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]

https://www.zerotackle.com/three-clubs-interested-in-ex-origin-forward-207006/

Warriors interested in Francis Molo

To do what?

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Sanele Aukusitino isn't listed alongside the other development players amongst the NRL player profiles but Sio Kali is. Aukusitino has been removed from the NRL contract list too.
Anyone got an insight? I messaged the club but no reply.

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

Come to think of it, he wasn't in the trials or last weekends Cup game was he? Doesn't have a photo in the Warriors headshots on Photosport like the other dev guys either

Must have been quietly cut? He was definitely in the dev list when it was updated on nrl.com this season/when I updated the pinned post

 

[Tookey 2.0]

https://www.zerotackle.com/three-clubs-interested-in-ex-origin-forward-207006/

Warriors interested in Francis Molo

As long as the price and length of contract is right I wouldnt be baulking at this signing...

6.0ft, 112kg, over 120 games and experienced Origin.
Has averaged over 100m the last 3 years when playing over 30 minutes, has minimal errors and penalties (less than one a game combined) and minimal missed tackles.

On paper, waaaay better then the BHU signing, and likely will be on less than what we offered BHU.

Has played in a shit team for the last few years too, so hard to look very good in that rabble.
Can't really see a problem with this if it's around the 600k mark (half of what we're paying AFB)

 

[chrisnz]

All the molo hate cracks me up the forum nearly had a meltdown with all the users including myself when we signed dwz a while back and look how that turned out Montoya another pleasant surprise. Nobody predicted papa's rise at para and I think majority of us expected katoa to be doing better at the storm moral of the story guys a professional athlete who was talented at a young age and managed to navigate through a highly competitive system to get to where he is now and under a new coach and system in a new country guy could be anything.

 

[John Nick]

All the molo hate cracks me up the forum nearly had a meltdown with all the users including myself when we signed dwz a while back and look how that turned out Montoya another pleasant surprise. Nobody predicted papa's rise at para and I think majority of us expected katoa to be doing better at the storm moral of the story guys a professional athlete who was talented at a young age and managed to navigate through a highly competitive system to get to where he is now and under a new coach and system in a new country guy could be anything.

You just have to look at SJ coming back into our system and country.
We should be getting behind our guys.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

All the molo hate cracks me up the forum nearly had a meltdown with all the users including myself when we signed dwz a while back and look how that turned out Montoya another pleasant surprise. Nobody predicted papa's rise at para and I think majority of us expected katoa to be doing better at the storm moral of the story guys a professional athlete who was talented at a young age and managed to navigate through a highly competitive system to get to where he is now and under a new coach and system in a new country guy could be anything.

More importantly, what kind of person is he, what drives him? Just no dickheads! He's a decent player no doubt.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

More importantly, what kind of person is he, what drives him? Just no dickheads! He's a decent player no doubt.

Does a recent conviction for domestic abuse count, or are you just interested in playing ability + personal growth in a positive environment?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Does a recent conviction for domestic abuse count, or are you just interested in playing ability + personal growth in a positive environment?

Dylan Walker!

Just the playing ability, everyone gets another chance.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Dylan Walker!

and Addin. We have collected a few. Lodge didn't work out too well

 

[The Warrior Waka]

All the molo hate cracks me up the forum nearly had a meltdown with all the users including myself when we signed dwz a while back and look how that turned out Montoya another pleasant surprise. Nobody predicted papa's rise at para and I think majority of us expected katoa to be doing better at the storm moral of the story guys a professional athlete who was talented at a young age and managed to navigate through a highly competitive system to get to where he is now and under a new coach and system in a new country guy could be anything.

I only have one problem with this speculative signing. Why do we have to sign Kevin Hart sized props??? Tevaga , Ale, Bunty , Barney & even our biggest alpha Blake isn't that tall. Now Molo? Are we trying to set a record for having props who can't go on a roller coaster ride?

Now i wouldn't cry if we did sign him. But please, Give us a Utoikamanu, Asofa Solomona, Willison type giant. Break up the midgets brigade.

 

[CWC]

We need high heel boots for our props

 

[John Nick]

Utoikamanu

He would be awesome

 

[Wrighty]

Molo is 29 and turns 30 in September.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Molo is 29 and turns 30 in September.

Nothing to worry about imo

A 2 year deal would mean he would essentially complete 2 year with us before he gets to his 32nd birthday (or late in to the season as it usually finishes mid Sep).

