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	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	✔	✔
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	C
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Tanah Boyd	S	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	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: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 3/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 4/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 20/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 2/6

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 (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Teets]

Those stats are a bit telling arent they.

Both SJ who wasnt in the greatest of form and playing on one leg and TMM who played less than half the games with a far greater try assist ratio.......tends to suggest he's not the most creative ball player type (altho maybe the plan at the Titans was just get it on to their speedsters and let them do the rest)

I could be doing the bloke a diservice, i mean i've watched Titans games but havent watched him specifically with the only impression he left me with is a mid of the road half giving strong Rovelli vibes.

That said the jury is still out if any of TMM. CHT, or Metcalf have a first grade kicking game, so this is probably his point of difference and that wouldve been risky going into an NRL season without.

Probably completes our recruitment drive......go well young man.

There was a bit of hype around him reconnecting his junior partnership with Dave Fifita at one point which quickly fizzled out.

Can only imagine the carnage SJ or TMM would've wreaked with Fifita as their back rower.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

What are everyone's thoughts on Terrel May?
I'm torn, he obviously comes across as a bit of a munter, however the reality is if we were to shift Bunty or even Ford on wed be able to afford him for next year, which is a massive upgrade on the field.

If Webby meets with him and believes he could be a good fit for the club, I'd back him. Imo will be a top 5 prop in the game in the next few years so would be a massive coup.

I know there's the rumour re: Watson's Mrs, but I'd really like to know what's happened before signing him. It surely can't be good if the Roosters want him gone

 

[kos]

Extremely unlikely to be a development contact

The clubs official post makes no mention of it - stating it is a 2 year contract.

For what reason would the club have not to disclose it is a dev deal? In fact, if it were true it makes the club look extremely competent to pick up NRL experience on such a lowly deal.

And further to that, Boyd had 12 months to run on his Titans deal. Surely he would have been better to stick with that than move to NZ for a dev deal - doesn't make sense to me.

The Titan fan in here made mention of his pedigree etc - I'm way more inclined to believe that the club think they can make something of him

Tanah will be ok
I think having a dominant forward pack in front of him and having some minders will see him regain his confidence.
He lost his confidence in that game last year where he was bullied and intimitaded
Des lost faith -that was it
He may now kick on and improve if not he is an ok number 4 half after the other three
Good signing

 

[Inruin]

What are everyone's thoughts on Terrel May?
I'm torn, he obviously comes across as a bit of a munter, however the reality is if we were to shift Bunty or even Ford on wed be able to afford him for next year, which is a massive upgrade on the field.

If Webby meets with him and believes he could be a good fit for the club, I'd back him. Imo will be a top 5 prop in the game in the next few years so would be a massive coup.

I agree with potentially being one of the better props in the game in coming years. Where I am torn is that our pack looks ok. We have depth there with youth coming through and even when we had injuries through the season we didn't struggle there. Where we are lacking is in the backline, particularly at wing. I would like to see us target someone there before another forward if I'm honest.

 

[Inruin]

Tanah will be ok
I think having a dominant forward pack in front of him and having some minders will see him regain his confidence.
He lost his confidence in that game last year where he was bullied and intimitaded
Des lost faith -that was it
He may now kick on and improve if not he is an ok number 4 half after the other three
Good signing

At worst he will bring much needed game management and organisation to the cup team, as well as providing competition and cover for the first grade halfs.

 

[BigUCE]

What are everyone's thoughts on Terrel May?
I'm torn, he obviously comes across as a bit of a munter, however the reality is if we were to shift Bunty or even Ford on wed be able to afford him for next year, which is a massive upgrade on the field.

If Webby meets with him and believes he could be a good fit for the club, I'd back him. Imo will be a top 5 prop in the game in the next few years so would be a massive coup.

I know there's the rumour re: Watson's Mrs, but I'd really like to know what's happened before signing him. It surely can't be good if the Roosters want him gone

I’d pass on him IMO. There’s no doubt he’s one of the brightest upcoming forwards in the game, but for 950k/season, would rather that sort of money be given to Leo.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

I’d pass on him IMO. There’s no doubt he’s one of the brightest upcoming forwards in the game, but for 950k/season, would rather that sort of money be given to Leo.

Sureeeeely he is not on that much??

