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

 

[Falcon]

Our next half is right under our nose. Just watched the replay of the nsw cup. Taine tuapiki is a jahrome hughes clone.

Nailed it!
I think alot of punters don’t realised Hughes hasn’t always been a half because he’s so awesome.

 

[Blain]

Dylan Brown is a 6, and does not have a halfback suited game at all. Barely kicks, can't control a team (Asi is in charge at the Eels). He's not what we need, and is contracted.

Realistic targets for 2026 who are legit kicking 7's are Tanah Boyd, Jake Clifford (think he's been re signed), Ilias, Hastings, Pezet, Sexton, Sezer and Trindall. A guy like Boyd or Ilias are realistic targets who we could possibly get for 2025, neither are going to make this forum happy but are both young and need a change in scene, while having the potential to be good NRL level 7's. I think that's legit the best we could get.

TMM, Metcalf and CHT all scream 6. Cleary is fringe Jersey Flegg right now, at best needs 1 year, probably 2 years in NSW cup to be even in the conversation.

 

[Noitall]

Nailed it!
I think alot of punters don’t realised Hughes hasn’t always been a half because he’s so awesome.

Was a fullback previously

 

[Tony Martin]

At 25 next year, when do they start transitioning him? Has only played in the halves for NZa. Could they be transitioning him from fullback? He’s been the onfield kicking option many times this season from fullback

Last night he had 4 try assists with 2 from the boot. On attack he’s the second receiver in the opposition half, so I think the main thing for him would be learning to defend in the line

 

[Playdaball]

Nailed it!
I think alot of punters don’t realised Hughes hasn’t always been a half because he’s so awesome.

I hate to say this but the best career move for TT would be to go to another club. It seems that the Warriors won’t give him an opportunity to play regular 1st grade.

 

[Inruin]

Last night he had 4 try assists with 2 from the boot. On attack he’s the second receiver in the opposition half, so I think the main thing for him would be learning to defend in the line

And that's playing fullback.

Why wouldn't you play TMM 7, LM 6 and TT at 1?

Gives three points of attack. All have speed with LM the stand out there. Provides three try scoring or creating threats. TMM great short kicking game. LM and TT if we need to kick long.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

And that's playing fullback.

Why wouldn't you play TMM 7, LM 6 and TT at 1?

Gives three points of attack. All have speed with LM the stand out there. Provides three try scoring or creating threats. TMM great short kicking game. LM and TT if we need to kick long.

This.
I would put also CNK up against Berry for that centre spot and give one of the wings to RTS.

 

[MM51]

We need a clean out

Rts, Dwz, Montoya, kosi, cnk, Egan, ford, Harris should all be released

1 avg year for Egan and you wanna release him, ok champ. Fans are quick to forget he was arguably one of the best 9s last year

What you’re saying is lets replace our whole back 5 essentially and replace them with who???

 

[Wellington Warrior]

1 avg year for Egan and you wanna release him, ok champ. Fans are quick to forget he was arguably one of the best 9s last year

What you’re saying is lets replace our whole back 5 essentially and replace them with who???

Earlier this season he was being talked about as a possible SOO player… but shit he went badly off the boil after that!!!

 

[Wrighty]

This.
I would put also CNK up against Berry for that centre spot and give one of the wings to RTS.

Something was wrong with CNK this year. Kept on making poor decisions and not executing basic skills.
a) Drop him to reserves to refind his mojo
b) try him at centre
c) Release him
d) Hope the off season does him some good.


I would release him. But I tend to make drastic decisions. RTS or TT to be our fullbacks next year.

 

[kos]

Something was wrong with CNK this year. Kept on making poor decisions and not executing basic skills.
a) Drop him to reserves to refind his mojo
b) try him at centre
c) Release him
d) Hope the off season does him some good.

He was great in the early part of the season
Suspect he s been playing injured most of the year certainly lost pace
I would release him. But I tend to make drastic decisions. RTS or TT to be our fullbacks next year.

 

[Dannevegas]

1 avg year for Egan and you wanna release him, ok champ. Fans are quick to forget he was arguably one of the best 9s last year

What you’re saying is lets replace our whole back 5 essentially and replace them with who???

Ye and ye.

Before last year egans been poor, on top of that he’s too fragile.
everyone played out of their skin last year, but most been average most of their careers. Theirs a reason Bulldogs fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Monty and Dallin, Charnze was dropped by raiders.
I’m not saying theyre shit, just not what we need.

