Workaholic front-rower Jackson Ford has extended his contract with NZ Warriors until the end of 2029.
Currently nursing a chest/shoulder injury back to health, Ford, 28, has been a breakout performer this NRL season, leading Dally M Medal standings through the first few weeks of the competition.
A rare and consistent 80-minute performer among middle forwards, he led his team in tackles and running metres, and was among the league leaders in post-contact metres until June, when he tore a pec muscle against North Queensland Cowboys.
Ford is expected back on the field in time for the playoffs in September.
"Jackson was in the form of his life in the first half of the season," coach Andrew Webster said. "He was awesome.
"We were really confident in what we saw in him when we signed him. We could see he had a massive motor and he worked really hard.
"He has proved that over and over ever since he came here. We love him.
"You're not meant to have favourites, but he's one of our favourites. You can ask every player that, every staff member.
"There aren't many front-rowers that play the way he does. If the game went for two days, Jackson would still be going for two days.
Ford has made 111 appearances for the Warriors, after shifting across from St George-Illawarra Dragons in 2023, when he was essentially a back-rower.
In 2025, he was shifted into the middle of the park and his reliability has allowed Webster to manipulate his use of interchange around a prop that doesn't need to be subbed out in the first half.
"That fella has tapped something," lock Erin Clark marvelled. "He gets drug-tested every time because they reckon he must be on something.
"Jacko doesn't play for the credit, he just wants to be the player you want to play with. He'll be the first person I choose to go to war with, because I know he will turn up.
"He's been doing it the last 2-3 years, but it's just showing more. I think the changes to the game have helped.
"I'm tired after 10 minutes and that fella's playing 80 minutes a game. He's just a true professional – the way he prepares and everything he does leading up to a game."
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