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

 

[Madds]

Richard Agar moved from ther UK to become an Assitant Coach at the Warriors

Plenty of people move from the UK to NZ for less than an assistant coach role. .. Auckland is paradise compared to the north of England.

 

[Five&Last]

Id like to see our replacements before making that call.

Who's next in line after Lussick? Surely not just Roach and CHT - we've hardly seen CHT there and Roache has less than 100 minutes in first grade.

Same as Kosi...if I'm honest I'm worried that Dallin takes up a contract somewhere else in 2026, so really we only have Montoya, RTS and Graham-Taufua on the books who have played fg and would go alright at winger, so I think that's something we probably need to address before dropping Kosi.

Moala Graham-Taufa is already better than Kosi imo. I'd be happy to dump Kosi promote MGT to top 30 as back up winger, then have Sio Kali/Motu Pasikala and 4th and 5th string wingers from the development list.

Kosi's time is up in my opinion. It's painfully obvious he's on the Ken Maumalo pathway if you take into account his age and lack of improvement over the past two years. He still goes well in reserve grade, but the reduced ceiling is not worth the investment any longer.

On Lussick, I'd be happy for him to stick around another year but he's on borrowed time with Jacob Auloa/Makaia Tafua/Kaawyne Patterson coming through.

You're right on Roache, I'd need to see more than a two game sample size to know if he's top 30 worthy. Helluva game against Penrith but hasnt been a standout at NSW cup level.

I'd be fine with Dallin taking a contract elsewhere in 2026 if we can't afford him, 30 year old wingers don't tend to be elite. I think we will need to revamp our wing stocks by then anyway Montoya included. Again we have Sio and Motu coming through who should hopefully be top 30 in 2026 (with almost 1.5 years NSW cup experience under their belt ). Then probably the next crop coming through getting the odd NSW cup reps in 2026 like Siale Pahulu etc.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Moala Graham-Taufa is already better than Kosi imo. I'd be happy to dump Kosi promote MGT to top 30 as back up winger, then have Sio Kali/Motu Pasikala and 4th and 5th string wingers from the development list.

Kosi's time is up in my opinion. It's painfully obvious he's on the Ken Maumalo pathway if you take into account his age and lack of improvement over the past two years. He still goes well in reserve grade, but the reduced ceiling is not worth the investment any longer.

On Lussick, I'd be happy for him to stick around another year but he's on borrowed time with Jacob Auloa/Makaia Tafua/Kaawyne Patterson coming through.

You're right on Roache, I'd need to see more than a two game sample size to know if he's top 30 worthy. Helluva game against Penrith but hasnt been a standout at NSW cup level.

I'd be fine with Dallin taking a contract elsewhere in 2026 if we can't afford him, 30 year old wingers don't tend to be elite. I think we will need to revamp our wing stocks by then anyway Montoya included. Again we have Sio and Motu coming through who should hopefully be top 30 in 2026 (with almost 1.5 years NSW cup experience under their belt ). Then probably the next crop coming through getting the odd NSW cup reps in 2026 like Siale Pahulu etc.

I'd throw some money at Mulitalo for 26 and have RTS on the right wing?

 

[Playdaball]

Auckland is paradise compared to the north of England.

And Auckland has many suburbs that are paradise compared to the West of Sydney.

 

[Damo]

I'd throw some money at Mulitalo for 26 and have RTS on the right wing?

Waste of money, we have plenty of outside back options.

 

[kos]

And Auckland has many suburbs that are paradise compared to the West of Sydney.

Yes true.
But Auckland greater area also has suburbs that are comparable to Western Sydney.
I have lived in both.

 

[SJ2k]

I know it's easier said than done, but I think looking at how well our youngsters have stepped up, we should only be looking to sign an absolute gun. If we can save all our cash and add one absolute gun to this squad, it could put us over the edge. Think we kinda messed it up this year adding RTS and Capewell who are good, but at this stage of their careers not guns. Now we're trying to fit them in, rather than them being an automatic no brainer selection.