That said, I'd pass as well. We'd be better off spending on someone who wouldn't be so much of a flight risk and who we can trust will keep their nose clean, literally and figuratively.

 

[WA Warrior]

Sureeeeely he is not on that much??

That said, I'd pass as well. We'd be better off spending on someone who wouldn't be so much of a flight risk and who we can trust will keep their nose clean, literally and figuratively.

950k over 2 seasons I believe.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

That's so weird... however Development contracts aren't really that anymore - it's basically a supplementary contract to the top 30, there are no restrictions on when they can play etc.... I very much like that if it's correct

Am I reading this correctly that we are only paying him $80k a year? If so, that seems like a pretty damned good deal for us....

I feel like I'm missing something here..

Edit: have corrected the salary amount.

 

[Blain]

May would be an epic signing, but he's a May, and we know the Roosters wont be letting him go because of his on park performances. Can see Eels going hard on him, probably Dogs and Dragons also.

With Boyd, he's easily the best kicker within our squad, and our only true halfback. He's not sexy, but has further potential, experience and from all reports a great head on him. Plenty of upside IMO. He won't be leaving the Titans a year early for a development contract guys, that's an error. NRL.com has made plenty. Cleary is a couple years away at best, Metcalf, TMM and CHT are 6's.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Am I reading this correctly that we are only paying him $80k a year? If so, that seems like a pretty damned good deal for us....

I feel like I'm missing something here..

Edit: have corrected the salary amount.

View attachment 9890

At least 80k; The Supplementary list has a cap of 650k so, with 4 of the 6 supplementary spots being compulsory to fill, he could be on as much as 162k. Either way, (relatively) peanuts

The Titans didn't have him signed for 2026, so while they would be topping him up for this coming season, I guess Tanah is backing himself to get a top-30 deal the year after?

 

[Possum11]

J.F.H is just coming to the warriors for retirement and be closer to his family.

 

[Roons75]

What are everyone's thoughts on Terrel May?
I'm torn, he obviously comes across as a bit of a munter, however the reality is if we were to shift Bunty or even Ford on wed be able to afford him for next year, which is a massive upgrade on the field

Saying one of the Mays "is a bit of a munter" is like saying Hitler and Stalin were a pair of interesting characters.

 

[JaggedJ]

Boyd will be top 30 by the time the season starts (if not already).

I think we're actively trying to move on a player or two but want to keep a top 30 spot open just encase we need it in the meantime.

 

[JaggedJ]

J.F.H is just coming to the warriors for retirement and be closer to his family.

It's the glowing positivity that keeps me coming back to this site.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

At least 80k

Ah. 'Entitled' to. A.k.a minimum wage.

Still, you're 100% right. Either way it's a great deal for us.

We've certainly signed some fairly expensive and underperforming players.

 

[BigUCE]

Ah. 'Entitled' to. A.k.a minimum wage.

Still, you're 100% right. Either way it's a great deal for us.

We've certainly signed some fairly expensive and underperforming players.

He was tipped to move to the super league after 2025, so it seems like a no brainer for him to move here and sign on a smaller contract and prove his long term worth in a team with no traditional 7. A very low risk signing.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

J.F.H is just coming to the warriors for retirement and be closer to his family.

Imagine being 28 & just coming to a club for retirement. Cmon mate, he sees the chance to be the first ever warriors to win a comp too. Family was the draw card sure but he ain’t going from 4 rings in a row to sign for a ‘retirement’ package at 28.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

What are everyone's thoughts on Terrel May?
I'm torn, he obviously comes across as a bit of a munter, however the reality is if we were to shift Bunty or even Ford on wed be able to afford him for next year, which is a massive upgrade on the field.

If Webby meets with him and believes he could be a good fit for the club, I'd back him. Imo will be a top 5 prop in the game in the next few years so would be a massive coup.

I know there's the rumour re: Watson's Mrs, but I'd really like to know what's happened before signing him. It surely can't be good if the Roosters want him gone

If Riki & May come. And TMM is still here, Holy hecka!? The 3 muffketeers !! Every wah player will be demanding their partners/wives wear chastity belts!

 

[Playdaball]

If that was true and it's nothing to do with off field stuff. Where did this incident happen on the field?

On the halfway line.

ET did a similar thing a few years ago at Cronulla- rumour