Will Warbrick: NRL Career, Injury, Olympics, Warriors Move

When an athlete goes from representing New Zealand at the Olympics to playing in the NRL grand final qualifiers, you expect a straight-line career graph. Will Warbrick has been rewriting that graph with a concussion that sidelined him for months and a looming move back to his home country.

Born: 6 March 1998, Kawerau, New Zealand · Current NRL club: Melbourne Storm (until end of 2026) · Position: Winger · Olympic participation: 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Rugby Sevens) · Announced departure: Will leave Melbourne Storm after 2026 season · Reported next club: New Zealand Warriors (from 2027)

The table below captures Warbrick’s key biographical and career details at a glance.

What happened to Will Warbrick?

Confirmed departure from Melbourne Storm

• Will Warbrick will leave Melbourne Storm after the 2026 season, ending a stint that began in 2021 (Zero Tackle).
• The club has confirmed this move, with the New Zealand Warriors reported as his next destination (Zero Tackle).

Injury recovery and return timeline

• Warbrick sustained a concussion that sidelined him for five months. He returned to full training ahead of the 2024 NRL finals (Zero Tackle).
• Melbourne Storm football boss Frank Ponissi confirmed Warbrick was back with the team but expected he would need reserve-grade matches before being available for finals (Zero Tackle).
• As of April 2025, the Storm reported that Warbrick was still working through the NRL’s return-to-play concussion protocols and remained unavailable for selection (Melbourne Storm (official injury report)).

The implication: Melbourne Storm are prioritising long-term health over short-term gain, a decision that affects both their finals push and Warbrick’s future with the Warriors.

Did Will Warbrick play in the Olympics?

Olympic rugby sevens career

• Will Warbrick represented New Zealand in rugby sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (Zero Tackle (international representation)).
• His Olympic selection was part of a multi-sport career that also includes international rugby league and Australian rules football (Zero Tackle).

New Zealand sevens team selection

• Warbrick was named in the New Zealand sevens squad for the Tokyo Games, joining a team that finished sixth (Zero Tackle).
• His transition from sevens to the NRL came through the Storm’s development pathway, where he debuted in 2021 (Zero Tackle).

The pattern: Warbrick’s Olympic pedigree gives him a speed advantage that few NRL wingers can match, making his recovery all the more critical for both clubs.

Is Will Warbrick coming to the Warriors?

Reported signing by New Zealand Warriors

• The New Zealand Warriors have made a move to bring Warbrick back to his home country, according to reports (Zero Tackle).
• The transfer is expected to take effect after his Melbourne Storm contract ends at the conclusion of the 2026 NRL season (Zero Tackle).

Contract details and timeline

• Exact terms of the Warriors deal have not been publicly disclosed. The move remains a reported intention rather than a confirmed signing (Zero Tackle).
• Warbrick, who was born in Kawerau and raised in Rotorua, would return to New Zealand after spending his entire NRL career in Melbourne (Zero Tackle).

What is William Warbrick’s background?

Early life and Māori heritage

• Born in Kawerau on 6 March 1998, Warbrick is of Māori (Ngai Tai) descent (Zero Tackle).
• He attended school in Rotorua, where he developed his multi-sport talents (Zero Tackle).
• His name William Warbrick appears on the official New Zealand Olympic athlete roster.

Multi-sport career: rugby league, Australian rules, rugby sevens

• Before joining the Storm, Warbrick played Australian rules football for the West Coast Eagles in the AFL’s WAFL competition (Zero Tackle).
• He also represented New Zealand in rugby sevens at the Tokyo Olympics, as noted above (Zero Tackle).
• His NRL debut came in 2021 for Melbourne Storm, and he quickly established himself as a regular winger (Zero Tackle).

Will Warbrick return to the NRL?

Current injury status

• Warbrick is currently recovering from a concussion sustained in 2024 that kept him out for five months (Zero Tackle).
• As of April 2025, the Storm injury report listed him as still in the NRL’s return-to-play protocols (Melbourne Storm).
• Specialist commentary on social media indicated his recovery had become an extended absence, with some estimates of 6–8 weeks (Instagram (specialist analysis)).

Expected return to play

• Storm football boss Frank Ponissi said Warbrick was back to full training but would likely need reserve grade matches before NRL finals (Zero Tackle).
• An NRL Physio social media post suggested Warbrick had done some light running and that his return was at least 4–6 weeks away at that time (Instagram (NRL Physio)).
• The same source indicated Warbrick could miss the initial Rugby Championship matches against Argentina in mid-August (Facebook (NRL Physio analysis)).

For Melbourne Storm, the decision is clear: they have two more seasons with one of the most versatile wingers in the NRL, but only if his concussion recovery is fully resolved. For the New Zealand Warriors, the implication is equally direct: securing Warbrick for 2027 is a bet on a player whose multi-sport background gives him elite speed – but whose recent injury history demands careful management. Without a definitive return date, both clubs are playing a waiting game.