Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

-	Player	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
1	Bunty Afoa	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔
4	Rocco Berry	✔	✔
5	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Morgan Harper	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
24	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Fatialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	S	✔	✔
S5	Sio Kali	S
S6	Patrick Moimoi	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	✔	✔

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

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

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Get them onside ref!]

If we can't have a marquee fullback I'm OK with CNK for another year or two. I want to see Taine do well too but I'm not sure on him. As has been said he's 26 soon and he still hasn't cemented a starting spot anywhere. 26 is nearly halfway through the career of many players and I think if Taine was star quality he would have been playing regular first grade for 3 or 4 years.

Kind of similar to Metcalf. 26 and learning to play a position that others have played for several seasons by that age. I know he's had injuries but I thought watching the Tigers game that compared to 19 year old Galvin he lacked something. Maybe confidence? Or instinct? Although having seen the drama recently I would much rather have Luke in the team than Galvin.

CNK playing fullback next year buys us time to shop around. But I'm not sold on the utility roll as he ages. We have 3 good centres and others coming through. He's too slow for anything other than injury cover for the wing. Maybe a 13 but we have Clark and the young English guy? Do we have anyone coming through the system that will be ready in a couple of years? Or Charlie Webb? Brent Webb 0.2 would be so good.

A markey fullback aint coming to the Wahs
Guaranteed
They are always in demand

 

[Five&Last]

nooo

 

[defensivebomb]

It’s a big game this weekend. Ponga will want to show the club that we haven’t made a mistake in signing him

 

[Riz]

nooo

Are you ok?

 

[Wrighty]

If we can't have a marquee fullback I'm OK with CNK for another year or two. I want to see Taine do well too but I'm not sure on him. As has been said he's 26 soon and he still hasn't cemented a starting spot anywhere. 26 is nearly halfway through the career of many players and I think if Taine was star quality he would have been playing regular first grade for 3 or 4 years.

Kind of similar to Metcalf. 26 and learning to play a position that others have played for several seasons by that age. I know he's had injuries but I thought watching the Tigers game that compared to 19 year old Galvin he lacked something. Maybe confidence? Or instinct? Although having seen the drama recently I would much rather have Luke in the team than Galvin.

CNK playing fullback next year buys us time to shop around. But I'm not sold on the utility roll as he ages. We have 3 good centres and others coming through. He's too slow for anything other than injury cover for the wing. Maybe a 13 but we have Clark and the young English guy? Do we have anyone coming through the system that will be ready in a couple of years? Or Charlie Webb? Brent Webb 0.2 would be so good.

I agree. I get the feeling we had a cup of coffee with Ponga and got nowhere and made a phone to call to Manu and no dice and really had to nab CNK. If we had've handed the keys to Tuapiki what would have happened when he got injured. Roger?

 

[Five&Last]

Are you ok?

Not a fan, bring some new guys through.

Even if he’s moved to centre depth to replace Harper in the depth chart and TT is given the number 1 jersey. I just don’t think his game will age well at all. Those hard-running backs with no ball skills or size advantage tend to fall off a cliff in their thirties.

 

[Drunkchchman]

Now the only move to make is to bring back our favourite son Ken Maumalo

 

[kos]

Now the only move to make is to bring back our favourite son Ken Maumalo

Big Ken has been at Titans 23/24/25 under two coaches
Has played zero nrl games

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I agree. I get the feeling we had a cup of coffee with Ponga and got nowhere and made a phone to call to Manu and no dice and really had to nab CNK. If we had've handed the keys to Tuapiki what would have happened when he got injured. Roger?

On 2 it

 

[Billyspleen75]

Big Ken has been at Titans 23/24/25 under two coaches
Has played zero nrl games

Released by Titans earlier today.

Fuck, it's happening isn't it?!

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Not a fan, bring some new guys through.

Even if he’s moved to centre depth to replace Harper in the depth chart and TT is given the number 1 jersey. I just don’t think his game will age well at all. Those hard-running backs with no ball skills or size advantage tend to fall off a cliff in their thirties.

Im afraid im of the same opinion.

