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

 

[Noitall]

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Someone2​

Juniors​

Messages2,486

• Today at 1:33 AM
• 
  
• #13,542

Bunty Afoa to Eels






Was off the rumoured signings thread on LU site. Nothing concrete being rumoured signings but there’s often truth to a lot of these once they hit the public eye. Disappointing if true that Bunty wasn’t given a last hurrah at home. Being on the extended bench, could he come into the 17 on game day?

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Someone2​

Juniors​

Messages2,486

• Today at 1:33 AM
• 
  
• #13,542

Bunty Afoa to Eels






Was off the rumoured signings thread on LU site. Nothing concrete being rumoured signings but there’s often truth to a lot of these once they hit the public eye. Disappointing if true that Bunty wasn’t given a last hurrah at home

It is gathering traction

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C-4pdbPTYrJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&ig_rid=85c766a4-db9b-4b7e-b1de-4ad7a92ca388

 

[Noitall]

Interesting to see Simon Mannering at the Warriors training on their instagram page in all Warriors gear and looking apart of directing drills. Is this just a visit for the SJ occasion or is he getting involved?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Interesting to see Simon Mannering at the Warriors training on their instagram page in all Warriors gear and looking apart of directing drills. Is this just a visit for the SJ occasion or is he getting involved?

It would be great if he has had the break he so desperately needed and is now back in love with the game. It has been quite the week for the 'heart and souls' of Warriors folklore. Mannering is second to none for that - I'd love for him to instill it in others via coaching. I'd like to think him and Webby would work well together.

A true one-club man.

 

[Noitall]

It would be great if he has had the break he so desperately needed and is now back in love with the game. It has been quite the week for the 'heart and souls' of Warriors folklore. Mannering is second to none for that - I'd love for him to instill it in others via coaching.

Would have been in his playing time that he played under Webster as an assistant so there could be a fondness there? The way SJ talks, it certainly feels like there could be some sort of role to some extent for him too? Won’t be an assistant coach but perhaps a halves mentor? The club could be looking to lean on some of the club greats?

 

[Leon Black]

TMM might have too much of a limited kicking game? Guess whether it’s Metcalf or whoever at 6, we need to consider TMM’s lack of a kicking game?

We scored more tries off little TMM kicks than all other halves put together. He’s a very intelligent player and Webster just needs to give him some trust.

 

[peewee]

We scored more tries off little TMM kicks than all other halves put together. He’s a very intelligent player and Webster just needs to give him some trust.

Kick the ball 50 metres.........the fullback runs it back 20 metres before the defence catches up
TMM kicks it 40 metres..........the fullback runs it back 10 metres before the defence catches up
What have we lost....... first tackle at same point 30 metres out

 

[Cces]

Eiden Ackland couldn't make our NSW Cup sides best 17 for their Prelim Final last season now gets an NRL gig on the back of a season in Fox where he team doesn't even make the GF just goes to show you've just got to impress the right person at the right time & you get your shot

 

[BigUCE]

Kick the ball 50 metres.........the fullback runs it back 20 metres before the defence catches up
TMM kicks it 40 metres..........the fullback runs it back 10 metres before the defence catches up
What have we lost....... first tackle at same point 30 metres out

There’s no doubting TMM’s short kicking game has been solid, but both him and Metcalf do lack a solid long boot. If we can get back to being one of the fittest teams in the comp who prides ourselves on the defensive end, it shouldn’t be a massive problem, but that’s a big if.

 

[Leon Black]

Eiden Ackland couldn't make our NSW Cup sides best 17 for their Prelim Final last season now gets an NRL gig on the back of a season in Fox where he team doesn't even make the GF just goes to show you've just got to impress the right person at the right time & you get your shot

West Tigers though… they signed a rugby player this season and slotted him into 1st grade after a couple of NSW Cup games. Be hard to oust Luai and Galvin

 

[3rdstriker]

Erin is a great signing. Hes been putting in work for the Tits this season. He also came up through the grades so hopefully has a relationship with the younger guys. Obvious why Jazz didnt get re-signed and hopefully a sign of Webby and HQ becoming more hard nosed.

Hes is not a 13 though.

Tohu be next in your opinion?

 

[3rdstriker]

Some people recognise what he has done and what can bring and can do
I hope he kills it at the Eels.

Will they develop his passing and sidestep game?

 

[kos]

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Someone2​

Juniors​

Messages2,486

• Today at 1:33 AM
• 
  
• #13,542

Bunty Afoa to Eels






Was off the rumoured signings thread on LU site. Nothing concrete being rumoured signings but there’s often truth to a lot of these once they hit the public eye. Disappointing if true that Bunty wasn’t given a last hurrah at home. Being on the extended bench, could he come into the 17 on game day?

 

[kos]

Will they develop his passing and sidestep game?

He s got a passing game
Just these guys gotta play the way the coach instructs him
And he s gotta kiwi sidestep- you know what I mean

 

[Stalefish540]

There’s no doubting TMM’s short kicking game has been solid, but both him and Metcalf do lack a solid long boot. If we can get back to being one of the fittest teams in the comp who prides ourselves on the defensive end, it shouldn’t be a massive problem, but that’s a big if.

TMM/Metcalf is fine for the time being as we are no chance of being in a window in the short term.

But if you want to be up the pointy end, at least one of your halves has to have an elite kicking game with a sizeable boot for getting you out of trouble.

 

[Tonbridge(aka Swanley)]

View attachment 8539

Careful, bushes soon be on fire with his phone running hot...

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Tohu be next in your opinion?

Im struggling to see value in the big man. If he runs out in 2023 form, sure back to starting 13. But he's never been an impact guy, so I cant see him off the bench.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Im struggling to see value in the big man. If he runs out in 2023 form, sure back to starting 13. But he's never been an impact guy, so I cant see him off the bench.

I see him as a middle now, he’s too slow for the modern lock. His leadership is still invaluable, and he was putting up decent numbers prior to the injuries he was plagued with. He’s a 50 min middle now, just has to accept it. Like a Jesse Bromwich, JWH etc

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I see him as a middle now, he’s too slow for the modern lock. His leadership is still invaluable, and he was putting up decent numbers prior to the injuries he was plagued with. He’s a 50 min middle now, just has to accept it. Like a Jesse Bromwich, JWH etc

The issue I have with that is we seriously lack mobility. Ford is the only guy with any lateral ability whatsoever. Marata is poor, Barnett doesnt have any, Tohu has even less.

 

[3rdstriker]

Im struggling to see value in the big man. If he runs out in 2023 form, sure back to starting 13. But he's never been an impact guy, so I cant see him off the bench.

Yeah mate I'm starting to come round to your point now.
Start the rebuild after the big clean out.