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Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa
2Tom Ale
3Mitchell Barnett
4Rocco Berry
5Tanah Boyd
6Kurt Capewell
7Erin Clark
8Jett ClearySS
9Wayde Egan
10James Fisher-Harris
11Jackson Ford
12Leka Halasima
13Morgan Harper
14Chanel Harris-Tavita
15Sam Healey
16Edward Kosi
17Jacob Laban
18Ali Leiataua
19Jye Linnane
20Freddy Lussick
21Te Maire Martin
22Luke Metcalf
23Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
24Marata Niukore
25Adam Pompey
26Tanner Stowers-Smith
27Taine Tuaupiki
28Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
29Demitric Vaimauga
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
S1Kayliss FatialofaS
S2Kalani GoingS
S3Luke HansonS
S4Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaS
S5Sio KaliS
S6Patrick MoimoiS
-Kahu CapperTT
-Morgan Gannon-
-Haizyn Mellars-
-Braelan Marsh-???
-Motu PasikalaT??
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Braelan Marsh (Redcliffe Dolphins), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance for off-topic chat.
 
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Ash Taylor was a shiny toy as well. He was beaten up and dropped from his old team but we leaped at the fact he was on minimum wage with a high upside if we could resurrect his career. We thought we had a diamond in the rough.
Strange events all round occurred during those weird covid years based at Central Coast Gold Coast ( briefly) and Redcliffe
We were a hollow team no back up grades just a shell
Nathan Brown and all those others that didn’t want to be in Nz after covid ‘stopped’ talk about no commitment.
We are still recovering from that era but making good progress
Cam George had a rough time through that silly Walsh having that cocaine rap and there was other controversies
Cam George looking back did well to hold it together

Now we have these gun nsw cup players coming through jersey flegg etc the future looks bright
 

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Some more learnings for webby. I would take Curran All day over Niukore right now.
Wonder how much Curran shot himself in the foot? Found that line about being at a review hungover and wondering what was going on interesting. Remember his off field incident of being at club punching a kid and breaking his phone, admittedly the kid shouldn’t have been there by the sounds. Interesting that this type of figure was let go and a figure like Capewell recruited. Think a big part of this is the type of figure they want bringing this next lot through. Something I’ve noticed a bit from Jazz this year about hitting the piss after a game or two after deciding to lay off the previous year
 

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That article makes Curran look like an arrogant, self entitled immature flog.

Still hungover 2 days after mad Monday

Didn’t take coaches feedback professionally

Instead of getting better instantly pulled the “I’m out of here card” because he knew he had options.

Proceeds to talk shit about the coach even when Webby is extending the olive branch.

Didn’t fight for his position in the team just throw a tantrum when we recruited Marata.

I was a big fan of Curran but that article makes me think we made the right decision. What a fucking cancer. Imagine him around our younger guys. That’s before we talk about the drinking, his weight, fighting teenagers and doing cocaine.
 
"I remember he looked at me and asked what’s wrong. I said, 'You obviously don’t trust in me because if you did, I would have played a lot more minutes,'" Curran recalled."

This is the key quote.

He was a very good player for us but it is more than that. This quote shows his petulance and quite frankly a real lack of professionalism.

Perhaps a better response is more along the lines of..

"Hey coach I'm getting a lot less minutes and it feels like I'm being pushed aside. What do you need from me to be a key part of the plans?"

To then chew the coach out for contacting him after he left, just classless.

I can't see any other scenrario than Curran tossed the toys and we said goodbye.
 

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So we're getting an unknown hooker, a known rugby player, losing an unknown outside back to make room for that known rugby player, RTS made an instagram post, and Josh Curran was hungover at his end of year review.

Like sands through the hourglass, these are the days of our lives.
 

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Let’s be clear here , MM has another year to run so the club said they’d honour it ( as they have to do) but he’d be playing limited first grade. They said he’d be best to take a long term contract if he could secure it .
It also helps that he is to be a father soon and will have family support in Sydney.
They both love NZ but know the way football contracts work.
 
