Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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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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A heap of fans , including myself, were surprised when the club let him go to the Dogs ...

Imo that validates Webby's call to let him leave.
Went to a team who didn't have a great amount of good middles, and still hasn't had a look in.

With that being said, I wouldn't be too mad if he came back here. Could be the kick up the bum that he needed, he can see he needs to put the work in if he wants to excel, what better place to do that then at home with all your mates around you.

We're likely losing Ale and Bunty next year, so he'd be good to hang about on cup and continue to develop.
How do those that know a bit more about our Cup team feel about that? I hope he won't be blocking anyone, but if we lost Bunty, Ale and Lussick I imagine there's a few gaps for our front row?
 
Imo that validates Webby's call to let him leave.
Went to a team who didn't have a great amount of good middles, and still hasn't had a look in.

With that being said, I wouldn't be too mad if he came back here. Could be the kick up the bum that he needed, he can see he needs to put the work in if he wants to excel, what better place to do that then at home with all your mates around you.

We're likely losing Ale and Bunty next year, so he'd be good to hang about on cup and continue to develop.
How do those that know a bit more about our Cup team feel about that? I hope he won't be blocking anyone, but if we lost Bunty, Ale and Lussick I imagine there's a few gaps for our front row?
I think the fact that the Bulldogs were willing to let him go after we were willing to as well speaks volumes. TSS was already starting ahead of him before he left and by all accounts leapfrogged him in the depth chart. unfortunately he might be the guy that doesn't have that next level in him, and McFadden and Webster picked it early.

Jason Salalilo looks the goods from the limited mins he's had in cup and all Zyon Maiu’u would be doing is blocking his development if he came back. We are going to start running out of middle slots in the next few years if we keep producing prospects at the rate we are now!
 
I'm pretty sure that Cappy will remember the last time we had a heap of young talent coming through (2016 - 2017) and we let go of too much experience to make sure we kept the young ones who then let us down. Need to keep Capewell, Fish, Barney etc. for as long as we can to make sure the youngsters coming through learn the hard yards of such a tough competition.
 
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I suggest that most expert pundits do not consider us premiership hopes because of our poor record against the Storm and Canberra. The narrow wins against lessor opponents (except the Sharks) simply adds to their doubts of us being a genuine chance. The poor performance against a depleted Panthers' team did not take away that doubt even among the most staunch of supporters
Good, hopefully if we keep snagging a coupla more wins we can keep flying under the radar.🛩
 
Imo that validates Webby's call to let him leave.
Went to a team who didn't have a great amount of good middles, and still hasn't had a look in.

With that being said, I wouldn't be too mad if he came back here. Could be the kick up the bum that he needed, he can see he needs to put the work in if he wants to excel, what better place to do that then at home with all your mates around you.

We're likely losing Ale and Bunty next year, so he'd be good to hang about on cup and continue to develop.
How do those that know a bit more about our Cup team feel about that? I hope he won't be blocking anyone, but if we lost Bunty, Ale and Lussick I imagine there's a few gaps for our front row?
We’re losing Ale and/or Bunty for a reason.

There’s no space for Zyon Maiu’u.
 
Na, if he came back now would he even make cup? I don’t think he would. Ale, Afoa, Salalilo and Crosby in cup, can’t see him leaping any of them.
Also we still need to re-sign Ale. Hopefully
I think he would be a better 2nd rower than a prop. This is where he came to prominence through the grades of I’m right.
The transition to the middle saw his development stall in my opinion.
 
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