Penrith Panthers legend and former New Zealand Warrior Greg Alexander believes Andrew Webster has the perfect temperament to revive the Kiwi club.
The Warriors produced a bleak 2022 season in the NRL, posting just six wins in 24 matches.
While their year was disrupted by COVID, the loss of several key players and the sacking of ex-coach Nathan Brown, the lone NZ side completed the season just four points shy of taking out the wooden spoon award.
Now with a new coach at the helm and a new outlook for the year ahead, Alexander has spoken on the qualities that will allow former Panthers assistant Webster to grow the Warriors in 2023.
“Webby’s impressive,” Alexander told SENZ’s The Run Home.
“I’ve only had 12 months with him and my role (as Deputy Chairman) at Penrith doesn’t see me at training every day and watching everything that goes on, I’m in and out.
“I sort of float in, and I’ll chat to the coaches but both assistant coaches were terrific for us; Cameron Ciraldo, of course, has moved on to the Bulldogs and Webby’s a good operator.
“I listened to him yesterday speak to the players, I’ve seen him in action on the field with the Penrith boys … he’s got the right temperament.
Alexander, who accrued more than 200 games for the Panthers and nearly 40 for the Warriors, believes Webster will take plenty from his year under championship coach Ivan Cleary.
Cleary has become one of the most esteemed NRL coaches of the modern era, leading the Warriors to their second-ever Grand Final in 2011 before winning back-to-back premierships with the Panthers in 2021 and 2022.
Having assisted the Penrith coach throughout 2022, Alexander believes Webster’s similar temperament will work wonders for the Warriors in the new year.
“If I could say that Ivan Cleary’s a very relaxed and calm presence amongst players and Andrew Webster’s got that same sort of feel about him; so has Cameron Ciraldo,” he said.
“They’re not ranters, they’re not screamers, there’s not a whole lot of pressure put on through their own personality; they’re very calm but they get their message across.
“So I think Webby will be good, the fact that he’s been here (in NZ) too will certainly help.”
Webster formerly served as a Warriors assistant for two years under Andrew McFadden but is now ready to begin his journey as a head coach.