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	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Morgan Harper	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
24	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	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
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	✔	✔

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

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

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Noitall]

No wonder the Broncos want Cobbo, but here is why he will leave

The chance of the Broncos retaining Cobbo seems slim.

www.zerotackle.com

Still think Cobbo is worth pursuing if Joseph Manu isn’t a happening thing

 

[3rdstriker]

he's not worth that atm js

May as well upgrade halasima leiataua sifakula and Laban instead.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I'm finding the culture of the club really encouraging at the moment, which I hope is going to rub off on recruitment.

It is hard to get Aussies over here, but the current crop have totally embraced the club, and you can tell that they are buzzing off it. The dog eat dog culture of Aussie to the supportive team/fandom culture of NZ, which we have seen elevate our country above the sum of it parts in many sports.

You would have to be looking at the Warriors as somewhere that is going places if you were on the market for a club. I really, really hope we make the right moves in the next 6 months.

Hopefully Cappy is at Magic Round and he, Webster and Robinson are networking.

 

[CWC]

I'm finding the culture of the club really encouraging at the moment, which I hope is going to rub off on recruitment.

It is hard to get Aussies over here, but the current crop have totally embraced the club, and you can tell that they are buzzing off it. The dog eat dog culture of Aussie to the supportive team/fandom culture of NZ, which we have seen elevate our country above the sum of it parts in many sports.

You would have to be looking at the Warriors as somewhere that is going places if you were on the market for a club. I really, really hope we make the right moves in the next 6 months.

Hopefully Cappy is at Magic Round and he, Webster and Robinson are networking.

How good has SJ been on the PR front, is he coaching juniors at all? He’s more a Warriors ambassador on Fox panel doing analysis than a neutral commentator, suits his personality so well, will probably have an equally successful media career.

His energy and the way we embrace him will probably help the recruitment perception too, along with what Clark etc said. And Webby is giving Metcalf, Healey, even a returning CHT a real go and later Jye Ginnane (double busted ACL)

At the end I think one of the buys of the century is still Webby

 

[hornbybrown]

Probably time to think about upgrading and extending Metcalf. The longer we take the more expensive it will get. He is making good progress for a still very inexperienced half.

 

[Teets]

I guess the Jackson Stewart one stings a little because the Roosters have a decent record of getting good outside backs from NZ.

RTS, SKD, and Manu to name some.

Promising so far for Jackson, winning the SG Ball comp while holding down the coveted fullback jersey for the Roosters.

One we might want to entice home down the line.

 

[watcher]

Fir our Wing stocks I will throw in a smokie. A young bloke called Robert Manson plays NPC Union for Southland and has played for the Highlanders and NZ Under 20s he is very fast and has been clocked at nearly 40kph. He is built uite solid and could be worth a punt imo.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Fir our Wing stocks I will throw in a smokie. A young bloke called Robert Manson plays NPC Union for Southland and has played for the Highlanders and NZ Under 20s he is very fast and has been clocked at nearly 40kph. He is built uite solid and could be worth a punt imo.

Pity we don’t sign union players

 

[Boston Boy]

Fir our Wing stocks I will throw in a smokie. A young bloke called Robert Manson plays NPC Union for Southland and has played for the Highlanders and NZ Under 20s he is very fast and has been clocked at nearly 40kph. He is built uite solid and could be worth a punt imo.

I am guessing you mean Michael Manson? If so he is not really strong in contact. He is very fast, doesn't seem to have a step and is not robust enough to do the traditional league winger work in my opinion.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

I am guessing you mean Michael Manson? If so he is not really strong in contact. He is very fast, doesn't seem to have a step and is not robust enough to do the traditional league winger work in my opinion.

I think he tested fastest in the NPC last year, but fair call wether the other parts of his game would be up to it.

For mine tho for outside backs i would be exploring all avenues where speed is the primary focus and then looking at wether that robustness can be added to their game....cause u very rarely if never get it happening the other way round.

Bellamy's definitely gone that route exploring the 7s scene

 

[Dippa]

In amongst Recruitment happenings, if there is one thing that the club needs to react to, it is a well-executed plan to lock up Luke Metcalf and Sam Healey. I am quietly confident in Luke staying long-term as the club has invested in him and no doubt provided the long-term plan, which we are now seeing. Also, he now has a NZ-born child, so he has stronger ties to us!

Sam Healey has now officially had his debut and made a decent impact in a small window of opportunity. Yes, there is the "given me my first opportunity in the first grade" talk, but Sam Healey could well be convinced to head back across the ditch to a Sydney-based club. This could escalate pretty quickly if he becomes a permanent fixture on the side. Yes, he is signed until 2027, but what does that mean when "compassionate grounds" is now a legal clause without actually needing to be in a contract!

