‘Great value’: Warriors boost forward pack with signing of Cowboys utility
The Warriors have added more muscle to their forward pack, and announced the signing of Sam McIntyre from North Queensland Cowboys from next year.
The 28-year-old has penned a two-year contract to trade Townsville for Auckland, and adds close to a century of NRL appearances worth of experience, having also played for Wests Tigers and the Gold Coast Titans.
McIntyre’s spell at the Tigers coincided with Warriors coach Andrew Webster’s brief two-game stint as interim head coach, before he left to join Ivan Cleary’s team at the Penrith Panthers.
A versatile forward, McIntyre’s 2026 campaign has so far seen him split his time between the second row and prop off the interchange bench. He will add vital cover to a Warriors pack that will say goodbye to co-captain Mitch Barnett at the end of the season.
“Sam impressed with his toughness and the work ethic he had as he pushed towards his NRL debut,” said Warriors coach Webster. “He’ll provide great value to our squad as well as being a real help for the younger forwards on our roster.”
Sam McIntyre has penned a two-year deal with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
This season, McIntyre has made 14 appearances for the Cowboys, and has made 390 tackles at a success rate of just less than 89%. With ball in hand, he averages 58 running metres per game, to go with one try.
McIntyre’s arrival will also add depth to a Warriors forward pack brimming with young talent, after the quintet of Leka Halasima, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Jacob Laban have established themselves as first-graders this year.
Aside from covering the departure of Brisbane Broncos-bound Barnett, McIntyre’s arrival also comes as Marata Niukore leaves for the Newcastle Knights while Morgan Gannon will return to the UK Super League with Leeds Rhinos.
McIntyre becomes the third new recruit for the Warriors’ 2027 campaign. Kiwis winger Will Warbrick has signed a three-year deal to join from the Melbourne Storm, but will need to recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon, suffered in his side’s round 20 loss to the Sydney Roosters.
Brisbane Broncos utility back Grant Anderson has also been signed in exchange for Barnett, and will add cover at centre as well as the wing.
Alex Powell is a sports journalist for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016.
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