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

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Imo it's pretty easy to see where we need to improve.

Last week at the 17 minute mark we had 0 errors or penalties and were up 12-6.
From that 17 minute mark to the 42nd minute we had 5 penalties and 6 errors. In 25 minutes we made 11 errors, gifting them 17 points. Let that sink in.

The week before against the Dragons it was similar - 2 errors in the first 18 minutes and were up 6-0 before giving away 4 penalties, 2 errors and 3 ruck infringements up until the 45th minute with the game essentially over at 22-6.

I think the first person to make an error or give away a dumb penalty in that 2nd 20 min of the first half needs to br dropped the following week. This is where we are killing ourselves and there needs to be accountability

Top 4 teams dont care about penalties.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Top 4 teams dont care about penalties.

We're not a top 4 team, we can't afford such luxuries

Plus of the top 4 the Sharks, Sea Eagles, and Dolphins have conceded less penalties than us, Storm the same amount

 

[Beastmode]

Not bad that Jett kid


View: https://youtube.com/shorts/QX1F3wfjOtg?si=q6mT1ps7wyBkZNHs

 

[SJ2k]

We're not a top 4 team, we can't afford such luxuries

Plus of the top 4 the Sharks, Sea Eagles, and Dolphins have conceded less penalties than us, Storm the same amount

Storm having the same amount of penalties as us summarises the story. They push the rules to the extreme, willing to give away multiple 6 against on the first tackle in a row, as they know the ref will be extremely reluctant to bin or continue penalising. We are just under a microscope. Need to lean into it and just expect to give away a ton of penalties but make sure you're absolutely messing with the other teams momentum. It's clear finishing top 4 did us no favours when it comes to ref calls, we need to adapt.

 

[Ozwarrior]

NRL news: Lewis Dodd of St Helens to join South Sydney Rabbitohs from 2025, contract details | Daily Telegraph​

Struggling South Sydney have been given a much-needed boost with the Rabbitohs set to agree to a shock long-term deal with English halfback Lewis Dodd.
It is understood that Dodd is likely to join the Rabbitohs from next season on a three to four year contract having told his Super League club St Helens of the impending move. This masthead has learnt that South Sydney’s football manager Mark Ellison will fly to England in coming days where a deal is likely to be done. Ellison will travel to the Super League to meet with Dodd and other potential recruits.

The impending decision casts uncertainty surrounding injured South Sydney halfback Lachie Ilias who still has 12 months left on his contract. Current no.7 Dean Hawkins is off-contract at the end of the season.

St Helens star Lewis Dodd will join the Rabbitohs in 2025. Picture: Getty Images
Regardless, the Rabbitohs are trying to make big moves in a bid to reignite a team which sits at the bottom of the premiership ladder. Dodd is expected to partner Cody Walker, who has just one more season left on his deal, in the halves next season.

Dodd is arguably the hottest prospect playing in the Super League and a host of NRL clubs were circling the 22-year-old halfback who was off-contract at the end of the season.

The Dolphins were considered a strong chance to sign Dodd given his relationship with incoming Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf. Woolf coached Dodd at St Helens with the pair combining for premiership success in 2021 against Catalans.

However, his future is shaping up to be with the Rabbitohs despite the uncertainty surrounding who may be the club’s long-term coach as pressure mounts on Jason Demetriou. Dodd kicked an extra time field goal to give St Helens victory against Penrith in 2023 and St Helens again sit on top of the Super League ladder.

Lachlan Ilias still has 12 months left on his deal with the Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images
It would be the first major change at South Sydney who are in a desperate need to rejuvenate their roster in a bid to fast-track their success.

Walker and fellow veteran Damien Cook have 12 months left on their deals. Dodd would be South Sydney’s first signing for next year with veteran prop Tom Burgess heading to the Super League.

The Rabbitohs have a two-year offer out to prop Shaq Mitchell while have re-signed the likes of Jye Gray, Peter Mamouzelos, Ben Lovett and Thomas Fletcher.

Ilias lost his starting start at the Rabbitohs following a round two loss to Brisbane. He suffered a season ending leg injury in NSW Cup after Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick attempted a charge-down gone wrong.

Gareth Widdop and George Williams are two recent English-born halves who have had success in the NRL. Widdop won a premiership with Melbourne before captaining St George Illawarra, while Williams only lasted 32 games at Canberra but played finals in his only full season.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

 

[WA Warrior]

View attachment 6821

He looks very impressive.
Every week he gets better and more physical.

 

[tyrael]

He looks very impressive.
Every week he gets better and more physical.

I would throw some big money at him.

JFH, Zyon Maiu’u, Willison, Barnett. That's a beauty.

 

[Cces]

View attachment 6821

Walters doesn't keep dropping him though. He played career high minutes a fortnight ago & is establishing himself as a regular in the side. He's no reason to ask for an immediate release. Snap him up if he did, but I don't see why he'd currently be unhappy

 

[SJ2k]

Unlikely but him and Zyon Maiu’u would be great foils for JFH. We're going to miss AFB's physical dominance big time. Having some muscle to go along JFH would be perfect.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Storm having the same amount of penalties as us summarises the story. They push the rules to the extreme, willing to give away multiple 6 against on the first tackle in a row, as they know the ref will be extremely reluctant to bin or continue penalising. We are just under a microscope. Need to lean into it and just expect to give away a ton of penalties but make sure you're absolutely messing with the other teams momentum. It's clear finishing top 4 did us no favours when it comes to ref calls, we need to adapt.

