James Fisher-Harris is set to debut for the Warriors in their opening match of the 2025 season this Friday night against the Cronulla Sharks at Shark Park. After four successful seasons with the Panthers, where he played 203 NRL games, Fisher-Harris has relocated to New Zealand for family reasons and is regarded as a strong candidate for the team’s captaincy, following Tohu Harris’s recent retirement.
This game marks the commencement of the 2025 pre-season challenge, featuring 17 matches over three weeks. In addition to the Warriors, the Panthers will face the Raiders at Shark Park on Saturday, before they head to Las Vegas for the regular season starting in March.
The pre-season challenge awards $100,000 to the winning team, with the ladder largely determined by bonus points and differential, as teams play only two official games. There will also be opportunities for clubs to organise unofficial matches during this period.
Notable match-ups ahead include the Warriors facing the Storm and several games featuring other NRL teams in the following weeks. Moreover, the NRL All Stars fixture will be held soon, showcasing a diverse range of talents across various matches in a vibrant lead-up to the competitive season.