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William Warbrick

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For the New Zealand rugby union player who toured with the 1888–89 New Zealand Native football team, see Billy Warbrick.

Will Warbrick
Personal information
Full nameWilliam Warbrick
Born (1998-03-06) 6 March 1998 (age 26)
Kawerau, New Zealand
Height193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight105 kg (16 st 7 lb)
Playing information
Rugby union
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019–21 New Zealand rugby sevens 13 4 0 0 20
Rugby league
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2023– Melbourne Storm 49 32 0 0 128
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2024 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
Source: RLP
As of 6 October 2024
Medals
Men's rugby sevens
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2020 Tokyo Team competition

William Warbrick (born 6 March 1998) is a New Zealand professional rugby league rugby player who plays for the Melbourne Storm in the National Rugby League (NRL). Warbrick is a triple international footballer, having represented New Zealand in three football codes: Rugby League, Rugby Sevens and Australian rules football.[1]

Early life

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Warbrick was born and raised in Kawerau, New Zealand, of Māori(Ngāi Tai) descent. As a junior, he participated in athletics and also played soccer. He was educated at Rotorua Boys' High School and excelled in athletics, rugby union and league. Warbrick played junior rugby league for Ngongotaha Chiefs in the Bay of Plenty Rugby League.[2]

Career

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Australian rules football

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Warbrick began playing Australian rules football as a junior in 2016 on the recommendation of his junior rugby league coach. He was a member of the Western Crows in the AFL New Zealand premiership where he won the Rising Star award[3] and developed as a strong marking forward/midfielder.[4] He was later selected for the New Zealand national Australian rules football team, firstly at Under 18 level, then toured Melbourne with the open age side that played against the AFL National Academy in April 2016.[5] Following his impressive showings with the national side, Warbrick was tested at the AFL New Zealand Combine where he posted a combine record 90cm Standing Vertical Jump,[6] with above average results in the 20 metre sprint and agility with 2.94 and 8.12 respectively and a beep test score of 12.5[7] but was not signed to an AFL club.[8]

Warbrick has been quoted as saying that he had aspired to follow the professional Australian Football League pathway that was in place for New Zealanders to the St Kilda Football Club.[9] However felt he lacked confidence in the accuracy of his kicking which could hamper a potential career in the sport for which it is a key skill.[9]

Prior to joining New Zealand's Rugby Sevens team, he was approached by the Melbourne Storm with a contract offer, which put an end to his AFL aspirations.[9]

Rugby sevens

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Warbrick made his debut for the New Zealand national rugby sevens team in 2019. In 2021, he won a silver medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[10][11]

Professional Rugby league

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On 4 November 2021, Warbrick signed with the Melbourne Storm on a two-year contract.[12][13] He spent the majority of the 2022 season playing for Melbourne's affiliate club Sunshine Coast Falcons, scoring ten tries from 14 appearances in the Queensland Cup.

In round 1 of the 2023 NRL season, Warbrick made his NRL and Melbourne Storm debut against the Parramatta Eels. He had his Storm debut jersey (cap 225) presented to him by his sister.[14] Warbrick played a total of 25 games for Melbourne in the 2023 NRL season and scored 17 tries as Melbourne finished third on the table. In the semi-final against the Sydney Roosters, he scored a try with two minutes remaining to win the game for Melbourne. The following week, Warbrick played in the clubs preliminary final loss against Penrith.[15] Warbrick played a total of 24 matches for Melbourne in the 2024 NRL season as the club were runaway minor premiers. Warbrick played in Melbourne's 2024 NRL Grand Final loss against Penrith.[16]

NRL statistics

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Year Team Games Tries Pts
2023 Melbourne Storm 25 17 68
2024 24 15 60
Totals 49 32 128

References

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  1. ^ Five players set to make Kiwis debuts NZ Sportswire 22 October 2024
  2. ^ "Will Warbrick Profile – Melbourne Storm". melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  3. ^ "From AFL to rugby sevens, Warbrick finds league home". Yahoo! Sports. Australian Associated Press. 9 March 2023. Retrieved 26 March 2023.
  4. ^ Western Crows retain Stevens, Warbrick and Burdett AFL New Zealand 15 November 2016
  5. ^ Huge ANZAC Day weekend for AFLNZ from World Footy News 20 April 2016
  6. ^ Combine Top 10 AFL New Zealand
  7. ^ Combine Results - AFL New Zealand
  8. ^ Warbrick awarded Rising Star for Round 1 from AFL New Zealand 18 February 2016
  9. ^ a b c ‘Always a dream’: How the AFL almost won over a rising Storm star by Roy Ward 9 March 2023
  10. ^ "Warbrick William". Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  11. ^ "William Warbrick". New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Storm sign Olympic Games medal winner". Melbourne Storm. 4 November 2021.
  13. ^ Riccio, David (6 October 2024). "Locker Room: How every Melbourne Storm 2024 NRL grand final player was discovered and brought to club". Code Sports. Sydney, New South Wales: News Corporation Australia. Retrieved 21 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Will Warbrick debut jersey presentation". melbournestorm.com.au. Retrieved 20 March 2023.
  15. ^ "NRL 2023: Melbourne Storm season review". sportingnews.com.
  16. ^ "NRL grand final 2024 quick hits: Biting allegation, Panthers halves swansong and a controversial bunker decision". www.abc.net.au.
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