Mitch Barnett has expressed positive views regarding his decision to leave the New Zealand Warriors, emphasizing the strength of the club’s emerging talent and his personal motivations for the move. Barnett acknowledged that rugby league provided a valuable focus for him, but he made it clear that his departure is driven primarily by family considerations.

The Warriors are widely regarded as having one of the strongest contingents of young forwards in the competition, developed through the club’s internal pathways. This depth was recently demonstrated when the Warriors negotiated a player exchange with the Brisbane Broncos, trading Barnett—who served as co-captain—for utility back Grant Anderson.

Alongside established starters Leka Halasima and Jacob Laban, forwards Demetric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava have also made significant contributions coming off the interchange bench. The emergence of these players has reinforced Barnett’s confidence in the club’s future prospects.

Barnett stated he harbors no regrets about leaving the team and expressed a desire to leave the club in a better position than when he joined. “These boys are going to run this club for a long time,” he said, reflecting on the promising crop of talent poised to carry the Warriors forward.

Despite his impending departure, Barnett indicated he remains focused on his goals for the current season but is optimistic about the Warriors’ ongoing development. His departure, framed by family needs and the readiness of the team’s next generation, underscores a transitional phase for the club heading into the future.