Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 9546 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 20s
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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa
2Tom Ale
3Mitchell Barnett
4Rocco Berry
5Tanah Boyd
6Kurt Capewell
7Erin Clark
8Jett ClearySS
9Wayde Egan
10James Fisher-Harris
11Jackson Ford
12Leka Halasima
13Morgan Harper
14Chanel Harris-Tavita
15Sam Healey
16Edward Kosi
17Jacob Laban
18Ali Leiataua
19Jye Linnane
20Freddy Lussick
21Te Maire Martin
22Luke Metcalf
23Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
24Marata Niukore
25Adam Pompey
26Tanner Stowers-Smith
27Taine Tuaupiki
28Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
29Demitric Vaimauga
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
S1Kayliss FatialofaS
S2Kalani GoingS
S3Luke HansonS
S4Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaS
S5Sio KaliS
S6Patrick MoimoiS
-Kahu CapperTT
-Morgan Gannon-
-Motu PasikalaT??
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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NZWarriors.com

Looks like another from Northland. You’d want the JFH factor to put him in the right space and get all of him
Watching a bit of Tobias Crosby talking about his weight lifting etc I think he got up to 116-120kg of muscle but it was to heavy for his structure and he said he'd hurt his back walking to the fridge. It made me think how a big unit is great but getting the most optimal body size and shape is an art and science for sure.
 
Watching a bit of Tobias Crosby talking about his weight lifting etc I think he got up to 116-120kg of muscle but it was to heavy for his structure and he said he'd hurt his back walking to the fridge. It made me think how a big unit is great but getting the most optimal body size and shape is an art and science for sure.

Whoever was telling these guys to build weight last year got it really wrong, Crosby and also Marata had constant foot fractures or injuries until he looks a bit leaner than last year.
 
Good interview with Cappy on Sport Nation.
Heavily paraphrasing.. "Gannon is ready to go once he gets here. Different kind of player to what we have. Tough rangy ball playing back rower, will eventually end up in the middle. It's pretty obvious how it'll all play out, we've got some pretty handy backrowers, so you add in a ball playing lock.."
Is there a recording anywhere?
 
He’s that big body that we don’t really have, but also a body that can struggle in the modern game at times. We’ve got a squad of hard workers by the looks, so anyone we recruit needs to fit this mould. 25 now so probably a defining time in his career
We had Chris Satae who had mass but also the problem of less interchanges than when his body type had infinite subs to just bash and rumble through teams
 
We had Chris Satae who had mass but also the problem of less interchanges than when his body type had infinite subs to just bash and rumble through teams
Satae showed in patches that he had some impact but the game is even much faster than when he was around the club. I think it’s unlikely that Greig would be disciplined enough to develop a decent motor but the 192cm is something we don’t have much of-height in our forwards. Laban is coming through and the club sees Gannon as being ready listening to McFadden, who also has some height. Greig sits at about 118kg, so you’d probably want to see him get to about 115kg an play some bigger minutes. Discipline can be poor too with some high shots, so that would need fixing
 
I don't think we need Wiremu Grieg. For 2026 we have props of

JFH
Barney
Ford
Niukore
Bunty
Ale
TSS
Maybe Crosby if he continues his growth and learning path

At best Wiremu would be 5th on that list and that is not fair on him to just take Bunty's spot in the pecking order. Let him go to Perth where we can get decent minutes and develop.

I personally think what we are lacking is

1) a ball playing lock - seems to be solved with Gannon
2) An elite fullback should one fall in our laps
3) Maybe another wing
 
I don't think we need Wiremu Grieg. For 2026 we have props of

JFH
Barney
Ford
Niukore
Bunty
Ale
TSS
Maybe Crosby if he continues his growth and learning path

At best Wiremu would be 5th on that list and that is not fair on him to just take Bunty's spot in the pecking order. Let him go to Perth where we can get decent minutes and develop.

I personally think what we are lacking is

1) a ball playing lock - seems to be solved with Gannon
2) An elite fullback should one fall in our laps
3) Maybe another wing
All of Bunty, Ale and TSS off contract at season’s end. Extend them all?
 
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