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

 

[Since95]

From memory we made a play at him when he was leaving the Panthers. He was a very versatile player at that time. If it is more or less a replacement for Curran then I'm fine with it, he is a useful player.

Hear me out,

Storm want a St George players St George wants Dogs Player and Dogs want AFB.

Stuff reported we want replacement and some. So lets say this pans out. Everyone gets their desired result.

Would anyone be mad if, we sign Capewell, and get a prop and Curran back for AFB?

Im still gutted he left I honestly believe Curran is a Jerry Collins like more he plays better he goes. I think he wouldnt turn his nose up at being converted to a middle.

 

[Since95]

You also need to remember the other team needs to agree to deal. It’s not like the tigers are going to jump at a deal where we get Ipap and Korosau. They are only going to agree to a deal that strengthens their squad.

Yeah I understand that. Just saying we are in the drivers seat. So shouldnt rush anything till we satisfied with an outcome we have the Dally M prop.

It doesnt get much better than that.

 

[Defence]

Just went back and had a read of this, interesting how long mentions the 3 club situation of Warriors wanting a storm player and storm needing to agree on a dragons player for dragons to land AFB. Likely hypothetical but interesting because dragons have been the team that has been reported to likely land AFB, would love it if there was a hint in there and the storm player was NAS that he uses as an example in the article.

Bit of a long bow but an interesting take.
Nas would be the closest like for like we could hope for really and the storm have shown interest in Utoikamanu before.
Afb- tigers, Utoikamanu- storm, nas- warriors could potentially be an outcome that worked for everyone….

 

[CWC]

Does the Storm consider it a net gain to have Utoikamanu and lose NAS?

 

[Noitall]

Bit of a long bow but an interesting take.
Nas would be the closest like for like we could hope for really and the storm have shown interest in Utoikamanu before.
Afb- tigers, Utoikamanu- storm, nas- warriors could potentially be an outcome that worked for everyone….

Ive seen storm are chasing Terrell May at the moment, they could be short in a couple of areas like second row too. Katoa was good but think they could do better than Loiero.

 

[Defence]

Does the Storm consider it a net gain to have Utoikamanu and lose NAS?

Well he’d be younger and cheaper with similar stats.
Depends where their caps at I suppose.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Does the Storm consider it a net gain to have Utoikamanu and lose NAS?

Would we consider it a net gain losing Afb & gaining Nas? Nas is best served off the bench as a impact prop. Which leaves us light in the starting prop position. Afb offered 70 - 80 mins of impact. Nas - 15 - 25 mins a spell each half.

Nas is on approximately 700k a season. Leaves us short 400k with Afb on 1.1 mil.

Rumours are, Storm want Blore & Terrell May.

Could we do a sneaky and get Utoikamanu who is on a rumoured 500k a season in amongst this
trade scenario?

Tiger's are also desperate for a half. Could we tempt them with a Volkman trade on top of Afb. Blore to Storm. Storm get May as well. Tigs get Afb & Volkman. We get Nas & Utoikamanu? Lol. Of course we'd have to top them up a little. Not sure where our salary cap is at. But it could be feasible.

Would be cool to get papa back. But right now we have a plethora of backrowers. Especially if the Capewell rumours are true.

 

[CWC]

Would we consider it a net gain losing Afb & gaining Nas? Nas is best served off the bench as a impact prop. Which leaves us light in the starting prop position. Afb offered 70 - 80 mins of impact. Nas - 15 - 25 mins a spell each half.

Nas is on approximately 700k a season. Leaves us short 400k with Afb on 1.1 mil.

Rumours are, Storm want Blore & Terrell May.

Could we do a sneaky and get Utoikamanu who is on a rumoured 500k a season in amongst this
trade scenario?

Tiger's are also desperate for a half. Could we tempt them with a Volkman trade on top of Afb. Blore to Storm. Storm get May as well. Tigs get Afb & Volkman. We get Nas & Utoikamanu? Lol. Of course we'd have to top them up a little. Not sure where our salary cap is at. But it could be feasible.

Would be cool to get papa back. But right now we have a plethora of backrowers. Especially if the Capewell rumours are true.

