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

 

[Boston Boy]

How bout swop RTS wit Tofu??Cos he ain’t a centre & most definitely not a wing either right now….
But can b more involved with set up & hands on midfield stuff….
Mofo can dackle so between captain T or RTSlow….who would give us best service????

Coaches need to check themselves…..please!!!!
Jus opinion for debate famz

It sounds crazy, but the RTS big contract over the next few years demands some big exploration. The centre thing isn’t working, he is not fast enough for wing. He has the power, footwork and ball skills to be problem in the middle. It’s just how do we convert him. Can he tackle well enough? Two years of blocking some potential dynamic centres for big dollars isn’t worth it.

 

[Inruin]

It sounds crazy, but the RTS big contract over the next few years demands some big exploration. The centre thing isn’t working, he is not fast enough for wing. He has the power, footwork and ball skills to be problem in the middle. It’s just how do we convert him. Can he tackle well enough? Two years of blocking some potential dynamic centres for big dollars isn’t worth it.

I'm not onboard with the middle thing but completely agree around the contract length and amount, and blocking of our centres coming through.

My feeling is, that regardless of pay packet, we should be picking the best player for the position. At centre I think we have better options, at fullback we have better options and in the forwards we have better options. The wing we could debate - he is probably a consideration there.

I just feel he has been a knee jerk reactionary signing and is too old to be learning new tricks. If he doesn't have a break out game in the next two or three games I don't think he ever will at centre.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I'm not onboard with the middle thing but completely agree around the contract length and amount, and blocking of our centres coming through.

My feeling is, that regardless of pay packet, we should be picking the best player for the position. At centre I think we have better options, at fullback we have better options and in the forwards we have better options. The wing we could debate - he is probably a consideration there.

I just feel he has been a knee jerk reactionary signing and is too old to be learning new tricks. If he doesn't have a break out game in the next two or three games I don't think he ever will at centre.

"we should be picking the best player for the position"

Agree entirely. Remember when RTS had a game at fullback? He was gold. And CNK at 6? Huge effort, defensive strength, backing up, darts through the line...... just sayin

RTS (and plenty of others) had a bad game last week. And while I agree he's not setting the world on fire let's not bin him, and look at the best player for best position a bit more broadly than just him.

 

[Theking267]

Not only is RTS contract a concern but also Kurt Capewell

 

[Inruin]

"we should be picking the best player for the position"

Agree entirely. Remember when RTS had a game at fullback? He was gold. And CNK at 6? Huge effort, defensive strength, backing up, darts through the line...... just sayin

RTS (and plenty of others) had a bad game last week. And while I agree he's not setting the world on fire let's not bin him, and look at the best player for best position a bit more broadly than just him.

This is where the debate will kick in. For me CNK and Tuaupiki provides more at fullback than RTS. CNK had a good game at 6 (small sample size and there were some poor things he did that were glossed over in that game) but I think CHT provides more there.

I think everyone can see he isn't looking overly comfortable at centre and it will be interesting to see how long the experiment continues.

 

[Inruin]

Not only is RTS contract a concern but also Kurt Capewell

Yeah, I'm a little on the fence currently with Capewell. We haven't seen his best yet due to picking up that injury early in the season (game one I think?)

I am worried about what he will be like in year three of his contract with us

He has been picked for Qld Origin so its a bit premature to write him off at a struggling Warriors.

 

[Boston Boy]

I'm not onboard with the middle thing but completely agree around the contract length and amount, and blocking of our centres coming through.

My feeling is, that regardless of pay packet, we should be picking the best player for the position. At centre I think we have better options, at fullback we have better options and in the forwards we have better options. The wing we could debate - he is probably a consideration there.

I just feel he has been a knee jerk reactionary signing and is too old to be learning new tricks. If he doesn't have a break out game in the next two or three games I don't think he ever will at centre.

I can agree with not going middle. A bit of leftfield but highly unlikely. I agree, we don’t need him, we have sufficient centres at a 1/3 - 1/2 the price of his contract.
I love his work rate as a winger but surely he lacks the speed now.
I also think Capewell is a luxury but not worth what we would have spent to get him, especially since we got James Fisher Harris.
Options:
1) Let both RTS and Capewell go.
2) Keep RTS on the wing and let Capewell go and reinvest the money.

