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

 

[JaggedJ]

Isn’t Berry the natural successor to CNK?

Such unlimited talent should be used at the back!

I figured he'd just slot into 7 after SJ.

 

[JaggedJ]

Am I the only one who thinks Manu is massively overhyped at fullback? Hes got good work rate, but nowhere near dynamic enough for me at the back. Stymies a lot of sweeping plays out the back and runs for a lot of meters coz he barely ever passes.

That's why he's a no for me. Individual talent is great, but if it stifles or limits other players it doesn't suit us.

Might work for a Sydney club able to stockpile raw talent but not for us.

It would be like paying a premium for one red sock when the rest are black.

 

[Up the guttz]

This is outrageous but should we target Joey Manu and throw CNK on the wing for Montoya?

Legit Question!

Warriors have always been a bargaining chip for his manager. Last contract he took $700k to play centre for Roosters rather than $1m to play fullback for warriors.

 

[Tragic]

While I agree with all you said in the post, that gap between our current props and up and comer’s could be a couple of seasons or more away? Sounds as though Zyon Maiu’u will definitely at a minimum get his debut next year hopefully cementing a role, Sifakula’s obvious size surely has him as a potential front row/second row hybrid. Halasima likely a couple of seasons away, but 100kg at 18 suggests he will perhaps play at 110kg once he’s grown and filled out? TSS seems to progressing nicely too. That leaves our current crop, with AFB leaving at season’s end I think we need a couple of established props while letting the young guys come on. Tevaga definitely looks in good condition and I love the attitude he brings, it’s a true prop intimidation attitude but he’s off contract at the end of the year and he’s a small prop. Bunty and Tom Ale are off contract at the end of 2025, hoping too and am optimistic we start seeing best out of Ale, and Bunty is always a solid defender but hopefully can add something to his arsenal, an offload I feel is within him. With AFB definitely leaving and Tevaga coming off contract, those two could open the door for two experienced props? Interested to see what the year brings in Tevaga, as mentioned I love the attitude but solely as a prop, we might need more size than he offers?

Would you take reuben cotter? Jazz is similar size.

 

[Tragic]

At $1M I am glad we didn't get him. Great centre and fullback cover but not worth that.

 

[sup42]

Joey Manu at fullback is not even as good as CNK, quite similar players, both high running meters, both are not the best ball players in an NRL spine.

I would not have said that a few years ago, but CNK has made gains every season, especially this year with his ball playing, Manu peaked ages ago and while a game winner in his own right, not needed here.

Our fullback cover is deep.

And then if you look at signing him for his better position at Center, you might have gone there had we not signed RTS to play center.

With Berry coming along, ALi in the wings, RTS to play center, it would be nuts to spend large on another Center.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

CNK at FB is non-negotiable for me. He was an integral part of our sweeping edge attack last year with SJ. Webby is clearly behind this because CNK never exhibited these skills as the Raiders FB. RTS can develop into the strike center we are currently missing. The backline is not where we need to be investing our cap space.

 

[Defence]

Would you take reuben cotter? Jazz is similar size.

Hmmm id take him on unders… he wouldn’t really be a great fit for us though- we’d still need a big body to replace afb.

 

[Noitall]

Would you take reuben cotter? Jazz is similar size.

Yeah they are similar players. Cotter averages 111m per game and Jazz 94m this year and similar tackle efficiency. Looking at this year also, Cotter played as many games at lock as prop. Jazz also is a good option at lock but with Tohu and Walker filling that role highly, Jazz’s sole role is prop. He’s good depth at lock though if Tohu goes down.

 

[Makasene]

Am I the only one who thinks Manu is massively overhyped at fullback? Hes got good work rate, but nowhere near dynamic enough for me at the back. Stymies a lot of sweeping plays out the back and runs for a lot of meters coz he barely ever passes.

My thoughts exactly

He's a hungus. Magnificent but a hungus.

Manu and CNK swapping positions for the Kiwis between the World cup and Pacific champs proves it too.

 

[watcher]

CNK is the energizer bunny, his work rate is vital.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

After reading all the comments on Joey Manu, that's a no then

 

[Noitall]

Sharks forum saying BHU in NZ at the moment. Would have family here, but won’t let it stand in the way of a rumour.

 

[Damo]

Sharks forum saying BHU in NZ at the moment. Would have family here, but won’t let it stand in the way of a rumour.

New Zealander visits New Zealand, more news at 6pm.

 

[Noitall]

New Zealander visits New Zealand, more news at 6pm.

Everyone needs to have their phones handy in case he’s spotted with Webster out for a feed.

 

[Noitall]

Sharks forum also speculating sharks are after AFB for 2024 and Toby Rudolf on the table as a player swap. Not sure what would have changed Rudolf attitude after shitting on us a few years?

 

[Damo]

Sharks forum also speculating sharks are after AFB for 2024 and Toby Rudolf on the table as a player swap. Not sure what would have changed Rudolf attitude after shitting on us a few years?

Interesting speculation considering Rudolf just re-signed in late November

 

[Noitall]

Interesting speculation considering Rudolf just re-signed in late November

View: https://www.facebook.com/NRLonNine/videos/bang-the-warriors-leaving-toby-rudolf-with-a-red-nose-/285871039173341/

Not sure that would be a deterrent being a trade scenario? if he’s willing to come over I’m sure they’d be happy to part ways. He could see limited first grade with AFB’s arrival? Could still have some ptsd after Paasi’s shot.

 

[snake77]

The Sharks wanting AFB for 2024 is understandable. A result of the contracting system where you can sign someone before the upcoming season for the following season. The majority of time a club signs someone early they will push to see if they can get the player early if they can fit them in a year early.

We likely did it with Tohu Harris and Niukore. We did for Metcalf which the Sharks refused. You would think it would be easier to get a fringe player released compared to an established first grade and an international.

AFB would be open to it seeing as the reason for his release is to move to Sydney.

My assumption is that we released him for 2025 as it gives us 2024 to find a replacement. A fair compromise for both parties. Now that he has signed for 2025 we would be expecting him to return to Auckland for pre season and see out the season. If we were approached by the Sharks to release him early, this is when we should be putting our foot down that we signed a replacement.

 

[kos]

Sharks forum also speculating sharks are after AFB for 2024 and Toby Rudolf on the table as a player swap. Not sure what would have changed Rudolf attitude after shitting on us a few years?

BS