Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
​
-​
Player​
2024​
2025​
2026​
2027​
2028​
1Bunty Afoa✔✔
2Tom Ale✔✔
3Mitchell Barnett✔✔
4The Greatest of All-Time✔✔✔
5Kurt Capewell✔✔✔
6Wayde Egan✔✔
7Addin Fonua-Blake✔
8Jackson Ford✔✔
9Tohu Harris✔✔
10Chanel Harris-Tavita✔✔M
11Shaun Johnson✔
12Edward Kosi✔✔
13Jacob Laban✔✔✔
14Ali Leiataua✔✔
15Freddy Lussick✔✔✔
16Zyon Maiu’u✔✔✔
17Te Maire Martin✔✔
18Luke Metcalf✔✔✔
19Marcelo Montoya✔✔
20Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad✔✔
21Marata Niukore✔✔✔
22Adam Pompey✔✔
23Demitric Sifakula✔✔T
24Jazz Tevaga✔
25Taine Tuaupiki✔✔
26Roger Tuivasa-Sheck✔✔✔
27Dylan Walker✔✔
28Dallin Watene-Zelezniak✔✔
D1Ben FarrD
D2Etuane FukofukaD
D3Leka HalasimaDD✔
D4Patrick MoimoiD
D5Tanner Stowers-SmithD
-James Fisher-Harris-✔✔✔✔
key: T = Team option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract

Confirmed Top 30 2024: 28/30
Confirmed Development 2024: 5/6

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 26/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 1/6

2025 Gains: James Fisher-Harris (Panthers), Jett Cleary (Panthers)
2025 Losses: Addin Fonua-Blake (Sharks)
2025 Off Contract: Shaun Johnson, Jazz Tevaga
 
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Ozwarrior said:

NRL market watch: Penrith Panthers rocked as James Fisher-Harris quits club to join New Zealand Warriors​

The Panthers’ rivalry with the Tigers has taken a turn, with a Wests star emerging as the top candidate to replace James Fisher-Harris following his shock decision to join the Warriors.
Michael CarayannisMichael Carayannis
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@mcarayannis

5 min read
April 17, 2024 - 5:12PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

55 comments


FOXSPORTS00:47

Another week on the sidelines for Nathan Cleary​



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NRL: Panthers coach Ivan Cleary says star playmaker Nathan Cleary won't be available for this weekend's clash with the Wests Tigers.

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Penrith are preparing to reignite their rivalry with the Wests Tigers as Stefano Utoikamanu emerges as their top candidate to replace James Fisher-Harris following his shock decision to quit Penrith to join the New Zealand Warriors on a four-year deal.
In a major coup for the Warriors, the Panthers have agreed to release Fisher-Harris from the final two years of his contract on compassionate grounds.
It will be a significant blow for Penrith, who will lose both Fisher-Harris and Wests Tigers-bound five-eighth Jarome Luai at season’s end.
However, the Panthers are preparing to shake up the player market with their interest of Tigers prop Utoikamanu.
James Fisher-Harris (L) signed a four-year deal with the Warriors. Picture: Jonathan Ng

James Fisher-Harris (L) signed a four-year deal with the Warriors. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Former Tigers mentor turned Blues coach Michael Maguire could hold the fate of Utoikamanu in his hands, given the unique clause in the boom front-rower’s contract.
If the Tigers make the top eight, or Utoikamanu plays two Origin matches in this year’s series, it will trigger an automatic contract extension and he will remain at the Tigers for 2025. Otherwise, he will become a marquee free agent which will prompt a bidding war for the 23-year-old’s services.
St George Illawarra, Canterbury and potentially Manly would be the teams keen to sign Utoikamanu, should he become available. Even if a contract clause is triggered that extends his stay at the Tigers for a further 12 months, from November 1 Utoikamanu will be free to talk to rivals about joining them for the 2026 season.
However, Penrith’s could now blow the market wide open with the NRL’s best club on the lookout for an elite middle forward.
Stefano Utoikamanu’s future is complex. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Stefano Utoikamanu’s future is complex. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
It’s understood Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona could also emerge on their radar.
The Tigers and the Panthers already have a bitter past given the way coach Ivan Cleary defected to Penrith, and Luai’s joining the Tigers from next year.
Fisher-Harris, 28, asked for a release earlier this week, and a deal with the Warriors, which will average out to about $1 million a season over the four years, was done within days.
It will free up around $950,000 a season in salary cap space for Penrith, which may allow them some wiggle room to improve any potential offer to off-contract winger Sunia Turuva, who has been heavily courted by St George Illawarra.

