NRL: NZ Warriors ‘proud’ of former reserve-grader Setu Tu in Dragons debut
Setu Tu scores a try for St George Illawarra Dragons in his NRL debut.
Photo: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
NZ Warriors are celebrating – not lamenting – the loss of powerhouse winger Setu Tu, after his impressive NRL debut for St George Illawarra Dragons.
Tu, 27, was a star performer for the Warriors reserves during their triumphant 2025 campaign, scoring 13 tries in 14 appearances, but was scooped up by the ‘Red V’ last November, after he scored two tries against Dragons in the 30-12 NSW Cup grand final victory.
After coming close to a first-grade call-up for the Warriors in 2024, when torn knee ligaments stalled his progress, he was finally given his chance on the big stage in a season-opening loss to Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend, scoring a try to cap his celebrations.
“So proud, so very proud of Sets,” fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad enthused. “We want to keep as much talent as we can at this club, but unfortunately, that’s not how this game works sometimes.
“He’s got his opportunity to go overseas and work on his craft, and he was given his opportunity.
“For him to live out his dreamβ¦ man, I remember Sets serving his apprenticeship at Melbourne, and then coming back for family reasons and rejoining the club via the NSW Cup side.
“To think about that moment, and to see him go over to Vegas for the first time and put his family name on the map, it’s special and very special for Sets.”
The Warriors have copped criticism over the years for letting homegrown talent seemingly slip through their fingers, but have also benefitted recently from its return.
Nicoll-Klokstad left Mt Smart after seven first-grade games in 2019, unable to force his way past Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the No.1 jersey, but spent four seasons at Canberra Raiders, before returning as a hardened veteran.
On the current roster, lock Erin Clark and second-rower Marata Niukore also began their careers through the Warriors junior system, but spent their formative years across the ditch, before coming back better players for their offshore experience.
Tu’s journey has been slightly different, marked by family and personal tragedy, so no-one begrudges him his breakthrough with the Dragons, although his night ended early, when he was subbed out of the game late with severe cramp.
Another happy to see him succeed was Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton, who was first on the scene to help Tu, when he tightened up.
“He is a young Samoan kid as well and I remember when it was my debut, so I could just imagine how emotional he was,” Crichton said. “He definitely killed it out there.
“I am obviously born overseas in Samoa and I am just trying to shine that light.
Setu Tu scores a try against St George Dragons in the NSW Cup grand final.
Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
“We saw another Samoan kid, obviously on the opposite side, but debuting, and we could see how proud his family is.
“I just want to shine that light for young Polynesian kids, regardless of whether you are Samoan, that you can make it from wherever you are born.”
Warriors coach Andrew Webster saw Tu’s promotion as recognition of the club’s pathway.
“He’s a great signing for the Dragons, and I’m really proud to see players departing our club and doing well in their debut,” he said. “It’s a credit to our NSW Cup and our whole development programme here.
“Setu came back here three years ago, looking for a part-time contract. He’s played in our reserve grade and now he’s got his opportunity.
“He was close [to staying] in many ways, but we were happy with what we’ve got and you can only have so many. I wish him all the best, and I was really proud of him and for his family.”
Already well served by veterans Tuivasa-Sheck and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Webster bolstered his wing stocks with the addition of Alofiana Khan-Pereira – a former NRL tryscoring champion – and rookie Haizyn Mellars over the off-season.
Meanwhile, several of last year’s champio reserve squad, including first-graders Moala Graham-Taufa, Ed Kosi, Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Freddy Lussick and captain Kalani Going, found contracts with other NRL clubs.
Webster denied that Tu’s age had counted against him being retained by the Warriors.
“Seventy-seven-year-olds are beauties at times too,” he said. “They’ve been so hungry for so long and it means so much to them.
“The motivation is just as high as a rookie, probably more, so the age wasn’t a factor. We’re already made our decision quite early on the direction we wanted to go and he had a great finish to the season.
“He was only part-time with us last season and did a great job.”
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