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	Daeon Amituanai	T
T2	Jaydee Auloa	T
T3	Kahu Capper	T	T
T4	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
T5	Augustino Filipo	T
T6	Etuane Fukofuka	T
T7	Moala Graham-Taufa	T
T8	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	T
T9	Brandon Norris	T
T10	Jason Salalilo	T
T11	Makaia Taufa	T
T12	Rodney Vea	T

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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[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.