Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion​

-	Player	2025	2026	2027	2028	2029
1	Bunty Afoa	✔
2	Tom Ale	✔
3	Mitchell Barnett	✔	✔	✔
4	Rocco Berry	✔	✔
5	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Tohu Harris	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
20	Te Maire Martin	✔
21	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	C
29	Dylan Walker	✔
30	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kalani Going	S
S2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
T1	Jett Cleary	T	S	S

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract (Formerly, Development), T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Unconfirmed Supplementary 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 21/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (S), Tanner Stowers-Smith (S), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[MrFrankWhite]

He scored an elite solo try against the Knights in the playoffs.

Lol. Making our case for us. His "elite" season was 3 Tries, 8 try assists, 4 line breaks, 75 avg metres... eLItE

 

[run_it_str8_again]

What a fucking weird strawman considering the debate is basically CNK vs Berry.

The good thing is we can use all of them in differing combinations throughout the season with injuries and suspensions. We might never get our actual best 17 named all at once

 

[Neo]

Lol. Making our case for us. His "elite" season was 3 Tries, 8 try assists, 4 line breaks, 75 avg metres... eLItE

The try assists number is actually quite impressive. Pompey had 1 in 18 games this year, and Best had 6 this season, Crichton 8.
I know they weren’t asking him to make a lot of carry’s out of back field but with the style we play I think your whole back 5 has to be able to. He definitely needs to be able to contribute more there

 

[CWC]

CNK makes an instant difference thrashing the line up front, he should be a first pick centre, Ali/Pompey for the other. Berry back up. They or the halves will all get injured anyway, everyone will get the right amount of game time

We'd look pretty good spreading the ball to the left early with Metcalf, Ali and Roger, 1 has pace the other 2 are proven serial offenders of breaking lines or dodging the defenders

Like expect to see Roger stepping through a couple of defenders in space, runs 20m then gives the ball to Metcalf to finish off the move

 

[MrFrankWhite]

The try assists number is actually quite impressive. Pompey had 1 in 18 games this year, and Best had 6 this season, Crichton 8.

Crichton also has 9 LB, 10 tries, and 114 avg meters and 300 kicking meters to go with it. The year before (Berrys good year) he had 15 TA.

 

[Lets Eat (YeahNah)]

Forget RTS of the past
What RTS do we have now

Insert Roger into backline position
If there is a younger equal or better option to todays Roger they take his spot

Carry Roger as utility bench can come on injury cover or anywhere with a tiring defence to run at

This would require a better bench management from coach

If we are playing RTS based on salary or what we have seen 3 years ago we are not adapting. We need young mongrel blood to take us forward.

All due respect to RTS

 

[Leon Black]

Agree with this - but also think this is the reason RTS would be better suited to the wing in our current squad, he is a stats player... and, ultimately, always has been.

When he arrived at our club, we needed an elite fullback, he had speed and was electric. He has never had a strong passing / ballplaying game, but back then it didn't matter as the game didn't require it and we had other players in the squad that could perform that role. (Although watching a lot less Yawnion than I used to, I feel that his lack of a passing game played a big part in him not reaching the heights he so wanted in the other code.) Roger has always been a stats machine, but that is not what we need now.

In 2024/2025, the game has evolved and the model AW plays requires a fullback that can ball play - CNK can do what Roger can stats-wise and offers more ball-playing ability. What we all hope is that Taine can trump both Roger and CNK by adding a bit of flair / pace / elusiveness that the other two no longer have. If nothing else but a straight-swap for Montoya, there is little down-side to having Roger on the wing in his place (other than perhaps missing some hype / eno).

So why is Roger suited to the winger? Well, to start with, he has won a Dally M positional award and a premiership there. "Yes, but that was 11 years ago!" Sure, but this is not a new position for him - and it is certainly a more familiar position than testing him in centre. (I was an advocate for trying him in centre - stats weren't terrible and he was moved around a lot, but will somewhat fairly be called a failed experiment.) Roger can offer what we want/need from a winger... prop-wing carries out of yardage, solid defence (playing to a system, whether that is rushing in (with the centre) or otherwise), safe enough hands under the high ball and an ability to finish. He has lost some pace over the years - he'd be the first to admit it - but he's still got a step, is strong as an ox and will no doubt continue to be a challenge for opposition defensive lines to put down in 2025!

Can't wait to see some left-side cut-out balls from Metcalf, or some silky hands from CNK/Pompey on the left edge, before RTS dots down in the corner under the bright lights of Vegas and beyond!

One hundred percent agree. Well written, I was making reference to all the fans saying he is useless more or less and or past it.

Give me RTS on the wing over Montoya, Kosi and co. every day of the week. He is a good leader and role model for the young fellas too, Ali, Rocco, Pasikala and co.

