Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
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-​	Player​	2024​	2025​	2026​	2027​	2028​
1	Bunty Afoa	✔	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔	✔
4	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔	✔
6	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔	✔
7	Addin Fonua-Blake	✔
8	Jackson Ford	✔	✔
9	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Tohu Harris	✔	✔
11	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔	M
12	Shaun Johnson	✔
13	Edward Kosi	✔	✔
14	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔
15	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔
16	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔	✔
17	Zyon Maiu'u	✔	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔	✔
20	Marcelo Montoya	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔
24	Demitric Sifakula	✔	✔	C
25	Jazz Tevaga	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔
D1	Ben Farr	D
D2	Etuane Fukofuka	D
D3	Patrick Moimoi	D
D4	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D	D
-	Jett Cleary	-	D	D	D
-	James Fisher-Harris	-	✔	✔	✔	✔
-	Kalani Going	-	D
-	Motu Pasikala	-	✔	✔	✔

key: C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 4/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 4/6

2025 Gains: James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Jett Cleary (Panthers Pathways), Kahu Capper (Roosters Pathways)
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks), Jazz Tevaga (Contract Expired), Shaun Johnson (Retirement)
2025 Off Contract: Nil

 

[Worried2Death]

Bulldogs officially grant Faitala-Mariner permission to negotiate with rival clubs

The end of their season may have arrived, but the drama is far from over at the Canterbury Bulldogs.

www.smh.com.au

Will be interesting to see where RFM lands. Gould said on a show yesterday apparently the bulldogs have about 7 or 8 players to be announced as signings in the next fortnight.

Wonder what these issues are the Polynesian players have with the club's culture

 

[Kestrel84]

Wonder what these issues are the Polynesian players have with the club's culture

Perhaps a similar thing that happened here with Daniel Anderson and not understanding the nuances with the poly boys - focus on the hard edge and treating everyone exactly the same, etc etc

 

[Shogun]

Warriors confirm departure of six players​

Shaun Johnson's stellar season has been highlighted at the New Zealand Warriors end-of-season awards with the veteran halfback winning three major awards, including the Simon Mannering Medal for Player of the Year.

During the evening, the Warriors also confirmed the departure of six players from their squad, acknowledging their contribution to the club.

Forward Bayley Sironen will not be offered a contract for 2024. The 26-year-old forward has played 53 games for the Warriors over three seasons and will now be on the lookout for a new team.

20-year-old centre Viliami Vailea will also be leaving the club after earlier signing with the North Queensland Cowboys on a two-year deal starting next season. Vailea made 17 appearances for the Warriors in the NRL.

Another player to depart is young prop Valingi Kepu who is yet to make his NRL debut.

The final three players appearing on the list were Ben Murdoch-Masila, Taniela Otukulo and Otukinekina Kepu (brother of Valingi). All three were actually released by the Warriors before the start of the 2023 season with Murdoch-Masila joining the Dragons in January ahead of the 2023 season.

 

[MaybeTop8]

Perhaps a similar thing that happened here with Daniel Anderson and not understanding the nuances with the poly boys - focus on the hard edge and treating everyone exactly the same, etc etc

Is that still a thing? I would have thought Monty's Once a warrior put that kind of stuff to bed?

 

[Noitall]

Interesting seeing this from Gould. With him coming over and the bulldogs having 8 or 9 players on the way, I wonder if he’s in talks with someone from the Warriors? Also seen that Brendan Piakura is chasing a starting position and willing to leave broncos, they’ve got him, Riki and Capewell all off contract at the same time.

 

[Falcon]

Does Tohu make the move in to the prop rotation next year? He's looking very tired and often does stints there anyways.
Imagine having him and AFB as our starting props with Barnett and Ale/Bunty coming off the bench.

Jazz, Sifukula, Curran, Ale (a few have mentioned) could all slot in at that 13 spot. Even if it's not for 2024, we need to start planning for life without Tohu as he surely hasn't got many years left in those legs. Pretty sure he's only contracted til the end of next year, so maybe one last year after that?

