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	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	Adam Pompey	✔
24	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
25	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
26	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
27	Dylan Walker	✔
28	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Faitialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Sio Kali	S
S5	Patrick Moimoi	S
S6	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	?
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract (Formerly, Development), T = Train & Trial contract, ? = Wtf is up with Motu Pasikala

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 22/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker

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[Wrighty]

Genuine question, have we got the weakest backline in the comp?

I have faith the coaching staff will pick the best options and combinations for our backline. So even if they are weak, there won't be better players not being selected.

 

[Wrighty]

I am glad we signed Boyd over Volkman.

 

[tyrael]

Volkmann to Eels

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I want Laban and Halasima to share that starting right edge backrower spot over the next couple of years. (Although I believe Halasima is actually a left edge backrower)
Move Niukore in the middle then move him on.
What to do with Jackson Ford is the interesting question. He’s one of Webby’s favourites from what I can tell.

I myself would like to see Laban replacing Capewell eventually. He did seem to drop off in intensity in his last few FG though. Halasima I would just like to start. He just screams FG to me.
Jackson Ford looked better at prop and has a huge motor but doesn't have enough x-factor IMO. With the half pairings we have I feel we need more x-factor across the park like Ali and Halasima. Mind you with the injuries we seem to get likely all of this will happen just hope the young guys play so well they just have to be picked each week.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I am glad we signed Boyd over Volkman.

I'm glad Volkmann got signed by somebody.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

I myself would like to see Laban replacing Capewell eventually. He did seem to drop off in intensity in his last few FG though. Halasima I would just like to start. He just screams FG to me.
Jackson Ford looked better at prop and has a huge motor but doesn't have enough x-factor IMO. With the half pairings we have I feel we need more x-factor across the park like Ali and Halasima. Mind you with the injuries we seem to get likely all of this will happen just hope the young guys play so well they just have to be picked each week.

Personally, I’m not sold on Laban. Willing to see him given fair opportunity to show his worth. Halasima on the other hand, seems like a 200+ gamer. However, I’d either start them or nothing. I don’t want Halasima coming off the bench for 8 minutes wasting a bench spot.
Demetric has to be on the bench IMO and in a couple years taking over for Barnett.

I don’t have Ford in my 17, but you just know Webby will pick him and I doubt he resigned for nothing.
Maybe he takes over the 13 jersey, instead of having a “ball player” we have a “work horse”. Melbourne have never had a “ball player”, they’ve been dominating the NRL for 20 years. Especially if Tohu doesn’t come right. Then inject Walker when needed.

Yeah, I was one of those people who wanted a Pompey/Berry centre combo in round 1. With Ali hot on their heels. I feel it’s the safer option. But maybe we do need some more firepower.
I can live with a Ali left and Pompey right centre combo. I think people forget Pompey was our right centre at the beginning of 2023. He carved up Val Holmes up in Townsville which essentially got our season going.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Yeah mate, I'm not sold on Laban yet either, but happy to see us give him a decent shot.

Tbh I think Rocco is one of the first picked if fit. Had a great 2023 and was solid in 2024, before becoming injured. I think both he and Tohu will have big 2025s as they both were injured midway through this year, so will likely have had 8 or 9 months off to really freshen up.

I'm also quite excited about 2026 and who we target. Well have a shit tonne of cash - likely Walker's 700k, SJs 600k still not spent, Tohu's 500k, and maybe half of DWZ's 800k. So we should have a marquee or two to come. Marata will probably have to take a decent haircut, if he even stays. There's another 800k, we could have almost 3mill available

 

[tyrael]

Personally, I’m not sold on Laban.

We have to invest on some juniors though. We didn't do it to Papalii, Katoa etc and look how that turned out.

Not saying Laban is the answer but if one of these juniors aren't then we're doing something wrong.

I think Laban has done great but Sifukula looks the real deal.

