He was poached from the Penrith Panthers at the end of last year.
The New Zealand Warriors have secured a promising young halfback as they prepare for a future without Shaun Johnson, who will retire at the end of the season. Luke Hanson, who was recruited from the Penrith Panthers at the end of last season, has signed a contract extension with the Warriors. This deal includes a development contract for 2025, with an option for an additional year.
This move comes as the Warriors brace for Johnson’s departure, with his final game set for Saturday evening against his former team, the Cronulla Sharks.
Hanson, a talented playmaker from St Dominic’s College, has been with the Panthers’ junior system since 2020, competing in the Harold Matthews Cup, SG Ball Cup, and Jersey Flegg Cup. He was also part of the Panthers’ renowned SG Ball Cup team that won the Grand Final in 2022, playing alongside NRL players like Jesse McLean, Keagan Russell-Smith, Isaiya Katoa, and Mason Teague.
For the upcoming season, Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin are expected to be the Warriors’ first-choice halves, while Hanson will compete with Chanel Harris-Tavita for a backup role.
This year, Hanson has demonstrated his potential in the NSW Cup, scoring five tries, forcing six drop-outs, delivering eight try assists and ten line-break assists, and accumulating 1,063 total running meters.