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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[roguei]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

April doesn't end till Thursday I guess .

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

And so the thread kicks off again

Lot of smoke around Manu now.

 

[chrisnz]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

When you say had access what does that mean are they actually important people or we talking about catering or sound crew ? Jagged a photo or in the dressing rooms ?

 

[Jeetz]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

Hope not as a fullback. Would rather have a ball playing fullback instead of a ball running hog.

 

[rugged]

When you say had access what does that mean are they actually important people or we talking about catering or sound crew ? Jagged a photo or in the dressing rooms

not service staff or anything like that - but the reason why I was unsure of truth of it was if this person was in the know I wouldve expected others to have been hearing whispers. I expected to come to this thread and see it lighting up - so it could be true but if the rumour mill doesn’t spark in the next little bit then somehow he’s got the wrong end.

 

[Tragic]

He shouldn't be in the 17 imo if everyone is healthy.

Watch yesterday's NSW cup game replay, if you see Tom Ale's run at the 53 minute mark (in his first game back mind you), Bunty is facking no chance of ever doing anything like that lmao.

Also i just don't think your taking into account development at all. In one year's time TSS > Bunty and I think Salalilo is better than Bunty in one year.

Salalilo is 20 years old and just ran for 88m off the bench. Bunty is averaging 108m in NSW cup this year. Tom Ale is averaging 129m.

Marata should be moved to prop full time anyway to accomodate Halasima, Laban, Eddie and Kayliss. Bunty will just be a road block next year

Is Marata at prop better than Bunty?

 

[Noitall]

not service staff or anything like that - but the reason why I was unsure of truth of it was if this person was in the know I wouldve expected others to have been hearing whispers. I expected to come to this thread and see it lighting up - so it could be true but if the rumour mill doesn’t spark in the next little bit then somehow he’s got the wrong end.

Now that CNK is locked in for a couple of years, they could be willing to announce it at some point soon if true? Picked up Gannon as a 2026 signing, after Jye Linnane being a less hyped one. NZ rugby has stated he won’t be offered a contract and if home is calling, you’d think the Warriors would be an attractive proposition right now

 

[3rdstriker]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

No better way to spark up this thread, as long as we all don't piss off the moderators again, @tahjay will have something to say and will weild his Axe if he smells bullshit in here!!!!!

 

[Makasene]

If the Manu rumours true anyone know why he wouldn’t just come this year?

Could be any number of reasons. A couple I can think of are:

1. Our cap for this year is probably the main thing - despite all the players that left and medical retirement etc we would still need to fit him in this year at full rate (pro rata). I doubt for example we would have a spare $600k for him for half a season.

2. Conditioning. No way would we want him straight away. Needs a full pre-season. Think it would be a disaster to come straight from rugby into mid-season. Let alone the time needed to adjust to the system.

 

[Lance155]

Is Marata at prop better than Bunty?

If he can play more minutes then yes. Same minutes, then meh. Neither excites me

 

[sup42]

Now that CNK is locked in for a couple of years, they could be willing to announce it at some point soon if true? Picked up Gannon as a 2026 signing, after Jye Linnane being a less hyped one. NZ rugby has stated he won’t be offered a contract and if home is calling, you’d think the Warriors would be an attractive proposition right now

So the Union satanists said they won't look at Joey Manu?

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Manus union team finishes the regular season on the 10th May. I think they are in 7th place and won’t make the playoffs? Really hard to follow but if they make the playoffs they could play up until the 1st June.

Manu has signed a one-year deal with French club Racing 92 and was to join them in July, but rumours are he’s getting a compassionate release to come home (herald article)

My take is if he’s coming to the Warriors it would be announced after the Toyota season finishes mid May?

Seen as he’s played league 6 months ago for the Roosters in 2024, I would imagine he COULD be ready with very little conditioning needed. A potential late season recruit, similar to SBW, from July for the finals?

(No inside knowledge, just thinking of the logistics!)

 

[Woofa]

Manus union team finishes the regular season on the 10th May. I think they are in 7th place and won’t make the playoffs? Really hard to follow but if they make the playoffs they could play up until the 1st June.

Manu has signed a one-year deal with French club Racing 92 and was to join them in July, but rumours are he’s getting a compassionate release to come home (herald article)

My take is if he’s coming to the Warriors it would be announced after the Toyota season finishes mid May?

Seen as he’s played league 6 months ago for the Roosters in 2024, I would imagine he COULD be ready with very little conditioning needed. A potential late season recruit, similar to SBW, from July for the finals?

(No inside knowledge, just thinking of the logistics!)

Spot on I reckon.

 

[Dantheman]

Manus union team finishes the regular season on the 10th May. I think they are in 7th place and won’t make the playoffs? Really hard to follow but if they make the playoffs they could play up until the 1st June.

Manu has signed a one-year deal with French club Racing 92 and was to join them in July, but rumours are he’s getting a compassionate release to come home (herald article)

My take is if he’s coming to the Warriors it would be announced after the Toyota season finishes mid May?

Seen as he’s played league 6 months ago for the Roosters in 2024, I would imagine he COULD be ready with very little conditioning needed. A potential late season recruit, similar to SBW, from July for the finals?

(No inside knowledge, just thinking of the logistics!)

If he gets added to our backline this season we are instant premiership threats imo.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

If he gets added to our backline this season we are instant premiership threats imo.

Depends if Metcalf starts to click or not.

 

[Noitall]

So the Union satanists said they won't look at Joey Manu?

Yeah they said publicly he won’t be offered a contract by NZ rugby. Makes me wonder if that’s what Ponga’s got his eye on, an All Black jersey?

 

[SJ2k]

Could be any number of reasons. A couple I can think of are:

1. Our cap for this year is probably the main thing - despite all the players that left and medical retirement etc we would still need to fit him in this year at full rate (pro rata). I doubt for example we would have a spare $600k for him for half a season.

2. Conditioning. No way would we want him straight away. Needs a full pre-season. Think it would be a disaster to come straight from rugby into mid-season. Let alone the time needed to adjust to the system.

RE 1. That's the thing, we actually can afford that and would be one of the only clubs that could. Walker alone probably covers that, but throw in Tohu's medical retirement and we would have freed up over a million since the start of pre season. Some would have gone into upgrades I'm sure but we lost a ton of cap with zero replacements.
RE2. Throw him in NSW cup and see how it goes tbh. Proofs in the pudding.

It would be a stellar signing and we'd be lucky to get him. It does feel like we've already been through this though.. Also a bit odd re signing CNK for 2 years if this was coming. Though we're still low in backline stock and CNK can really fill in anywhere if required.

 

[Kav1]

Yeah, I'm done with TT. I think we've seen his ceiling. Good little fulla. But I'm ready for some speed in the back 3.

Speed is not the only quality necessary for a winger/fullback. Footwork is also important as well as the ability to anticipate the opponents movements. Taine is playing in an unusual position (for him) as well as regularly having a height disadvantage. I think his best position is at fullback, but he could fill in where needed (as he is doing at present).

 

[france]

Is Marata at prop better than Bunty?

no

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Speed is not the only quality necessary for a winger/fullback. Footwork is also important as well as the ability to anticipate the opponents movements. Taine is playing in an unusual position (for him) as well as regularly having a height disadvantage. I think his best position is at fullback, but he could fill in where needed (as he is doing at present).

Trying to get excited about TT
But he just doesn’t break the line enough for me
Jinking cutting back etc
Plus he’s only small