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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If Metcalf isn't even attempting a tackle because he is out of position or just beat straight out, then that doesn't count against his tackle efficiency.

If the percentage is the be all end, then by that metric Luke Metcalf is also the best conversion kicker in the comp because he made 100% of his attempts last year

You clearly don’t have even a basic understanding of statistics.

I’ll say it again, show the evidence CHT a better tackler than Metcalf?
 
Rumours going around that Utoikamanu could trigger his release clause to move to the storm which would cause a mass domino effect resulting in Jack howarth moving to the cows and Finefeuiaki to the dolphins on a multimillion dollar deal most likely from next season.

A pity we could not pick him up. He would not be able to replace AFB but he would soften the blow.
 
Rumours going around that Utoikamanu could trigger his release clause to move to the storm which would cause a mass domino effect resulting in Jack howarth moving to the cows and Finefeuiaki to the dolphins on a multimillion dollar deal most likely from next season.

Cowboys looking at Howarth for a centre spot? Got plenty of backrowers. Interesting info
 

Market Watch: Dolphins chase Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, which could send Stefano Utoikamanu to Storm​

Wayne Bennett’s play for a talented Cowboys second-rower could set off a chain of events which see Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu end up in Storm colours.
Brent Read, Michael Carayannis and Travis Meyn

The Dolphins are believed to be weighing up a multimillion dollar play for North Queensland back rower Kulikefu Finefeuiaki in a move that could have serious ramifications for two of their interstate rivals.
Finefeuiaki, off contract at the end of this season, is believed to be open to a switch of clubs after finding himself trapped behind Heilum Luki and Jeremiah Nanai for a starting spot at the Cowboys.
Sources close to the Cowboys confirmed they were bracing for the Dolphins to step up their pursuit of Finefeuiaki after their Queensland rivals failed with a mega-bid for Luki.

The Dolphins are eyeing Kulikefu Finefeuiaki. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images
Luki, who entrenched himself as one of North Queensland’s starting second rowers with a big performance against the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. is expected to confirm a long-term deal with the Cowboys this week.
The Dragons were also monitoring Finefeuiaki but dropped off when they signed Luciano Leilua from the Cowboys. The Dolphins have now moved into pole position, although this masthead understands they are yet to make a formal offer for the 20-year-old.
Finefeuiaki made his first grade debut for the Cowboys last season and has chalked up 13 games in the top grade, scoring two tries and stamping himself as one of the most promising forwards in the game.

Stefano Utoikamanu has a get-out clause at the Tigers. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images
However, he has had to sit behind Luai and Jeremiah Nanai, both of whom have committed to the Cowboys on long-term deals.
The Dolphins would offer Finefeuiaki a starting spot next season as well as the chance to move back to southeast Queensland – he went to school in Ipswich after moving to Australia at the age of 11.
His future is set to have an impact for Melbourne and the Wests Tigers. The Cowboys are believed to be monitoring Storm back rower Jack Howarth, having identified him as a player who could help replenish their back row stocks should they need more depth in the position.

Jack Howarth is struggling to get time at the Storm. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
Howarth, is signed to a long-term deal in Melbourne but has struggled to crack the starting side, having played only one game in first grade.
Should the Cowboys step up their interest and the Storm allow him to leave, it would free up salary cap space for Melbourne to launch a bid for Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu.
Utoikamanu has a clause in his contract which allows him to leave at the end of the season should the Tigers fail to make the finals.
It is understood the Storm are watching developments with Utoikamanu closely as they look to add strength to their front row.
 
So Dolphins, Cowboys, Storm all get someone and Tigers are once again left holding their junk in their hand.

Some things never change.
So Dolphins, Cowboys, Storm all get someone and Tigers are once again left holding their junk in their hand.

Some things never change.
Nope but that’s the risk you run having different clauses in your players contracts..
 
So Dolphins, Cowboys, Storm all get someone and Tigers are once again left holding their junk in their hand.

Some things never change.
To make matters worse -

The Wests Tigers have suffered a significant blow ahead of their first official game of 2024 with a major sponsor walking out on the club following “disrespectful” treatment.

News Corp revealed on the weekend that FAB Industrial Logistics — an import and export specialist company — will no longer be the Tigers’ back-of-jersey or sleeve sponsor.

The company poured $800,000 into the club to hold those positions but has pulled its support after interim CEO Shane Richardson raised the idea of putting Allied Express — a direct competitor of FAB Industrial Logistics — on the Tigers’ jersey too.

It was a kick in the guts to FAB Industrial Logistics’ managing director Neil Fabry, who “blew up about it” according to Phil Rothfield on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.

“It’s been a tough couple of years for the club but I put in more money last year — my family’s money — when the club was struggling,” Fabry told News Corp after informing the Tigers on Friday of his decision to pull his sponsorship.

“Then I sat down with Shane Richardson and I was told that they wanted to put one of my competitors on the jersey as well.

“He said to me, ‘If you love the club, you’ll let it happen’.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to be treated this way.

“It was so disrespectful.

“I have a contract that says I’m exclusive in my area of business. I told him (Richardson), ‘There’s not a chance you can use a rival. If you put them on, take me off, and stick it up your a**e. I’m not going to be part of it and I’m not going to be dictated to’.

“None of this happened when (former CEO) Justin Pascoe was here.

“I still love the club but I don’t like the people in charge.”

Richardson was approached by News Corp for a response and claimed that the Tigers were willing to respect Fabry’s wishes.

“We did ask him about putting another sponsor on the strip but he said it was a conflict. So we told him we wouldn’t do it. He knows that,” Richardson said.

FAB Industrial Logistics is a family-owned company, which Fabry has had great individual success through including being named Australian Young Entrepreneur of the Year in manufacturing, wholesale and distribution for 2023.

It comes as Rothfield shared he has “great doubts” another major sponsor of the Tigers, Bryden’s Lawyers, will continue its relationship with the club beyond this season after the axing of former club chairman Lee Hagipantelis.

“Their roster needs work and obviously their commercial department needs work because you can’t be in danger of losing your two biggest sponsors on the back of two wooden spoons,” he said.

“It’s very difficult to attract corporate support at the best of times.”




To be fair to the tigers, reading the comments by the sponsor, this seems more like a sponsor looking for an excuse to get out as they were friendly with the previous management who got the boot.
 
Why can't we groom our own NAS or Ben Te Kura through our own pathways. We comstantly read articles about the warriors signing a great prospect 16 year old who plays second row and lock, why don't we have anyone in SG Ball or Flegg who is a hulking prop. Tanners Stowers Smith was our hope for a while but he is only 183cms and 101kgs. And yes size does matter for props, most of the elite props are big units even though people point out exceptions to that rule. There will always be exceptions but exceptions don't disprove a rule.
Where are our big units? We are New Zealand, we must be able to develop some or do all the other australian clubs nab the biggest teenagers first?
 
Why can't we groom our own NAS or Ben Te Kura through our own pathways. We comstantly read articles about the warriors signing a great prospect 16 year old who plays second row and lock, why don't we have anyone in SG Ball or Flegg who is a hulking prop. Tanners Stowers Smith was our hope for a while but he is only 183cms and 101kgs. And yes size does matter for props, most of the elite props are big units even though people point out exceptions to that rule. There will always be exceptions but exceptions don't disprove a rule.
Where are our big units? We are New Zealand, we must be able to develop some or do all the other australian clubs nab the biggest teenagers first?
Where is Bishop Neal and the mikaele bros?

And Jackson Stewart and Quinlan for that matter?
 
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