Struggling to understand the theory here. So u want a team who by and large play a territory based game and has lost their last 2 games by handing over momentum after good early starts, through poor discipline piggybacking the opposition out of their half and exposing defensive frailties in our red zone to give away more penalties? Giving the opposition even more of an oppertunity to do the same? Sorry man that dont make sense to me.

Also despite some absolute shockers we're the 9th most penalized team so i guess 8 teams who get penalized more have even more reason to feel aggreived. And the 2nd most penalized team is Penrith so by your theory they must feel winning the competition has really done them no favours? Also this odd notion that if we give away more penalties its a sign we're doing well cause we're pushing the boundaries? Well 2 of the top 4 penalized teams atm are the Tigers and the Eels......so i guess thats really working for them?

At the end of the day some teams have the abilty to cope with the penalties they concede, and some dont. Atm we're one of the teams that dont, and we need to be a lot more disciplined in that regard especially with the structured game we play.

 

[SJ2k]

Struggling to understand the theory here. So u want a team who by and large play a territory based game and has lost their last 2 games by handing over momentum after good early starts, through poor discipline piggybacking the opposition out of their half and exposing defensive frailties in our red zone to give away more penalties? Giving the opposition even more of an oppertunity to do the same? Sorry man that dont make sense to me.

Also despite some absolute shockers we're the 9th most penalized team so i guess 8 teams who get penalized more have even more reason to feel aggreived. And the 2nd most penalized team is Penrith so by your theory they must feel winning the competition has really done them no favours? Also this odd notion that if we give away more penalties its a sign we're doing well cause we're pushing the boundaries? Well 2 of the top 4 penalized teams atm are the Tigers and the Eels......so i guess thats really working for them?

At the end of the day some teams have the abilty to cope with the penalties they concede, and some dont. Atm we're one of the teams that dont, and we need to be a lot more disciplined in that regard especially with the structured game we play.

No you're missing the point entirely. Storm get velvet gloves treatment from the NRL yet are almost always near the top of penalties conceded, this is because they push it to the extreme year after year. If the refs were computers, their penalty count would be insane. Instead the refs are people and care about the flow of the game and other factors. They will require more and more reason to give each penalty against a team in a row. Top teams like the storm and penrith lean into this and completely disrupt the opposing team all game long. If they played like we do they wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the penalty count.

If we're going to concede 5 straight penalties in the first half every game over some petty minor shit, then we may as well go ahead and push things a lot harder. We could be twice as disruptive with zero chance we give away twice as many penalties.

Our defense off the back of penalties has been terrible, no excusing that. But the fact is we need to adjust to how much we're getting penalised.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

No you're missing the point entirely.

Well if im missing the point entirely its because im finding things your stating incredibly contradictory making it hard to follow.

Storm get velvet gloves treatment from the NRL yet are almost always near the top of penalties conceded

Well if they were getting velvet glove treatment wouldnt they be one of the lower teams for penalties conceded?

Top teams like the storm and penrith lean into this and completely disrupt the opposing team all game long. If they played like we do they wouldn't be anywhere near the top of the penalty count.

Why do u keep saying Storm are near the top of the penalty count? Their the same as us atm! Sitting 8th equal in a 17 team comp!
In fact the last 10 years the Storm have only been in the top 4 teams for penalties conceded 3 times!!

If we're going to concede 5 straight penalties in the first half every game over some petty minor shit.

Dylan Walker blantantly kicking the ball away in the ruck in front of our posts in which the next set they score to lose us the halftime lead isnt "doubling down"......its just dumb! My ethos is.....stop doing dumb!

Look from what i think your trying to say is something like......if we give away lets say 3 penalties in a row for holding down in a tackle 2 seconds too long.....lets do exactly the same thing on the next play and hold down for even longer 4 seconds cause the refs arent going to penalize us cause they wont blow 4 in a row......something like that?

I dont know man i mean ill concede refs definitely do square ups, but for a structure orientated team who's attack is all based on winning the territory battle......and giving away penalties is what gave our opposition the momentum the last 2 games which we struggled to wrest back.....thats seems like the opposite of what we need to be doing.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Turuva just signed for the tigers

Presumably he wanted to stay in Sydney but his deal is a pretty good one for the Tigers. He's young and best football ahead of him. The sort of outside back the Warriors desperately need - youth and speed.

Club is going to have to take a punt on some raw talent and hope to develop them (Bellamy style), as well as be in the conversation for any off-contract current outside backs on the better side of 25. The club's current outside back stocks are dire.

 

[Five&Last]

Not bad that Jett kid


View: https://youtube.com/shorts/QX1F3wfjOtg?si=q6mT1ps7wyBkZNHs

As far as junior highlights packages go, is that really that impressive?

Half Jack Thompson's plays in the last two weeks alone in our Harold Matthews side look better than that.

And 3 year contract with guaranteed development contract in second year… I’m not convinced

 

[Mr Drag]

Not bad that Jett kid


View: https://youtube.com/shorts/QX1F3wfjOtg?si=q6mT1ps7wyBkZNHs

Not scared to talk, that's one thing we need!

 

[Beastmode]

As far as junior highlights packages go, is that really that impressive?

Half Jack Thompson's plays in the last two weeks alone in our Harold Matthews side look better than that.

And 3 year contract with guaranteed development contract in second year… I’m not convinced

100% recruited on name alone

Glad to see he has a nice pass and abit of size

Makes a lot of sense to step away from his brothers shadow and also the Aussie media…

 

[Noitall]

Souths have given Lachlan Ilias permission to negotiate with other clubs after securing Lewis Dodd

 

[Playdaball]

Albert Vete is on the way back to NZ - signing potential?

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

Albert Vete is on the way back to NZ - signing potential?

Retiring…