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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[Noitall]

Kangaroos rookie explains how New Zealand move saved his career | Sporting News Australia

Mitch Barnett has opened up about his move to New Zealand and how it proved to be a significant moment in his career.

www.sportingnews.com

This should be huge for any player considering a move over. Talks about the coaches and staff belief in him

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I’ve been more vocal than most on RTS and I think a lot of it comes from frustration not just with him but also the players around him. I agree with the post yesterday that made the point that he was just fed the ball & expected to do the rest, & I think that expectation was symptomatic of a bigger issue that was a key reason of why 2024 was a failure for the club.

As I’ve said many times (too many), I believe RTS is one of the most overrated players ever in the NRL. Now that doesn’t mean he isn’t NRL standard, he’s always been easily that, and at one point in his career he was possibly the best winger in the comp, and top tier at fullback. It’s also no fault of RTS that people hold him in such high regard - he comes across as a humble guy who always puts in max effort. However the players do seem to put him on a pedestal on the basis of performances that are well & truly in the rear view mirror. My theory is that his signing, along with our success in 2023, led to the club being complacent in the offseason. Too many were thinking that he was the missing piece in the puzzle that would now take the Warriors to premiership glory. Then a combination of that complacency & injuries to key player derailed our season.

I’m hopeful everyone has learnt from last seasons mistakes. I’m also happy to see RTS given his chance to excel on the wing, but definitely not at centre or fullback, I think that would be a big mistake. Anyway I’m getting behind him from this point forward & hope he smashes it in 2025.

 

[Noitall]

I’ve been more vocal than most on RTS and I think a lot of it comes from frustration not just with him but also the players around him. I agree with the post yesterday that made the point that he was just fed the ball & expected to do the rest, & I think that expectation was symptomatic of a bigger issue that was a key reason of why 2024 was a failure for the club.

As I’ve said many times (too many), I believe RTS is one of the most overrated players ever in the NRL. Now that doesn’t mean he isn’t NRL standard, he’s always been easily that, and at one point in his career he was possibly the best winger in the comp, and top tier at fullback. It’s also no fault of RTS that people hold him in such high regard - he comes across as a humble guy who always puts in max effort. However the players do seem to put him on a pedestal on the basis of performances that are well & truly in the rear view mirror. My theory is that his signing, along with our success in 2023, led to the club being complacent in the offseason. Too many were thinking that he was the missing piece in the puzzle that would now take the Warriors to premiership glory. Then a combination of that complacency & injuries to key player derailed our season.

I’m hopeful everyone has learnt from last seasons mistakes. I’m also happy to see RTS given his chance to excel on the wing, but definitely not at centre or fullback, I think that would be a big mistake. Anyway I’m getting behind him from this point forward & hope he smashes it in 2025.

I think this has been an issue for the Warriors in many seasons, that the rest of the team expects SJ or RTS to produce highlight reel stuff and drag them to victory

 

[KO WAI RA]

Positive reinforcement is the best medicine for a rookie centre & Ali will receive that shot having RTS on his flank….

Can not underestimate the value of a proven seasoned veteran who has a hardened NRL mentality….

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Positive reinforcement is the best medicine for a rookie centre & Ali will receive that shot having RTS on his flank….

Can not underestimate the value of a proven seasoned veteran who has a hardened NRL mentality….

Agree with this, having RTS and Capewell will be valuable.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Agree with this, having RTS and Capewell will be valuable.

Also Ali has only played 7 nrl games so far after debuting last year then coming off with a knee injury which saw him sit out the rest of 23, came back strong this year with 6 games and looked back to his best at times despite some players taking a long time to be back at their best after knee injuries. He's developing at a good pace and won't be far off being a week-in, week-out player but still probably has a slight way to go.

Some people forget a few of the young guys who they wanted in the squad were coming back from injuries and probably weren't up to playing consistent NRL. Ali, Demitric, Laban and Zyon Maiu’u have all had injuries ruling them out for a length of time, Webster made mention of having to pick players that weren't in form due to injury towards the end of the year and also that hit out at officials non-calls on a few high shots on Warriors players too, i think he was very frustrated with how this season went.

I think we will bounce back and make the 8 next year but our halves really need to step it up and take advantage of the field position the forwards have consistently been getting us. Should be an exciting year with a lot of the juniors getting closer to being NRL ready and a bunch of these guys being locked up for the next few years.