Tigers fans are pretty gullible, they believe everything they read on the internet
Funny looking at their forum, it looks so similar to when he was signed here. Many underwhelmed, and some idiots taking that wikipedia shit literally even though people on there are posting articles of him and his wife. Even if he was I couldn’t give a shit. He’s been a great recruit to the Warriors and showed genuine love for the club. He’s passed on a good work ethic I would think and sets a great example for the younger guys to run with intent, he can an attacker or defender hard. He’ll provide that great example to that young tigers team
 

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A fully fit Tohu is a top 3 lock in the game and still deserves his place in the squad I'm excited to see him alongside JFH and Barney next season

Like the Erin Clarke (Clark) signing adds to the staunch forward pack interested in how Webby does the forward rotations next season especially if Niukore switches to Prop just hope we have a spine/backline signing in the pipelines
 
Is he the next Bunty Afoa?
At the risk of igniting the very vocal non Bunty fans (which i get for the non existent yardage game) but i actually thought his strong defence couldve come in handy at times this season.........thought a lot of our defensive issues this year stemmed from not being able to control the ruck, Bunty's strength in the wrestle is a tad under valued and couldve helped in this regard.
 

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Interesting watching Mitch Barnett on once a Warrior. Says he has big raps on Tom Ale, and goes on to say he doesn’t think Tom knows how good he can be. Great work ethic and everything. Says this is some of the best young talent he’s ever seen. Speaks highly of Sifakula and Halasima, and says Zyon is one of the scariest people he’s met
 
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Marata Niukore (Edit)

Warriors, 28, Second-row

$850,000

as per the NRL RIch List 2024. And it is far more accurate than the numbers banded around on forums or speculated by fans.

Yeah this is probably as accurate as we'll get, he was signed for around $700k and has increased 20%+ with the cap. We signed him at our lowest, so clearly needed to over pay be a bit to get him. I think he had a shit year with the injury he had, then had to play second row when he had bulked for prop. He doesn't have the speed or endurance for the edge, needed to be spelled and didn't provide impact. But, if he can get his fitness back, I think he could be one of the best mids coming off the bench next season. Come on 20 mins in next to JFH, then fill JFH's shoes when he is spelled. He's a scary fucking guy, even him and Fish starting together would be pretty intimidating. Add nut case Barnett and a bit of skill in Harris and Capewell, it's a beasty looking pack. Walker and Clark off the bench to add the speed and energy, plenty for Webby to work with in 2025.

Niukore
Egan
JFH
Barnett
Capewell
Harris

Clark
Walker
Ale
Ford

Halasima, Laban, Afoa, Sifakula
 
A UK article states that Jackson Hastings does not want to return to the SL and wants to remain in the NRL.
I know there is talk that he can get off side with players but he could do a Jeff Robson ( perhaps not a great example) one year role, until the young guys come up to speed.
There will be injuries in the halves with Metcalf, TMM and CHT bound to get injured throughout the season , otherwise get SJ to mentor TT into the halves.
Note this is my personal opinion.

Guy has had a history of being a dick even coming through the grades. Got into 2 fights with DCE and rumours of some post match fights with team mates in the SL. Fell out with the Roosters squad. Just seems like poison and the Knights are willing to pay freight so some else has to deal with his shit.
 

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"We'd be crazy not to chase Montoya from Warriors so I wouldn't be surprised if he is in discussions "
Quote from an Eels fan from that link. Funny how other fans view our players. Would think a fair few of us would be happy for him to be gone.
I think Montoya is a much maligned player. Very reliable under the high ball and brings the ball back without fear. He's a good finisher too. Puts in the effort at training according to CNK. May be a little slow to turn around and chase but no worse than most wingers up in the line. I think he gives good value for money.
 
Stevenson a complete waste of time for mine if we're buying a winger.

