Winger Ed Kosi has had his NZ Warriors contract extended two more years through the 2025 NRL season.
The powerful winger has taken a rags-to-riches pathway through his first-grade career, which began two years ago, but seemed to hit the wall with a diabolical display in last season's Anzac Day massacre against Melbourne Storm.
Kosi, 24, was dropped from the playing squad for several rounds, as he regrouped, but returned to score a hat-trick of tries against Canterbury Bulldogs at Mt Smart Stadium.
This year, he was brought into the starting line-up, when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak withdrew injured, and produced the Warriors' opening try of the season in their victory over Newcastle Knights at Wellington.
In 19 first-grade games, he has scored 11 tries, including nine in his last 10 appearances.
"I can’t say enough about Ed," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster. "He has been terrific, making huge improvements in all parts of his game during the pre-season and then taking that into the first three rounds of the competition.
"His desire to get better every day has earned him a starting spot and he has now seen the rewards of his hard work, with three strong performances in first grade."
The former Mangere East Hawks junior has topped 100 running metres, as his team have two wins from those three outings to start their 2023 campaign.
"In Ed, we have another homegrown player, who has come through our system to make it into the NRL," said Warriors recruitment, development and pathways general manager Andrew McFadden.
"He has worked so hard at his game since making his debut, overcoming some adversity along the way, and has firmly established himself as an NRL player. He fully deserves his new contract."
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