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

 

[Ref]

Yep
Illias will have interest from several.
He would like the look of our forwards and can Webby sell him on our up and coming outside backs and development.

 

[Wrighty]

Where do you think he’ll play? And displace?

The lesser thought of centre

 

[Noitall]

The lesser thought of centre

Looking at the positions you put that he’s played in, his best strike rate is on the wing. Tago would be one centre, Jesse or Casey McLean look to be holding the other at present. He could well play in the centres, such is his talent he looks like he’ll excel anywhere in the backline. Just regarding Cole, if Talagi is signed to play at five eighth, he could consider his future? Interestingly is a centre too but hasn’t been played there but Schneider has been played at five eighth since Cleary’s injury and they have a highly rated Trent Toelau holding the bench at present who’s a five eighth or halfback

 

[Makasene]

All this talk of forward enhancements is great but I really don't see any meaningful improvement with our current backline.

Who is the best forward pack in the comp? And if paired with our backline for much of this year, how would that team go?

 

[Beastmode]

All this talk of forward enhancements is great but I really don't see any meaningful improvement with our current backline.

Who is the best forward pack in the comp? And if paired with our backline for much of this year, how would that team go?

It wasn’t long ago everyone was concerned about our pack. Especially Prop. How the tide has turned..
I think solving for backs isn’t that hard and we have some good ones waiting to come up

 

[Noitall]

All this talk of forward enhancements is great but I really don't see any meaningful improvement with our current backline.

Who is the best forward pack in the comp? And if paired with our backline for much of this year, how would that team go?

Who do you see available or realistically a chance to come here that would enhance our backline? Or promote?

 

[Wrighty]

More choices for Half

Ethan Strange
The eels half who played two games Ethan Sanders??
Tannah Boyd - yes really

 

[Wrighty]

I am starting to come around to just signing Volkman and making him our third string

TMM
Metcalf
Volkman
CHT

 

[Makasene]

Who do you see available or realistically a chance to come here that would enhance our backline? Or promote?

Really there is no one you can buy that is a known name - for next year anyway.

They would either need to scour NSW / QLD cup or promote from within. Both of which I don't really see happening.

Unfortunately it looks like we will need to ride out the contracts of DWZ & Monoya.

Really interested to see how CNK goes at centre this week - I think that looks to be the quickest fix in putting Taine at the back and CNK at Centre or they may go with RTS at the back next year

Hopefully Berry too can come back big time next year, defensively he is lightyears ahead of anyone else in our squad.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Really there is no one you can buy that is a known name - for next year anyway.

They would either need to scour NSW / QLD cup or promote from within. Both of which I don't really see happening.

Unfortunately it looks like we will need to ride out the contracts of DWZ & Monoya.

Really interested to see how CNK goes at centre this week - I think that looks to be the quickest fix in putting Taine at the back and CNK at Centre or they may go with RTS at the back next year

Hopefully Berry too can come back big time next year, defensively he is lightyears ahead of anyone else in our squad.

I see moving RTS to one wing as solving 2 problems at once.

 

[Worried2Death]

I am starting to come around to just signing Volkman and making him our third string

TMM
Metcalf
Volkman
CHT

At least he can kick and manage a game at NSW cup level, even if he is made of chocolate, whatever that means.

 

[Wrighty]

At least he can kick and manage a game at NSW cup level, even if he is made of chocolate, whatever that means.

He has kicked 3 Field Goals in 31 NSW cup games. So another reason. Plus he is the devil we know. We know his downsides.

 

[Bay39er]

Yep
Illias will have interest from several.
He would like the look of our forwards and can Webby sell him on our up and coming outside backs and development.

How enamoured is Anasta with the Warriors?

 

[Makasene]

I see moving RTS to one wing as solving 2 problems at once.

It just wouldn't surprise me if they bite the bullet and move RTS to fullback.

He played every position in the back 5 this year. I just don't see them using another season to get him working when you may aswell just put him to FB.

Not saying it's what I want and probably not what we need either but is what it is.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

That’s pretty much the point with my post before…….. there’s nothing out there in regards to backs.

IMO, an elite forward pack is harder to get than an elite backline. (And more important)
An elite halves pair is fucking hard……..

Who’s out there in regards to packs, backlines and halves.
Big 3 clubs
Penrith; elite forward pack, elite halves, really good backline.

Melbourne; best spine in the comp, bar none. Elite forwards and really good backline.
As a combo, I’d argue Hughes and Munster are better than Cleary and Luai.

Roosters; elite forwards, good halves, elite backline.

The some of the rest.
Manly; really good forwards, really good halves and really good backs

Brisbane; elite forwards, good halves and really good backs.

Warriors; really good forwards, ok halves, average backs

Eels, good forwards, elite halves, ok backs

Just imagine Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown with our forwards this years. I think they get our average backs going.

With JFH and potentially Clarke, Saifiti and/or Thompson in there. That’s an even better forward pack.

I’d trust our talent coming through in regards to the backline.
Hell, I wouldn’t mind Illias tbh. I think he can put pressure on TMM and Metcalfe. But part of me selfishly wants at least one kiwi half.

 

[Leon Black]

Our next half doesn't need to be fast with a rts step and be able to kick a ball to the moon. He just needs to be footy smart & be mentally tough/durable for the entire 80 mins and bark at the stragglers all day. Give me a fierce competitor over an athletically gifted player anyday. Metcalf can do the flash stuff for us.

Complete game manager who is the least flashiest of the lot and had an unbelievable IQ, Cooper Cronk.

 

[Inruin]

I see moving RTS to one wing as solving 2 problems at once.

I see him moving to Japanese rugby as solving the biggest problem

 

[Leon Black]

Just a question, regarding Tu and Pasikala. Do these two boys have speed or are they more power sort of wingers?

Club signed Pasikala long term, Tu is NSW Cup level and nothing more. Pasikala not been sighted in Cup since being a late out for Kosi. Hope he is injured cos he’s been pretty damn good and way better than the current starters.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Club signed Pasikala long term, Tu is NSW Cup level and nothing more. Pasikala not been sighted in Cup since being a late out for Kosi. Hope he is injured cos he’s been pretty damn good and way better than the current starters.

I'm pretty certain he's been playing Flegg.

 

[Wrighty]

I'm pretty certain he's been playing Flegg.

Speaking of Flegg - get Tobias into Lock Forward next year in Cup and a few first grade appearances. He will be better than CHT at lock.