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

 

[Tookey 2.0]

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2023...s-schoolboy-rugby-star-make-switch-to-titans/

Titans have signed 18 year old Caelys Putoko, one of the top NZ union prospects in the country.

Would have looked nice in a Warriors jumper tho...are we just not looking at these fullas?

 

[Warriorshopeful]

https://www.titans.com.au/news/2023...s-schoolboy-rugby-star-make-switch-to-titans/

Titans have signed 18 year old Caelys Putoko, one of the top NZ union prospects in the country.

Would have looked nice in a Warriors jumper tho...are we just not looking at these fullas?

Warriors can only do so much to be fair. We've got some great prospects coming through,, can't fit em all in either.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Warriors can only do so much to be fair. We've got some great prospects coming through,, can't fit em all in either.

Yeah fair call. I don't even know the player as such, just a bit annoying that old mates been down the road in Hamilton and the Titans have been able to nab him.

Just wondering though, have we ever had a top 5 hottest union prospect come through our systems before? If we did what ever happened to them

 

[Falcon]

It would be interesting to see the state of the game in NZ for those playing league before going to secondary school and effectively being asked to play rugby or nothing at all.
It wouldn’t be ground breaking numbers but it could be significant to continued growth of the game and its playing numbers

 

[Fizurg]

Yeah fair call. I don't even know the player as such, just a bit annoying that old mates been down the road in Hamilton and the Titans have been able to nab him.

Just wondering though, have we ever had a top 5 hottest union prospect come through our systems before? If we did what ever happened to them

Ipap was the top rated school boy that year.

 

[JaggedJ]

Yeah fair call. I don't even know the player as such, just a bit annoying that old mates been down the road in Hamilton and the Titans have been able to nab him.

Just wondering though, have we ever had a top 5 hottest union prospect come through our systems before? If we did what ever happened to them

Yup and we Warrior'd them up good and proper which is why so many of them now avoid us.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

I saw that the Bulldogs are running league camps in the Canterbury region too for youth hoping to attract talent over. I think if we want to keep Kiwi talent in NZ we really probably need 2 teams.

 

[SBW1]

How are the bids going for a second Kiwi franchise and is it mostly like from Christchurch?

 

[PNG Kiwi]

How are the bids going for a second Kiwi franchise and is it mostly like from Christchurch?

I think you will find PNG is the front runner

 

[mrblonde]

I think if we want to keep Kiwi talent in NZ we really probably need 2 teams.

Make that two good teams. Nationality only goes so far.

 

[SBW1]

PNG bid is as bogus as hell. PM Albo was salivitating over the Kumuls when they played the PM 13 invitational last year, some of the most pathetic commentary of league I have ever seen. Simply a move to get PNG onside, would be a disaster sending NRL teams to a country which isn't that far off a warzone every couple of weeks.

 

[John Nick]

PNG bid is as bogus as hell. PM Albo was salivitating over the Kumuls when they played the PM 13 invitational last year, some of the most pathetic commentary of league I have ever seen. Simply a move to get PNG onside, would be a disaster sending NRL teams to a country which isn't that far off a warzone every couple of weeks.

Was watching bits of a game in PNG just today.
NRL teams would never ever let their players play on those grounds looking at their condition.
Wouldn't want to risk the injuries

 

[shuffle]

Was watching bits of a game in PNG just today.
NRL teams would never ever let their players play on those grounds looking at their condition.
Wouldn't want to risk the injuries

I admire their passion but I agree.

 

[PNG Kiwi]

PNG bid is as bogus as hell. PM Albo was salivitating over the Kumuls when they played the PM 13 invitational last year, some of the most pathetic commentary of league I have ever seen. Simply a move to get PNG onside, would be a disaster sending NRL teams to a country which isn't that far off a warzone every couple of weeks.

I can understand your viewpoint, but bigger things are at play here.

The playing pitch would obviously have to conform to an acceptable standard. I suggest they are at the main stadiums in Port Moresby, as the Australian prime ministers selection v PNG is an annual event.

 

[Falcon]

I saw that the Bulldogs are running league camps in the Canterbury region too for youth hoping to attract talent over. I think if we want to keep Kiwi talent in NZ we really probably need 2 teams.

Yes, I wonder if this development was the catalyst for the Warriors to sign the deal for a game in ChCh for the next 3 years.

 

[Ref]

I am thinking. Even if we bring in Capewell, we will bring in a decent prop as well.
Someone to add to the rotation of AFB, Nuikore, Barnett, Harris, Ale and Zion.
We have halves galore and the addition of RTS and emergence of Ali L version 2 strengthens the outside back options. CHT could be the back up Hooker on the bench who can also cover the backs.
If CHT is on the bench you can’t have both Walker and Jazz.

 

[Ref]

I am thinking. Even if we bring in Capewell, we will bring in a decent prop as well.
Someone to add to the rotation of AFB, Nuikore, Barnett, Harris, Ale and Zion.
We have halves galore and the addition of RTS and emergence of Ali L version 2 strengthens the outside back options. CHT could be the back up Hooker on the bench who can also cover the backs.
If CHT is on the bench you probably can’t have both Walker and Jazz so it’s just Walker.

 

[Juno]

I am thinking. Even if we bring in Capewell, we will bring in a decent prop as well.
Someone to add to the rotation of AFB, Nuikore, Barnett, Harris, Ale and Zion.
We have halves galore and the addition of RTS and emergence of Ali L version 2 strengthens the outside back options. CHT could be the back up Hooker on the bench who can also cover the backs.
If CHT is on the bench you probably can’t have Walker and Jazz.

Would hate to lose Walker. Yes we've used him as a utility but in his predominate role he's valuable. Why would you not consider him as a key player and one of the best at what he does. Doesn't make sense imo

 

[Noitall]

Best front row in the comp?

www.thekennel.net.au

Does Niukore at prop move us up the list?

 

[El Chuckie]

Warriors can only do so much to be fair. We've got some great prospects coming through,, can't fit em all in either.

Too right. And don't underestimate the general lure of Australia. It isn't just sportspeople who go there for job opps. Auckland or Christchurch in July just don't have the same appeal as Sydney, Melbourne, or the Gold Coast.