JFH is an example of this, but that's a straight swap for the gun we're losing in AFB. We need 1 more, otherwise leave the squad as is and keep extending the best youngsters.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I know it's easier said than done, but I think looking at how well our youngsters have stepped up, we should only be looking to sign an absolute gun. If we can save all our cash and add one absolute gun to this squad, it could put us over the edge. Think we kinda messed it up this year adding RTS and Capewell who are good, but at this stage of their careers not guns. Now we're trying to fit them in, rather than them being an automatic no brainer selection.

JFH is an example of this, but that's a straight swap for the gun we're losing in AFB. We need 1 more, otherwise leave the squad as is and keep extending the best youngsters.

J F Harris
M Barnett
M Niukore
T Ale
B Afoa
Z Zyon Maiu’u

I'd be happy with this going forward but I would try for one of either

X Willison
L Thompson
G Neame
For 2026 and beyond.

X Wilison being my top target! Could be our Tino!

Ale and Zyon Maiu’u just maturing underneath these guys would be epic!

Release Bunty at the end of next sesson.

Mulitalo on the left wing, just to stick it to the sharks! He's a gun and then we develop underneath this guy.

 

[SBW1]

Are there any further updates on what Dylan Brown is doing?

 

[Brightman]

I know it's easier said than done, but I think looking at how well our youngsters have stepped up, we should only be looking to sign an absolute gun. If we can save all our cash and add one absolute gun to this squad, it could put us over the edge. Think we kinda messed it up this year adding RTS and Capewell who are good, but at this stage of their careers not guns. Now we're trying to fit them in, rather than them being an automatic no brainer selection.

JFH is an example of this, but that's a straight swap for the gun we're losing in AFB. We need 1 more, otherwise leave the squad as is and keep extending the best youngsters.

Makes sense to go after Dylan brown..

 

[Dannevegas]

Id like to see our replacements before making that call.

Who's next in line after Lussick? Surely not just Roach and CHT - we've hardly seen CHT there and Roache has less than 100 minutes in first grade.

Same as Kosi...if I'm honest I'm worried that Dallin takes up a contract somewhere else in 2026, so really we only have Montoya, RTS and Graham-Taufua on the books who have played fg and would go alright at winger, so I think that's something we probably need to address before dropping Kosi.

By then Pasikala and Kali will be ready, Kali will be a shot for next year even. I’d also have Setu Tu ranked higher than Kosi

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Makes sense to go after Dylan brown..

How good would it be to have Dyaln Brown!!!!

 

[Damo]

How good would it be to have Dyaln Brown!!!!

I don't think he's a tide riser. Not needed

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I don't think he's a tide riser. Not needed

Who are we kidding! Under webby he could be an absolute weapon!

Would you rather see him here or at the Roosters killing it?

Don't tell me Metcalf is our guy, surely not!

My only reservation with brown is, can he not be a dick?

 

[CWC]

With all these young guns coming through I wouldn't be too worried about the squad, I'd probably spend money on injury prevention programs lol, half the kids last 1 game and retire for the season

 

[Damo]

Who are we kidding! Under webby he could be an absolute weapon!

Would you rather see him here or at the Roosters killing it?

Don't tell me Metcalf is our guy, surely not!

My only reservation with brown is, can he not be a dick?

He's an out and out #6, we need an SJ replacement not a #6.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

He's an out and out #6, we need an SJ replacement not a #6.

But he's also possibly available and we won't get another chance to grab a guy like this for a while. I would cut Metcalf instantly if we got him.

TMM and Brown would go alright for a few season?

 

[Damo]

But he's also possibly available and we won't get another chance to grab a guy like this for a while. I would cut Metcalf instantly if we got him.

TMM and Brown would go alright for a few season?

If only it were that simple, can't just cut blokes willy nilly.

Sure they could go okay, long kicking game will be weak af though.

 

[Playdaball]

Dylan Brown Signing Rumour:

I suppose we all assume that SJ will re-sign next year ? Maybe the proposed signing of Brown relates to ask not being there in 2025?

 

[Brightman]

He's an out and out #6, we need an SJ replacement not a #6.

Haven't you watched the last 2 games..