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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	M
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	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 13/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[MM51]

Just seen Montoya linked to the tigers

 

[Dantheman]

Just seen Montoya linked to the tigers

Poor cunt. Wouldn't wish that sentence on my worst enemy.

 

[juju]

Just seen Montoya linked to the tigers

Can someone post the Daily Telegraphs paywalled article.

Headline is West Tigers sign Marcello and Jack Bird.

 

[hornbybrown]

Daily telegraph reporting tigers after Montoya.

 

[Playdaball]

He played his last game for the Warriors vs Cronulla - don’t worry about 1 more year.
Shane it wasn’t Edward Kosi !

 

[Billyspleen75]

Daily Telegraph article

Marcelo Montoya and Jack Bird join Benji Marshall at Wests Tigers | NRL Market Watch

Hard charging winger Marcelo Montoya and Jack Bird have signed on with Benji Marshall at the Wests Tigers.
Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya is the latest name to be linked to the Tigers as the club continues to revamp its roster following a third straight wooden spoon.
It is understood that the Tigers have spoken with Montoya about a possible switch to the club as early as next season. This comes despite Montoya still having a year left on his contract with the Warriors.
The Warriors have given Montoya permission to test the market before the November 1 trade window opens as their backline has a stack of depth.
The Tigers are desperately trying to bolster their own backline stocks despite already adding Sunia Turuva (Panthers) and Jeral Skelton (Bulldogs) from next season.
Montoya, 28, has been one of New Zealand’s most consistent performers since joining the club from Canter
bury in 2021.
The Fijian international is in talks over a multi-year contract. Fresh from finishing another underwhelming season, the Tigers are in the midst of overhauling their roster.
They have added Royce Hunt (Sharks) and Jack Bird (Dragons) in recent days having secured superstar Jarome Luai (Penrith) even before a ball was kicked.
They remain locked in talks with Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh who had hoped to have a decision made by last Friday remains on the radar of the Tigers. Those talks are expected to reach a conclusion by the end of next week.
They are also interested in Brisbane’s Kobe Hetherington who has been given his own permission to speak with rival clubs.
The Tigers farewelled a host of players on Friday night with Junior Tupou (Dolphins), Isaiah Papali’i (Panthers) and Stefano Utoikamanu (Melbourne) playing their last game for the club.
The future of veteran forward John Bateman remains unclear after he was granted permission to quit the club mid-season to join Sam Burgess in Warrington.
Bateman remains contracted at the Tigers until the end of 2026 but is unlikely to return to the club.

 

[JaggedJ]

My biggest question now is whether this confirms RTS will be a winger, whether Pasikala is getting fast tracked, or if we have someone else coming in either upgraded (MGT) or purchased from elsewhere.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

"The Warriors have given Montoya permission to test the market before the November 1 trade window opens as their backline has a stack of depth." Where do they come up with this shit

Losing Montoya won't free up too much coin, but it opens a spot, and means we can invest in someone with the attributes the team is short of on our flanks. Good stuff. I've loved Montoya's competitiveness, and I'm glad he could re-boot his career here. His efforts were a pleasant surprise, but this is a good time to part ways.

I'm really relieved it wasn't Pompey. His contract is the kind that is gold dust to any footy team. Fantastic local back up player, and a guy that won't let you down in FG. I really hope we keep him around.

The Tigers will be an interesting watch next year. They need to get some success while Api Koroisau is still in the good part of his career.

 

[peewee]

"The Warriors have given Montoya permission to test the market before the November 1 trade window opens as their backline has a stack of depth." Where do they come up with this shit

Losing Montoya won't free up too much coin, but it opens a spot, and means we can invest in someone with the attributes the team is short of on our flanks. Good stuff. I've loved Montoya's competitiveness, and I'm glad he good re-boot his career here. His efforts were a pleasant surprise, but this is a good time to part ways.

I'm really relieved it wasn't Pompey. His contract is the kind that is gold dust to any footy team. Fantastic local back up player, and a guy that won't let you down in FG. I really hope we keep him around.

The Tigers will be an interesting watch next year. They need to get some success why Api Koroisau is still in the good part of his career.

Api?
Did you not watch him last night
He was rubbish

 

[Wellington Warrior]

Given that Pasikala seems to be behind Kosi and Tu in the pecking order, they better have a plan to bring in someone else.

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Just asked Bunty he's staying next season.

 

[Leon Black]

Tigers have signed Montoya after his exploits smashing The Forbes Flyer Staines every game… Staines would be soiling his dacks right now

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Just asked Bunty he's staying next season.

The problem with this is that it just soaks up a top 30 spot if Webby has no intention of using him, as the youth comes through.

 

[WA Warrior]

The problem with this is that it just soaks up a top 30 spot if Webby has no intention of using him, as the youth comes through.

Zyon Maiu’u maybe but the other 3 outstanding juniors are edges and a centre.
I think keeping Bunty is necessary if there is no other signings.
If the youth are good enough they will leap frog him anyway.
At least Webby knows what Bunty can offer week to week and be reliable.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Zyon Maiu’u maybe but the other 3 outstanding juniors are edges and a centre.
I think keeping Bunty is necessary if there is no other signings.
If the youth are good enough they will leap frog him anyway.
At least Webby knows what Bunty can offer week to week and be reliable.

You don't see Sifakula moving to prop? I see him, TSS, Zyon Maiu’u, Niukore, Barnett, JFH, even Ford as likely future options. Crosby in 2-3 years.

I like Bunty for a lot of different reasons, but I see Webby going another route.

 

[BigUCE]

With this news of Monty looking elsewhere for 2025, would have to assume the RTS to centre experiment is over and he will take Monty’s position on the left

 

[snake77]

I wonder when Montoya was told. His performance in the last game was like someone with a bit of extra motivation.

Kind of like the efforts he had when he first arrived.

 

[WA Warrior]

You don't see Sifakula moving to prop? I see him, TSS, Zyon Maiu’u, Niukore, Barnett, JFH, even Ford as likely future options.

Definitely Sifakula, totally agree forgot about him and I agree 100%
All the others apart from TSS are not Youth/future they are the current middles.
Bunty for depth only. Which I think he can provide when called upon.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Randoms posting on Facebook that Montoya's wife is pregnant with twins. Probably ends up being a mutual agreement to leave early.

Edit: checked her Instagram. Was announced a month ago that they are expecting twin girls. Already have a boy.

Double Edit: She's one of those annoying people that labels their dog as a "big brother"

 

[WA Warrior]

Randoms posting on Facebook that Montoya's wife is pregnant with twins. Probably ends up being a mutual agreement to leave early

Wish him all the best. Always gave his all.
Works for him and us I reckon.