Magic Round has certainly given the Warriors club much stronger media coverage with its success and with a heavy focus on Metcalf's success. The same occasion has been Sam Healey debut and no doubt raise some eyebrows. Every NRL club was present, so you can be assured that some notes would have been taken for their club's future planning.

The Warriors club has thrived and seen successful periods when it has been able to produce and hold onto certain Aussie-based players in key positions. I think we are in that very position right now and working towards something special. Mitch Barnnet is with us until 2027 when he will be 33 - it's safe to feel that he will likely see out his career at the Warriors.

You talk about spine - I think Metcalf and Sam Healey as a combination are a prerequisite. I haven't even mentioned Wayde Egan.

 

[Blain]

Healy is signed for 2 years beyond this. No need to send him a 5 year deal after a good 20 minute debut off the bench. Egan has 4 more NRL seasons left in him at least, if Healy can somehow take his spot then he might be keen to stay, but if he can't and shows he is NRL level, he won't sit around being a back up if he is better than that. Being a bigger body maybe we could look to play him as a ball playing lock or something, pretty common these days.

Metcalf is a different one perhaps, his management won't be looking at signing anything until he can get his value sky rocketing. The club clearly believe in the guy, so I don't think the club will be sitting on the heals in terms of locking him in further.

 

[CWC]

Hard to see Healey staying, Egan's 28, Cook's 34 this year and still playing, 4-6 seasons left including 3-4 of prime Egan, Healey's 23 this year and has to play impact and won't surpass Egan till he's 27, a hybrid locking/hooker option of 40-50min/game will be a pretty good deal till then but we just signed Gannon...

Maybe it was a handshake agreement to give him the debut and no compassionate bs for the entire 3 years, be a gangster impact player/cover for Egan while we fast track 1 of the under 20s junior hookers to take his position in 2028 and transition into Egan's position over 2-3 years? Healey will probably command a starting position and salary somewhere back home by end of 2026 when he can negotiate, if he's good enough

 

[Blain]

I have heard his service is not what he's good at, more a game breaking ball runner. He's big too, guys like Karl Lawton and Cam Mcinnes spring to mind who transitioned to forward utility's. With him and Egan on the field at the same time this week, I think that's a sign of how they may intend to play Sam in future. Lussick was used a bit like that last year, but he just doesn't offer anything worthy of demanding minutes if Egan is fit and able. He definitely brought some energy and a running game which our boys needed when we were gassed.

 

[Damo]

I have heard his service is not what he's good at, more a game breaking ball runner.

His service has definitely improved from when I watched him play in Rd 1, perhaps Egan has been helping him out.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Personally, the players (outside of the obvious big names) I’d target for a lead into 2027 are.

Naufahu Whyte or Griffin Neame
Jesse Arthurs

By 2027, JFH and Barnett will probably start to slow down. JFH isn’t going anywhere.
So if Barnett (who’s contracted end 2027 will be 33) can get another year (27-28 elsewhere. I’d let him end of 2026. With DISTICTION. Let him extend his career and settle before retiring. Neame and Whyte are off contract end of 2026. I wouldn’t force him out obviously.

And the Broncos need to offload people. Obviously Cobbo is a better player. But if we could convince the broncos to give us Arthurs and they resign Cobbo. I’d be happy.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Personally, the players (outside of the obvious big names) I’d target for a lead into 2027 are.

Naufahu Whyte or Griffin Neame
Jesse Arthurs

By 2027, JFH and Barnett will probably start to slow down. JFH isn’t going anywhere.
So if Barnett (who’s contracted end 2027 will be 33) can get another year (27-28 elsewhere. I’d let him end of 2026. With DISTICTION. Let him extend his career and settle before retiring. Neame and Whyte are off contract end of 2026. I wouldn’t force him out obviously.

And the Broncos need to offload people. Obviously Cobbo is a better player. But if we could convince the broncos to give us Arthurs and they resign Cobbo. I’d be happy.

Cowboys forum would give us Neame for a kick in the nuts at the moment. Not very popular there at present

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Cowboys forum would give us Name for a kick in the nuts at the moment. Not very popular there at present

Truly?
Interesting……..

Looking at his stats (league live) the are down on the last two seasons.

Nothing a bit of Andrew Webster magic and the call of home (kinda lol) can’t fix I reckon.

His showings for the Kiwis, shows he has it in him.
If given the opportunity/choice, I would take Whyte over Neame. But I’d take either one whoever came up first.

JFH, 187cm and 103kg
Vaimauga, 183cm and 104kg
Neame, 193cm and 106kg
4th prop. TSS, Niukore, Ale, whoever……..

Good size variation.

 

[cock_o]

How has Toby Crosby been going in cup? Is he close to playing first grade?

 

[3rdstriker]

How has Toby Crosby been going in cup? Is he close to playing first grade?

From what I've seen he's been injected off the bench, a slow but deadly path.