NZ Warriors Selection Squeeze: Adam Pompey Falls Victim to Squad Depth

NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster leaves 100-game veteran Adam Pompey out of the starting 17 as squad depth and injury returns create a selection dilemma.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 25, 2026, 3:59 AM EDT

Source: RNZ Pacific

The Fallout: A 100-Game Veteran Sidelined

For the first time since establishing himself as a core member of the NZ Warriors backline, Adam Pompey has been omitted from the matchday 17 based purely on coach’s selection. Named only in the extended reserves for Saturday’s clash against the Dolphins in Wellington, Pompey’s absence marks a significant shift in the squad's hierarchy.

Pompey, who played every minute of the 2024 season, has endured a disrupted start to 2026. After missing games for the birth of his daughter and a two-week suspension for dangerous contact, he returns to find his center spot occupied. Coach Andrew Webster’s decision highlights the "heartache" of managing a healthy, competitive roster where past reliability no longer guarantees a starting jersey.

The Rise of Lofi and the RTS Factor

The primary reason for Pompey’s exclusion is the successful reshuffle Webster executed during the center’s suspension. Moving Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back into the midfield and handing a debut to winger Alofiana "Lofi" Khan-Pereira proved to be a masterstroke. Khan-Pereira, the 2024 NRL tryscoring champion, cemented his place with a double against the Gold Coast Titans last week.

Webster praised Pompey as one of the "best defensive centers in the game" but admitted that Khan-Pereira’s "touch of brilliance and speed" earned him the nod this week. This tactical shift allows Tuivasa-Sheck to exert more influence in the condensed midfield, a move that helped the Warriors break an 11-year losing streak against the Melbourne Storm earlier this month.