Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
key: T = Team option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 5/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 25/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: Nil
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
 
Last edited:
Am I the only one who thinks Manu is massively overhyped at fullback? Hes got good work rate, but nowhere near dynamic enough for me at the back. Stymies a lot of sweeping plays out the back and runs for a lot of meters coz he barely ever passes.

That's why he's a no for me. Individual talent is great, but if it stifles or limits other players it doesn't suit us.

Might work for a Sydney club able to stockpile raw talent but not for us.

It would be like paying a premium for one red sock when the rest are black.
 
While I agree with all you said in the post, that gap between our current props and up and comer’s could be a couple of seasons or more away? Sounds as though Zyon Maiu’u will definitely at a minimum get his debut next year hopefully cementing a role, Sifakula’s obvious size surely has him as a potential front row/second row hybrid. Halasima likely a couple of seasons away, but 100kg at 18 suggests he will perhaps play at 110kg once he’s grown and filled out? TSS seems to progressing nicely too. That leaves our current crop, with AFB leaving at season’s end I think we need a couple of established props while letting the young guys come on. Tevaga definitely looks in good condition and I love the attitude he brings, it’s a true prop intimidation attitude but he’s off contract at the end of the year and he’s a small prop. Bunty and Tom Ale are off contract at the end of 2025, hoping too and am optimistic we start seeing best out of Ale, and Bunty is always a solid defender but hopefully can add something to his arsenal, an offload I feel is within him. With AFB definitely leaving and Tevaga coming off contract, those two could open the door for two experienced props? Interested to see what the year brings in Tevaga, as mentioned I love the attitude but solely as a prop, we might need more size than he offers?
Would you take reuben cotter? Jazz is similar size.
 
Joey Manu at fullback is not even as good as CNK, quite similar players, both high running meters, both are not the best ball players in an NRL spine.

I would not have said that a few years ago, but CNK has made gains every season, especially this year with his ball playing, Manu peaked ages ago and while a game winner in his own right, not needed here.

Our fullback cover is deep.

And then if you look at signing him for his better position at Center, you might have gone there had we not signed RTS to play center.

With Berry coming along, ALi in the wings, RTS to play center, it would be nuts to spend large on another Center.
 
Would you take reuben cotter? Jazz is similar size.
Yeah they are similar players. Cotter averages 111m per game and Jazz 94m this year and similar tackle efficiency. Looking at this year also, Cotter played as many games at lock as prop. Jazz also is a good option at lock but with Tohu and Walker filling that role highly, Jazz’s sole role is prop. He’s good depth at lock though if Tohu goes down.
 
Am I the only one who thinks Manu is massively overhyped at fullback? Hes got good work rate, but nowhere near dynamic enough for me at the back. Stymies a lot of sweeping plays out the back and runs for a lot of meters coz he barely ever passes.
My thoughts exactly

He's a hungus. Magnificent but a hungus.

Manu and CNK swapping positions for the Kiwis between the World cup and Pacific champs proves it too.
 
Last edited:
The Sharks wanting AFB for 2024 is understandable. A result of the contracting system where you can sign someone before the upcoming season for the following season. The majority of time a club signs someone early they will push to see if they can get the player early if they can fit them in a year early.

We likely did it with Tohu Harris and Niukore. We did for Metcalf which the Sharks refused. You would think it would be easier to get a fringe player released compared to an established first grade and an international.

AFB would be open to it seeing as the reason for his release is to move to Sydney.

My assumption is that we released him for 2025 as it gives us 2024 to find a replacement. A fair compromise for both parties. Now that he has signed for 2025 we would be expecting him to return to Auckland for pre season and see out the season. If we were approached by the Sharks to release him early, this is when we should be putting our foot down that we signed a replacement.
 
Back
Top