Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

-	Player	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
1	Bunty Afoa	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔
4	Rocco Berry	✔	✔
5	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Fatialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	S	✔	✔
S5	Sio Kali	S
S6	Patrick Moimoi	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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: 27/30
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
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Wrighty]

This might be off topic or on a side track but it also has geo political advantages for Australia too in this current political state of affairs.

Wait what? The whole reason for the Aussie Government chipping in oodles of dollars is those reasons.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Wait what? The whole reason for the Aussie Government chipping in oodles of dollars is those reasons.

Your thoughts please.....

"Insert thoughts here"

 

[kos]

Wait what? The whole reason for the Aussie Government chipping in oodles of dollars is those reasons.

That is correct Wrighty
Another method the Oz Gov is using to counter China s influence in the Pacific region.
The Oz Gov is stumping up big bucks for this venture.

 

[Dannevegas]

The reason we are having all these problems with our halves(eg TMM and Boyd) all comes down to one person.
And that person is Luke Metcalf.
Wanting to play 7. He should be 6, with Boyd at 7.
Metcalf is young so what happens when Cleary is ready to take the 7 spot, it will be blocked by a still young Metcalf
We could have a good 10 years of Cleary and Metcalf as a top halves combo

Put Metcalf at 1 problem solved. We have a good fast ball playing Fullback. Boyd to 7 if he’s good enough, Martin resigned maybe a small upgrade and first drop 7 if not starting.

 

[roguei]

I have my doubts that Jett will stick around once developed. I see him as a Reece Walsh type signing where it’s best for his development to leave ‘home’ but plans to head back again longer term?

How so? Walsh was never a junior here. He joined when we were based in aus not nz. He had 0 roots in NZ. Jett will be spending at least 2 years as a junior here in nz to grow those roots. To get closer with those people who went through the warriors pathway system togther. I really think this is an apples and oranges case. Like with any player, if they are a junior in your system they are far, far more likely to stay at the club.

 

[hornbybrown]

Hansen was an avid fan of the NRL and was familiar with the stars

Razor strikes me as a died in the wool cantabrian who knows “rugby is best” so I can’t imagine him being too keen to entertain an (albeit outstanding) league prospect like Manu, particularly if it involves making space from his precious players to make room.

So, with that in mind, welcome home manu and kayln

Nah Razor enjoys league.

 

[CWC]

Jett could stay long term if he makes it when he has friends and/a kiwi partner here, and if we get dad over as assistant which we need or a high level position, I mean luring him with the “unfinished business” angle and win the first premiership for a NZ side is probably quite attractive after winning 4 in a row already, and his kids are all grown up and he can be close to Jett I guess is his youngest? Do it with Webby might be sweet too he looked so proud of him when he won coach of the year in 2023

 

[~Navigator~]

Jett could stay long term if he makes it when he has friends and/a kiwi partner here, and if we get dad over as assistant which we need or a high level position, I mean luring him with the “unfinished business” angle and win the first premiership for a NZ side is probably quite attractive after winning 4 in a row already, and his kids are all grown up and he can be close to Jett I guess is his youngest? Do it with Webby might be sweet too he looked so proud of him when he won coach of the year in 2023

I think it is a dream but 1 I would like to be able to see.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

I'm assuming it's the young Gannon lad from Leeds.

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

I'm assuming it's the young Gannon lad from Leeds.
View attachment 12608

Michael burgess 24 hours ago said we weren’t signing him. There goes all his credibility. So don’t listen to him when he says Joey Manu isn’t happening. LOL

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Michael burgess 24 hours ago said we weren’t signing him. There goes all his credibility. So don’t listen to him when he says Joey Manu isn’t happening. LOL

less than that actually,

 

[CWC]

Full story
This is our annual April big signing

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl-market-watch-warriors-secure-english-forward-morgan-gannon-on-threeyear-deal/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0?amp

 

[Dannevegas]

We need an outside back overhaul, Watching all these other teams, we just lack athleticism. And a lack of imagination in attack.
Crazy to me that we’re trying to offload Martin and keep CNK

 

[roguei]

If you've seen him in the super league he's a great player! Could be a real star and is NRL ready. But it feels like a 50/50 on it happening. If it does happen we need to keep him away from the raiders...

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I know we've been burnt before with Tomkins, but SL forward recruits seem to have a better track record in the NRL. Raiders have benefitted so much from it in the past. Let's just hope we have safeguards in place in case this is another compassionate release case waiting to happen.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

21 years old has a nice ring to it.

 

[Dannevegas]

21 years old has a nice ring to it.

193 cm also, be a good addition in a pack of midgets

 

[Ever Hopeful]

193 cm also, be a good addition in a pack of midgets

Hard out. I'm all for Pommy signings. I know a lot of the supporter base would disagree.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt re the Gannon signing. Seems like a bright prospect, though we need to see him play NRL before making any judgment. I just hope this is an appetizer for a marquee back signing. Our problem isn't the forward pack, it's lack of speed/athleticism in our backline.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt re the Gannon signing. Seems like a bright prospect, though we need to see him play NRL before making any judgment. I just hope this is an appetizer for a marquee back signing. Our problem isn't the forward pack, it's lack of speed/athleticism in our backline.

Yes, that is a glaring problem for sure, but I think another young second rower fits in our rotation. It feels like we have had older, tired players for a long time in broken Mannering, broken Hoffman, and Capewell. Niukore could still move to the middle, but if Gannon can fill Capewell/Walkers spot then there is room without affecting the other young guys. Keeps Ford honest too, which is good because he is great, but a guy that you need 100% energy from always with his limited skillset.

Eddie IT can force his way in if he is good enough as can a couple of others.