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: 25/30
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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[Five&Last]

Great list. Next year will shake it up a bit though and it will be where the club sees the best position for the potential first grade targets long term vs where the players see themselves playing. For example, half of this years Matt’s boys in the list were playing in what they would see as their third or fourth best positions.

Interesting, who in particular?

For example, if I was an Aus club I would be looking hard at Hickley Ioka as a future NRL fullback. Didn't get a look in with Jeremiah Lamana there but has some serious talent and playmaking versatility.

 

[Dannevegas]

can we get 2 backs in the mold of Iro and mulitalo

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Jacko Ford might do a heartier haka than Jase Nightingale.

Anyway, any recruitment news?

Haka in a kilt with a lei made of lollies wearing a hat with corks swinging with each pukana and bleeeh.

 

[Makasene]

Seeing the debut of TSS today, start to see why Zyon Maiu’u was released

Shit TSS looked right at home.

 

[ndp26]

Shit TSS looked right at home.

100% - was solid on both sides of the ball. Very quick play the ball too!

Great debut for the young Hornet

We've got a special bunch of young forwards coming through - need to make sure we hang onto as many as we can.

 

[Makasene]

100% - was solid on both sides of the ball. Very quick play the ball too!

Great debut for the young Hornet

We've got a special bunch of young forwards coming through - need to make sure we hang onto as many as we can.

Yep, it is the dirty not often talked about dark side of being a development club.

We will lose players we want to keep.

We will keep players who don't kick on.

We will release players who do kick on.

Great spot to be in.

 

[ndp26]

Yep, it is the dirty not often talked about dark side of being a development club.

We will lose players we want to keep.

We will keep players who don't kick on.

We will release players who do kick on.

Great spot to be in.

Yeah, it is tricky - but in Cappy and Webby we trust. They give us plenty of reasons to believe - a few astute decisions this year (Jazz upgrade to Clark, Zyon Maiu’u release and upgrade TSS contract).

Definitely - much better than buying in Melbourne Storm outcasts (Lowrie and Neilson anyone?)

 

[Viking]

Interesting, who in particular?

For example, if I was an Aus club I would be looking hard at Hickley Ioka as a future NRL fullback. Didn't get a look in with Jeremiah Lamana there but has some serious talent and playmaking versatility.

Those two are good examples having both played the game for over 10 years now. Jerry’s best position is centre and I don’t think he’d played any other position in league prior to this years Matt’s campaign. He had one season playing fullback in his first year of school rugby but none in league that I can remember. He won the Matt’s title last playing at centre then played the rest of the year in school rugby on the wing. He also played at the u16s nationals and nz clubs vs schools at centre. So fullback is his third position but he’s such a natural footballer that he was better than most other Matt’s fullbacks. Hinkley was picked at fullback over Jerry in both Nationals and NZ clubs vs schools. In Kelston’s loss against St Kent’s yesterday, Hinkley was at fullback and Jerry was on the wing. It was a similar story for Hinkley, he started last year playing in the halves in the SJ comp and then the Auckland u16s tour to GC then played centre/midfield for most of the year before playing fullback at Nationals. His best position is stand-off but he only played in the Matt’s final there when all the other halves options were injured. His best position in rugby is 2nd 5.

So how does this all relate to the clubs recruitment and retention plan? This club hasn’t developed a NRL first grade quality fullback since Locke 15 years ago and even he was originally a halfback. Fullbacks are expensive but we are good at developing centres. If you look at the other NRL clubs who have good junior catchments, most of their fullbacks come from their juniors. Our X factor juniors have to be retained and molded into the skill positions that the club has trouble recruiting in.

 

[Five&Last]

Those two are good examples having both played the game for over 10 years now. Jerry’s best position is centre and I don’t think he’d played any other position in league prior to this years Matt’s campaign. He had one season playing fullback in his first year of school rugby but none in league that I can remember. He won the Matt’s title last playing at centre then played the rest of the year in school rugby on the wing. He also played at the u16s nationals and nz clubs vs schools at centre. So fullback is his third position but he’s such a natural footballer that he was better than most other Matt’s fullbacks. Hinkley was picked at fullback over Jerry in both Nationals and NZ clubs vs schools. In Kelston’s loss against St Kent’s yesterday, Hinkley was at fullback and Jerry was on the wing. It was a similar story for Hinkley, he started last year playing in the halves in the SJ comp and then the Auckland u16s tour to GC then played centre/midfield for most of the year before playing fullback at Nationals. His best position is stand-off but he only played in the Matt’s final there when all the other halves options were injured. His best position in rugby is 2nd 5.

