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

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

He’s beaten out Tedesco to win overall dally m at fullback in the past? Not sure how you can say never has been in top echelon?

Not sure why people rate the Dally M so much. RTS was best player in a shit team so got most of the points. Just look how Nicho Hynes gets so many points when he is at best an average half.

 

[Noitall]

Not sure why people rate the Dally M so much. RTS was best player in a shit team so got most of the points. Just look how Nicho Hynes gets so many points when he is at best an average half.

Looking at Hughes as leader and Ponga and SJ the top 2 last year, they seem fairly close? Though I thought SJ deserved it last year. Hughes clearly best this year and is recognised on dally m points

 

[WA Warrior]

Not sure why people rate the Dally M so much. RTS was best player in a shit team so got most of the points. Just look how Nicho Hynes gets so many points when he is at best an average half.

Have a look at the winners for the last 15 odd years.
Absolute elite players or players that had an exceptional year.
Rog didn’t have an exceptional year when he won he consistently played like that.
Nicho has been elite half when playing for the Sharks previously. This year has been pretty average I agree but he’s an elite half that almost any club would break the bank to sign.

 

[Playdaball]

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.

I hope he stays in RL & not return to RU.

 

[Aman 2.0]

I hope he stays in RL & not return to RU.

100%

He’s just in the wrong team and system.

Would absolutely kill it at FB for the right team.

Our recruitment needs a massive spotlight on it now. He was never a good fit for us.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

He’s beaten out Tedesco to win overall dally m at fullback in the past? Not sure how you can say never has been in top echelon?

He didn’t beat out Teddy, he scored the most Dally M points for his team in a year where we made the 8. He wasn’t close to playing as well as Teddy & a few other fullbacks that season. It’s like saying Wighton played better than Nathan Cleary the season he won Dally M. Pure fiction.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Looking at Hughes as leader and Ponga and SJ the top 2 last year, they seem fairly close? Though I thought SJ deserved it last year. Hughes clearly best this year and is recognised on dally m points

Really so you do not think that Cleary has been one of the best players for the last 4 years but never won it. The award favours the best player in a lower tier team. Never thought SJ or Ponga were the best players in 2023 and Nicho Hynes was not the best player in 2022.

 

[Noitall]

He didn’t beat out Teddy, he scored the most Dally M points for his team in a year where we made the 8. He wasn’t close to playing as well as Teddy & a few other fullbacks that season. It’s like saying Wighton played better than Nathan Cleary the season he won Dally M. Pure fiction.

He also won dally m fullback of the year in 2015 when we didn’t make finals. Overall dally m 2018. Not going to argue with your view as that’s yours, but I don’t agree

 

[MrFrankWhite]

RTS has not played well on the wing since he transitioned to fullback. He is not the answer there.

Hes better than Monty.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Agreed, other than I believe Roger should have first crack next year.
Full preseason at FB, CNK preseason at centre.

I think some people forget this was his first year back to league. Being shuffled around learning new positions again.

Give Rog the first 6 weeks next year, if he’s no good TT to take the jersey.
I just don’t agree that Roger was an average FB when he left, he was one our best players week in week out.

Problem with this is RTS is the past, not the future of the club

 

[Noitall]

Really so you do not think that Cleary has been one of the best players for the last 4 years but never won it. The award favours the best player in a lower tier team. Never thought SJ or Ponga were the best players in 2023 and Nicho Hynes was not the best player in 2022.

Cleary’s biggest performances in the last few years has been in the grand final, why he’s picked up the Clive Churchill medal twice in the past few years along with Dylan Edwards. Sharks finished 2nd in 2022, so that doesn’t support the award favouring a lower tier team

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

He also won dally m fullback of the year in 2015 when we didn’t make finals. Overall dally m 2018. Not going to argue with your view as that’s yours, but I don’t agree

Here’s some stats from 2018 - a season that wasn’t even close to peak Teddy or Turbo:

RTS:
Games 23, Tries 3, Forced Drop Outs 0, Try Assists 8, Line Breaks 13, Tackle Efficiency 62%, Avg Run Metres 178

Teddy:
Games 25, Tries 9, Forced Drop Outs 1, Try Assists 15, Line Breaks 15, Tackle Efficiency 83%, Avg Run Metres 193

Turbo:
Games 22, Tries 9, Forced Drop Outs 7, Try Assists 14, Line Breaks 19, Tackle Efficiency 73%, Avg Run Metres 174.

 

[juju]

Here’s some stats from 2018 - a season that wasn’t even close to peak Teddy or Turbo:

RTS:
Games 23, Tries 3, Forced Drop Outs 0, Try Assists 8, Line Breaks 13, Tackle Efficiency 62%, Avg Run Metres 178

Teddy:
Games 25, Tries 9, Forced Drop Outs 1, Try Assists 15, Line Breaks 15, Tackle Efficiency 83%, Avg Run Metres 193

Turbo:
Games 22, Tries 9, Forced Drop Outs 7, Try Assists 14, Line Breaks 19, Tackle Efficiency 73%, Avg Run Metres 174.

Isn't this by the by

Can any of our fullbacks put up elite full back stats? (no)
Could we sign an elite fullback? (no)
Do we have a junior prospect who may become elite? (no)
Is RTS one of the most decorated fullbacks in the game (yes)

Best path forward would be the three of our players battling it out in preseason for the spot. With Pasikala learning from them.
No positions guaranteed.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Isn't this by the by

Can any of our fullbacks put up elite full back stats? (no)
Could we sign an elite fullback? (no)
Do we have a junior prospect who may become elite? (no)
Is RTS one of the most decorated fullbacks in the game (yes)

Best path forward would be the three of our players battling it out in preseason for the spot. With Pasikala learning from them.
No positions guaranteed.

Is RTS our best fullback option? No.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Isn't this by the by

Can any of our fullbacks put up elite full back stats? (no)
Could we sign an elite fullback? (no)
Do we have a junior prospect who may become elite? (no)
Is RTS one of the most decorated fullbacks in the game (yes)

Best path forward would be the three of our players battling it out in preseason for the spot. With Pasikala learning from them.
No positions guaranteed.

This madness. RTS is 31. Turning 32 next year. He can battle it out for a wing or cup spot.

 

[WA Warrior]

This madness. RTS is 31. Turning 32 next year. He can battle it out for a wing or cup spot.

Same age as Teddy

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Is RTS our best fullback option? No.

Even in a vacuum its debatable. But factor in the future of the team and its obvious. How many amazing seasons can we get out of RTS at FB? Lucky if its 1. What is he going to do, turn up in 2026 at 33 and carve the comp up?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Same age as Teddy

Pity hes not Tedesco then, who had a great year THIS year at 31.

 

[WA Warrior]

Pity hes not Tedesco then

I was joking man lol.
I get the age thing but he is signed to us for the next 2 years if you like or not.
Let’s see what happens, I don’t think 33 years old is a bridge too far for his last season but you could be completely correct.

 

[juju]

This madness. RTS is 31. Turning 32 next year. He can battle it out for a wing or cup spot.

Competition for spots is what's needed in the team.
Consigning a Dally M winner (who is under contract for two more years) to cup or only the wing spot would be the same sort of mistake as Webster saying CNK was fullback full stop.