“Fish has been exceptional for the Panthers, both on and off the field,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said.
“The leadership and cultural impact he has displayed since coming into first grade has been outstanding. He’s evolved into one of the game’s elite players, and coaching him has been a pleasure.
“While we would have loved him to stay at the Panthers, we wish him, his partner Natalie, and children Tahira and Deon all the best for their next chapter.”
The Panthers front-row stocks have taken a hit in recent seasons with Spencer Leniu and now Fisher-Harris leaving the club. Moses Leota is contracted until the end of 2027 while rising star Lindsay Smith and Blayney Bears junior Liam Henry are locked in at the club until the end of 2026.
Andrew Webster will reunite with Fisher-Harris. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Andrew Webster will reunite with Fisher-Harris. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Fisher-Harris will reunite with Andrew Webster, who spent two seasons at the Panthers as an assistant coach before taking the Warriors’ top job last year, while New Zealand Test coach Stacey Jones is also on the Warriors’ staff.
Fisher-Harris replaces Cronulla-bound Addin Fonua-Blake, who cut short at his time at New Zealand for his own personal reasons.
Webster said Fisher-Harris was a marquee signing.
“It’s going to be fantastic having James with us,” Webster said. “He’s one of the game’s elite players, a super tough forward who sets and demands the highest standards.
“I loved working with him at the Panthers and we really look forward to bringing him into our system from next season. He’ll add terrific value to our roster, to the club overall and he’ll also be invaluable as a mentor for our young players coming through.”
Alongside Fonua-Blake, Fisher-Harris is largely considered the best prop in the game. Warriors boss Cameron George described it as one of the biggest signings in the club’s history.
“To be able to add a player of his calibre and standing to our squad is a tremendous boost for 2025 and beyond,” George said. “He’s such a highly-respected player and leader.”
The Kohukohu-born Fisher-Harris has played 183 top-grade games and was named Kiwis skipper last year, leading New Zealand to their Pacific Championship win against Australia.
WHY TIGERS PROP HAS BECOME NRL’S HOTTEST TOPIC
—Pamela Whaley
Penrith’s interest in Stefano Utoikamanu comes as no surprise to Wests Tigers teammate David Klemmer after the young prop became a target replacement for Warriors-bound James Fisher-Harris.
The 23-year-old Tigers gun and his unique contract clauses have suddenly become the hottest topic on the NRL market after premiership star Fisher-Harris was released from the remainder of his deal with the Panthers.
Attention quickly turned to Utoikamanu on Wednesday, who has a get-out clause in his contract if the Tigers fail to make the top eight this season, unless he plays two Origin games for NSW.
Penrith’s interest in Stefano Utoikamanu comes as no surprise to Wests Tigers teammates. Picture: Getty Images

Penrith’s interest in Stefano Utoikamanu comes as no surprise to Wests Tigers teammates. Picture: Getty Images
“(Other clubs) have to look at him. He’s a good footy player but he’s a good person as well. He’s the kind of person you want around footy clubs,” Klemmer said ahead of Saturday’s well-timed clash with the Panthers in Bathurst.
“There’s no s**t about him. He loves coming in, training hard, looking after himself physically and being a professional. He’s a good role model for guys around here too.
“He’s come into this season with a great mentality, he’s trained really hard in the pre-season and he’s reaping the benefits in this footy. He’s really stepped up this year.
“He’s got a fire in his belly and he’s a big part of this group and a big part of this club moving forward.”
Utoikamanu has long been considered a player of huge potential, but in his fourth season at the Tigers he’s showing it consistently.
He’s amassed 24 tackle breaks and 112 metres per game in five appearances so far this season.
Based on his form, Origin selection is likely this season after playing just one game for the Blues in 2023 and then overlooked for a Blues camp earlier this year.