Marata and Utoikamanu with NAS coming off the bench with support from Barnett and Tohu lol, give us the trophy already

 

[Brightman]

Marata and Utoikamanu with NAS coming off the bench with support from Barnett and Tohu lol, give us the trophy already

Would we consider it a net gain losing Afb & gaining Nas? Nas is best served off the bench as a impact prop. Which leaves us light in the starting prop position. Afb offered 70 - 80 mins of impact. Nas - 15 - 25 mins a spell each half.

Nas is on approximately 700k a season. Leaves us short 400k with Afb on 1.1 mil.

Rumours are, Storm want Blore & Terrell May.

Could we do a sneaky and get Utoikamanu who is on a rumoured 500k a season in amongst this
trade scenario?

Tiger's are also desperate for a half. Could we tempt them with a Volkman trade on top of Afb. Blore to Storm. Storm get May as well. Tigs get Afb & Volkman. We get Nas & Utoikamanu? Lol. Of course we'd have to top them up a little. Not sure where our salary cap is at. But it could be feasible.

Would be cool to get papa back. But right now we have a plethora of backrowers. Especially if the Capewell rumours are true.

Well done, now go and have a masty

 

[Warriorsfan92]

NAS literally just signed an extension. Wipe his name off the list.

 

[Fizurg]

This situation would be a lot simpler if the team wasn't so light on props. being able to chase Manu or something like that would be great but just isn't what the team needs.

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

Fair point, Ford is from a Rugby League Family so I could see him returning to his roots some stage.

But he strikes me as a loyal soldier under Webby giving him consistent game time and self belief

I feel is it happens it’s based on Curran cash flow

I think he’ll be there for 24 but wouldn’t surprise me to see him being snapped up by dragons. Warriors have made him so I expect to see him give 100% this year. Also he needs to keep up that form otherwise teams won’t come a knocking….then again another year in Auckland, chance to put down some roots

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

called it.

And we can give ourselves a year to blood in some of our young props, and keep some money for metcalf or see how CHT comes back….

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

Anyone think CHT has a real chance to become a decent 9? I know we have Eagan, but his health worries me, and CHT has good d, runs enough and can pass.

Thoughts?

He played pretty well there for Samoa in the world cup

 

[Defence]

NAS literally just signed an extension. Wipe his name off the list.

Thats the problem with all of them when u start looking around though- if I was looking at players who might want to come to nz (basically guys who grew up here- i.e. kiwis who aren't eligible for origin) they're all signed long term..

Jfh
Tapine
Leota
Nas
Thompson
Taumalolo
Griffin
Bhu (off contract end of 2024)
Greig
Sipley
Whyte
Liu (off contract end of 2024)

Its not really good timing for us- so unless we can pull something out of the bag bhu might be the best bet.

 

[Cces]

Souths Logan have confirmed Alex Fidow won't return for them in 2024 & will instead stay in NZ. He'd be a great project player if he wanted to play NSW Cup. He's probably slimmed down from his days playing Prop in Union but at a guess he'd be 115kg & stands at 6 ft 2

 

[dean]

CHT is rated highly on this forum in the halves pecking order and maybe as someone able to make the switch to hooker.
He has had a year off. Has anyone seen him training or have inside knowledge that he will be as good or better than he was before he left?

 

[Falcon]

Souths Logan have confirmed Alex Fidow won't return for them in 2024 & will instead stay in NZ. He'd be a great project player if he wanted to play NSW Cup. He's probably slimmed down from his days playing Prop in Union but at a guess he'd be 115kg & stands at 6 ft 2

137Kg playing rugby

 

[Wellington Taniwha]

With the salary cap exemption for union players announced - a couple of questions…

Should we be making a move considering the strength of union in NZ?

Who would you be targeting?

https://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/...-bigname-all-black-to-join-roger-tuivasasheck

 

[Noitall]

NAS literally just signed an extension. Wipe his name off the list.

There could be other areas the storm could be interested in bolstering if the right people became available. Noticed Joseph Parker on NAS instagram page visiting him, I reckon NAS is keen on a boxing career at some stage. RTS should get his neighbour in his ear.