 

[Noitall]

Really interested to see what happens with TMM? Warriors and others teams have prioritised the players they haven’t wanted to be able to negotiate in November and to this point TMM isn’t one, despite us not showing a clear plan around the future of our halves? His name is one that’s appearing on knights forum and broncos to a lesser extent. Would be disappointed to lose him, he’s contracted for next season though

 

[MrFrankWhite]

He was arguably our best back this year when healthy.

Bro whut? Gone on then, make the argument.

 

[Tragic]

Bro whut? Gone on then, make the argument.

That's probably an indictment on the rest of the team but it's not that far fetched. CNK carrying injuries and big drop from last year, DWZ a defensive liability, Monty slow, RTS learning a new position then chopped and changed and couldn't get into any rhythm. Pompey limited minutes and not better than berry. Rookies didn't get much game time.

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Anyone read this behind the paywall?? What’s the bit about Rugby wanting the wahs boss??


View: https://x.com/mcarayannis/status/1850047341958762884?s=46

 

[kos]

Anyone read this behind the paywall?? What’s the bit about Rugby wanting the wahs boss??


View: https://x.com/mcarayannis/status/1850047341958762884?s=46

NZ Rugby Commercial chief exec Craig Fenton is finishing up Jan 25.
Top level talks on stealing Cam George.
Warriors sell out games have stolen Nz sporting landscape.

My take
Rugby guys
Your product is poor
Its not Cam George (he helps though) selling out Warriors games
Its the product. Mohawk will give Cam a pay rise.

 

[Playdaball]

Roache to RU?

 

[~Navigator~]

Roache to RU?

Good luck

 

[juju]

NZ Rugby Commercial chief exec Craig Fenton is finishing up Jan 25.
Top level talks on stealing Cam George.
Warriors sell out games have stolen Nz sporting landscape.

My take
Rugby guys
Your product is poor
Its not Cam George (he helps though) selling out Warriors games
Its the product. Mohawk will give Cam a pay rise.

It's the product and the marketing by the club.
Mohawks daughter is one of the people who reinvigorated the marketing,

Craig Fenton is an ex Google executive, so an interesting hire by the NZRU

 

[Noitall]

Celticman98
Celticman98
Josh Perry
Yesterday at 9:10 PM

#3,099
Oliver said:
Constant rumours Hughes wants to head back to the Gold Coast. So I wouldn’t be surprise if Des offers him a contact that is too good to refuse once Foran finishes up.
I don't see him going back there. He was unwanted there early in his career and I think if he's to leave the Storm, he's going to the Warriors

 

[kos]

News corp Aus
Suggesting NZW may be interested in Josiah Pahulu
Plays for the Titans as a prop
He is a goodie watched him come through over the last 18months.
Was school captain at his school in Ipswich.
Born in Nz but grew up in Qld
Good player good prop suggests Titans have cap pressures.

 

[Noitall]

News corp Aus
Suggesting NZW may be interested in Josiah Pahulu
Plays for the Titans as a prop
He is a goodie watched him come through over the last 18months.
Was school captain at his school in Ipswich.
Born in Nz but grew up in Qld
Good player good prop suggests Titans have cap pressures.

Highly regarded over there. RCG heading there too could have a bearing

 

[kos]

Highly regarded over there. RCG heading there too could have a bearing

Good point .
They suggested $320000 for Josiah.
I think though these journalists just develop possibility ideas -whether NZW have talked to Josiah or even thought about approaching him is another matter.

 

[Noitall]

Good point .
They suggested $320000 for Josiah.
I think though these journalists just develop possibility ideas -whether NZW have talked to Josiah or even thought about approaching him is another matter.

On Thursday titans forum said there was a newscorp article mentioning Pahulu was nearly extended, but they were concerned with nothing on Jojo Fifita who they really want to hold onto also. Interesting if true at our end that we are in fact interested in a prop. Titans see him as a lock, could we be looking at him as a replacement for Tohu when he hangs his boots up?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

That's probably an indictment on the rest of the team but it's not that far fetched. CNK carrying injuries and big drop from last year, DWZ a defensive liability, Monty slow, RTS learning a new position then chopped and changed and couldn't get into any rhythm. Pompey limited minutes and not better than berry. Rookies didn't get much game time.

LOL. So Berry at his best, is better than everyone else at their worst? Is it national meth day or something? Or are you guys trolling?