Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
​

-​	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

 

[Tragic]

Metcalf’s a must keep imo

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

 

[Noitall]

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

Couldn’t help but notice how many of the Kiwi players interviewed after the game mentioned how there’s something special happening in NZ rugby league, some like Neame even referencing the Warriors as apart of that. Not sure if the special thing is just a throwaway line but I definitely think it’s worth targeting Kiwi players.

 

[Defence]

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

They’re the same age and no way tuaupiki is as fast as metcalf.

 

[Tragic]

They’re the same age and no way tuaupiki is as fast as metcalf.

Keep your facts outta my argument.

 

[hornbybrown]

Is there a good website that has easy to access details on when players contracts are up and position rankings for soon to be free agents?

I want to see what props are entering the last year of their contracts

 

[Defence]

Is there a good website that has easy to access details on when players contracts are up and position rankings for soon to be free agents?

I want to see what props are entering the last year of their contracts

Players Off Contract 2024 – By Position

A complete list of NRL players off contract in 2024 by playing position.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Noitall]

They’re the same age and no way tuaupiki is as fast as metcalf.

Interesting that on that clarkey site he has the top 50 for speeds reached this year, highest place for us was Berry at 28th. CNK was at 31 and Pompey at 32. Crazy that Utoikamanu is at 33. No DWZ or Metcalf.

 

[Tragic]

Interesting that on that clarkey site he has the top 50 for speeds reached this year, highest place for us was Berry at 28th. CNK was at 31 and Pompey at 32. Crazy that Utoikamanu is at 33. No DWZ or Metcalf.

That's interesting for top speed as it means if you get away you should be able to score from anywhere but It's really the first 10m where the acceleration makes the break, be interesting to see who can accelerate quickest.

 

[BabylonPink]

That's interesting for top speed as it means if you get away you should be able to score from anywhere but It's really the first 10m where the acceleration makes the break, be interesting to see who can accelerate quickest.

I'm guessing players like Leniu would make that list
Fast over 10metres is huge In RL

 

[Noitall]

That's interesting for top speed as it means if you get away you should be able to score from anywhere but It's really the first 10m where the acceleration makes the break, be interesting to see who can accelerate quickest.

I would say Metcalf probably did before he went to america and had rehab and altered his running style which I thought was noticeable how he reserved himself when in any clear space upon his return. He still had some good speed when he returned but the worry is he’s done the other leg now. Some of these speedsters like Papenhuyzen seem to get a lot of these issues. I’m not sure there would be a huge difference between Metcalf’s altered running style and Tuaupiki? I do feel like they probably would be amongst quickest acceleration in the team though.

 

[snake77]

The reports of two more players thinking about asking for a compassionate release is a bit concerning. After struggling to even make the finals (2018 aside) for 10 years and being stuck in Australia we finally come home and looked to have turned a corner. It would be great to have some stability. Especially as pre season would be due to start.

It would depend on who the players are. Some would be easier to replace than others. If it was Lussick and Volkman for example they would be easier than any of Egan, Metcalf, Barnett, Ford. Some of those guys would be on decent money to get over to Auckland.

For any compassionate release the club would need to hear them out. Family issues would need to be looked at. Anything less than that would be tough as the club has made decisions around other players if they had known they may have kept Sironen or Curran. It is also a tough time to look at players for next year.

 

[Falcon]

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

..and he hasn’t got fragile hamstrings.

 

[Completion Rate]

That's interesting for top speed as it means if you get away you should be able to score from anywhere but It's really the first 10m where the acceleration makes the break, be interesting to see who can accelerate quickest.

Just look at Timoko in this last Kiwis test. That level of pace catches defenders on their heels.

 

[Falcon]

A few points,
I think AFB return to Sydney has nothing to do with not wanting to be at the Warriors football club and as a result will put in next season. The speed of the about turn to stay suggests there is more at play.

The opportunity to now pursue propping options for 2025 is a relief and the club could do well here.
I’m expecting McFadden and Webster to grasp this opportunity to balance the squad with 3/4 really exciting additions with their best years ahead of them as I don’t think they will renew Jazz which will free up more cash.

I agree with a few others that it would be a bummer if the rumours other players potentially wanting a release relating to either Barnett and to an extent Ford.

Volkman still has a lot to prove and whilst still very young is yet to show any extra dynamism to suggests he will be more than a solid half.
Metcalf has speed but has yet to show good game management and looked more about taking opportunities for himself in the games he played this year while being incredibly injury prone.

If we are thinking this club has turned a corner hopefully it’s only a matter of another couple of seasons that -

A. Young kiwis will look to the Warriors as being their preferred club to join rather than heading across the ditch.

B. Aussies will want to join the club to further their game under a potentially dynamic coach. As the club transitions to being a development club hopefully it will only be those offing something special who will be targeted.

C. Players will look at the club as being in the running each season to win a comp so will be prepared to move to Auckland to achieve this.

All there is to do now is watch it play out..

 

[MurrayTD]

The reports of two more players thinking about asking for a compassionate release is a bit concerning. After struggling to even make the finals (2018 aside) for 10 years and being stuck in Australia we finally come home and looked to have turned a corner. It would be great to have some stability. Especially as pre season would be due to start.

It would depend on who the players are. Some would be easier to replace than others. If it was Lussick and Volkman for example they would be easier than any of Egan, Metcalf, Barnett, Ford. Some of those guys would be on decent money to get over to Auckland.

For any compassionate release the club would need to hear them out. Family issues would need to be looked at. Anything less than that would be tough as the club has made decisions around other players if they had known they may have kept Sironen or Curran. It is also a tough time to look at players for next year.

I agree Snake.
We should be celebrating an amazing year, extension of a coach we all support and believe in and now have relatively high confidence of attracting players to the club. Of course not1 what we actually have is noise regarding players wanting out, this just has to have a destabilising affect and continues to make the Auckland option less attractive.

 

[Dannevegas]

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

Metcalf’s easily our best 6. Didn’t train with the team at all up until he had his first game, and his combo with Johnson was building nicely until his injury.

 

[Tragic]

They’re the same age and no way tuaupiki is as fast as metcalf.

I had to go factcheck the ages, for some reason I thought Taine was only about 20. I would still prefer keeping him over metcalf if we had to choose but it's close. Metcalf I really liked in preseason when he played a a dominant half and did half things, since then too one dimensional, but that might be his orders so might be unfair.

 

[Dannevegas]

I had to go factcheck the ages, for some reason I thought Taine was only about 20. I would still prefer keeping him over metcalf if we had to choose but it's close. Metcalf I really liked in preseason when he played a a dominant half and did half things, since then too one dimensional, but that might be his orders so might be unfair.

Would you prefer Te-Maire over Metcalf?

 

[kos]

Both of them have now had current leg injuries

I reckon they both have go back to the race start then we see who is the better horse

 

[Canonball]

Why? Speed is good obviously but IMHO Tuaupiki is just as quick with a higher ceiling at 6 based on what I have seen and his age meaning there is a lot more growth in him.

love to see him have a go at 6 -- though one of the most impressive parts of his game is under the high ball and positioning at the back - so good for such a short fella