Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 9546 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 20s
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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa✔
2Tom Ale✔
3Mitchell Barnett✔✔✔
4Rocco Berry✔✔
5Tanah Boyd✔✔
6Kurt Capewell✔✔
7Erin Clark✔✔✔
8Jett Cleary✔SS
9Wayde Egan✔✔✔
10James Fisher-Harris✔✔✔✔
11Jackson Ford✔✔✔
12Leka Halasima✔✔✔✔✔
13Morgan Harper✔
14Chanel Harris-Tavita✔✔
15Sam Healey✔✔✔
16Edward Kosi✔
17Jacob Laban✔✔✔✔✔
18Ali Leiataua✔✔✔
19Jye Linnane✔✔✔✔
20Freddy Lussick✔✔
21Te Maire Martin✔
22Luke Metcalf✔✔
23Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad✔✔✔
24Marata Niukore✔✔
25Adam Pompey✔✔✔
26Tanner Stowers-Smith✔✔✔
27Taine Tuaupiki✔✔
28Roger Tuivasa-Sheck✔✔
29Demitric Vaimauga✔✔✔✔
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak✔✔✔
S1Kayliss FatialofaS
S2Kalani GoingS
S3Luke HansonS
S4Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaS✔✔
S5Sio KaliS
S6Patrick MoimoiS
-Kahu CapperTT
-Morgan Gannon-✔✔✔
-Motu PasikalaT??
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, 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.

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Last edited:
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Noitall said:
[IMG alt="The Punisher"]https://sharksforever.com/data/avatars/m/27/27773.jpg?1694220982[/IMG]

The Punisher​

Bull Shark​


Ive also heard that RCG could be going to the other red vee - St.Helens.

And i expect Horse & Bunty Afoa to be in Tigers colours
Click to expand...
Horsburgh has said today he's staying at the Raiders.

www.smh.com.au

Roosters keen to ensure JWH’s next game isn’t his last

The Penrith props totally blew the Roosters off the park in the opening finals game. The Tricolours believe Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ return will ensure that won’t happen again.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au
 
Props;
JFH, Barnett, Marata, Ale, Sifakula, Afoa, Maiúu
Locks;
Harris, Walker, Clark
Second Rowers;
Capewell, Ford, Halamisia, Laban

Real quick exercise, but basically our props/middles are stacked number wise. Barnett might play lock next year looking at it, and Ford perhaps front row.. If Harris is fit, I expect him to be starting at lock or prop, him and Barnett will do a similar job. I think everyone here has forgotten about Tohu's ball playing, I wouldn't write him off. There is a lot of combo options available, but if everyone is on the park at the start of the season our pack is pretty easy to pick except for Capewell's opposite second rower.

JFH
Egan
Barnett
Capewell
Laban/Halamasia (I think we really need some youth in the pack, really hope one of these guys steps up)
Harris

Clark
Walker
Ford
Niukore

Sifakula/Ale/Afoa/Zion

Is Afoa getting much game time? Probably not. Is he on much money? Don't think so. I don't think there is any point in letting him go unless we really need his roster spot for another position, and have a signing lined up.
 
CWC said:
Great timing to get Thompson bros for 2026 if it works out, Leo to be the spearhead entering his prime, Barney and JFH starting to come down from their alpha peak so can be amazing supporting players, Sifakula/Zyon Maiu’u etc got 2025 another year of development to become regular FGers in 2026
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I thought that article I posted last week about whether Leo Thompson’s brother could hold the keys to his future. As it stands I can’t see anywhere officially that Tyrone Thompson is on a development contract at the knights next year, though their forum believes he is. If Leo were to sign elsewhere after November 1, the knights could see it worthless to persevere with Tyrone knowing that he’s going to leave with his brother in 2026? Being that the knights have Leo Thompson on a salary that’s a win for them next year, I would doubt they’d let him walk early, but if there’s no upside in developing his brother for a year, they may just cut their losses? I see Mat Croker has been told by knights he won’t be extended, had seen somewhere that he was going to tigers but I think there’s a lot of fast changing negotiations going on
 
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Noitall said:
I thought that article I posted last week about whether Leo Thompson’s brother could hold the keys to his future. As it stands I can’t see anywhere officially that Tyrone Thompson is on a development contract at the knights next year, though their forum believes he is. If Leo were to sign elsewhere after November 1, the knights could see it worthless to persevere with Tyrone knowing that he’s going to leave with his brother in 2026? Being that the knights have Leo Thompson on a salary that’s a win for them next year, I would doubt they’d let him walk early, but if there’s no upside in developing his brother for a year, they may just cut their losses? I see Mat Croker has been told by knights he won’t be extended, had seen somewhere that he was going to tigers but I think there’s a lot of fast changing negotiations going on
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I heard (NRL 360?) that Leo roomed with JFH before the Kiwis/Kangaroos test last year. He came out of it a much improved player due to the latter's influence. The Warriors could do worse than pick him up
 
FormerlyJamesW said:
Bloody hell, we're really cleaning house at the minute....
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The Warriors have 13 players who will be free to negotiate with rival teams from November 1 for the 2026 season and onwards. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Te Maire Martinheadline this list.

But it also includes Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, and Dylan Walker.



This is who’s free to negotiate from November. You’d have to think that Ford, like Montoya might be released if he can find a contract past next year being his final year? Ali Leiataua is the obvious one to get done asap. Perhaps Tuaupiki if he’s apart of their future plans
 
Think Barney at 13 could be the play, can then get this sort of succession plan going-

2025
8. Fish
10. Marata
13. Barney
15. Harris (Last year of his deal, 33y/o)

2026
8. Fish
10. A recruit (Or, just roll with Marata)
13. Barney
15. Marata

2027
8. Fish
10. A recruit (Or, bring up a young guy from within)
13. Demitric (First year of any new deal he signs and going on 23 so primed for a bigger role)
15. Barney (Last year of his deal, 33y/o)
 
Kav1 said:
I heard (NRL 360?) that Leo roomed with JFH before the Kiwis/Kangaroos test last year. He came out of it a much improved player due to the latter's influence. The Warriors could do worse than pick him up
Click to expand...

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz www.stuff.co.nz

This is from February, so hard to know if it’s still the case? I could see these two as a big part of our future if me managed to pick up Tyrone too. Would take a couple of years development probably, but I think these two could be what we thought the Kepu’s might be and more
 
MrFrankWhite said:
Ford could be an 80min prop. Theres 4-5 players we should be letting go before him.
Click to expand...
Depends who’s available. I think our young second rowers are far enough to be adequate cover on an edge, so to me Ford primarily prop that can cover second row at if needed. He’s likely to see first grade if injuries occur next year, or at best bench spot? I think if he was offered something better, the club wouldn’t stand in his way
 
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