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

 

[nzwarrior51]

For mine Ford is doing the job pretty well for now, for the price point if he’s keen to stay I’m happy to have him.
Sitili would be a great get, I’m a huge fan but I’d either move him to the middle or Niukore there if we got him.

 

[Dannevegas]

I think Ford will be a good bench prop, or starter for us who can play long minutes, he’s got the motor.

That could allow Sifakula or Halasima to share that edge, or sign someone like Tupouniua

 

[Noitall]

New players have been put onto the team page at the Warriors site, counted 28 and that’s with Zyon Maiu’u and Laban who are on development contracts I think? Makes 26 if so? Really like the look of our squad when looking amongst the team and fairly good depth everywhere because of players being able to play in multiple positions.

 

[Up the guttz]

New players have been put onto the team page at the Warriors site, counted 28 and that’s with Zyon Maiu’u and Laban who are on development contracts I think? Makes 26 if so? Really like the look of our squad when looking amongst the team and fairly good depth everywhere because of players being able to play in multiple positions.

They are both top 30 this year

 

[Dannevegas]

The natural raw strength, balance and athleticism on them is something else.

 

[Noitall]

NRL 2024: Every club's top 30 squad and development list for the season | Sporting News Australia

The 2024 NRL season is underway, with every club still in the midst of their recruitment and retention drives.

www.sportingnews.com

This site has us with 4 spots remaining and also still has Lingi Kepu listed. Is there any missing on it?

 

[cock_o]

NRL 2024: Every club's top 30 squad and development list for the season | Sporting News Australia

The 2024 NRL season is underway, with every club still in the midst of their recruitment and retention drives.

www.sportingnews.com

This site has us with 4 spots remaining and also still has Lingi Kepu listed. Is there any missing on it?

Best place to look is the NRL app. Under signings tracker. Confirms we have 28 signed to the top 30. Zyon Maiu’u and Jacob Laban both in that top 30.

 

[enterthewarrior]

Sitili Tupouniua is a bog average player.

 

[Raygz13]

Hi peeps. Been reading for years but finally bit the bullet and registered. My personal opinion on tupouniua is no. We have an abundance of gun 2nd rowers coming through. If they come good we'll be screwed with purchases like that. Toni Tupouniua is a prop at least and let's see if webby can work some magic on him, if, he has been signed. Prop/front row(whichever) is far more concerning. Does anyone seriously think of a union player, oz or nz, that could make the transition and is willing to? With the exemption, it's worth a look I'd think? All in all, I'm slightly disappointed that we haven't signed a big body to help AFB. Oh well, beggars can't be choosers I suppose....

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Sitili Tupouniua is a bog average player.

But if you put him next to Faitala Mariner

 

[Warriors4eva95]

We can speculate what $ would be fair when it comes to negotiations. But my opinion is, the longer the contract is, the less the $ should be. So if Tohu wants the Warriors to commit to a 3 year deal, then I'd suggest the $ would be only about 65-75% of that if he wanted a 1 year deal. But if he takes the high value 1 year deal he can back himself to sustain the quality we saw in 2023, and keep extending by 1 year at a time at a high value.

No way, way to important to lose we offer him let's say 650k, realistically, A lot of other teams would offer him 750k+ & we'd lose him unless he's loyal and not about the money but who isn't about the money these days, at this point of time him, SJ, Egan, AFB are probably our most important players atm until Webby realizes Berrysiah is the star of this team

 

[Ferdie]

No way, way to important to lose we offer him let's say 650k, realistically, A lot of other teams would offer him 750k+ & we'd lose him unless he's loyal and not about the money but who isn't about the money these days, at this point of time him, SJ, Egan, AFB are probably our most important players atm until Webby realizes Berrysiah is the star of this team

He turns 32 in January and is already being held together with several rolls of strapping tape every game.
Not many teams (if any) will be willing to gamble 750k+ on a 3 year deal to any player, let alone one from another club.
Odds are by the third season (2027) he's spending more time on the sideline recovering from injury than on the field.
Hence my suggested lower offer for 3 years, but better offer for 1.
Possibly there's a happy medium for 2 years.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

He turns 32 in January and is already being held together with several rolls of strapping tape every game.
Not many teams (if any) will be willing to gamble 750k+ on a 3 year deal to any player, let alone one from another club.
Odds are by the third season (2027) he's spending more time on the sideline recovering from injury than on the field.
Hence my suggested lower offer for 3 years, but better offer for 1.
Possibly there's a happy medium for 2 years.

Yeah mate I agree totally.
Pre 2021 Tohu was playing 80 min every game unless he was injured, in the last 3 years he's dropped to 68 minutes a game, and this will only continue to drop the older he gets.
Given his recent injury history too, and how he looks like he's busted almost every game I think it's pretty unrealistic to think he's going to play another 4 years the way he plays. Father time stops for no one and sadly, I don't think Tohu would be the exception.
I'd be happy at 2 years for 650-700k, knowing his role will get smaller in these next 3 years

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

Tanner Stowers-Smith gone i heard. Could be false. But could be true due to him not being at training and being in Christchurch currently

 

[Noitall]

Tanner Stowers-Smith gone i heard. Could be false. But could be true due to him not being at training and being in Christchurch currently

Any idea if the reasoning?

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

Any idea if the reasoning?

Sorry no clue. Just heard he’s off

 

[Drake_83]

Tanner Stowers-Smith gone i heard. Could be false. But could be true due to him not being at training and being in Christchurch currently

That's pretty shitty expected him to debut by 25

 

[Dannevegas]

Is Vailingi Kepu staying? And is he any good, looks a unit

 

[Noitall]

Wondering what people think on Maia Sands and whether he’d be worthwhile replacing TSS on a development contract if he’s gone? Has come through a bit later due to fracturing his neck in 2018? but was highly rated as a hooker coming through around 2016. Saw him later in the season in nsw cup and was impressed, he’s played hooker twice this season where in 1 game made 55 tackles and missed 1. Seems to play predominantly at lock and second row being a bit bigger.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Is Vailingi Kepu staying? And is he any good, looks a unit

Both Kepu brothers have been released.