Opposite of Warbrick in that Warbrick was much younger, likely cost nothing, and was low profile. So they could stash him in Q Cup for a year to learn the game and there was no pressure to put him in first grade before he was ready.

Stevenson will be too expensive for a winger, old as fuck for a rookie OB, and no matter how shit he goes pressure will be on to pick him every week.

All those flash highlights in union as a FB who gets to roam right across the field and pick his spots will dry up. His job on offence will be 80% yardage carries into set D lines and he'll barely touch the ball in the good ball zone.
 

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Let’s be clear, he’s a different player to lussick. He’s more of a Harry grant/damien cook style player. When lussick comes on, he’s a defensive hooker. He’s fit as anything but lacks any creativity at the ruck. We’ve clearly identified this as a weakness. And realistically if Egan goes down long term, bringing in lussick has hampered our attacking upside. Hopefully this rectifies this.
 

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Wait have we poached a young player to give him a start? This is very exciting..
Nothing to do with age. My assessment is that we should play through the middle more next year to take pressure off our halves, and we need a running/creative hooker to complement Egan in the 17 to do that. Healey is the only player at the club who can play that role, and he’s 22 and first grade ready (at least for a bench role)
 

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Agree, Rogers still got lots to add but he's bulked up from rugby which hasn't helped and he was mr fixit all over the shop which makes it hard to shine. Settle in a slot (Wing or ideally FB) and another offseason to tune him back for league 650K seems good value to me
I think we’re going to see the best of RTS in the upcoming season. I reckon he’ll be hurting from this season and all the noise of him returning was to the detriment of the club. Hopefully getting into the Samoa camp if he’s selected, he can gain some confidence through that
 

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Paid close attention to JFH last night. His attitude and effort on defence is something I don’t know that anyone in our team has.
No laying down, slowly getting up after a tackle being late back into the line leaving a hole. He sprints back into the line and this happens at the start of his stint and the end.

I love Tohu but it really pissed me off at times how often he would slowly get off the ground and slowly get back into the line. Tohu wasn’t the only one to do it but he really stood out for it.

JFH is going to bring new standards
 

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Obviously dollars & cents are the deciding factor on whether or not to sign Nikora but I don't get why people bag him. Barnett & AFB were our only regular offloaders in 2024 & with AFB leaving if Nikora could replicate this years 25 offloads & 10 tries it would be a godsend. The fact he always plays 80 mins on the right edge alone has me sold. Capewell on the left, with Halasima increasingly taking his minutes, & Niukore a specialist middle would undoubtedly strengthen our side.
 
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Obviously dollars & cents are the deciding factor on whether or not to sign Nikora but I don't get why people bag him. Barnett & AFB were our only regular offloaders in 2024 & with AFB leaving if Nikora could replicate this years 25 offloads & 10 tries it would be a godsend. .
Just some stats from the season gone for our guys who mostly played 2nd row

Niukore - 2 tries/2 linebreaks/0 linebreak assists/3 offloads/92,5% tackle efficiency/77 ave metres

Capewell - 4 tries/6 linebreaks/0 linebreak assists/7 offloads/91.4% tackle efficiency/81 ave metres

Ford - 3 tries/4 linebreaks/0 linebreak assists/1 offload/93,5% tackle efficiency/103 ave metres

Nikora - 10 tries/11 linebreaks/12 linebreak assists/25 offloads/90.7 tackle efficiency/89 ave metres

Fully understand questioning the (potential) signing on the roster balance issue as of right now, by 2026 tho and players moving on i wouldnt have the same concern and i dont even think its blocking the pathway of Leka. And definitely on ability its a no brainer for me....an upgrade on any of our current backrowers.

