Recruitment Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2024/2025 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
​

-​	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

 

[WahsUltras]

Depends on who else we need to sign, forwards seem sorted with gun juniors coming through, hookers covered, centres stacked, I wouldn’t sign a wing when RTS can play until upended by younger wings, FB is covered, TMM at 7 and there aren’t any premiere 7 out there, 6 with 2 injury prone players and there is a young established gun kiwi 6 maybe available…. I think we still have extras to upgrade with AFB, SJ and Tohu $, and Jazz if needed even if we shed 1.1-1.2M?

as someone mentioned before, another dylan walker type player would be great, especially with tohu on his last legs

 

[Dannevegas]

does anyone know if Kanu Capper could be a genuine chance to be in the top team next year?

 

[Dannevegas]

Depends on who else we need to sign, forwards seem sorted with gun juniors coming through, hookers covered, centres stacked, I wouldn’t sign a wing when RTS can play until upended by younger wings, FB is covered, TMM at 7 and there aren’t any premiere 7 out there, 6 with 2 injury prone players and there is a young established gun kiwi 6 maybe available…. I think we still have extras to upgrade with AFB, SJ and Tohu $, and Jazz if needed even if we shed 1.1-1.2M?

If this year doesn’t work out in the coming weeks, we should rest sj for the rest of the year and if he’s keen get him 100% for next year. Don’t know what’s happened with him this year probs injury, but we need him to win a premiership. Partner him with Metcalf or CHT, Te Maire back up 7.

Would take Brown to play fullback thou

 

[Noitall]

Naufahu Whyte dropped from rhe 17, sign him now!

If that happened I’d see us as the most intimidating pack in the comp with who we’ve got and who we’ve got coming through

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I like the thought of Dylan Brown in a Warriors jersey. But I can't reconcile the pricetag it would take to get him here.

Well, I hope the wahs have someone in mind. Our nsw & first team halves were average this weekend.

 

[BigUCE]

does anyone know if Kanu Capper could be a genuine chance to be in the top team next year?

I don’t think so. Last I heard he played Harold Matts for the roosters last year before returning to NZ for personal reasons

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I don’t think so. Last I heard he played Harold Matts for the roosters last year before returning to NZ for personal reasons

He returned to NZ as he has signed with us.

 

[Five&Last]

Anyone know how Fukofuka is playing this year in Flegg? Played some Cup last year & given a Development Contract but no appearances in reserve grade this year. Looks to have converted from Hooker to Lock. Is he potentially Walkers replacement in 2026?

I’d guess he’s out of the plans now

Fyi he was given that development contract as part of signing him when he was in high school. He was highly sought after and they signed him to a contract that guaranteed a development deal in the second year.

 

[Five&Last]

does anyone know if Kanu Capper could be a genuine chance to be in the top team next year?

Absolutely not

 

[MrFrankWhite]

2023
1. CNK
2. Marata
3. TMM
4. Walker
5. Metcalf
6. Barnett
7. Webby

I think these new faces kept the team fresh and motivated. They complimented perfectly with SJ, Tohu, AFB and Egan.

20204
1. RTS
2. Capewell
3. CHT

With these additions we lost Curran, Sironen & Volkman. It hasn’t been the same.

2025 - we lose AFB, add JFH

I feel we need to move SJ, Tohu, Jazz, Montoya and Pompey. They need to be replaced with a mix of new recruits who will come with a point to prove. A fresh start.

The problem with extending our current players is they lose that desire to prove a point.

It’s tricky. Getting that recruitment balance right is so important

Pompey is the only bloke from that list id consider keeping, and I'd add RTS to the see ya column

 

[Noitall]

Unbelievable that the broncos are about to debut another big front rower in Va’a Semu at 194cm and 110kg. They surely can’t keep all of them. Looking over at broncos forum yesterday, I was heartened to see a poster say they won’t be able to keep Willison because of Haas’ $1.2 million pay packet. Also interested to see this morning that knights have hit a stumbling block in re signing Leo Thompson with salary cap issues. Apparently teams are watching that space with interest. I could see us being one?

