Exciting teenaged centre Kahu Capper has been lured back home from the Sydney Roosters after signing a two-year contract with the One New Zealand Warriors.

The 18-year-old Taranaki-raised Capper will experience preseason training with the NRL squad before starting the 2025 season with the club’s SG Ball Cup (under-19) and Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) sides.

In January he captained the victorious Aotearoa Māori under-18 team at the Pasifika Youth Cup in Pukekohe when he was named the MVP for the tournament.

“Kahu’s a quality young footballer with huge potential and desire,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.

“We’ve been watching his development for some time and met up with him recently. He’s keen to come home to be near his family and to further his rugby league career with the Warriors.”

Capper has been in the Roosters’ system the last three years playing for their Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) side while attending renowned rugby union nursery Waverley College.

Watch Kahu Capper highlights reel

He has mixed rugby league with playing rugby union for Waverley College which has led to call-ups for the New South Wales Waratahs 16s and 18s representative sides.

Born in Esperance in Western Australia on February 9, 2006, Capper started playing rugby league for the Warriors – the South West Warriors, that is – before his family returned to Taranaki where he played for the Western Suburbs Tigers.

He attended Spotswood College in New Plymouth before being scouted by the Roosters.