I wouldn’t be changing our whole backline, just the back 3.
Who would I replace them with? Players with speed and X factor

 

[Dannevegas]

To compete next year I would be looking to recruit,

Ilias, Stevenson, Jojo Fifita and Naufahu Whyte

 

[tajhay]

Jojo Fifita

Cant see Jojo leaving Gold Coast unless forced. He might have been born in NZ but all his family and his upbringing has been in GC.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

1 avg year for Egan and you wanna release him, ok champ. Fans are quick to forget he was arguably one of the best 9s last year

What you’re saying is lets replace our whole back 5 essentially and replace them with who???

Yeah no to dropping Egan. But definitely need to get Roache up to speed fast, because if Egan has another year like this year, we wont be making the finals.

100% to replacing the back 5. Another year older and slower for our troops isnt going to make things better. Im moving on Monty and DWZ, shifting CNK and RTS. Then looking at replacing RTS and CNK in 2026.

1. TT
2. MGT
3. Ali
4. CNK
5. RTS

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

I'm sure we will see some further movement within the squad. The bones of the squad is very strong and there certainly some talent coming through.

One thing that is clear that needs building up again is the mental resilience to stay in games.

Get that right anything is possible. Hopefully JFH will be the leader of that shift along with Barnett and Harris.

Hopefully the rest will do Harris good and he can return for possibly one last season.

Given SJ retirement I'm sure someone in the halves is been targeted. Personally, I'm not 100 convinced with LM as long term 6 or 7. The challenge for Warriors there is a lack of quality 6 or 7 available.

 

[Lets Eat (YeahNah)]

Yeah no to dropping Egan. But definitely need to get Roache up to speed fast, because if Egan has another year like this year, we wont be making the finals.

100% to replacing the back 5. Another year older and slower for our troops isnt going to make things better. Im moving on Monty and DWZ, shifting CNK and RTS. Then looking at replacing RTS and CNK in 2026.

1. TT
2. MGT
3. Ali
4. CNK
5. RTS

I like this style
Continue to build a mobile bully forward pack to get us up field

And have speed and X factor in the backs

TT at FB maybe turned into a half

Wings must be pace RTS is not a long term solution but I’m sure we are stuck with him

Centres must offload so Berry, CNK, Ali, Pomps

Halves TMM and Metcalf, I’m voting to bring back volks and maybe a seasoned half to help

Adan Sezer is ok in a BS team and can kick

Tannah Boyd or Ilias if they want to come to NZ these aren’t elite but we had an elite half for a long while

We need IQ and systems

Dummy half Egan and roach

We can get to the red zone easy

Then short kick game and repeat sets

But we need a long range kicker and goal kicker

 

[hornbybrown]

And that's playing fullback.

Why wouldn't you play TMM 7, LM 6 and TT at 1?

Gives three points of attack. All have speed with LM the stand out there. Provides three try scoring or creating threats. TMM great short kicking game. LM and TT if we need to kick long.

I like this, With CNK on Montoya’s wing, RTS, left centre, Ali or Berry Right centre and for lack of a better option DWZ on the right wing

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I’m certain we’ll see a couple of signings similar to Capewell last year where the player is still under contract at a club but has others in front of him or the club want to free up cap space. Going through the squads there’s a decent number of players that I think we should be enquiring about. Would be happy with us signing any of Wilson or Skelton at the Dogs, Simmonsen at the Eels, Laurie at the Panthers, Faalogo at Storm, Pauga at the Roosters or Sami at the Titans. Some of those are very unlikely - hard to see the Storm letting Faalogo go, but def worth a phone call to their respective clubs.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I’m certain we’ll see a couple of signings similar to Capewell last year where the player is still under contract at a club but has others in front of him or the club want to free up cap space. Going through the squads there’s a decent number of players that I think we should be enquiring about. Would be happy with us signing any of Wilson or Skelton at the Dogs, Simmonsen at the Eels, Laurie at the Panthers, Faalogo at Storm, Pauga at the Roosters or Sami at the Titans. Some of those are very unlikely - hard to see the Storm letting Faalogo go, but def worth a phone call to their respective clubs.

Eels are after Wilson. Skelton signed with the tigers. Simonson re signed with the eels. Laurie re signed panthers. Faalogo re signed storm.