I don’t want him as my first choice fullback but he did and will always do a more than competent job there, not so much in the centres.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Feels like we're pissed off because we want a flashy, try-scoring, highlights reel centre - and we don't think Berry is it?

From a performance perspective, did we have a bad year with Berry and his edge in 2023? (ignoring DWZ's defensive brain explosions).
Berry was all effort, silky hands and made everyone else look better.

Pompey also quietly goes about his business doing a solid job in pretty much the same manner.

But fuck those guys, they're boring. I want a highlight reel I can jerk off to.

That why I jerk off to Leiataua! He's got the highlight reel and he can play the people around him!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

It is always interesting to see what types of players people prefer.

The potential strengths of Berry are that he is a defensively sound centre who is a well-oiled cog in the team structure. Someone who can link well within set plays, and draw in defenders for his winger.

Many would prefer the Rolls Royce offence of a Hiku or the barnstorming runs and pace of a fit Konnie. But for me, knowing that the opposition can score on a whim because of Hiku and Konnie's defence mean that a player like Berry is far more attractive to me: A bottom line. The jury is out on Leiataua's defence.

The problem is that Berry needs to continue to progress and I thought that he made some poor defensive errors and seemed to die with the ball too often in 2024.

I like the idea of CNK at centre. I appreciate Pompey's depth for foundation-first centre play. Leiataua has the most potential (by miles), but will need to work hard to get there, and that is the unknown.

Incidentally, reading the posts on RTS as a winger he is presented as someone with good hands. Honestly, the evidence over the latter part of his career has said otherwise. Mid-career he was bombproof.

 

[Teets]

This is type of play I thought Webby had in mind for RTS this year.

Edwards stashed away on the short side and Turbo sweeping on the long side way out on the left from right centre. Allows you the yardage strength of Edwards and the good ball X Factor of Turbo.


View: https://x.com/rlwriters/status/1849622404974153755?t=J2UBycvmRhpULuVg8bvwwA&s=19

 

[3rdstriker]

I swear some people on this forum need to get their brains checked because there's some serious issues with memories that extend back beyond about 3 months ago.

Berry was a cornerstone of our 2023 success with his defence and kick chases. He scored an elite solo try against the Knights in the playoffs. He's 23, and has demonstrated growth in his abilities year on year.

All of the above, and some clowns reckon he's never amounted to much and never will. Heeeeeeyyyzus.... Stick to watching Kata and Konnie highlights.

I agree, i reckon if Berry played this season we would have won more games,
He had a great 2023

 

[Leon Black]

I swear some people on this forum need to get their brains checked because there's some serious issues with memories that extend back beyond about 3 months ago.

Berry was a cornerstone of our 2023 success with his defence and kick chases. He scored an elite solo try against the Knights in the playoffs. He's 23, and has demonstrated growth in his abilities year on year.

All of the above, and some clowns reckon he's never amounted to much and never will. Heeeeeeyyyzus.... Stick to watching Kata and Konnie highlights.

I’m very much in the Rocco camp, champion young man as well. Team mates love him, he has come along way but 2024 wasn’t only a write off for him, but most the side as a whole.

We all watch matches through a different lens, sometimes 6-7 schooners deep. We all have our faves and scapegoats! I erupt when Ford obstructs and a try is called back, guilty as charged!

Fans on this forum support our side through good times and bad, fuck sounds like I quoted a song there, what I’m trying to say is - hurry the fuck up March 1 2025!!!

 

[Bluecat]

Some Footage of Roger showing he can't play wing or FB. Watch the video then pull your head in and show some respect.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZ_Hr9DP67c

RTS on the wing 10 years ago with SBW and SKD inside him is a much different proposition to RTS today with Jackson Ford and Adam Pompey inside him.
Once upon a time he was amazing

 

[Boats n Hoes]

This is type of play I thought Webby had in mind for RTS this year.

Edwards stashed away on the short side and Turbo sweeping on the long side way out on the left from right centre. Allows you the yardage strength of Edwards and the good ball X Factor of Turbo.


View: https://x.com/rlwriters/status/1849622404974153755?t=J2UBycvmRhpULuVg8bvwwA&s=19

Yeah must say i was disappointed mostly with the lack of shape around Roger when he was played in the centres. Just seemed the plan was to shuffle the ball along to him, no decoys, no movement off the ball around him, and let him try to step his way through the wall in front of him. Inside defenders covered that left foot step pretty easily.

 

[ndp26]

Yeah must say i was disappointed mostly with the lack of shape around Roger when he was played in the centres. Just seemed the plan was to shuffle the ball along to him, no decoys, no movement off the ball around him, and let him try to step his way through the wall in front of him. Inside defenders covered that left foot step pretty easily.

