Recruitment Warriors 2026/2027 Recruitment & Retention

Defence said:
Always been a huge Burton fan- would fizz if we signed him.
On a more realistic level Will Kennedy could be a good fit.
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It would be a Gus Gould no, no, no, no, no from me re: Kennedy.

Probably an even worse ball player than CNK.

As for Burton, he's a real conundrum. He's a running 6 with a massive boot. But we would have to pay massive overs for him. Him and Metcalf would be pretty deadly combo though.

I think Bulldogs would like to move on from him at 6, get him back in the centres. I recall Penrith's pitch to him was that they would make him the best centre in the world, definitely think he would have played more rep footy if he stayed in the centres.
 

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Makasene said:
It would be a Gus Gould no, no, no, no, no from me re: Kennedy.

Probably an even worse ball player than CNK.

As for Burton, he's a real conundrum. He's a running 6 with a massive boot. But we would have to pay massive overs for him. Him and Metcalf would be pretty deadly combo though.

I think Bulldogs would like to move on from him at 6, get him back in the centres. I recall Penrith's pitch to him was that they would make him the best centre in the world, definitely think he would have played more rep footy if he stayed in the centres.
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100% agree on Kennedy - he's gone from the the most underrated player in the NRL (by some reckoning, not mine) to expendable in a year - Burton has issues, caught between not being a good enough 6 and now not a regular centre - I wouldn't risk it with him if I was building a team
 
Noitall said:
Really interesting and heartening reading on the LU forum yesterday that apparently Jett Cleary and Kayliss Fatialofa are good mates and apparently Cleary getting in Kayliss’ ear was a big factor in him staying and turning down the panthers offer. Wheeled Warrior, a poster there sees him hanging around so it’s good to see these bonds forming
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Interesting, as when the Panthers get linked with any of our NSW Cup players its natural to think Jett is telling his father how much he likes playing with certain guys or parts of their game he appreciates. Good to read the argument the other way.

Players will move on and make friends at their new club. But it can also help with retention.

To keep these Australian guys here, especially the ones in the lower grades. They need to enjoy life in Auckland, get good coaching and have a path to the NRL. Getting along off the field with their teammates helps, also having guys they have good combinations with on the field.

As a young half it would be good coming through NSW Cup having EIT, Laban, Fatialofa for example, as an edge backrower you can have running off you. Guys, that would help make you look good.
 
Noitall said:
The club were obviously interested in keeping Fatialofa and offered him something better to stay. Not sure if Ale or Crosby had any offers from Warriors to stay? Not much more said about Crosby either, perhaps find out more when the panthers season is done?
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He might end up being one of those guys that turns up to pre-season and fans see in photos and have to figure out who they are.

I remember we had that discussion one off-season when a few random guys turned up. I think some of them may have been on a train and trial.

Now that we have a proper grade system for guys to work through it is great seeing this talent develop. What is going to be hard is that quite a few will get poached as other clubs promise more money or a quicker route to first grade.

After seeing his posts about how hard he was training last offseason. Then, seeing him improve as I went to various NSW Cup games. Crosby would be a good prospect to keep around.

If he moves on. Especially to the Panthers it is understandable.
 
Crosby is 22 years old & has been chasing a professional union/league career for a number of years. If he hasn't been offered a development deal at the Warriors it's understandable that he'll move on. The Warriorholic is adamant that the switch to Penrith is imminent. Hopefully he kicks on but everyone thought Preston Riki was going to excel there & that hasn't been the case. Will probably find a spot in someone's top 30 once Perth enter the comp & the talent spreads out
 
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I think Chevy is one of them talented kids who cant find his feet in first grade.
Hasn't impressed in the outings I've seen him play.
His released team mate Albert Hopoate is a player I wouldn't mind.
But anyway.
I thought DeGroot was cake at FB at the Titans,but the wing.
Kids sh#t hot.
Could happen with Chevy,or he could find his feet with more opportunities.
 
WHB said:
I think Chevy is one of them talented kids who cant find his feet in first grade.
Hasn't impressed in the outings I've seen him play.
His released team mate Albert Hopoate is a player I wouldn't mind.
But anyway.
I thought DeGroot was cake at FB at the Titans,but the wing.
Kids sh#t hot.
Could happen with Chevy,or he could find his feet with more opportunities.
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Must admit I’ve wondered about Hopoate too. Has defensive frailties but have seen him score some great tries over the years
 
The fullback for NZ U18 union this year is Lautasi Etuale who is from St Thomas Canterbury where we have had some great talent come from Bishop, Salalilo, Tuiloma etc.

He's played league before making NZ Secondary Schools team of the tournament on the wing last year.

We should be trying to sign this kid to bolster our first grade fullback stocks.
 
Five&Last said:
The fullback for NZ U18 union this year is Lautasi Etuale who is from St Thomas Canterbury where we have had some great talent come from Bishop, Salalilo, Tuiloma etc.

He's played league before making NZ Secondary Schools team of the tournament on the wing last year.

We should be trying to sign this kid to bolster our first grade fullback stocks.
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He is one of at least 3 boys in his family. I played with his uncle who was also a Fullback. He has a pair of younger twin brothers who score 2-3 tries each week at our local Touch comp. Solely based off of the fact that he didn't play any club League this season I reckon he's already tied in with the Crusaders
 
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Cces said:
He is one of at least 3 boys in his family. I played with his uncle who was also a Fullback. He has a pair of younger twin brothers who score 2-3 tries each week at our local Touch comp. Solely based of the fact that he didn't play any club League this season I reckons he's already tied in with the Crusaders
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Siale Pahulu (our 2024 Harold Matts center) was on the wing for them and looks like a faster Caleb Clarke.

He would be coming into first grade wing consideration next year as a 19 year old if he was still with us imo

Its a shame we can't hold onto the real top 1% talent that we get. You need superstars in this game and we just don't identify/develop them, Leka is a great start but lets see what the pathways produce in the next couple years.
 
Noitall said:
Really interesting and heartening reading on the LU forum yesterday that apparently Jett Cleary and Kayliss Fatialofa are good mates and apparently Cleary getting in Kayliss’ ear was a big factor in him staying and turning down the panthers offer. Wheeled Warrior, a poster there sees him hanging around so it’s good to see these bonds forming
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He definitely looks a lot tighter with the Aus boys.

Him, Jack Thompson and Brandon Norris look inseparable
 
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