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

 

[Pop Dukez]

Speechless…..this is gutting news. Wow

 

[Kiwi In Tasmania]

JT is on the market. WIth AFB's money, plus Cowboys freight, we could we get him at prop and get another mid-range prop as well with

100% get JT on a discount and find that extra forward we need. I hope we don't see more Tohu at prop as we need him at 13.

This sucks!
I did notice his partners post on insta and thought it was an odd comment made.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Peace out homey. Anyone know if he's going to Pemriff? Or where? Suck buzz to lose him but ok let's get serious about whose going to be next. I've got no idea but this is why the pathways are in place.

 

[Up the guttz]

I wouldn’t mind

Stefano Utoikamanu​

As a replacement

 

[Since95]

So what Dragons table a massive offer?

Fair he wants to go there he started there?

WTF? I mean can we get 3 for 1 and kick back?

This could open the door to a merry go round. I would see who else joins the fold.

Warriors got him under contract we are the drivers seat here. How after the year he had did we not extend him before international season?

CG, McFadden the hour has come, time to prove your worth and do the deal of the centruy.

 

[Dippa]

Everything just points to the Dogs getting him. Their situation, Gus connection to Warriors, grabbing Curren recently - they are desperate for a Prop. It will happen no doubt.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I wouldn’t mind

Stefano Utoikamanu​

As a replacement

Tigers probably might do it to get AFB. All the Sydney clubs are likely drooling now. Would not be surprised if the Roosters "find" the money to get AFB.

 

[sballer7]

I cant see how we would just release him. Having 1m+ in the cap available and not being able to spend it would be the worst case scenario.

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Tigers probably might do it to get AFB. All the Sydney clubs are likely drooling now. Would not be surprised if the Roosters "find" the money to get AFB.

Terrell May going the other way?

 

[Noitall]

His mother isnt well. I'd say he's as good as gone based on that alone. He's already one of the best paid players and thats for any position so I dont think its a question of money. Gutted to say the least...

Fair enough then. Always thought it would bode well long term for our recruitment being how accommodating we are in releasing players to head home. Very little cancellation but sometimes these things happen with family back over across the ditch. Devastating for what was building but all confidence in Webster.

 

[Pop Dukez]

His mother isnt well. I'd say he's as good as gone based on that alone. He's already one of the best paid players and thats for any position so I dont think its a question of money. Gutted to say the least...

That I can accept and it takes the edge off the bombshell…..family first always but man I’m a very selfish Warriors diehard and I’m gutted. Mum over money any day…..best of luck AFB and your Ma, absolutely loved what you did for us….no hard feelings

 

[Up the guttz]

Let’s get Jessie Royal back from the mines

 

[Worried2Death]

Driving home from work and heard the news, had to pull over to Waaaaah

Hope Mitch Barnett is sending an urgent SOS to his Saifiti brothers, let's get the triplets back together.

 

[Bippidydoodah]

I have decided to view this as an opportunity to rebalance our squad a bit, could we get Leo Thompson? He's be good value and we'd still have good money left for another decent front rower

 

[snake77]

His mother isnt well. I'd say he's as good as gone based on that alone. He's already one of the best paid players and thats for any position so I dont think its a question of money. Gutted to say the least...

I can understand the emotion and scepticism everyone is showing. But as it lists being closer to his parents my first thought was a health issue.

As this has come about while he is in England with Tonga I assume the news is recent or got worse.

If his mother isn't well he's likely gone like we have seen in the past with other players with parents or partners parents being sick. Or the club may be able to give him a lot of compassionate leave to fly back to Sydney often, maybe do most of the pre-season over there. To be honest I can't see the latter option working too well.

After the team going well this year and looking good for next year he should be positive about the club. So this wouldn't be a decision he would have made unless he felt it was for the best. After recently losing a parent and the other one being elderly I can understand wanting to be closer to his family if there is a health issue.

 

[Lance155]

Man this is such bad news. Where is the go forward going to come from!?
No room for Bunty now AFB doesn't do his metres as well haha

 

[regenerated borg]

AFB bugger .... oh well, whanau comes first... just gotta accept it and move on..
Have to start all over again..

Shame our development players aren't quite ready yet.. Gonna have to shop around for 2 props, sorry Bunty you been given enough years to break through..

Wonder if there's a couple of poms available?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

While I’m cool to see him go, the NRL have a problem on their hands.

They can’t register contracts for unders. So some club is going to have to find 1m/yr for 3 yrs. Even the dogs cant swing that. Maybe we will get the Fox

 

[Worried2Death]

Man this is such bad news. Where is the go forward going to come from!?
No room for Bunty now AFB doesn't do his metres as well haha

Just done some quick calculations, if we get two props in return and they're both ¾ as good as AFB, that's 2 x ¾ = 1.5, so we're better off by half an AFB, (hopefully his legs). Bunty can be the other half. Phew, I feel better now.

 

[JaggedJ]

Just done some quick calculations, if we get two props in return and they're both ¾ as good as AFB, that's 2 x ¾ = 1.5, so we're better off by half an AFB, (hopefully his legs). Bunty can be the other half. Phew, I feel better now.

I look forward to us making the most out of this crisortunity.