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	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
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

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance for off-topic chat.

 

[Five&Last]

It will be interesting to see if the expansion teams mean that we will see some older guys getting there debuts as the talent is spread across more teams. The Warriors are obviously heavily invested in their pathways but have kept an experienced guy like Going around as a constant. It will be interesting to see the balance, especially as more experienced depth like Bunty and Ale are seemingly being phased out for juniors.

Its going to happen for sure. The likes of Kalani Going and Geronimo Doyle were only brought in as a stopgap until the pathways were up and running.

I think this may well be Kalani Going's last season with us. Someone like Paea Sikuvea needs NSW cup game time and fits the exact same role Going is playing.

Speaking of highlights

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kYWT4q0xsqc

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I wish we could give going some more game time in 1st grade. He’s been instrumental to the cup success & has been invaluable with his experience and leadership. He’s a great utility forward, offering mobility, defence & huge work rate. Would be a good 13 for us. Not quite as talented as others coming through but his other attributes are right up there

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

In the internet age it will always happen. Highlights packages will turn up and get people excited, a bit like the running joke now of Ben Simmons shooting 3’s in the off season.

It will be interesting to see if the expansion teams mean that we will see some older guys getting there debuts as the talent is spread across more teams. The Warriors are obviously heavily invested in their pathways but have kept an experienced guy like Going around as a constant. It will be interesting to see the balance, especially as more experienced depth like Bunty and Ale are seemingly being phased out for juniors.

Public perception is also a very interesting thing. Crosby has 4 tries in his 20 games this year, with one particularly standout game against the bulldogs a couple of weeks back bookended by a couple of efforts of 6 runs for 30m. Not to say the Bulldogs game won’t become the norm, but guys like Lussick and Kosi have games like that every week in Cup, yet are constantly derided while a guy who isalready 22 is heralded. It just shows that expectations play a large part and what Gus has done to Galvin has created a lot of pressure

Because we are always looking for the best next thing, right?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Its going to happen for sure. The likes of Kalani Going and Geronimo Doyle were only brought in as a stopgap until the pathways were up and running.

I think this may well be Kalani Going's last season with us. Someone like Paea Sikuvea needs NSW cup game time and fits the exact same role Going is playing.

Speaking of highlights

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kYWT4q0xsqc

Sign him up now! Top 30!!! Let go of Clark already

 

[Blain]

I wish we could give going some more game time in 1st grade. He’s been instrumental to the cup success & has been invaluable with his experience and leadership. He’s a great utility forward, offering mobility, defence & huge work rate. Would be a good 13 for us. Not quite as talented as others coming through but his other attributes are right up there

Our pack lacks go forward and size badly, unfortunately Going doesn't offer that. If we had 2 barnstorming props, Going would be a great point of difference. I think that's why TSS was held back a bit, but to be fair his ability to find his front and get quick play the balls while making 8 to 10 metres has been awesome, and we've seen him get more time on the park.

Going isn't a bench guy either. If Clarke misses a game this year, Going would fill the hole nicely imo. But that just hasn't happened.

 

[Noitall]

Our pack lacks go forward and size badly

Do you reckon the club should have a shot at NAS if he became available and try sorting some deficiencies?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I wish someone would ask webby where Ale is at?

Hes a consistent performer for the cup side but is overlooked all the time.

I wonder what he did pre season, did he come back out of shape?

Could the club be making an example of him?

 

[Theking267]

He got injured at bad times during the season was ahead of Bunty heading into the season but got injured when there were opportunities in first grade and Bunty wasn’t so got NRL time and Ale didn’t

 

[Theking267]

Sign him up now! Top 30!!! Let go of Clark already

He was the best player in Ball and has taken that form into Flegg one of the only players from this years Ball team that will play Cup next year

 

[sup42]

Its going to happen for sure. The likes of Kalani Going and Geronimo Doyle were only brought in as a stopgap until the pathways were up and running.

I think this may well be Kalani Going's last season with us. Someone like Paea Sikuvea needs NSW cup game time and fits the exact same role Going is playing.

Speaking of highlights

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/kYWT4q0xsqc

Holy hell.

That is some Shaun Johnson playing touch level shit.

Not many people can do that. Having said that, If you had only seen CHT doing the scorpion kick you would imagine he must have gone on to become a freak.

Still, I have not seen a young fullah look that blessed with pure talent like that....well like I said, since SJ.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

It's from zero tackle so take it with a grain of salt, however.

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors interested in off-contract Rabbitohs winger

The Auckland-born talent is yet to make his NRL debut.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[JaggedJ]

The source aside, going after a winger who is bigger than most our forwards is very on brand.

Hopefully he has winger instincts and speed if there is any truth to this, otherwise - bleh.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

He was the best player in Ball and has taken that form into Flegg one of the only players from this years Ball team that will play Cup next year

Yeah, This kids power, skill level & work ethic is insane. Another kid to look forward too.

 

[CWC]

It's from zero tackle so take it with a grain of salt, however.

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors interested in off-contract Rabbitohs winger

The Auckland-born talent is yet to make his NRL debut.

www.zerotackle.com

Bit weird they want our Kosi and Moala and don't want this guy

 

[juju]

Bit weird they want our Kosi and Moala and don't want this guy

He is confirmed now

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Looks like it's confirmed

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

View attachment 14214
Looks like it's confirmed

As tall as Kosi but faster from the looks of things. Seems a good kid

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4N4k_zjwg2o

 

[Cces]

View attachment 14214
Looks like it's confirmed

Dad was a Warrior & mum was a pro basketballer. Good pedigree

 

[Naynay]

I wish someone would ask webby where Ale is at?

Hes a consistent performer for the cup side but is overlooked all the time.

I wonder what he did pre season, did he come back out of shape?

Could the club be making an example of him?

Would have to assume there is some issue behind the scenes that we are not aware of, be it attitude/ training effort.

I liked Ale, but I do think there needs to be a line in the sand where you can have all the talent but if you dont fit the culture then you get over looked.

 

[Billyspleen75]

View: https://youtu.be/0nk0xeng-tE?si=eOpU6BXMCg67ONaj

Tall and athletic. I like the look of him
Commentators do mention he hasn't played much in the last few years due to injury