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	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	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
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	?
T9	Brandon Norris	T
T10	Motu Pasikala	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, ? = Wtf is up with Motu Pasikala

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
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, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker

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[Five&Last]

If there was ever a realistic Kiwis target for the club, it's Kini.

He was playing for Rosmini first XV only a few years ago.

 

[Noitall]

If there was ever a realistic Kiwis target for the club, it's Kini.

He was playing for Rosmini first XV only a few years ago.

The treatment of Pahulu could see him get the the shits with titans being that they are apparently good mates. Sounds like Pahulu has no interest of staying at titans past his current contract

 

[Inruin]

The treatment of Pahulu could see him get the the shits with titans being that they are apparently good mates. Sounds like Pahulu has no interest of staying at titans past his current contract

Be great to get Pahulu IMO for 2026 on. Learn from two if the best in JFH and Barnett with a view to taking over as alpha from them. And sets us up a play for Kini the following year? I know there is a focus on being a development club but I'd certainly be keen on these two to supplement what we have coming through

 

[Noitall]

Be great to get Pahulu IMO for 2026 on. Learn from two if the best in JFH and Barnett with a view to taking over as alpha from them. And sets us up a play for Kini the following year? I know there is a focus on being a development club but I'd certainly be keen on these two to supplement what we have coming through

Really think titans signing Brimson to the contract they have is going to have consequences for them. He’s signed until 2029 on $800k a season and like Ponga, fullback seems to be the position he’s best suited to. Think the players we’ve signed from titans add value, but I do wonder if there’s a sense of them also having some experience playing with Kini? If we were to bring him over, I couldn’t think of a better player than Tuaupiki to get our structures ready in playing a smaller fullback and then bring Kini in. Pahulu totally would be worth it and could work to our advantage if there was interest for both? Bulldogs have said they’d take him right away, but titans won’t release him until the end of his contract apparently. Titans see him as their future lock with some ball playing in him

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Really think titans signing Brimson to the contract they have is going to have consequences for them. He’s signed until 2029 on $800k a season and like Ponga, fullback seems to be the position he’s best suited to. Think the players we’ve signed from titans add value, but I do wonder if there’s a sense of them also having some experience playing with Kini? If we were to bring him over, I couldn’t think of a better player than Tuaupiki to get our structures ready in playing a smaller fullback and then bring Kini in. Pahulu totally would be worth it and could work to our advantage if there was interest for both? Bulldogs have said they’d take him right away, but titans won’t release him until the end of his contract apparently. Titans see him as their future lock with some ball playing in him

I'm sold. Anyone got Webby's number? I'll call him this evening to discuss

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Really think titans signing Brimson to the contract they have is going to have consequences for them. He’s signed until 2029 on $800k a season and like Ponga, fullback seems to be the position he’s best suited to. Think the players we’ve signed from titans add value, but I do wonder if there’s a sense of them also having some experience playing with Kini? If we were to bring him over, I couldn’t think of a better player than Tuaupiki to get our structures ready in playing a smaller fullback and then bring Kini in. Pahulu totally would be worth it and could work to our advantage if there was interest for both? Bulldogs have said they’d take him right away, but titans won’t release him until the end of his contract apparently. Titans see him as their future lock with some ball playing in him

Don't need another player that can't tackle.

 

[Noitall]

Don't need another player that can't tackle.

Was actually encouraged that he put his body on the line a bit for the Kiwis. Always going to tough for him giving away a bit of size, but so much more effort than Walsh when he played fullback for Warriors. Just means front line defence needs to be strong because his speed and threat is what we need on attack

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Really think titans signing Brimson to the contract they have is going to have consequences for them. He’s signed until 2029 on $800k a season and like Ponga, fullback seems to be the position he’s best suited to. Think the players we’ve signed from titans add value, but I do wonder if there’s a sense of them also having some experience playing with Kini? If we were to bring him over, I couldn’t think of a better player than Tuaupiki to get our structures ready in playing a smaller fullback and then bring Kini in. Pahulu totally would be worth it and could work to our advantage if there was interest for both? Bulldogs have said they’d take him right away, but titans won’t release him until the end of his contract apparently. Titans see him as their future lock with some ball playing in him

There’s no way the Titans let Kini go to free up fullback for Brimson. Far more likely Brimson gets offered to other clubs.

 

[Noitall]

There’s no way the Titans let Kini go to free up fullback for Brimson. Far more likely Brimson gets offered to other clubs.

There’s nothing they can do about it past 2026 if doesn’t extend there. Would be 23 by then so still plenty of his career left. Could play Tuaupiki in preparation and get Tuaupiki on steroids in Kini in 2027?

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

There’s nothing they can do about it past 2026 if doesn’t extend there. Would be 23 by then so still plenty of his career left. Could play Tuaupiki in preparation and get Tuaupiki on steroids in Kini in 2027?