I think what those stats do show is how little punch we had out on the edges this season (which i know the backline is copping the brunt of that criticism)...... but minimal linebreaks, zero linebreak assists from our backrowers, a negligible offloading game......absolutely no 2nd phase for our edges to work off. No wonder Halasima looked like a breath of fresh air in that Bulldogs game

Nikora apart from being the best edge hole runner in the game ive always liked cause he has speed and mobility. As fast as most centres, can defend laterally, something Niukore (and Barnett when we he was playing an edge) struggled with, and an engine to match (an 80 minute player) whatever we're paying Niukore or Capewell......would easily give us more value for money....imo.
 

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This year 11 of our games were decided my 6 points or less. We lost 7 of those.

This year it sounds like we had off field drama, a terrible (the worst in the NRL) injury toll and a steep decline of our star half that no one would have seen coming.

Assuming we don't have those above issues, if we played the same way we did this year, but scored 4 more tries at the right time, we would, in theory make the 8.

But, imo we are going to improve significantly. No more off field dramas, and assuming we don't have the worst injury toll in the league, we have 5 months until our next game to come up with a plan on what we want our halves to look like.

I do feel Webby was not quick enough to respond/react when our luck started to change this year, however without SJ were forced to come in to next year with a new plan A, and I'm really hoping there's some serious thought in to a plan B as well. But, Webby has shown he's a capable coach when he has the resources and I do believe we'll be ready to go come Rd 1.

We improve our defence next year, and we have our main halves on the pitch for 18+ games I think we sit 4-6th on the table at the end of the year.
 
Feel like it’s coming along though. David Tangata Toa was surely part of this process back at the panthers before he came over here and Andrew Auimatagi seems to be having success. We’re accumulating a good bunch
yes, the pathways definitely seem to be improving. We have been on the back foot a fair bit after being based in Australia and the COVID years.

The tap has now been turned on, it will just take a little while to fill the pool.

I think that, as long as the club and fans are patient, we will be in a great position in 3-5 years. That's predominantly where the club has fallen down in the past, wanting immediate success and making rash changes when it doesn't happen, usually to the coaching staff.
 

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Do you know what you just said????
He has been in the nrl and proven as a player, he would be cheap and could do the job.
Put your glasses on and have a proper read.
I'm not saying he will be the greatest ever buy but he can do the job
- article states he wants 500k per season and multi year deal
- for a player not wanted by superleague clubs
- will be 33 in January
- we have decent forwards coming up. id rather have faith in zyon.
- squad salary cap is heavily skewed towards forwards already. IF we have 500k available, it could be better spent in the halves/backs.

Hes dreaming if he thinks he can get 500k per year and a multi year deal in the NRL after not being wanted in superleague at age 33.
 
Just spoke to my mate from QLD about this guy and he knows of 2 other lads as well that we've signed for the Jersey Flegg side next year. Apparently all very talented boys who have all spent time in the Melbourne Storm system under the Sunshine Coast Falcons (feeder club).

Jackson Kite - tall, strong back rower with great offload and good first contact. Runs a great line. Can also play in the front row by the looks of his highlights.

James Marriott - halfback who organises a team really well and is also a great in-play kicker. Has a great passing game/passing selection and is also a really good goal kicker.

Saxon Day - big front rower who is smart but also runs hard. Gets through a heap of work and is not afraid of the tough stuff through the middle. Plays long minutes too.

Hopefully they can add a bit to our Flegg side in 2025 who didn't perform too well this year.
 

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Montoya has been a solid player for the Warriors and I know that him and his wife have enjoyed NZ. It would not surprise me if they returned here at some stage. However when you have kids it is always great to have nearby.

To be clear, the reason they are leaving NZ is not all about the twins, it relates more to the fact that he was not offered a longer term contract by the Warriors.

As for Kosi, I have no idea why he is still in the 30 man squad, hopefully he plays NSW Cup only in 2025.
 

