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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[Christchurch_Warrior]

So we agree CHT is not a lock right? I am seeing advocates for CHT as a project at lock but nah for Charnz

I think people see him becoming a Lock because they see his tackle highlights. The only way I would see CHT making a move to Lock is if he first moved to Hooker otherwise I personally would not see him at Lock.

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

Since we've moved on from Sean Stevenson, are we signing James Lowe or what?

 

[JaggedJ]

CHT and CNK at lock.

You guys have completely bypassed the square peg in a round hole and are determined to squeeze that hexagon through a triangle.

 

[Fizurg]

I like the idea of CHT at hooker. But I think a lot of that is just because he seems like such a likeable guy.

 

[Neo]

CHT and CNK at lock.

You guys have completely bypassed the square peg in a round hole and are determined to squeeze that hexagon through a triangle.

So you’re saying CNK to hooker?

 

[CWC]

Suffice to say Marcus Smith has been watching too much Warriors wingers highlights, the defensive ones

 

[hornbybrown]

My biggest takeaway from the pacific nations is how much speed matters and we simply don’t have enough

 

[Ever Hopeful]

My biggest takeaway from the pacific nations is how much speed matters and we simply don’t have enough

The worry is that we have known that for a long time now, yet there has been no move towards it in recruitment. This is despite there not being a lot of it coming through in the juniors.

 

[tyrael]

I'm ok with CHT to hooker. The real decision then would be, which street corner does he stand on?

 

[Worried2Death]

CHT and CNK at lock.

You guys have completely bypassed the square peg in a round hole and are determined to squeeze that hexagon through a triangle.

And we've ended up with what appears to be the ultimate hybrid lock, ECHKNC, Erin Clark-Harris-Klokstad (not Clarke)

 

[Worried2Death]

If we had a traditional 13 like Whyte we could play a natural ball playing 14 like Walker without him having to play lock too. Only problem now is who's going to break it to Tohu, pretty sure I saw Fish say they're going to make Cappy do it.

 

[hornbybrown]

The worry is that we have known that for a long time now, yet there has been no move towards it in recruitment. This is despite there not being a lot of it coming through in the juniors.

Yeah it’s frustrating, it’s so blatantly obvious that we are a slow team yet like you said it feels like we have done nothing to address it

 

[Tonbridge(aka Swanley)]

Hard to teach an Old Dog new tricks. I don't think he is our best fullback option either though so what do you do with him?

Reserve grade, he's not good enough now for our 1st grade team.

 

[Playdaball]

Erin Clark showed enough in the Kiwis game to suggest he’ll be a solid signing for the Warriors

 

[Barty]

Erin Clark showed enough in the Kiwis game to suggest he’ll be a solid signing for the Warriors

I really liked his leg speed and intensity in the middle. I think the way the modern game is going is really suiting someone like him. The big challenge will be making sure we get the Titans Clark - not the previous one who started at the Warriors!!

 

[Noitall]

Interesting on the NZ Warriors faithful instagram site it has a box with a picture of Whyte and says Naufahu Whyte 2026? If we could get this guy, I think he’s the perfect replacement for Tohu Harris watching some of his ball playing in the pacific tournament

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Interesting on the NZ Warriors faithful instagram site it has a box with a picture of Whyte and says Naufahu Whyte 2026? If we could get this guy, I think he’s the perfect replacement for Tohu Harris watching some of his ball playing in the pacific tournament

nzwarriorsfaithful well? Spill the tea?

 

[BigUCE]

Interesting on the NZ Warriors faithful instagram site it has a box with a picture of Whyte and says Naufahu Whyte 2026? If we could get this guy, I think he’s the perfect replacement for Tohu Harris watching some of his ball playing in the pacific tournament

You would have to think he’s the roosters long term 13, especially with how he’s kept Radley out of the starting line up at times this season.

 

[Noitall]

nzwarriorsfaithful well? Spill the tea?

Was a rumour I recall you maybe having some intel?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Was a rumour I recall you maybe having some intel?

My Intel went walk about with Shaun Stevenson lol