Andrew Webster will have his work cut out for him this season at the Warriors, with a stack of roster changes and a leadership void continuing to deepen.
After a stellar first year at the helm in 2023, Webster's men slumped back down the ladder last season and will go into round one with plenty of lingering question marks.
Shaun Johnson – one of the club's all-time greats – has finished his NRL career, while skipper Tohu Harris has also announced his retirement due to injury.
Shaun Johnson has played his last game for the Warriors. Â Getty
Add on top of that Addin Fonua-Blake's exit and things are looking a little dire at the Warriors, who remain one of just three clubs yet to win a first grade premiership.
While it's not all bad news for the Auckland-based club due to the arrival of Panthers enforcer James Fisher-Harris, they loom as an interesting team to watch in 2025.
Wide World of Sports takes a look at the five burning questions facing the Warriors.
Who will captain the Warriors?
Harris' retirement leaves a huge hole and one of coach Webster's first agenda items in 2025 will be to settle on a new leader.
The 33-year-old was a massive inspiration for the Warriors in recent years and played a vital role in the side's top-four finish two seasons ago.
Tohu Harris has finished his NRL career. Â Getty
The logical choice to replace him would be Fisher-Harris, who already has leadership experience from his time captaining the Kiwis and has won four titles with Penrith.
Another potential option is Mitch Barnett, who has developed into a fantastic leader and is coming off a career-best season that included a State of Origin debut for NSW.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who led the club prior to his rugby union code switch, could be an outside chance to skipper the Warriors this year, while Kurt Capewell may also be in the mix.
Who replaces Shaun Johnson at halfback?
Off the back of the Kiwi legend's retirement from rugby league, the Warriors coaching staff will also need to figure out the make-up of their halves combination.
Johnson admittedly spent plenty of time on the sidelines due to injury last year, but few of his Warriors teammates stood up on a consistent basis.
Luke Metcalf is all-but a certainty to start the season in the No.6 jumper, but who plays alongside him remains a little less clear as of early-January.
Te Maire Martin is an experienced campaigner and can guide a team around the park, while Chanel Harris-Tavita still has good football ahead of him.
Te Maire Martin could play halfback for the Warriors. Â Getty
New recruit Tanah Boyd spent a lot of his tenure at the Titans in and out of first grade and could be better-suited in the bench utility role.
Martin starts as favourite to wear the No.7 jersey in round one – but the trials will be a major factor in which way Webster leans at halfback.
What position will Roger Tuivasa-Sheck play?
One of the aforementioned captaincy options has another cloud over his head and it's in regard to what position Tuivasa-Sheck will play.
The fleet-footed former Dally M Medal winner split his time between fullback, centre and even wing during his first season back with the Warriors, failing to fully settle back into the 13-man code after two years away in union.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck  Getty
Tuivasa-Sheck remains one of the Warriors' biggest threats with ball in hand and given his best football has come in the No.1 jumper, he should likely start the season there.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki could also be options at fullback, while the likes of Adam Pompey and Rocco Berry will be battling it out for centre spots.
Can James Fisher-Harris lift the Warriors into finals?
He's been the heart and soul of Penrith for their five-year run at the top, but there's no guarantee Fisher-Harris can replicate that with the Warriors.
While he is one of the best props in the competition, the 29-year-old has been part of a generational team at the Panthers and had plenty of superstars around him.
His new club isn't short of big names or quality forwards to lighten the load but this will be the first time in Fisher-Harris' career that the weight of the world falls on his shoulders.
James Fisher-Harris. Getty
Can he be the difference-maker that helps the Warriors back into the finals? That remains to be seen, but his leadership and big-game experience can't hurt.
Striking up a one-two punch with Barnett, similar to what he had with Moses Leota at his previous club, will be integral in Fisher-Harris' transition.
Will any Warriors young guns break through?
Despite having so many question marks over their best team, the Warriors actually have a lot of experienced players in their top 30 roster.
However, the club has also shown in recent years that it isn't afraid to push young guns into the mix and cast an eye towards the future.
Ali Leiataua in action last year. Â Getty
Ali Leiataua played a handful of games last year and is a strong centre with a promising future, while forwards Jacob Laban, Zyon Maiu'u and Leka Halasima will be banging on the door for a permanent role, especially after Harris' retirement.
Keep an eye on dummy-half Samuel Healey, who could push Freddy Lussick for the back-up role at the Warriors behind starting No.9 Wayde Egan.