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I'll miss Montoya. I was pleasantly surprised at how well he played for us and while there were a few shockers and a brain snap or two, he gave a shit and tried his guts out.
I love those kinda guys - the ones who don't have the most talent in the world but who bust their arse for the team.
His last try in Warriors colours - the cut out pass from Metcalf to get us in front against the Sharks was an absolutely beauty.
Stoked for him that he's been able to pick up a longer contract somewhere else.

I guess that means the Bulldogs move up a notch in my books. That now puts them at notch one lol
 

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Montoya when his signing was announced it didn't create a lot of excitement. Not all signings are going to be stars or big names. What is important is the attitude they have and their performances.

I enjoyed his early tackle hit ups. He did some good finishing as well. He was staved of the ball a lot as we worked our plays to the right hand side. I loved some of the big runs he'd make or big fends.

This year his performances may have slipped a little. Him being quiet could also have been the ball not getting to him.

He was one of the guys I'd see at the NSW Cup games when the first grade sides weren't playing. It is cool seeing the guys there supporting their team mates.

We have had a lot of signings that have come here and their performances haven't been what they were at their previous club. Montoya came with a good attitude. A shame seeing him go but the club has a cap to balance. If they can't offer him a long term contract let's hope their plans work out.
 
Jerome had Ropati as his surname. Didn't seem to turn him into a super-duper player, did it?
Gee this forum has bloody high expectations of what constitutes a good career. Jerome Ropati won a World Cup playing for his country, and you're using him as an example of a dud!

Same with people acting like Stevenson is a dropkick because he only played for the ABs once.

Talk about a high bloody bar!
 
Yep I’d take him over Nikora… SBW vibes at times.
What times?????
He was very average all year and struggled for an impact, which 3 line breaks and 2 line break assists in 22 games points to (I know stats aren’t everything but I had to look because I thought he had struggled). Also offloads at a far less rate than Nikora.
I understand recruiting a known quantity like Nikora, but if you are going on potential then you would have to back Halasima and Laban above this bloke at 600k
 

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I think Charnze would be smart to test the market.

He's not in my starting 17 next year.

Which sucks because he's one the all time great effort players for this club.

But Taine is a better fullback now imo (offers speed and better playmaking) and then Pasikala is the long term fullback once he gets some first grade experience on the wing next year.

Then Ali and Berry are the long term center pairing. He's definitely not better at center than an injury free Berry and Ali should be given the opportunity to start from round 1 next year imo.
Interesting. I’ve still got him as my starting fb personally. People have short memories. This guy is all effort, was the player of the match against Aussie 30 nil & is consistently in the top run metres in the game. His ball playing has developed over time & is just a hard worker, does all the shit stuff. I really like taine & think he suits the modern game but cnk has runs on the board & is a proven international fullback. Again, this is why this forum is great, different opinions but I think charnze just had a down year - along with 90% of the squad. I’m expecting a bounce back year in 25, but if not, taine is nipping at his heels for that starting spot
 

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Ivan in a latest interview says he may not coach past his current contract, which expires in 3 years. Obviously not leaning towards signing that lifetime deal they offered him and Nathan. 3 years is Jett’s deal with us, would be a handy addition for Jett to know his old man was coming over as a director of coaching, or depending on where Webster has the team by then
 

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DWZ two year extension. Really like this re-signing. Will be on a greatly reduced deal, (he was coming off 800k), still a fantastic finisher & has found a home in Auckland. Real mana man in our group, and his finishing is up there with the best in the comp.

We’re locking up a lot of off contract nov1 available guys. Off contract November 1:

Bunty
Ale
Ford
Tohu
Kosi
TMM
CNK
Pompey
Tuaupiki
Walker

IMG_6727.jpeg
 
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Remember when Fusitua switched sides with Maumalo, complete reversal in try scoring frequency, fairly sure at least one of them got most tries in the NRL.
I don't think they ever switched sides - rather it was Hiku that switched from right to left centre from one year to the next. He played inside Fus in his big try scoring year and then inside Ken in his big year - said a lot about his ability to set up the outside man.
 

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