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

 

[Fonzie]

Metcalf has a baby? Since when?

Pretty sure Metcalf doesn’t have a baby. Last I heard (a few months ago) he has a long term GF but they are not yet married or kids. Source: spoke to her grandad

 

[Damo]

Pretty sure Metcalf doesn’t have a baby. Last I heard (a few months ago) he has a long term GF but they are not yet married or kids. Source: spoke to her grandad

Yeah, he doesn't have any kids. I was just interested to hear what they said in reply.
I assume Metcalf having a lot of photos with his niece may make it seem like he had a daughter.

 

[Dantheman]

If that’s true the NRL really does need to step up, wtf is the point in having a club outside of Australia if we struggle to a) keep talent because aussie clubs poach our kids and b) players request to leave on compassionate grounds whenever they feel the need. Rosters are planned years in advance and shit like this is such a backwards step for the club. Surely these guys understand their family dynamics might change during the length of their contract - it’s part of human nature. Just like people in normal jobs might not start a family until their circumstances are where they need to be. So sick of players taking us for a ride. Rant over

 

[Makasene]

If that is true, then I'm guessing it's Volkman and Metcalf which would leave us somewhat fucked.

The article goes on to suggest loaning Volkman out next year is a possible option.

Also suggests Metcalf may leave when his contract is up.

So if we are thinking of next year you are left with the likes of:

Egan
Barnett
Ford
Lussick
Montoya

The article says something like "if requests are made the club will find it hard to grant them" suggesting key players.

 

[Makasene]

If that’s true the NRL really does need to step up, wtf is the point in having a club outside of Australia if we struggle to a) keep talent because aussie clubs poach our kids and b) players request to leave on compassionate grounds whenever they feel the need. Rosters are planned years in advance and shit like this is such a backwards step for the club. Surely these guys understand their family dynamics might change during the length of their contract - it’s part of human nature. Just like people in normal jobs might not start a family until their circumstances are where they need to be. So sick of players taking us for a ride. Rant over

You would have to admit the opportunity to earn more while living closer to family and possibly (but not always) play for a team you followed as a kid is extremely attractive.

Also, it's not always on the player. Managers have a shitload to answer for the state of player movements

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

This is why warriors need to recruit away from fringe aussies… just look at young kiwis. Just recruit players from the kiwis team

 

[Dantheman]

You would have to admit the opportunity to earn more while living closer to family and possibly (but not always) play for a team you followed as a kid is extremely attractive.

Also, it's not always on the player. Managers have a shitload to answer for the state of player movements

Yea, that’s true I guess haha.

 

[JaggedJ]

The article goes on to suggest loaning Volkman out next year is a possible option.

Also suggests Metcalf may leave when his contract is up.

So if we are thinking of next year you are left with the likes of:

Egan
Barnett
Ford
Lussick
Montoya

The article says something like "if requests are made the club will find it hard to grant them" suggesting key players.

Lussick, Ford, Volkman are the ones that jump out to me.

I think at times the issues we have retaining players gets overblown a bit. Guys like Aitken, Murchie etc only had a year left on their deal when we were finally allowed home and were unlikely to be re-signed. I'd be reluctant to uproot my family for a single year too.

Still, pain in the ass to deal with. I could see Lussick/Volkman wanting out for an opportunity. Ford would feel like a "my stock is up, time to cash in back home" kind of move.

 

[JustVisiting82]

Not sure if anyone has linked to the article recent posts are discussing. If not, here it is: https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...for-2024-now-addin-fonuablake-saga-is-on-hold

 

[Noitall]

Lussick, Ford, Volkman are the ones that jump out to me.

I think at times the issues we have retaining players gets overblown a bit. Guys like Aitken, Murchie etc only had a year left on their deal when we were finally allowed home and were unlikely to be re-signed. I'd be reluctant to uproot my family for a single year too.

Still, pain in the ass to deal with. I could see Lussick/Volkman wanting out for an opportunity. Ford would feel like a "my stock is up, time to cash in back home" kind of move.

Could definitely see Flanagan reaching out to Ford for a return to the dragons.

 

[Playdaball]

I heard SJ was feeling homesick as finds it hard to cross the harbour bridge .

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Smart Signings: Fonua-Blake is leaving the Warriors – but it might open a path for them to get even better – The Roar

A front Row of Neame and Thompson would be good, but he's wrong in saying Blake is not the focal point of our forwards.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Or his missus is salty going by her social media post about him carrying the team?

That's way off ladie! This surely is for more money, and he's worth the big bucks to be fair.

Big call, but to me he's a Million Dollar forward Like Haas. We won't have another prop like this in a very long time, I hope they stay.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

That's way off ladie! This surely is for more money, and he's worth the big bucks to be fair.

Big call, but to me he's a Million Dollar forward Like Haas. We won't have another prop like this in a very long time, I hope they stay.

I doubt it's for more money, he was already the highest paid front rower in '22 and will be on over $1m a season apparently for next 3 years.

 

[Noitall]

That's way off ladie! This surely is for more money, and he's worth the big bucks to be fair.

Big call, but to me he's a Million Dollar forward Like Haas. We won't have another prop like this in a very long time, I hope they stay.

Him or Haas didn’t stop their teams being cleaned up this weekend. No doubt that they’re great players and great for go forward but without some decent playmakers to utilise their size and skill they’re not as effective without those playmakers. That’s why the Kiwis win was so impressive, because aussie have a great spine. Tonga not so much.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

If that’s true the NRL really does need to step up, wtf is the point in having a club outside of Australia if we struggle to a) keep talent because aussie clubs poach our kids and b) players request to leave on compassionate grounds whenever they feel the need. Rosters are planned years in advance and shit like this is such a backwards step for the club. Surely these guys understand their family dynamics might change during the length of their contract - it’s part of human nature. Just like people in normal jobs might not start a family until their circumstances are where they need to be. So sick of players taking us for a ride. Rant over

I think the Warriors were very lenient during covid with an open door to players coming and going to allow us to get a decent team on the field (eg Walsh easy come; easy go).

Post covid and with a focus on performance rather than survival I think we won’t allow players to break contracts as easy.

 

[Noitall]

I doubt it's for more money, he was already the highest paid front rower in '22 and will be on over $1m a season apparently for next 3 years.

Will be interesting to see once he’s given his release if Sydney is still the only destination he’s willing to go. I’m sitting thinking the storm have some money to spend and are after a top front rower. They showed with Bromwich that they’re prepared to pay a front rower a million, though his deal was probably backended when he earned that. That would put them up with panthers and broncos I reckon. AFB starts and NAS off the bench to spell him.

 

[Up the guttz]

Hope it’s not Barnett wanting a release

 

[Noitall]

Hope it’s not Barnett wanting a release

I can understand the compassionate reasoning as life is always changing and ill health can mean limited time left with loved ones, but after the season we’ve just had being one win away from the grand final I’d be inclined to let anyone walk who isn’t completely invested in going further to bring a premiership here.

 

[Matiunz]

Add this guy while we’re at it

I’m very surprised no one has tapped the production line of big Afrikaner’s South Africa has, there’s plenty in Currie cup looking for a shot and many are desperate to get their family out of SA