the Warriors - have already had bye weeks, which means they have been gifted two competition points they didn't earn.
Over the entire season, each team will have three byes and the Warriors will enjoy their third in Round 18, with more than two months remaining before playoffs.
Only three other teams - Canterbury Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters - will use up their three earlier, while Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers will have their third that same weekend.
By contrast, Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs will have had just one each, but will enjoy a comparatively easier run to the end.
"I'll look on the bright side of that," Webster insisted. "Hopefully, it means we'll have a lot of football heading into the playoffs, if we're good enough to be there.
"Whenever you get them, you get them. I was actually grateful for when we had the last one [Round 5], not that we bounced out of it well, but I'll take it when they give them to us.
"The next ones are close together, but that's because of Origin and that's the way it goes."
Over the course of a whole season, byes, strength of schedule, and even injuries and rep commitments tend to even themselves out, but not necessarily over the first two months. Understanding that is part of the journey.
Andrew Webster interacts with Warriors fans in Christchurch. Photo: www.photosport.nz
"I honestly feel this is the most grounded we've been as a group," Webster added. "We know we've got a long way to go, we're happy with our connection as a group and how hard we're working for each other, but we know we're nowhere near where we want to be.
"Even though we've had two really bad games, we're not riding the emotions of that like everyone else and, when we win, we're not overriding as well."
That's why Webster also isn't overreacting to the plight of Penrith, who have lost six of eight games played.
The Panthers, where Webster served as Ivan Cleary's assistant coach for two years, have leaked talent to other clubs over the past couple of seasons, most notably NZ Kiwis captain James Fisher-Harris to the Warriors and Origin half Jarome Luai to Wests Tigers last off-season.
"I actually think they're very close, I think they're building," Webster said. "I haven't watched them closely, because we're not playing them anytime soon, but when I do see them, I think they're really close to what they want to do.
"It's hard, when you're outside throwing comments, because I know they've got their backyard really sorted, so I'll just focus on ours.
"They'll get it right."
Webster refused to be drawn on how big the loss of Fisher-Harris - who walked into the Mt Smart clubrooms and immediately became Warriors co-captain - was to Penrith.
"I'm not going to comment on that impact," he said. "I'd just say how happy we are to have 'Fish' here."
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