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

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Pretty sure Lussick is a great trainer. To be fair to the guy, he's only 23. He doesn't look out of place in first grade, but he hasn't shown enough to a lock in the back up hooker role over Roache IMO. Roache had an injury with terrible timing.

Lussick is well ahead of roache.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Lussick is well ahead of roache.

- Way ahead - is a overeation. Lussick is tough & abrasive. Roaches is everything else. Speed, Better distribution from DH. Can ball play and kick a little, good defender
Most importantly disciplined. If SJ was playing next year you could afford to carry him over Roache. If your halves for "25 are, Lets say -Metcalf & Harris Tavita. And CNK is still the FB. There's going to have to be another organiser/general play link somewhere. Egan can be that, Roache can be that. Lussick can't.

 

[Noitall]

If Tohu is having his last year next year and Thompson is available after that then it's a no brainer on our part.

You never know what could happen? Knights have signed James Schiller and Brad Arthur’s son but can’t announce it because their salary cap is so knackered. Though I did see the Arthur signing during the week. They’ve decided to pay $200k of Saifiti’s contract each year at the dolphins where he’s going. Things could get tight there where they could release Thompson early if he signs elsewhere? They chasing Jonah Pezet hard but considering having a shot at Walker too apparently. Ponga’s contract is going to make life tricky for them

 

[Defence]

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.

He’s got a younger brother coming through too and they reckon he’s gonna be even better.

 

[kos]

He’s got a younger brother coming through too and they reckon he’s gonna be even better.

Did u see the Titans Kiwi players led by Erin Clark give Fox a haka after the game- liked that!

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

- Way ahead - is a overeation. Lussick is tough & abrasive. Roaches is everything else. Speed, Better distribution from DH. Can ball play and kick a little, good defender
Most importantly disciplined. If SJ was playing next year you could afford to carry him over Roache. If your halves for "25 are, Lets say -Metcalf & Harris Tavita. And CNK is still the FB. There's going to have to be another organiser/general play link somewhere. Egan can be that, Roache can be that. Lussick can't.

After watching last weeks cup game, there is no way Roache should be anywhere near the halves! I get DH but not halves.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

After watching last weeks cup game, there is no way Roache should be anywhere near the halves! I get DH but not halves.

I hear you. But he's a better option than Lussick if injures occur.

 

[Boston Boy]

If the article on zero tackle is true. I think there’s a good chance we get Leo Thompson. It seems to indicate he’s a little unsettled at the Knights and is looking for mentoring. - well coming home to be mentored by JFH would be very appealing and I am sure he has had lots of whispers in the ear.

Knights forward weighing up bombshell contract call

He could test the free market from November 1.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Falcon]

I’ve made a few comments on here that he has had an offer on the table for some time from the knights and wondered what the holdup was? I’ve wondered for a while if we’ve identified him as a front rower we’d like to recruit?

Any potential movement to the Warriors I’d expect a condition might be giving his brother a contract too.

 

[Falcon]

After watching last weeks cup game, there is no way Roache should be anywhere near the halves! I get DH but not halves.

I feel sorry for him being asked to play there.

 

[Blain]

Any potential movement to the Warriors I’d expect a condition might be giving his brother a contract too.

He's not Lebron James..

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If the article on zero tackle is true. I think there’s a good chance we get Leo Thompson. It seems to indicate he’s a little unsettled at the Knights and is looking for mentoring. - well coming home to be mentored by JFH would be very appealing and I am sure he has had lots of whispers in the ear.

Knights forward weighing up bombshell contract call

He could test the free market from November 1.

www.zerotackle.com

I'm loving the new recruiting strategy! Kiwis camp will be amazing! Take your pick!

 

[gambler03]

Tanah Boyd and Lachy Ilias would be good gets i reckon, both are 24 and are definitely good enough to start if given a change of scenery. Bit left field, but could Tuaupiki become a 7 like Jahrome Hughes??? Hughes was a backup fullback turned 7.

Overall we need a halfback and TMM is not the answer imo, purely because of his kicking game.

Also Braydon Trindall???

 

[BigUCE]

I would pass on both Tanah Boyd and Lachlan Ilias. Neither scream game managing half to me. Both have struggled for consistent game time in first grade, and have copped their fair share of shit from their respective fans due to their poor performances. The half I would be targeting is Jonah Pezet.

 

[snake77]

If we do look to recruit a half. The main thing we will be offering is an opportunity.

We have an experienced half retiring and the other options have all struggled to get consistent game time. Mainly due to injury, but their form also hasn't stood out as "I am the man to control this side".

If we sign someone I wouldn't be expecting a superstar but there is a chance for someone to come here and train hard during the off-season and take a first-grade spot.

 

[Beastmode]

I would pass on both Tanah Boyd and Lachlan Ilias. Neither scream game managing half to me. Both have struggled for consistent game time in first grade, and have copped their fair share of shit from their respective fans due to their poor performances. The half I would be targeting is Jonah Pezet.

No to Lachlan Ilias?
He’s only 24
25 next year and younger than CHT and Metcalf.

I’d have him as our back up to TMM also

Lussick did him no favors and probably added a few years but he can join Metcalf and TMM in the fractured leg club

 

[Noitall]

Leo Thompson’s announcement must have rocked the knights with Adam Elliot the latest offered to teams. Sounds like Saifiti to dolphins is far from a done deal with the sticking point how much knights will contribute. Think teams smell blood in the water with with him and Brailey on big contracts that they’re trying to shift on

 

[BigUCE]

No to Lachlan Ilias?
He’s only 24
25 next year and younger than CHT and Metcalf.

I’d have him as our back up to TMM also

Lussick did him no favors and probably added a few years but he can join Metcalf and TMM in the fractured leg club

I wouldn’t be against signing him on a short term deal due to our lack of depth, where nothing is guaranteed and he must earn a larger contract (similar to what snake77 mentioned above), but there’s no way he would take under’s to move to NZ.

 

[Defence]

Thompson would be perfect to replace tohu- bonus if we could get him a year early- double bonus if he brings his brother.
I quite like some of the suggestions for the halves- looking at how many aging halves there are I can see a few of the names raised locking down a first grade spot in the next couple of years.
I’ve got a soft spot for big sexy and I feel like ilias has a high ceiling. Not sure they’re a huge upgrade on what we have but agree that we’re gonna have to sign somebody.
We could chase a big name like brown or brimson- they would add some spark but we’d still be short a game manager- wouldn’t say no if either were interested though tbh…
Outside backs looks like it could be the toughest position to fill- I always liked savage but isn’t he under contract? Might have to get a bit creative there- I wouldn’t mind looking at union players- guys like Stevenson and sand dunes would be high risk signings but could also be high reward- it would depend what kinda dollars they’re after…
Could be an interesting off season.

 

[Inruin]

serious question.

What does everyone mean by a game manager for a half?

Is SJ a game manager? Is TMM not a game manager?

Are people expecting a game managing half (whatever that is defined as) to also bring all the other attributes that SJ or TMM have as an example?

I'm not sure whether this game managing thing is as bigger deal as it seems to be made out as. We went pretty good with TMM and CHT in the halves. 5 wins from 8 games, three losses - two in golden point and 1 by 2 points. In the context of our season and the opposition played that was exceptional results. Are either of them considered game managing halves?