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)
 
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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.
 


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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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