Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum centers on the Warriors' 2025/2026 roster planning, with significant focus on roster adjustments and player roles. Discussions highlight Erin Clark's signing #342 as a key middle-forward addition for defensive grit, though some skepticism about his ideal position persists #343. Backline restructuring dominates the dialogue, particularly Marcelo Montoya's likely departure to the Tigers for family reasons #88#232, prompting debates about shifting Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to wing despite concerns over his positional fit #13#240. Fan sentiment emphasizes securing Ali Leiataua's long-term deal #192 and explores Taine Tuaupiki's viability at fullback #50#288.
Controversy arises around Josh Curran's critical exit interview, where users #69 interpret his remarks as unprofessional while acknowledging his on-field value. Recruitment targets like Leo Thompson #108 and development signings such as Sam Healey #202 suggest strategic futureproofing. Forward pack balance remains contentious, with members debating Tohu Harris's reduced role #427, Jackson Ford's utility value #404, and dissatisfaction with Marata Niukore's output relative to salary #86#378. The analysis concludes that cap management and injecting pace into the outside backs are critical priorities moving forward.

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Recruitment Strategy, Player Contracts, Backline Restructuring

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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



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Assuming he has signed it will be interesting to see if the club announces Healey. Some years we have had pictures from pre-season and end up trying to figure out who some guys are.

Most of those guys were probably on train and trial contracts.
 
I listened to an interview with CG. He said only expect 1-2 signings for next year. Fish and Clark (I guess) focus is to promote from within
Surely they’d be looking at who to bring in for 2026 too with some good players available and players like Harris potentially hanging up his boots?
 
SJ - $650k

AFB - $1.1m (also how’s he going to the sharks for $850?)

Jazz - -400k?

Montoya - $350k?

Plus the lodge money which was about $700k should be coming off now

How is there not a major signing incoming?

Don’t care about if players are contracted or not we should be throwing over a million ++ at someone we really want.

Lodge was here in 2022 so I think any money that we have him for 2023 would be long gone for 2025.

*JFH gets most of AFBs money.
*Clark will get Jazz's money (maybe a little more imo).
* Well need to replace Montoya with a minimum contract, so that will only be about $200k for us to spend

That would leave us with SJ's money plus a bit of change from Montoya and AFB, so 850-1.1mil I'm guessing?

Sam Healey - what would he be coming over her for? Surely wouldn't be peanuts so id guess 250-350k to start?

With rough estimations that gives us about 700k or so for a signing for next year, or upgrade a bunch of the youngins as that's gunna be fairly important over the next 3 years
 
SJ - $650k

AFB - $1.1m (also how’s he going to the sharks for $850?)

Jazz - -400k?

Montoya - $350k?

Plus the lodge money which was about $700k should be coming off now

How is there not a major signing incoming?

Don’t care about if players are contracted or not we should be throwing over a million ++ at someone we really want.

Fish will be taking at least 90%, if not all, of the AFB money.

Clark will be taking all of that Jazz money.

That Lodge money already came off before this season, RTS will have taken most if not all of that.

Ford, Lussick, Metcalf, and your favourite, Goatto Berry are in the first year of new deals, so that eats into it,

Tohu is also in a new deal so presumably (hopefully) being on reduced money, which might counteract bumps those other four got.

DWZ is on a new deal this year too, I imagine that frees up a teeny bit as well. I also think we were doing chip-ins for Eli Katoa, which is now done.

Not disagreeing that we have space for an impactful player, just trying to put it into context
 
I would go for Asi, not a world beater but has a sound all round game.

Crosby a Development contract.

When are the Warriors going to learn, play players in their position.
 
Fish will be taking at least 90%, if not all, of the AFB money.

Clark will be taking all of that Jazz money.

That Lodge money already came off before this season, RTS will have taken most if not all of that.

Ford, Lussick, Metcalf, and your favourite, Goatto Berry are in the first year of new deals, so that eats into it,

Tohu is also in a new deal so presumably (hopefully) being on reduced money, which might counteract bumps those other four got.

DWZ is on a new deal this year too, I imagine that frees up a teeny bit as well. I also think we were doing chip-ins for Eli Katoa, which is now done.

Not disagreeing that we have space for an impactful player, just trying to put it into context


I can’t believe we paid freight for Katoa like seriously that blows my mind.

I can’t fathom.
 
If we go into next year with TMM/Metcalf/CHT as our halves, may as well write off the season. We'd need TMM to play at his ceiling all year, and Metcalf to take a huge step up, combined with them miraculously staying fit when they're injury prone.

We can make do everywhere else, but we absolutely must sign a half, even a journeyman. We had those 3 + SJ this year and still had to play non halves in the role.
 
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