His high workrate is without question and commendable but Id glady sacrifice a quarter of his kazillion hit ups for someone who pushes up around the play in constant support with the speed to take advantage of any space created or stretch defensive lines.

 

[Lance155]

Big Ken has been at Titans 23/24/25 under two coaches
Has played zero nrl games

And still better than Kosi...

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Now the only move to make is to bring back our favourite son Ken Maumalo

Well he literally just got released today. I honestly think he is coming.. he played decent footy here & would be good NSW cup depth. We’re short on wingers as we’ve identified & he’d be a last resort.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

I liked Ken, served us well, he was given the exact same treatment as Kosi when he first started. What a bum, no other team would play him etc.

For an expensive signing middle is about all that makes sense,
walker and tohus money is there. We have 4 middles locked in and modern teams play 5 every week, god love ford and bunty but you could upgrade that spot. Not counting the Pom.

Edge too many good young players, center/wing probably not while Roger is still here.

Halves are a blatant rip off, hooker is covered, fullback now covered.

 

[CWC]

Ken can go to SL no? Otherwise take him for cup depth or it’s over for him

 

[Dannevegas]

Im afraid im of the same opinion.

His high workrate is without question and commendable but Id glady sacrifice a quarter of his kazillion hit ups for someone who pushes up around the play in constant support with the speed to take advantage of any space created or stretch defensive lines.

Surely we could De Groot over here, Titans have Kini, Brimson, Campbell, Gordon who can all play 1. offer him 500k a season. I’ve always rated him for his ball playing, but showed pace on the weekend with 3 line breaks.

Really hope CNK was resigned for depth in the centres/wing Already slowing down big time.

 

[The Undertaker]

We have to balance marquee signings with development of our young talent. When mohawk took over he stated that he wanted us to win the premiership with home grown players. Thats where we are investing.

Look at our team this year. Ali, Leka, Demetric, Laban and now TT. All have become regular first graders. behind them? MGT, EIT, Jett, TSS. That’s the bones of the 2028 - 2029 premiership team right there. On top of that, we are investing in Metcalf as our million dollar half with Jett coming in behind him.. CHT will be under threat with Jye Linnane next season.

The major change is investment in our systems up and down the grades. This investment is bearing fruit and over time will be our biggest strength. We won’t keep everyone. Good players will be let go. Thats sport.

In terms of what we need right now? Another 30 minute impact prop - likely Bunty replacement. Walker replacement. DWZ /RTS replacement in 2 years - we need pace! We already have a TMM or Boyd replacement in Jye..

Long Story short why throw money at players close to past their prime versus keeping the guns we have? Best nursery in the world is in our back yard. Our cap will reward the talent we have as they continue to grow through good performances. Invest in coaching and facilities.

The key to all of this is a great coach. Amazing pathways and a system that is embedded from a young age coupled with some flair and pace. We have most of that already.

This is why we are winning ugly versus losing closely this season. A bit more time and I firmly believe we will develop into the Melbourne or Penrith style club who are consistently threatening for titles every season.

Let’s hope Webby is still here in 20 years because that is what it will take.

Exciting times.

 

[Muddogz]

I wasn’t initially a fan yesterday but I’ve come around to CNK resigning.

1) He’s not blocking a spot for any young talent.
2) His salary isn’t going to prevent us signing anyone as we have plenty spare.
3) He strikes me as a good dressing room influence.
4) He has utility value should someone else become a better option at fullback.

 

[Theking267]

If we produce a Leka type player every 10 years than we will be the envy of every club in the NRL.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

The average age of first-choice fullbacks and wingers across the other 16 teams is 23.5, while we are looking down the barrel of a 31-year-old winger, a 33-year-old winger, and a 31-year-old fullback next year.

There are only six other WG/FB's who are 30+ and signed for next year who will be first-choice starters, and only two of them are signed beyond next season at the moment, while we have two on our own.

I guess we have lost a crazy amount of experience over the past year, there aren't many options out there, and you've got to fill 30 spots somehow, but even still, this extension just makes me feel a bit ehhhhhhhh

For now, I am sitting on the fence, but both of my legs are hanging on the "why did we do this" side lol