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: 27/30
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
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.

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Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance for off-topic chat.
 
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Sammyw said:
highly likely that capes and niukore are both gone within the next 18 months, need to balance youth with experience. Riki could be that balance, low risk on the compassionate release card too
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Yeah that makes sense, but i imagine both Leka and Demi will play every game they're not injured/suspended from now til the end of next year, so it's likely that they'll both be 50-60 game players by the end of 2026.

Add in Fish, Barney, Erin Clark will be on about 150 and Ford about 130, I'm not so sure experience is something we desperately need in the forward pack
 
watcher said:
I think Doehi and Wilson would, if picked up at reasonable cost add value to the squad for next year.

Of the players off contract I think only TMM adds value. Neither Ale or Bunty compel an upgrade.

Decisions need to be made as the player market will be feral.

I do not see the logic of putting a rehabbing player in yhe top 30.
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How does Ale not deserve an upgrade? He should be first drop prop at the very least, and has killed it in every cup game this year
 
The Warrior Waka said:
He might he a ball playing lock. But he'll have to adjust to playing multiple roles , Cos Erin has that position on lock down at the minute.
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You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season
 
Christchurch_Warrior said:
So with out top 30 are they what the Warriors have listed in their Team on the official website? They have 30 listed with 13 backs and 17 forwards. EIT and Fatialofa are in that list.
www.warriors.kiwi

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.
www.warriors.kiwi www.warriors.kiwi
Click to expand...
It is the closest indicator yet but I think clubs are required by the NRL to create a profile for every player who gets listed on a Tuesday. For example Manly have 33 on their website & that includes Matt Lodge who is Train & Trial
 
SouthernWorrier said:
You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season
Click to expand...

Yeah Gannon can go anywhere in the backrow, start, bench, whatever. Before his latest injury he was being used as a Left edge backrower for eighty minutes, which is good for us, gives us options on where he plays and what type of minutes per game.

We are fortunate that Brad Arthur has done that, used him as an eighty minute player, Webster will love that.
 
SouthernWorrier said:
You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season
Click to expand...
Lock is one part of the engine room that doesn't need fixing at the moment. I struggle to find a spot for him in the 17 based off of a handful of SL games i have watched of him.

I don't even think he believes hes coming over as a automatic starter.

I believe Leka is our future 13. Gannon could be a ball playing second rower in the mould of a Feleti Mateo , SBW.
 
The Warrior Waka said:
Lock is one part of the engine room that doesn't need fixing at the moment.
Click to expand...
I find it hard to identify who is playing Lock when Clark gets his spell.
Might have to look back a bit further to see if it's an ongoing trend but RTS' try at the weekend was the first one we've scored without Clark on the field since the Sharks game.
Gannon might have been signed with the initial plan to come on when Clark needs a rest
 
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