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

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[Warriorsfan92]

Because we have a clear talent coaching our reserve grade team that has first grade head coach potential if he’s developed properly.

Then we have Stacey who’s never shown any real ability to coach despite being handed many positions on a silver platter

Tangata-toa knows his role & probably gets a lot of enjoyment seeing his players progress to first grade. I’ve seen some great interviews by him & he’s very content in his current role. There’s also a different level of pressure in first grade, maybe he doesn’t want that?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Tangata-toa knows his role & probably gets a lot of enjoyment seeing his players progress to first grade. I’ve seen some great interviews by him & he’s very content in his current role. There’s also a different level of pressure in first grade, maybe he doesn’t want that?

He has aspirations to coach at the top level, he said as much. We could see TJ Ashford be coach of NSW cup by the time the Bishop Neals of this world reach cup.

 

[Five&Last]

Tangata-toa knows his role & probably gets a lot of enjoyment seeing his players progress to first grade. I’ve seen some great interviews by him & he’s very content in his current role. There’s also a different level of pressure in first grade, maybe he doesn’t want that?

Why would he not want that?

Can’t tell if you’re serious

Yeah no thanks to the higher paying NRL coaching position I’m fine earning way less coaching reserve grade

 

[Ref]

Why would he not want that?

Can’t tell if you’re serious

Yeah no thanks to the higher paying NRL coaching position I’m fine earning way less coaching reserve grade

I’m an example. Happy to referee at a decent quality every week and I’m no spring chicken but I am fit and still have aspirations.
Surely he does.

 

[Noitall]

Tangata-toa knows his role & probably gets a lot of enjoyment seeing his players progress to first grade. I’ve seen some great interviews by him & he’s very content in his current role. There’s also a different level of pressure in first grade, maybe he doesn’t want that?

NRL: The man behind NZ Warriors' 'next man up' philosophy

As 'transition coach', David Tangata-Toa's job is to prepare his players for their shot at the big time.

www.rnz.co.nz

A good read back from June referencing Tangata Toa as a transition coach and his satisfaction of players debuting

 

[OtautahiEast]

100%

I’d be getting him in there for Stacey next season

We have a winning formula atm but yup let’s sack the assistant, a warriors legend, the kiwis coach yup that guy sack him

 

[CWC]

Stacy can always coach the cup team lol, plenty of jobs around, if the current coach is gonna be a star assistant to like expand Webby’s bench rotation or tactical abilities

 

[Five&Last]

We have a winning formula atm but yup let’s sack the assistant, a warriors legend, the kiwis coach yup that guy sack him

The fact that you just referenced him as a Warriors legend in this context just shows how oblivious you are to the issue

 

[OtautahiEast]

The fact that you just referenced him as a Warriors legend in this context just shows how oblivious you are to the issue

Oh and you know the guy who specialises in getting players nrl ready, yup well let’s move him away from that role and make him assistant coach

What’s the issue exactly? The assistant coach?
I respect your opinion I just disagree

 

[Five&Last]

Oh and you know the guy who specialises in getting players nrl ready, yup well let’s move him away from that role and make him assistant coach

What’s the issue exactly? The assistant coach?
I respect your opinion I just disagree

Because he’s a better coach than Stacey.

 

[OtautahiEast]

Because he’s a better coach than Stacey.

Stacy’s a better coach

 

[Five&Last]

Stacy’s a better coach

Based on what?

What has he accomplished or what coaching decisions has he made that you thought were good?

 

[OtautahiEast]

Based on what?

What has he accomplished or what coaching decisions has he made that you thought were good?

We’re on the cusp off the top 4 providing we win another game and you wanna change the coaching staff? Seems counter productive

Like I said before he’s a Warriors legend, the kiwis coach and helped webby to hopefully two top 4 finishes in 3 years.

 

[OtautahiEast]

The fact that you just referenced him as a Warriors legend in this context just shows how oblivious you are to the issue

The fact you think we should sack Stacy shows how oblivious you are to the fact we actually don’t have a coaching issue

 

[Five&Last]

We’re on the cusp off the top 4 providing we win another game and you wanna change the coaching staff? Seems counter productive

Like I said before he’s a Warriors legend, the kiwis coach and helped webby to hopefully two top 4 finishes in 3 years.

Or just don't answer the question

We are no where close to winning a premiership. Just because we are having a decent year, doesn't mean improvements can't still be made.

 

[OtautahiEast]

Or just don't answer the question

We are no where close to winning a premiership. Just because we are having a decent year, doesn't mean improvements can't still be made.

You didn’t awnser mine either
You said im oblivious to the issue
Whats the issue exactly?
The assistant coach?

There is no coaching issue

 

[OtautahiEast]

Or just don't answer the question

We are no where close to winning a premiership. Just because we are having a decent year, doesn't mean improvements can't still be made.

Your questions irrelevant tbh if it’s not broke dont fix it
Would be crazy to change the coaching staff for once in a long time we actually have good coaching and good pathway coachs
I hope nothing in regards to coaching changes for next year were in a good place atm

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Your questions irrelevant tbh if it’s not broke dont fix it
Would be crazy to change the coaching staff for once in a long time we actually have good coaching and good pathway coachs
I hope nothing in regards to coaching changes for next year were in a good place atm

Wtf so where is our premiership win then? Stacey has been in a coaching role at the Warriors for 12 years. Not even a grand final in that time. If we do not always strive to improve across the park then we will always be the team that has never won a GF.

 

[OtautahiEast]

Wtf so where is our premiership win then? Stacey has been in a coaching role at the Warriors for 12 years. Not even a grand final in that time. If we do not always strive to improve across the park then we will always be the team that has never won a GF.

I can’t awnser that million dollar question mate but I don’t think Stacy is the issue

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I can’t awnser that million dollar question mate but I don’t think Stacy is the issue

After 12 years he is not the answer though