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

 

[Cces]

I wouldnt sign anyone over 28. 30 year olds we sign dont seem to be serviceable to us by that stage

Stevenson turns 28 in November.
Took Warbrick a season in Cup to adjust to League so I'm not sure if it's worth taking a punt on him. Alaimalo, also 28, got thrown in the deep up at the Tigers this year & hasn't had much impact

 

[Boston Boy]

Stevenson turns 28 in November.
Took Warbrick a season in Cup to adjust to League so I'm not sure if it's worth taking a punt on him. Alaimalo, also 28, got thrown in the deep up at the Tigers this year & hasn't had much impact

Younger and more dynamic would be great.
I kind of feel like a robust physical winger would be good. You need to be very abrasive in league. Those hit ups take a special type of fortitude. Your basically getting hunted by the defence.

 

[Blain]

Signing any Rugby Union player would be a long term solution rather than a quick one, likely 2 pre seasons required and a year of cup. RTS is showing us that in 2024. No point in singing a 28 year old winger in my opinion, unless they were cheap and on a development deal. A Super Rugby level player probably would be cheap if they were in the top 30 NRL squad, but not development contract cheap, which is likely their value for the first season.

Pasikala and Sio Kali look to have great potential, but are not the traditional Warriors winger (Ed Kosi), which is actually nice. Hopefully they continue development and one of them gets a shot next season to take Montoya's wing, he's looking pretty cooked out there in all aspects.

Honestly guys, I can't see us signing any notable players for next season, besides perhaps a Jackson Ford level guy. I'm thinking we'll hold our cash, trust in some of the younger guys for 2025, and look to make a more substantial signing or 2 for 2026.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Stevenson turns 28 in November.
Took Warbrick a season in Cup to adjust to League so I'm not sure if it's worth taking a punt on him. Alaimalo, also 28, got thrown in the deep up at the Tigers this year & hasn't had much impact

Respectfully, comparing Shaun to alaimalo is apples and oranges. Shaun has been one of the form outside backs across super rugby the last 2-3 years, and many pundits are questioning why he’s not in a black jersey.

Alaimalo hasn’t got a super rugby contract anymore, and his tigers contract was essentially a last ditch effort for elite sport in this side of the world.

Shaun is an a far more elite player

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Honestly guys, I can't see us signing any notable players for next season, besides perhaps a Jackson Ford level guy. I'm thinking we'll hold our cash, trust in some of the younger guys for 2025, and look to make a more substantial signing or 2 for 2026.

You cannot hold money over from one year to another. You must spend at least 97.5% of your salary cap.

The Salary Cap

Here are the official guidelines for the NRL salary cap, including frequently asked questions like what players can earn outside the salary cap, how much can clubs spend, third party agreements and more.

www.nrl.com

 

[Kav1]

He and Mitch Barnett’s history might be a roadblock? Would much rather hold onto Jazz if he’s the alternative

So would I but the club doesn't want him. This guy has some rough edges but would give us some mongrel. We seem to have changed Mitch for the better

 

[Blain]

You cannot hold money over from one year to another. You must spend at least 97.5% of your salary cap.

The Salary Cap

Here are the official guidelines for the NRL salary cap, including frequently asked questions like what players can earn outside the salary cap, how much can clubs spend, third party agreements and more.

www.nrl.com

Yes of course - there are also ways of using this money while still having it available in 2026. Easiest one being a mid season signing, or a little bit of front loading, but I think that's a complicated beast, but there are ways around everything in the salary cap rules.

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

I'd be looking at a replacement longer term for Tohu Harris as well. As good as player he is, will we get a full season next year. I'm not so sure.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

We really need to pick up a half from somewhere. With the injury toll we have had this year I would think we would need 4. Not sure who we can get but I have this thought I cannot shake of us playing a Walker/CNK half pairing because the rest are injured.

 

[Matiunz]

On one hand, Shaun Stevenson is a great player. On the other, I'm pretty deflated about the season RTS has had, so not super enthused about signing another player from rugby.

He’d be a solid winger with potential X factor we are lacking
He looked much better in Union than Roger did

 

[Ever Hopeful]

RTS is not a union player, he is a league player who struggled in union for a couple of years. Like Benji before him. He isn't really relevant to a prospective union signing.

 

[hornbybrown]

We really need to pick up a half from somewhere. With the injury toll we have had this year I would think we would need 4. Not sure who we can get but I have this thought I cannot shake of us playing a Walker/CNK half pairing because the rest are injured.

Agreed and on the note of the injury toll. I really hope that that’s a big part of the end of season review.
I’m not one for blaming injuries but it’s no surprise our team looked so disjointed and lacked cohesion. Especially in the backs the continual forced changes really hurt.

So I hope we review the S&C program, the medics, the trainers etc because we really need to not suffer so many injuries. Maybe we were just unlucky but it needs to be looked into

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I'd be looking at a replacement longer term for Tohu Harris as well. As good as player he is, will we get a full season next year. I'm not so sure.

Tom Ale!

 

[OtautahiEast]

have happened to see a couple of NPC games on tv recently - absolutely miserable crowds and very little general interest it seems - surely our recruitment team could find one or two coachable players from these ranks who are sick of slogging it out in a sub-par competition ? Particularly large locks or outside backs...

There's nothing sub par about the NPC it's one of the best local rugby competitions in the world. If it's that's bad why would we even consider getting players from there?
The only thing sub par is the warriors performance from week to week.
There's more entertaining rugby being played in the npc then iv seen from the warriors all year.
Crowds or not I wish we played with the same heart & dedication as some of the npc teams do

 

[Theking267]

I think Shaun Stevenson would give us an aerial threat on the wing which we currently don’t have. It’s especially good to have with the new drop out rules.

 

[jumpman5xl]

I'd be looking at a replacement longer term for Tohu Harris as well. As good as player he is, will we get a full season next year. I'm not so sure.

Hoskins Sotutu quietly

 

[Beastmode]

I think Shaun Stevenson would give us an aerial threat on the wing which we currently don’t have. It’s especially good to have with the new drop out rules.

What’s his tackling like? That’s usually where union players get found out is their lack of technicals in 1:1 defence

 

[Cces]

Hoskins Sotutu quietly

How good would that be.
Unwanted by the ABs for so long now he's almost eligible for both Fiji & England. Lure of a Rugby World Cup will keep him in Union I reckon

 

[Leon Black]

Caleb Clarke would be the best signing. He was spotted at RTS’ milestone game, is a massive Souths fan though.

Knowing out luck we’d end up with the inconsistent AJ Lam.

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

What’s his tackling like? That’s usually where union players get found out is their lack of technicals in 1:1 defence

he cant tackle