 

[Tragic]

If CNK and DWZ fire our yardage will be fine. They start most sets for us, AFB sometimes 3rd hit up but more often 4th. All our front row have to do is follow them, hit it up hard and play the ball fast.
More worried about insipid 5th and 6th tackle options and lack of strike in the attacking 20

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Yeah mate, I'm not sold on Laban yet either, but happy to see us give him a decent shot.

Tbh I think Rocco is one of the first picked if fit. Had a great 2023 and was solid in 2024, before becoming injured. I think both he and Tohu will have big 2025s as they both were injured midway through this year, so will likely have had 8 or 9 months off to really freshen up.

I'm also quite excited about 2026 and who we target. Well have a shit tonne of cash - likely Walker's 700k, SJs 600k still not spent, Tohu's 500k, and maybe half of DWZ's 800k. So we should have a marquee or two to come. Marata will probably have to take a decent haircut, if he even stays. There's another 800k, we could have almost 3mill available

I’d genuinely be happy with any of the 3 combos at centre.
Left edge of Metcalfe - Capewell - Pompey/Ali - RTS
Right edge of TMM - Halasima/Laban - Berry - DWZ

I wouldn’t be opposed to lowballing a few players off contract as well. (I believe you and I went back an forth about low balling TMM, I conceded we need to resign him) CNK, Pompey, Kosi etc

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

We have to invest on some juniors though. We didn't do it to Papalii, Katoa etc and look how that turned out.

Not saying Laban is the answer but if one of these juniors aren't then we're doing something wrong.

I think Laban has done great but Sifukula looks the real deal.

Absolutely bro, I agree.
I think Demetric, Halasima and Ali Leiataua have big futures ahead. I’m sold.

Laban? Happy to see him given an opportunity, hope he succeeds. That’s only a good thing for the Warriors.
But ATM, I’m not sold. There’s just something about him, ever since that Titans game. But apparently he was injured. (I’m not suggesting Laban sucks btw)

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Yeah mate, I'm not sold on Laban yet either, but happy to see us give him a decent shot.

Tbh I think Rocco is one of the first picked if fit. Had a great 2023 and was solid in 2024, before becoming injured. I think both he and Tohu will have big 2025s as they both were injured midway through this year, so will likely have had 8 or 9 months off to really freshen up.

I'm also quite excited about 2026 and who we target. Well have a shit tonne of cash - likely Walker's 700k, SJs 600k still not spent, Tohu's 500k, and maybe half of DWZ's 800k. So we should have a marquee or two to come. Marata will probably have to take a decent haircut, if he even stays. There's another 800k, we could have almost 3mill available

Watch round 5 against the Rabbitohs. Laban was running some nice lines and looked good. Later in the season he dropped off but that can happen with young players. I would have Leka and Demitric ahead of him based on his last few FG games though.

 

[UpTheWahs]

How are there still people on this forum who keeps saying DWZ is on $800k a season? Like what do you smoke and how often do you smoke it?

 

[Noitall]

Watch round 5 against the Rabbitohs. Laban was running some nice lines and looked good. Later in the season he dropped off but that can happen with young players. I would have Leka and Demitric ahead of him based on his last few FG games though.

I might be just too full of optimism but I really think he’s got a big future too. I liked that when he was dropped back to nsw cup, he had some time at prop and was playing 80 minutes nearing the end of the season. You can see the X factor in Halasima, but I see Laban as the Guttenbeil workhorse type player. Quite good aerially too with his height. He picked up the Warriors rookie of the year and made nsw cup team of the year so he’s no slouch

 

[Five&Last]

How are there still people on this forum who keeps saying DWZ is on $800k a season? Like what do you smoke and how often do you smoke it?

Hasn’t he signed like two extensions since that 800k Bulldogs deal?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Hasn’t he signed like two extensions since that 800k Bulldogs deal?

He signed a 1 year deal with us for 2025, at the end of 2023 when he was Daly M winger of the year so knowing us we probably gave him a pretty sweet deal. 2026 and 2027 would be way less, but I wouldn't be surprised if he was one of the highest paid wingers in the game for 2025.

