Outstanding rookie forward Demitric Vaimauga has locked in his time with the One New Zealand Warriors until the end of the 2028 NRL season.

The contract extension ensures the 20-year-old Ōtāhuhu Leopards junior is one of only two players in the 2025 NRL squad signed for the next four seasons.

Then known by the surname of Sifakula, Vaimauga made his NRL debut as a 19-year-old against the Sydney Roosters in 2023 and followed it with two more matches before adding another four appearances in 2024.

“Demitric’s extension takes him to 2028 – the only other player we have signed that long is James (Fisher-Harris) – so it shows just how much we believe in him as a player and as a person,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.

“He has trained really well since coming back from injury and we’re excited to see him continue his development under Webby and his staff while also being able to learn off the more established leaders we have in our top 30.”

While recovery from knee surgery prevented him returning to the field until midway through the 2024 season, Vaimauga quickly impressed in eight appearances for the club’s New South Wales Cup side before being recalled to the NRL lineup for the last four matches of the year.

“Demitric brings so much energy and aggression to his game on both sides of the ball. We love what he provides on the field and also off it,” said One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.

“Going back to our first trial against the Tigers in 2023, he immediately showed he belonged at NRL level and everything he has done since has reinforced that.

“Injury impacted on his time on the field in the last two seasons but he has come back so well through a professional attitude. He’s our future, a great example of a locally produced and developed player.”

In his seven interchange outings in the NRL, Vaimauga has averaged 19 minutes including a 32-minute stint in the round 25 clash against the Bulldogs this year when he made 118 metres from 10 runs, 45 post contact metres, a line break, five tackle breaks and 13 tackles without a miss.

In 20 New South Wales Cup games he averages 89 metres and 22 tackles with a total of 53 tackle breaks.

As a De La Salle College student, Vaimauga juggled rugby league commitments and First XV rugby union after being signed by the One New Zealand Warriors as a 15-year-old.

He was based in Redcliffe with the Warriors in 2022 where he trained with the NRL squad and appeared for the Dolphins in the Queensland Rugby League’s under-20 competition.