​

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So according to Carayannis the deal is close to a mill per season.
 
Not sure if posted but great read

It took just 72-hours for James Fisher-Harris to become a Warrior.
The hit-and-run mission to land one of the game’s best props started late on Sunday night when Fisher-Harris’ camp reached out to the Warriors.

While Fisher-Harris had been thinking about the move for some time, it only came to fruition in recent days.

There had been brief conversations with Warriors coaches Andrew Webster and Stacey Jones.

Jones, who is also the new Kiwis coach, shares a particularly close relationship with Fisher-Harris, the New Zealand skipper.

Fisher-Harris also returned to New Zealand for the funeral of his grandfather, which coincided with a shoulder injury earlier this year.

But the likelihood of Fisher-Harris wearing a Warriors jersey did not eventuate until late on Sunday when Warriors boss Cameron George’s phone rang.

James Fisher-Harris will trade Panthers colours for Warriors from 2025. Picture: NRL Photos

James Fisher-Harris will trade Panthers colours for Warriors from 2025. Picture: NRL Photos
Despite the natural surprise, the Panthers treated Fisher-Harris with the respect he deserves.

It is a relationship developed between the player and club which sets Penrith apart from the rest of the NRL.

There was no negotiation, no wrangling the Warriors for a transfer fee, or for a player swap. Just a clean-cut break as a mark of admiration for a player who has helped the side win three straight premierships.

George jumped on a plane and met with Fisher-Harris for the first time on Wednesday morning. By Wednesday night he was back in Auckland having completed the cloak-and-dagger mission with success.

Fisher-Harris’ messaging was clear.

James Fisher-Harris leads the haka for New Zealand. Picture: NRL Photos

James Fisher-Harris leads the haka for New Zealand. Picture: NRL Photos
He wanted to go home and he wanted to represent New Zealand. It has sparked thoughts that the signing could ignite a tidal wave of emotion for the Warriors in having true home grown products represent the club – similar to the impact of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita’s red wave of Tonga at the international level.

There was some luck for the Warriors too. When they too did the right thing by allowing Addin Fonua-Blake to quit the club at the end of this season on compassionate grounds, they drew up a potential wish list of those they thought were at the equivalent level to their outgoing prop.

Fisher-Harris will replace Addin Fonua-Blake at the Warriors as he departs for the Sharks. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Fisher-Harris will replace Addin Fonua-Blake at the Warriors as he departs for the Sharks. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Fisher-Harris sat on top of that list but that seemed too far fetched at the time.

Instead they made a big-money offer for Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele, who stunned the Warriors by rejecting a four-year deal worth about $700,000 a season to ink for a lesser price for two seasons at Cronulla.

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Three-time premiership Panther quits club for NRL rival
Had Hamlin-Uele committed to New Zealand, the pursuit of Fisher-Harris would have been too complicated to complete. Or at the very least forced the club to squeeze a player out.

Privately, the Warriors are labelling the signature as one of the biggest in the club’s history. Equivalent, if not bigger than landing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in his prime from the Roosters in 2016. Steve Price, Tohu Harris and Ruben Wiki were also crucial signings for the Warriors but Fisher-Harris is arguably the best yet.

And the Warriors hope he could bring with him more talent on the field and continue to make inroads into a once rugby union dominated market off it.
 
Warrior#214 said:
Ok is the whole question about big nasty NAS making his way back to the land of the long bright clouds still a ridiculous one?
Big NAS you know my name!
What a one two punch - JFH ‘ n ‘ NAS.
Probably can’t afford him but I’ll keep dreaming 😂
Click to expand...

Hard to dismiss anything after today, but I would say no just because the Storm being the Storm probably don't do anything on compassionate grounds.
 
There was talk in the team list thread that Kalani Going is on a specific NSW Cup deal to mentor etc.

I would like the club to offer that to Jazz next year.

He has got injured at the very worst time, he would be aware he was playing for his contract over the next couple of months.

I suspect JFH signing will push Jazz out. But, there would be no one better than him to play NSW Cup in a mentorship role
 
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