In focus: Warriors converts

The Warriors dipped into rugby union's ranks during their formative years - but the tide eventually turned the other way.

WARRIORS 1995-2025 BOOK CHAPTER MENU

After the torrent of All Blacks and high-profile rugby union players switching codes to rugby league in the early-1990s, it seemed only natural the fledgling Warriors would have a few former ‘rah rahs’ in their ranks. The club’s first-ever signing, Gavin Hill, was a long-serving provincial forward and New Zealand Maori rep before becoming a Kiwi international from Canterbury-Bankstown in 1992.

The recruitment of All Blacks John Kirwan, Marc Ellis and Mark Carter was derided as a publicity stunt and produced mixed on-field results (though Kirwan was the club’s top try-scorer in 1996 and Ellis became a dual international), but all were commended for what they added off the paddock. The injury-hit stints of dual international superboots Frano Botica and Matthew Ridge at the Warriors fell well short of expectations.