Hopefully gives Zyon Maiu’u, Laban, Ale and the rest of the new guard time to get up to 30 games under their belt before Tohu finishes up

I’d like to see Tom Ale given a chance to develop into the 13 role with the view Sifakula takes that spot in a full time capacity in 26’ esp as he will be returning next season from an ACL.
It would be a case if Tom is both mobile enough and has the ball skills to be an effective link man.

 

[SJ2k]

If we don't sign a half decent prop it's an absolute failure of the org. AFB goes down next season and we're finished. This was obvious already this year, not fixing it for next is extremely poor. Bunty is absolutely not capable of being that prop, that's proven. You can't expect any of the young guys to step into that position. Ale is doing well but we're still short, maybe in 2025. Tohu can certainly help at prop but he isn't a replacement for someone like AFB.

RTS is a gun for sure, but that is a luxury signing comparatively. If we're actually cap locked and can't sign someone half decent we're absolutely relying on huge luck of AFB staying healthy for another full season.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If we don't sign a half decent prop it's an absolute failure of the org. AFB goes down next season and we're finished. This was obvious already this year, not fixing it for next is extremely poor. Bunty is absolutely not capable of being that prop, that's proven. You can't expect any of the young guys to step into that position. Ale is doing well but we're still short, maybe in 2025. Tohu can certainly help at prop but he isn't a replacement for someone like AFB.

RTS is a gun for sure, but that is a luxury signing comparatively. If we're actually cap locked and can't sign someone half decent we're absolutely relying on huge luck of AFB staying healthy for another full season.

Do you have anyone in mind? I think Fotuaika should be head hunted.

 

[Playdaball]

Sironen to the Dogs ?
They are taking a lot of average players ATM

 

[Wrighty]

Sironen to the Dogs ?
They are taking a lot of average players ATM

Titans are usually our biggest customer

 

[~Navigator~]

Former NRL forward to return to New Zealand

Former NRL forward Zane Tetevano has been released from the Leeds Rhinos, effective immediately and will return back home to New Zealand to begin the next chapter of his life.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Warriors4eva95]

We have a few options to choose from my preferred picks would be. Wiremu Grieg, Eddie Blacker, Tukimihia Simpkins. Warriors should offer Sironen for Grieg see if Eels will bite

 

[Damo]

We have a few options to choose from my preferred picks would be. Wiremu Grieg, Eddie Blacker, Tukimihia Simpkins. Warriors should offer Sironen for Grieg see if Eels will bite

Sironen is off contract, we don't have the right to offer him anywhere mate.

 

[Playdaball]

I see ex Warriors , Euan Aitken, is being offered to SL clubs. The guy would not cross the Tasman, how will he go moving to the other side of the world ?
Bulldogs, Tigers or a return to the Drags maybe?

 

[Noitall]

I see ex Warriors , Euan Aitken, is being offered to SL clubs. The guy would not cross the Tasman, how will he go moving to the other side of the world ?
Bulldogs, Tigers or a return to the Drags maybe?

Sounds like he could be the centre/second rower to replace Okunbar at bulldogs.

 

[bringinthebulls]

We have a few options to choose from my preferred picks would be. Wiremu Grieg, Eddie Blacker, Tukimihia Simpkins. Warriors should offer Sironen for Grieg see if Eels will bite

Wiremu Greig 100% would be happy. Reminds me of Russell Packer.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Ethan Bullemor anyone? Low penalties and errors, averages over 100m a game from the bench and seems decent defensively. Doesn't have a contract for next year.

Honestly seems like the hardworking underacheiver Webby could do wonders with

 

[Spence]

Ethan Bullemor anyone? Low penalties and errors, averages over 100m a game from the bench and seems decent defensively. Doesn't have a contract for next year.

Honestly seems like the hardworking underacheiver Webby could do wonders with

I don’t have a strong opinion either way, but worth noting he’s managed by Isaac Moses, so I’d stay away solely on that basis.

 

[Defence]

Wonder what’s going on with Greig? I can’t believe he hasn’t been locked up yet.
Had a great year and his best is still in front of him.
Would seem a perfect fit for us and wouldn’t break the bank.

 

[Noitall]

Ethan Bullemor anyone? Low penalties and errors, averages over 100m a game from the bench and seems decent defensively. Doesn't have a contract for next year.

Honestly seems like the hardworking underacheiver Webby could do wonders with

Re signed by manly.