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.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

 

[Noitall]

Honestly I think DWZ is on borrowed time. As much as the club defends his D etc by blaming inside players etc (which is true to a certain extent). The guy simply cannot effectively make either decision, if he jams and he still misses that player, doesn't touch the ball in the passing lane and get's burnt on the outside if he holds. Unless he comes over at centre I fully expect DWZ not to start next year....

RTS seems the one with an offer, or potentially offers on the table? Hard to imagine an nrl club interested in DWZ currently, but super league could be an option? What side does AKP generally play on?

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 14433

Catalans?

 

[CWC]

I'd sign a NAS + Xavior Coates combo

The AKP news sounds like it's basically a done deal, if Webby can sort out his allegedly prick personality then that's a big win.

On the wingers questions - can he play FB??

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I do think RTS, DWZ, AKP, Mellars and Kali is too many wingers.

Surely 2 starters and 2 up and comers is the right balance. I'd prefer DWZ leaving. Then the better of Mellars or Kali can replace RTS in 2027

No need to over think it: we need min.3 NRL standard wingers. We only have 2. That burned us many times this year, as did the lack of genuine pace. if '26 is anything like this year they would all play a good chunk of the year. 2 best get priority, whoever they are. A full offseason to get AKP on board to work on combinations would be good... and that 65% tackle efficiency!

 

[Billyspleen75]

RTS seems the one with an offer, or potentially offers on the table? Hard to imagine an nrl club interested in DWZ currently, but super league could be an option? What side does AKP generally play on?

Scored a hat trick vs us on the left wing in the 60 point smashing.

Saw another highlight of a length of the field intercept on the left wing too

 

[Theking267]

Could move RTS back to Fullback. Khan-Perreira to the left wing, CNK to the centres

 

[Dannevegas]

RTS>AKP>Kali>DWZ>Ed

Rts>Kali the rest.
AKP can’t tackle, can’t catch, doesn’t have yardage carries, Shit attitude.
He benefited from a side who played attacking, expansive footy. Legit only has pace nothing else. Fat no

 

[Noitall]

and that 65% tackle efficiency!

He’s not going to fix defensive issues

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Catalans?

You would have to think.. Im pretty sure the whole thing with us extending him an extra 2 years during preseason was that Catalans were keen on him, don't think there was any NRL interest. They were keen in 2023 too.

I imagine they have a lot of cash to throw around as well, Sam Tomkins, Luke Keary, Tariq Sims, Tevita Pangai, and Elliot Whitehead are leaving them at the end of this season, and the only player I can see them having signed is Sexton.

 

[Warriors55]

Rts>Kali the rest.
AKP can’t tackle, can’t catch, doesn’t have yardage carries, Shit attitude.
He benefited from a side who played attacking, expansive footy. Legit only has pace nothing else. Fat no

If it has got to the stage where the Titans are officially letting us talk to him it probably means we are are going to make him an offer.

He has pace and that is what we need. And he isn't going to be any worse than DWZ on defence. Hopefully we can get his defence and attitude right if we sign him. I haven't watched enough of him to make a firm judgement but if it's between him and DWZ, I am all for AKP! We need pace and some flair in the backline. He is only 23 as well. Plenty of time to improve deficiencies.

 

[Warriors55]

The more I think about it the more I like it.

AKP is contracted 2026 but if Titans are shopping him around we should be able to get an early release and he can replace DWZ next year if he has a good pre season and works with our culture.

 

[CWC]

Could be looking at

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf
or
1. TT
2. AKL
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf

Depth - CHT/Linnane, Boyd, Jett, Ali, Berry, Mellars, Kali

That's pretty good to compliment the pack

 

[Dannevegas]

If it has got to the stage where the Titans are officially letting us talk to him it probably means we are are going to make him an offer.

He has pace and that is what we need. And he isn't going to be any worse than DWZ on defence. Hopefully we can get his defence and attitude right if we sign him. I haven't watched enough of him to make a firm judgement but if it's between him and DWZ, I am all for AKP! We need pace and some flair in the backline. He is only 23 as well. Plenty of time to improve deficiencies.

If we sign him, I’m worried we lose Kali who is a far more complete player. Unless Kali moves to the centres

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Pretty stoked with the AKP news. Something we have been severely lacking is speed and x-factor, especially since Metcalf’s injury. I wouldn’t read too much into the attitude problems at the titans, the clubs a mess, and there are far too many distractions for a young footballer on the GC.

The ability is clearly there with him being a dally m winger of the year at such a young age. I’d back Webby to get the most out of him, just like he has with every other signing we’ve made.

The article mentions his preference is to move to NZ for family reasons, so good to see he has some connection over here to make the transition from Aus to NZ a lot easier.

 

[Ref]

If we sign him, I’m worried we lose Kali who is a far more complete player. Unless Kali moves to the centres

Yep Kali is the goods albeit a bit green.
I think he is a special for 2027 and hopefully gets some game time next year.
GIven his initials , AKP was destined to end up here.

 

[the WARs]

I'd give up DWZ, Marata, CNK to sign one superstar attacking player and one up incoming wing/FB... we have plenty decent players but these guys won't see us win a comp

 

[Jeff Hardy]

Was wondering that, whatever had happened to them. Either of them play any 1st grade at all?

Jordan played a few games for Leeds and is still running around in the championship - Mason I'm pretty sure is retired and now a civil engineer

 

[Warriors55]

Could be looking at

1. RTS
2. DWZ
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. AKP
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf
or
1. TT
2. AKL
3. CNK
4. Pompey
5. RTS
6. CHT/Linnane
7. Metcalf

Depth - CHT/Linnane, Boyd, Jett, Ali, Berry, Mellars, Kali

That's pretty good to compliment the pack

Not sure they will go that way with CNK at centre. Surely the centres will be between Berry, Pompey, and Ali.

AKP one wing and if they keep RTS on the wing it will be CNK or TT at the back.

Something like

1. CNK/TT
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. RTS

Or if they do consider RTS at fullback and they give Kali a crack next year (maybe too early)

1. RTS
2. AKP
3. Ali/Pompey
4. Berry
5. Kali

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Yep Kali is the goods albeit a bit green.
I think he is a special for 2027 and hopefully gets some game time next year.
GIven his initials , AKP was destined to end up here.

Speed for days, Step, Swerve, Good fend, Good finisher. He'll grow on me.


View: https://youtu.be/BNTXGTxAh-o?si=lNWkF5Q9uaCp6zqC