Since he debuted for the club in 2020, Egan hasgone from strength to strength, and is now one of the first names on Webster’s team sheet.
After the first four games of 2025, Egan is the only Warriors forward to have played every minute of the season so far - a feat made all the more incredible by the fact he plays arguably the most demanding position on the park.
However, given the dearth of quality No 9s available for New South Wales and Australia, Egan has never been called up to represent his state or his country.
And even though Maguire overlooked Egan in favour of North Queensland Cowboys hooker Reece Robson in 2024, the regard for the Warriors rake is still high across the NRL.
This year, though, given Maguire’s New South Wales exit, returning Blues coach Laurie Daley will have a choice as to who wears No 9 when his side defend their 2024 crown.
As far as hookers go, Egan will face stiff competition from not just Robson, but Api Koroisau of the Wests Tigers, and Damien Cook of the St George Illawarra Dragons. Connor Watson of the Sydney Roosters is also an option, but has primarily been used by the Blues as an interchange forward.
But as far as Egan is concerned, higher honours won’t come unless he’s performing at club level, first and foremost.
“It’s always nice,” said Egan. “But I’m just trying to play good footy for the Warriors, and help us get results.
“[I’ll] just let the footy take care of that sort of stuff. I don’t look too far into it.
Wayde Egan acknowledges the fans after the loss to Canberra in Las Vegas. Photo / Photosport
“I just try to - it’s a cliche - take it week by week, play some good footy for the Warriors. That’s my main focus.”
While in the past it had been postulated that playing for the Warriors seemed to obscure New South Wales and Queensland players from being selected, last year showed that isn’t the case.
Queensland regular Kurt Capewell kept his spot for games two and three of the series after his move to Auckland from the Brisbane Broncos, while Mitch Barnett earned his first call-ups for New South Wales and Australia after a career-best season at Mt Smart.
As a new signing at the Warriors for 2025, Erin Clark was expected to cover hooker as well as lock, given his utility value.
And yet, Egan’s fitness and consistency through the middle has meant that opportunity is yet to arrive.
Clark is no stranger to what Egan brings to the table, having lined up against him at the Gold Coast Titans. And even though Clark ended up on the winning side against Egan twice last year, the latter’s displays didn’t go unnoticed.
This week, when the Warriors travel to face the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Sunday, Egan will be directly up against the man he would face at Origin level - Queensland hooker Harry Grant.
According to Clark, though, even Grant is able to look to Egan for inspiration at the highest level.
“He just takes so much pressure off you,” Clark explained. “Sitting and watching, you don’t realise until you’re playing next to him, the amount of space he gives you.
“His deception out of dummy half is probably the best in the comp. A lot of players watch him, a lot of the top hookers like Harry Grant, they watch him just for that.
“Until you’re playing with him you don’t realise how handy it is as a middle to have someone like that give you space. It gives me so much room to play, he takes out markers and you’re already halfway to the line.
“We’re lucky to have Wayde there.”
Webster has more than enough understanding of what makes a top hooker, and what makes an Origin representative.
During his time as an assistant to Ivan Cleary at the Penrith Panthers, Webster oversaw a number of players step up from the NRL to representative level.
From the likes of Capewell for Queensland, to Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Matt Burton, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin for New South Wales. The most important name on that list is Koroisau, who was a mainstay at Penrith before leaving for Wests.
Wayde Egan will be a Warrior until at least the end of the 2027 season. Photo / Photosport
And even though it might leave the Warriors short, Webster states that Egan would offer a point of difference to his New South Wales competitors.
“He’s going brilliantly,” said Webster. “He’s had a great pre-season, he’s coming into the best days of his career.
“I don’t think everyone understands how close he was to playing [State of Origin] last year.
“I’m sure he’s in contention again this year. If they take a jump and make that call, he’d do a great job for New South Wales.
