NRL’s Warriors re-sign Egan, Leiataua

Jasper Bruce | July 11, 2023

The Warriors have secured first-choice hooker Wayde Egan until at least the end of the 2025 season.

The 26-year-old, who brought up 100 NRL games in Saturday’s defeat of Parramatta, had already been contracted until the end of 2024 but would have been free to negotiate with rivals from November had he not signed a one-year extension.

Egan began his career with Penrith but the return of Api Koroisau ahead of the 2020 season forced him to look elsewhere for opportunities.

He has since played 71 games for the Auckland-based club and become an established starting hooker, averaging 37 tackles a game this season and scoring five tries.

“Wayde is a hugely influential player for us,” said Warriors coach Andrew Webster.

“He is a real leader, while his ability and decision making on the field is critical to the way we perform.”

The Warriors have also re-signed rookie centre Ali Leiataua through to the end of 2024.

Leiataua was a foundation member of the Warriors’ SG Ball team in 2020. For his NRL debut last month, he marked up on Canberra veteran Jarrod Croker in his 300th game.

The Warriors ran away to a 36-14 win but Leiataua picked up a hamstring niggle and has not appeared since that game.

“In Ali we see a centre of special quality and he emphasised that with his debut,” Webster said.