Big decisions, I get the experience thing but I feel we are out of balance.

 

[CWC]

Yeah, I'm a little on the fence currently with Capewell. We haven't seen his best yet due to picking up that injury early in the season (game one I think?)

I am worried about what he will be like in year three of his contract with us

Year 3 he'll evolve into Tofu Capewell

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

This is where the debate will kick in. For me CNK and Tuaupiki provides more at fullback than RTS. CNK had a good game at 6 (small sample size and there were some poor things he did that were glossed over in that game) but I think CHT provides more there.

I think everyone can see he isn't looking overly comfortable at centre and it will be interesting to see how long the experiment continues.

1 C N Klokstad
2 D W Zelezniak
3 R Berry
4 A Leiataua
5 R T Sheck
6 C H Tavita / L Metcalf
7 S Johnson / T M Martin
8 A F Blake
9 W Egan
10 M Barnett
11 J Ford
12 M Niukore
13 T Harris

14 D Walker
15 J Tavaga
16 B Afoa
17 K Capewell

This should be the team really.

 

[CWC]

1 C N Klokstad
2 D W Zelezniak
3 R Berry
4 A Leiataua
5 R T Sheck
6 C H Tavita / L Metcalf
7 S Johnson / T M Martin
8 A F Blake
9 W Egan
10 M Barnett
11 J Ford
12 M Niukore
13 T Harris

14 D Walker
15 J Tavaga
16 B Afoa
17 K Capewell

This should be the team really.

Taine weeps

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I just feel he has been a knee jerk reactionary signing and is too old to be learning new tricks.

While this appears to be true, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Everyone was excited at RTS coming back. Everyone thought he would do well at centre.

The ‘to old to learn new tricks’ maybe true, but every fullback seems to be able to thrive at centre when called upon in internationals, SOO, etc.

I think it could possibly be that he’s regressed in his conditioning during his time in union and hasn’t been able to get back up to speed - age, injuries, different game skill sets and physical requirements, etc)

 

[SouthernWorrier]

While this appears to be true, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Everyone was excited at RTS coming back. Everyone thought he would do well at centre.

The ‘to old to learn new tricks’ maybe true, but every fullback seems to be able to thrive at centre when called upon in internationals, SOO, etc.

I think it could possibly be that he’s regressed in his conditioning during his time in union and hasn’t been able to get back up to speed - age, injuries, different game skill sets and physical requirements, etc)

Fair points. Wonder how he'll go after a full season+off season.

 

[Theking267]

I think RTS will be fine. It’s similar to what Valentine Holmes went through when he first came back from the NFL. Learning a new position. I think RTS will have a big season next year

 

[juju]

Catalans Dragons have signed Nick Cotric... so their chase of DWZ for 2025 might be over?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I think RTS will be fine. It’s similar to what Valentine Holmes went through when he first came back from the NFL. Learning a new position. I think RTS will have a big season next year

Difference is, Valentine was only 25/26 when he came back. And super fast already. Rts is now 31 with a suss hammy. I hope he cracks it again! He is one of the good guys of the NRL.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Catalans Dragons have signed Nick Cotric... so their chase of DWZ for 2025 might be over?

Yeah was ruled out a couple weeks back

Super League club rule out move for NRL duo

They both play on the wing.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Makasene]

I'm keen to see Rog getting some good ball.

He looked fire in the trial against Tigers which was a halves pairing of TMM & Metcalf if I am not mistaken.

Berry too seemed to come alive a bit with TMM.

 

[peewee]

I'm keen to see Rog getting some good ball.

He looked fire in the trial against Tigers which was a halves pairing of TMM & Metcalf if I am not mistaken.

Berry too seemed to come alive a bit with TMM.

What does this have to do with recruitment?

 

[Tragic]

What does this have to do with recruitment?

Tell tale tit

 

[Noitall]

Wonder what the hold up is with an offer on the table for SJ? Is he contemplating whether he’ll play on? Did the club revise the $700k offer they put to him?