The NRL's next juggernaut? Why Kemp is all-in on the Wahs

The New Zealand Warriors haven’t won an NRL Premiership in their 31-year history.

But Denan Kemp believes the fortunes of the club are set to change, which will see them become the competition’s next ‘juggernaut’.

Under coach Andrew Webster’s four-year reign with the Wahs, the club went from finishing 15th to a perennial finals’ contender with stars across their backs, halves, and forward pack.

And in 2026, the Warriors are firmly in the premiership conversation, having won seven of their nine games to sit 2nd on the ladder.

Speaking before their 36-14 win against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday, the former Warriors winger is now confident that the country’s lone NRL side will become a behemoth by the turn of the decade.    

“I reckon in five (years), maybe less, they might be the next juggernaut in the NRL,” Kemp said on SEN’s Saturday League Kick-Off.

“I think they are building so nicely, and they're kind of flying under the radar to a degree.

“When you actually look at the depth they have in key positions across the board, it's almost second to none.

“In their spine, do they necessarily have like your top tier, Nathan Cleary (types)? No, not necessarily.

“However, that doesn't mean in five years they can’t have developed the next big thing.”

When you look at their forwards, which is something that there are so many clubs that would kill for top-tier forwards, because that's what you can build your whole game plan on.

“They have like forwards for days, like genuinely like you could have Fish (James Fisher-Harris) and (Mitch) Barnett injured and they're still rolling teams.

“That's how good they are.”

And there is plenty more forward talent coming through their junior ranks, according to Chad Townsend.

“Let me tell you, the New Zealand Warriors absolutely have forward stocks coming through their system,” Townsend added.

“I don't wanna put too much pressure or speak about too many names that we haven't seen yet.

“But I can tell you there are some amazingly exciting players that have come through their junior system, through their pathways, and it's a credit to Andrew McFadden (Head of Recruitment and Pathways) and what he's been able to do to set the New Zealand Warriors up.

The Warriors will have to wait for a fortnight before they play again as they have the bye for Round 10.

Their next clash will take place during the Magic Round, when they face the reigning premiers, the Brisbane Broncos, at Suncorp Stadium.

That takes place on May 17 with kick-off at 4:05pm AEST.