Then our boys Zyon Maiu’u, Laban, Halasema, Sifakula and co should be ready to go

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I only have one problem with this speculative signing. Why do we have to sign Kevin Hart sized props??? Tevaga , Ale, Bunty , Barney & even our biggest alpha Blake isn't that tall. Now Molo? Are we trying to set a record for having props who can't go on a roller coaster ride?

Now i wouldn't cry if we did sign him. But please, Give us a Utoikamanu, Asofa Solomona, Willison type giant. Break up the midgets brigade.

Fake news!

Utoikamanu - 191cm, 115kg

AFB - 189cm, 118kg
Barnett - 187cm, 104kg
Tohu - 195cm, 112kg
Ale - 184cm, 109kg
Bunty - 188cm, 113kg
Zyon Maiu’u - 183cm, 106kg
Tevaga - 178cm, 98kg

Aside from Jazz, Ale and Zyon Maiu’u could bulk up another 5kg or so but I wouldn't say we were a team that struggles size wise.

Can't believe Bunty is so big and heavy yet gets stopped in his tracks when he runs in to a defender tho, what's the old saying about Tarzan and Jane again

 

[Wrighty]

but, as shown by the Panthers, bigger isn't necessarily better

I think and conjecture there are elements in the mixer with penrith that make it more possible for a mid sized prop to put up elite numbers. Don't press me on this point as I probably can't back it up. Hence my word conjecture.

 

[BabylonPink]

I think and conjecture there are elements in the mixer with penrith that make it more possible for a mid sized prop to put up elite numbers. Don't press me on this point as I probably can't back it up. Hence my word conjecture.

James Graham was talking about our pack.
Its all about different roles and shapes and styles.

Barnett - the worker great aggressive D
Egan- craft and guile
AfB - elite prop offers everything really
Ford - yardage and line runner
Capewell - cleans up kick pressure + chase
tohu and Dylan play link and provide threat with footwork and pass

There's room for a NaS or a marata or a bmm even a Curran to play 30 off the bench

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Fake news!

Utoikamanu - 191cm, 115kg

AFB - 189cm, 118kg
Barnett - 187cm, 104kg
Tohu - 195cm, 112kg
Ale - 184cm, 109kg
Bunty - 188cm, 113kg
Zyon Maiu’u - 183cm, 106kg
Tevaga - 178cm, 98kg

Aside from Jazz, Ale and Zyon Maiu’u could bulk up another 5kg or so but I wouldn't say we were a team that struggles size wise.

Can't believe Bunty is so big and heavy yet gets stopped in his tracks when he runs in to a defender tho, what's the old saying about Tarzan and Jane again

Addin isn't 187 Bunty isn't 188! Ale is 6 foot? More like 5ft 10. The old Wikipedia WWF measuring system to make them look taller lol

Nas - 200cm - 115kg(BS too. Is more like 130kg)
Willison 199 1114kg.
Payne Haas - 194 119kg
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 196 112 kg

Tohu is a fill in Prop. Granted , he is better than most our props bar Addin in that position.

Being a shorter, Lighter prop is hard when you're up against men twice the size with similar abilities.

Unless you're James Fisher Harris or Moses Leota. Bunty & Ale aren't even close to them.

We get beat up & worn out by opposing monsters. We have no size off the bench to match. Once our monster comes off, on jogs Bunty , Ale or Jazz. Doesn't scream scary lol.

A balance is needed. Even one big boy off the bench to try & keep the momentum Addin creates. The rest can be workers.

 

[Cces]

AFB - 189cm, 118kg
Barnett - 187cm, 104kg
Tohu - 195cm, 112kg
Ale - 184cm, 109kg
Bunty - 188cm, 113kg
Zyon Maiu’u - 183cm, 106kg
Tevaga - 178cm, 98kg

RCG - 190cm, 115kg
Paulo - 188cm, 123kg
Greig - 192cm, 124kg
Ofahengaue - 190cm, 113kg
Ogden - 192cm, 106kg
Matterson - 194cm, 107kg
Momoisea - 193cm, 109kg
Hopgood - 185cm, 102kg

Add Lane at 198cm & Cartwright 193cm that's some serious height at the Eels!

I know Greig recently re-signed but he's too good not to be playing regularly in the NRL so I haven't given up hope we snare him one day

 

[Tragic]

I'd be very happy with
6.TMM
7.Metcalf

Or vice versa if SJ wins the premiership and rides off into the sunset...

Fuck me, if we win the premiership they can go

6. Cameron George
7. Mohawk

And I will still be happy