Sure but like any club, the Titans will go all out to keep their best players. Any discussion about him coming to the Warriors is hypothetical & pointless for now. If Brimson can’t make a very decent go of centre then based on a couple of things I’ve heard, I think he’ll get cut - & quite possibly to free up cap space to significantly upgrade Kini.

 

[Noitall]

Sure but like any club, the Titans will go all out to keep their best players. Any discussion about him coming to the Warriors is hypothetical & pointless for now. If Brimson can’t make a very decent go of centre then based on a couple of things I’ve heard, I think he’ll get cut - & quite possibly to free up cap space to significantly upgrade Kini.

Sure hypothetical, but worthy of discussion on the thread being a recruitment one. There are certainly things titans can do to accommodate Kini, but if he wants to leave there’s nothing they can do about that. Money could likely come into consideration? Sounds like they will give Brimson a shot at centre, I’m not convinced it will be a success but it’s possible? Then there’s Jayden Campbell who’s had time in the halves but another that fullback looks his best position, though Foran’s career coming to an end he could be seen as a replacement with Carter Gordon if he’s a success? Who really knows but Kini has an offer on the table at titans and McFadden said we’re looking for recruits for 2026

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Sure but like any club, the Titans will go all out to keep their best players. Any discussion about him coming to the Warriors is hypothetical & pointless for now. If Brimson can’t make a very decent go of centre then based on a couple of things I’ve heard, I think he’ll get cut - & quite possibly to free up cap space to significantly upgrade Kini.

Mate isn't this hypothetical and as such, pointless for now?

Or are you still figuring out how forums work?

Good luck to you regardless!

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Mate isn't this hypothetical and as such, pointless for now?

Or are you still figuring out how forums work?

Good luck to you regardless!

Can you read all that you highlighted or are you stupid?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Mate isn't this hypothetical and as such, pointless for now?

Or are you still figuring out how forums work?

Good luck to you regardless!

Clearly a yes to that question

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Clearly a yes to that question

Clearly a yes for the question I asked you.

 

[Playdaball]

Brimson would be awesome and he would be a great #6.
I rate him highly .

 

[Worried2Death]

Brimson would be awesome and he would be a great #6.
I rate him highly .

He'd be the best outcome of all if the Warriors signed him in some hypothetical dreamworld.

 

[Five&Last]

The treatment of Pahulu could see him get the the shits with titans being that they are apparently good mates. Sounds like Pahulu has no interest of staying at titans past his current contract

Hmm I'm not reading too much into the Pahulu stuff. He's their future best player. Titans will pay him overs with this next extension to make up for it. Money got the Titans into this problem and money will get them out of it.

The Kini situation is realistic because he lived in Auckland until he was 17-18 years old. He no doubt still has majority of his friends and family in this city. And we have a gaping hole at fullback right now.

 

[roguei]

Because people keep talking about halves pairings and now us bringing over kini a fallback into the warriors. It got me reflecting on this recent interview with gus where he was talking about morden day halves. Where he said:
"The Storm play with three fullbacks: Munster, Hughes, and Paps... Cleary and Luai ran for over 200 meters in that final game. They had to run the ball to make meters. They had to run the ball to make their plays. It wasn't Cleary's playmaking that won it; it was their physicality... Origin Game 3 had two tries at the end, both from Luai and Moses running the ball like fullbacks." - Very condenced non nauced version of about 5 mins linked above.

This made me wonder: do we have an outdated mentality when it comes to our halves? If the NRL is shifting toward a more fullback-style halves combination, is it worth giving TT a shot or seriously pursuing Kini not just as a fullback but also as a half option? Boyd is much more traditional—I don't see him as a ball-runner at all. So, will the Warriors follow the Storm and Panthers in adopting this new style, or will we double down on a traditional halves pairing, hoping that the old approach still holds and this trend is just a passing phase?

I personally would like to see us attempt it because when expectations are already quite low, the downsides of risk are always lower.

Side note: To piggy back off of mr Tookey 2.0 and Mr. Brownstone 's pleasantries. I'd say outside of warriors spesfic interviews this is probably a recomended listening for recruitment in general. As that is all they talk about here, it's morden and lastly IMO gus is knows his shit when it comes to bringing in and mentoring young talent.

 

[Noitall]

Hmm I'm not reading too much into the Pahulu stuff. He's their future best player. Titans will pay him overs with this next extension to make up for it. Money got the Titans into this problem and money will get them out of it.

The Kini situation is realistic because he lived in Auckland until he was 17-18 years old. He no doubt still has majority of his friends and family in this city. And we have a gaping hole at fullback right now.

You made a comment about Kini at the top of page 162 being the most realistic Kiwi target, was there anything that led you to that belief other than the reasoning you gave regarding only playing at Rosmini first XV a few years ago? I made some comments furthermore adding to that but was deemed pointless, so wondering if what you’re saying is any more substantial? Everything you say in the first paragraph could relate to Pahulu as much as it could Kini? Is it only the connection of Kini living in Auckland until 17 or 18 that you see him as that realistic Kiwi target?