 

[BigUCE]

Unbelievable that the broncos are about to debut another big front rower in Va’a Semu at 194cm and 110kg. They surely can’t keep all of them. Looking over at broncos forum yesterday, I was heartened to see a poster say they won’t be able to keep Willison because of Haas’ $1.2 million pay packet. Also interested to see this morning that knights have hit a stumbling block in re signing Leo Thompson with salary cap issues. Apparently teams are watching that space with interest. I could see us being one?

We will have a massive war chest available with how many off contract players we have at the end of next year. Will be Interesting to see how Webby utilises it

 

[Noitall]

We will have a massive war chest available with how many off contract players we have at the end of next year. Will be Interesting to see how Webby utilises it

I could see halves and front row as two areas of recruitment? Not sure what halves but a front rower like Willison, Whyte or Thompson puts us as on the most feared packs in the comp I reckon

 

[Inruin]

I could see halves and front row as two areas of recruitment? Not sure what halves but a front rower like Willison, Whyte or Thompson puts us as on the most feared packs in the comp I reckon

I think halves is the most pressing but like you say, who is available to sign?

Leo Thompson would be a great addition....

 

[Noitall]

I think halves is the most pressing but like you say, who is available to sign?

Leo Thompson would be a great addition....

It’s been plain to see that Robinson is willing to make big calls and go after the best. Hughes falls into that echelon. To me, he or Dylan Brown are the best out there that fit the Warriors

 

[CWC]

So 2-3 props likely to target but what about our juniors? They'd have to release a couple to get it done and keep homegrown kids, Jazz, Afoa, ?Ford, ?RTS

 

[peewee]

It’s been plain to see that Robinson is willing to make big calls and go after the best. Hughes falls into that echelon. To me, he and Dylan Brown are the best out there that fit the Warriors

To actually be a top team we need the likes of a half combo of those 2.
Other teams do, and it shows every week. Our forwards are doing their job and getting let down by inferior backs.

 

[Noitall]

To actually be a top team we need the likes of a half combo of those 2.
Other teams do, and it shows every week. Our forwards are doing their job and getting let down by inferior backs.

Think our back 5 is great at times and take a lot of pressure off our forwards. When considering halves, there seems to be plenty of teams that are playing with one dominant halve. Brooks started good at manly at five eighth but it’s largely gone back to the DCE show as the years gone on. Hughes at storm, Luai at panthers, Foran at titans and the list goes on. The loss of Reynolds at the broncos has coincided with a big dip in form for them which could highlight how much input the dominant halve has on results? SJ for whatever reason whether that be under injury cloud hasn’t been able to replicate that form from last year into this one. I would be looking to hold onto TMM but the last game highlighted how kicking is an issue with him as the dominant 7. Think he’s definitely a playmaker and either Hughes or Brown could be a good halves partner for him. Brown because of his speed, defence and has a kicking game. SJ’s over dominance in the games he’s played in has been an issue but I think a Hughes/TMM combo could work too. Hughes has had to play alongside another high profile halve up until this year in Munster and they’ve made it work. If I had my choice, we’d be adding another halve to play alongside TMM and keeping him at the club. Would also want SJ to re sign but at a reasonable figure and potentially be back up 7 if he can’t get back to first choice

 

[Beastmode]

We will have a massive war chest available with how many off contract players we have at the end of next year. Will be Interesting to see how Webby utilises it

Have you been speaking to CG?
Not the war chest again...

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Have you been speaking to CG?
Not the war chest again...

In a squad of 30, I would say 14-16 players coming off contract is as "war chest"ey as it gets tbf haha

Barring Taine, Ali, and Te Maire, can't see any of those players being due big pay rises either, that is if they are extended at all