So how does this all relate to the clubs recruitment and retention plan? This club hasn’t developed a NRL first grade quality fullback since Locke 15 years ago and even he was originally a halfback. Fullbacks are expensive but we are good at developing centres. If you look at the other NRL clubs who have good junior catchments, most of their fullbacks come from their juniors. Our X factor juniors have to be retained and molded into the skill positions that the club has trouble recruiting in.

Yeah that makes sense. I think this club has always had a problem in junior pathways with just playing whoever is the better player right now as opposed to who is likely to be better in the future. Your fullback is going to get the most touches especially in age grade sides. Lemana is arguably the best player in that Matts side, so should get the most touches, therefore it makes sense to play him at fullback. However if you look at what makes a successful first grade fullback, it probably more closely aligns with the type of player that Hickley Ioka is (or will become). He can offer playmaking that Lemana just can't. Rate them both so highly though.

Similar thing with Motu Pasikala playing fullback in SG ball and Flegg. Pasikala is absolutely never going to be a first grade fullback, he doesn't have the IQ and ability to read the game, to make it at that level playing fullback (still a decent wing prospect). But he was the most talented player in those teams so just found himself at fullback.

 

[Playdaball]

Yeah that makes sense. I think this club has always had a problem in junior pathways with just playing whoever is the better player right now as opposed to who is likely to be better in the future. Your fullback is going to get the most touches especially in age grade sides. Lemana is arguably the best player in that Matts side, so should get the most touches, therefore it makes sense to play him at fullback. However if you look at what makes a successful first grade fullback, it probably more closely aligns with the type of player that Hickley Ioka is (or will become). He can offer playmaking that Lemana just can't. Rate them both so highly though.

Similar thing with Motu Pasikala playing fullback in SG ball and Flegg. Pasikala is absolutely never going to be a first grade fullback, he doesn't have the IQ and ability to read the game, to make it at that level playing fullback (still a decent wing prospect). But he was the most talented player in those teams so just found himself at fullback.

Motu Pasikala will be part of the top 30 next year and at this stage he’s not up to the required standard.
Still a lot of development to come ….hopefully.

 

[Cces]

Motu Pasikala will be part of the top 30 next year

Where have you seen that guaranteed? A 3 year deal announcement came last year but was vague. His Development contract status was removed from the NRL website before preseason finished & he hasn't played Flegg since March 15th

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Not sure if it was already posted, but I've gone through the Code article on who manages who, if anyone is interested:

Sports Vision
Bunty Afoa (S. Martin)
Erin Clark (S. Martin)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (S. Martin)

Wasserman Rugby
Tom Ale (B. Sharrock)
Rocco Berry (B. Sharrock)
Leka Halasima (J. Friend)
Sio Kali (J. Friend)
Ed Kosi (D. O'Loughlin)
Jacob Laban (J. Friend)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (D. O'Loughlin)
Adam Pompey (D. O'Loughlin)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (B. Sharrock)
Demitric Vaimauga (J. Friend)

Pacific Sports
Mitch Barnett (C. Orr)
Kayliss Fatialofa (M. Parata)
Sam Healey (G. Ghazal)
Patrick Moimoi (M. Parata)
Marata Niukore (C. Orr)
Taine Tuaupiki (T. Bartlett)

Titan Sports
Tanah Boyd (D. Riolo, M. Hudson, or M. Adamson)

Gillis Schifcofske Sports
Kurt Capewell (C. Schifcofske)

Rise Sports
Wayde Egan (M. Stewart)

SFX Sports
James Fisher-Harris (G. Mimis)
Luke Metcalf (P. Sutton)

Pulse Talent
Jackson Ford (C. Rogaris)

Sportsplayer
Morgan Harper (T. Smith)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (T. Smith)

Ultra Sports
Ali Leiataua (S. Ayoub or N. Wijesekera)
Freddy Lussick (S. Ayoub or N. Wijesekera)

Map Sports
Te Maire Martin (A. Purcell)

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Not sure if it was already posted, but I've gone through the Code article on who manages who, if anyone is interested:

Sports Vision
Bunty Afoa (S. Martin)
Erin Clark (S. Martin)
Chanel Harris-Tavita (S. Martin)