100%! The amount of times it looked like the game plan was just "give it to Roger" on backline shifts or off a scrum was frustrating - he barely got put in a position of being one-on-one with his defender. A little disappointed it will go down as a failed experiment, but there were a fair few factors that meant he couldn't make a real fist of it. Maybe if a few chips fell differently, it might have been a different story... but I'm firmly in the Roger replaces Montoya camp now, haha.

 

[ndp26]

I would like to play devils advocate please sir.

You speak of AWs model that requires a ball playing full back.

How so? I see AW following a similar model to Penrith, whose 4x champion fullback Dylan Edwards is a stat machine - runs all day and is not a ball player, having 7 or less try assists for the last 4 years.

Last year AWs fullback was Charnz, who similarly to Edwards ran all day with big run meters and had 6 try assists. Very similar as Edwards - Mr Consistent.

Based on all of that, I would actually argue that Roger is more suited to AWs model that you speak of. And here's the kicker...of the last 4 years RTS played fb for us, 2 of those years he had more try assists than CNK or D Edwards...so you could even make an argument that he would be a better ball player/distributor...

Try assists is another example of a stat that doesn't necessarily reflect the eye test - as TAs isn't the sole indicator of a ballplayer or chiming into the line for backline plays. As Christchurch_Warrior said, Edwards plays a key role in Penrith's attack, and Webby is playing off a similar, but tweaked, model. The try assist stat will often go to the centre that puts the winger away in the corner, but Edwards/CNK are sometimes running the back-door on a block play before feeding the centre. While Edwards doesn't have a huge number of try assists, the number of "receipts" he has shows he has touched the ball a lot during Penrith's dynasty (averaging 40 per game the past two years).

In Roger's six years playing fullback for us (the last mixed in with some wing due to Walsh's arrival), he averaged ~6 TAs a year. Charnze is at around 6.5 in the past two year. The "receipts" for each of them are similar for Roger's latter years in fullback at 34/35 receipts per game, but Roger's earlier years were around 29 a game - which I suspect is due to him breaking/bending the line more.

I don't think the two skillsets are mutually exclusive in a fullback - sure, some fullbacks are either a stats machine or are the speedy/silky/ballplayer type (e.g.., a Drinkwater), but ideally you want one that has a good chunk of both (e.g., Teddy or Edwards).

For me, certainly now at least, Roger has lost his passing game (or at least hasn't being utilising it) and - in my opinion - that's part of the reason he shouldn't play fullback (as it is not enough just to be a stats-man) and wasn't as successful as he could have been at centre (in either code).

CNK has a good mix, although weighted more towards the stats side - hearty mofo that rolls up his sleeves, but can also ball-play (hence the comfort in putting him into centre / stand-off). Taine, I (and probably, we all) hope will have a better mix that is weighted more to the speedy/silky/ballplayer skillset - especially with RTS and DWZ on the wings, who both take tough carries out of yardage.

Good problems for Webby to have - and plenty for us to talk about - but hopefully AW can get a squad fit and firing for next year!

 

[Five&Last]

What a fucking weird strawman considering the debate is basically CNK vs Berry.

Berry isn’t getting dropped. He was arguably our best back this year when healthy.

It’s CNK vs Ali. Which will come down to how much we want to invest in Ali early in the season

 

[Playdaball]

Although not directly related to the Warriors recruitment , here is some advice from the greatest of alllllllll times , to any RL player ….



View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C85KcfThp7w/?igsh=MXI0bG9pajJpdGgzeg==

 

[Noitall]

Sheent14
John Morris
Today at 2:04 AM

#3,061
My only concern now is with Leo being in Kiwis camp, you know JFH is gonna be in his ear about coming to Warriors. Apparently was a huge help for Leo in previous camps and someone he looks up to. Not that the Warriors need more forward help though.




Is there still a chance we’re keen on Thompson? Articles say bulldogs, but would be great for us in 2026 to take over Tohu

 

[JustVisiting82]

100%! The amount of times it looked like the game plan was just "give it to Roger" on backline shifts or off a scrum was frustrating - he barely got put in a position of being one-on-one with his defender. A little disappointed it will go down as a failed experiment, but there were a fair few factors that meant he couldn't make a real fist of it. Maybe if a few chips fell differently, it might have been a different story... but I'm firmly in the Roger replaces Montoya camp now, haha.

Yeah I agree with all this. I didn't finish the season thinking "Roger can't play centre" the way a number of people on here seem to feel, I felt like I still don't really know whether he could become a good centre or not. He spent so much time being shuffled round to cover injury and recieving the ball in situations where there was nothing much on that it really muddied the waters for me.

On the other hand Ali didn't need too many opportunities to show what he can do when called up, but he has had plenty of time playing centre in cup... So, I don't know.

At the end of the day I don't want to keep Roger at centre simply because we have promising younger players in that position and even if Roger cracked it he would have a limited shelf life at his age. I am still left a bit frustrated for him about how it all panned out for him this year though.