 

[Five&Last]

Personally, I’m not sold on Laban. Willing to see him given fair opportunity to show his worth. Halasima on the other hand, seems like a 200+ gamer. However, I’d either start them or nothing. I don’t want Halasima coming off the bench for 8 minutes wasting a bench spot.
Demetric has to be on the bench IMO and in a couple years taking over for Barnett.

I don’t have Ford in my 17, but you just know Webby will pick him and I doubt he resigned for nothing.
Maybe he takes over the 13 jersey, instead of having a “ball player” we have a “work horse”. Melbourne have never had a “ball player”, they’ve been dominating the NRL for 20 years. Especially if Tohu doesn’t come right. Then inject Walker when needed.

Yeah, I was one of those people who wanted a Pompey/Berry centre combo in round 1. With Ali hot on their heels. I feel it’s the safer option. But maybe we do need some more firepower.
I can live with a Ali left and Pompey right centre combo. I think people forget Pompey was our right centre at the beginning of 2023. He carved up Val Holmes up in Townsville which essentially got our season going.

I mean Halasima starts for mine. He’s a key player for us now and the future.

Sifakula should get good minutes off the bench, I think he’ll have a massive opportunity with our lack of specialist props.

Agree on Laban. He’s gotta show me more in NSW cup.

 

[Five&Last]

Watch round 5 against the Rabbitohs. Laban was running some nice lines and looked good. Later in the season he dropped off but that can happen with young players. I would have Leka and Demitric ahead of him based on his last few FG games though.

Laban just got the first opportunity.

But watch them side by side in NSW cup and there is a clear difference in talent/class/ability between Laban and Halasima.

I thought Laban was really good in those few first grade games but thought he was extremely ordinary in NSW cup after that (usually guys take the first grade confidence when they drop down a grade). Can be a destructive runner when he’s on. Just had a tendency to go invisible. Thought he got outplayed by Eddie Ieremia in a couple games too. Was shocked Laban was in team of year tbh.

 

[Brightman]

We have to invest on some juniors though. We didn't do it to Papalii, Katoa etc and look how that turned out.

Not saying Laban is the answer but if one of these juniors aren't then we're doing something wrong.

I think Laban has done great but Sifukula looks the real deal.

We're blessed with a bumper crop of juniors that are ready for the top side now. It is on these kids to take their place in the top team, whether that is starting or from the bench, the only consideration is having them all on the field at the same time and the loss of experience but that can be managed throughout the season.

Laban might not be the freak talent like Halasima or provide the presence of Demetric but he's got plenty of ability to crack the NRL for us and i liken him to a Kearney or Tohu type of player.

Ieremia Toeava is exciting too and Zyon Maiu’u is poised as the next prop, that's a lot of new blood about to wash through the forward pack and I haven't even mentioned Ali..

 

[Noitall]

We're blessed with a bumper crop of juniors that are ready for the top side now. It is on these kids to take their place in the top team, whether that is starting or from the bench, the only consideration is having them all on the field at the same time and the loss of experience but that can be managed throughout the season.

Laban might not be the freak talent like Halasima or provide the presence of Demetric but he's got plenty of ability to crack the NRL for us and i liken him to a Kearney or Tohu type of player.

Ieremia Toeava is exciting too and Zyon Maiu’u is poised as the next prop, that's a lot of new blood about to wash through the forward pack and I haven't even mentioned Ali..

What I like best is these guys are defending at a similar level when they get their opportunity in first grade. Really quite impressive from both
Laban nsw cup
92% tackle efficiency
107 metres on average
15 appearances, 8 tries, 6 line breaks
Laban first grade
92% tackle efficiency
36 metres on average over 7 appearances
Halasima nsw cup
93% tackle efficiency
141 metres on average
12 appearances, 3 tries, 7 line breaks
Halasima first grade
84% tackle efficiency (though as someone pointed out it dropped because of needing to play centre in a game)
58 metres on average, 1 line break over 4 appearances
I’ve got these 2 as my future second row with Eddie Ieremia Toeava off the bench showing this year that he can handle second row, centre, prop