Wasserman Rugby
Tom Ale (B. Sharrock)
Rocco Berry (B. Sharrock)
Leka Halasima (J. Friend)
Sio Kali (J. Friend)
Ed Kosi (D. O'Loughlin)
Jacob Laban (J. Friend)
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (D. O'Loughlin)
Adam Pompey (D. O'Loughlin)
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (B. Sharrock)
Demitric Vaimauga (J. Friend)

Pacific Sports
Mitch Barnett (C. Orr)
Kayliss Fatialofa (M. Parata)
Sam Healey (G. Ghazal)
Patrick Moimoi (M. Parata)
Marata Niukore (C. Orr)
Taine Tuaupiki (T. Bartlett)

Titan Sports
Tanah Boyd (D. Riolo, M. Hudson, or M. Adamson)

Gillis Schifcofske Sports
Kurt Capewell (C. Schifcofske)

Rise Sports
Wayde Egan (M. Stewart)

SFX Sports
James Fisher-Harris (G. Mimis)
Luke Metcalf (P. Sutton)

Pulse Talent
Jackson Ford (C. Rogaris)

Sportsplayer
Morgan Harper (T. Smith)
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (T. Smith)

Ultra Sports
Ali Leiataua (S. Ayoub or N. Wijesekera)
Freddy Lussick (S. Ayoub or N. Wijesekera)

Map Sports
Te Maire Martin (A. Purcell)

Jeeze I hope we didn't piss Jake Friend off at any point (or who ever that is) as he's got some of our top young fullas. Leka, Laban, and Vaimauga all to the Roosters?

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Jeeze I hope we didn't piss Jake Friend off at any point (or who ever that is) as he's got some of our top young fullas. Leka, Laban, and Vaimauga all to the Roosters?

Jordan that is, one of his brothers is the team socials manager, and another is a coach in the juniors, so we should hopefully be sweet lol- They are all nephews of Dean Bell I believe, as well

 

[Cces]

Bishop Neal is another aligned with Jordan Friend.
Interesting we no longer have any current first graders with Inventus. Previously had the Kepu's and Otukolo before their bizarre exits. It does appear that they have juniors in Pasikala, Lemalie & Lemana coming through

 

[Five&Last]

Doesn’t that rat Moses have Webby on his books?

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Doesn’t that rat Moses have Webby on his books?

That has been said in a few older articles before, but he isn't listed in this one.

Issac Moses manages Flanagan, O'Brien, Payten, and Siebold
George Mimis manages Cleary, Ciraldo, Des, and Ryles
Matthew Desira manages Benji
David Riolo manages Fitzgibbon

No mention of Robinson, Madge, Wayne, Woolf, Bellamy, Sticky, or Webby.

To add to that, here is all of the Cove-managed players as well, so we can blacklist them from this thread lol

John Bateman
Kenny Bromwich
Luke Brooks
Jahream Bula
Ethan Bullemor
Reuben Cotter
Matt Eisenhuth
Lachlan Galvin
Dean Ieremia
Sione Katoa
Felise Kaufusi
David Klemmer
Matthew Lodge
Dylan Lucas
Heilum Luki
Kurt Mann
Jordan McLean
Mitch Moses
Kodi Nikorima
Sean O'Sullivan
Will Penisini
Richard Penisini
Kotoni Staggs
Jaydn Su'a
Blaize Talagi
Tommy Talau
Tevita Tatola
Enari Tatola
Brandom Tumeth
Jake Turpin
Semi Valemei
Billy Walters

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Jake Turpin

Ew remember when we made a big money play for this guy and he denied us.

Whose laughing now

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Yep, it is the dirty not often talked about dark side of being a development club.

We will lose players we want to keep.

We will keep players who don't kick on.

We will release players who do kick on.

Great spot to be in.

I just feel like we've turned a corner, very recently, in identifying talent to keep.

I can't remember a time where we had a string of new players come through and play for us, who actually looked like they will have great careers.

 

[juju]

I just feel like we've turned a corner, very recently, in identifying talent to keep.

I can't remember a time where we had a string of new players come through and play for us, who actually looked like they will have great careers.

The Ben Matulino / Russell Packer (Sonny Fai)

Shaun Johnson / Kevin Locke respective periods felt similar to the emergence of Demi and Leka.

I missed this feeling.