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	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
21	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
22	Adam Pompey	✔
23	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
24	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
25	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
26	Dylan Walker	✔
27	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	T
-	Motu Pasikala	T

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 27/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 27/30
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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[Teets]

The confusing part of this is..

We've established that NRL players are NOT elite athletes, besides Teddy, Haas, Cleary, KP, Murray and the rest of a small group of only about ten players

We've also established that Olympians ARE real deal genuine elite athletes.

So where does that leave the actual Olympians in the NRL?

Did Warbrick, Nawaqanitawase, Miller etc stop being considered elite athletes when the Olympics finished or was it the moment they signed their NRL contracts?

I'm here for the Warriors recruiting the whole Fijian 7s team though.

 

[Noitall]

Gumby
Gumby
Jaws
49 minutes ago
#3,996
Jock Madden linked to Souths and Warriors.

 

[WA Warrior]

Gumby
Gumby
Jaws
49 minutes ago
#3,996
Jock Madden linked to Souths and Warriors.

Before Boyd I would have been interested.
Pretty similar players but I think Madden has a much higher ceiling.

 

[Noitall]

Before Boyd I would have been interested.
Pretty similar players but I think Madden has a much higher ceiling.

I had wondered if we might be interested. Would he have been coming through at tigers when Webster was there? Now thinking that TMM is not in their future plans?

 

[WA Warrior]

I had wondered if we might be interested. Would he have been coming through at tigers when Webster was there? Now thinking that TMM is not in their future plans?

I would be happy to let TMM go for Madden to be honest.
Madden and Metcalf with Boyd as back up.

 

[Noitall]

I would be happy to let TMM go for Madden to be honest.
Madden and Metcalf with Boyd as back up.

There were a couple of times during the season in interviews where TMM said he doesn’t mind if he plays nsw cup or first grade and I wondered if there could be a concern around his drive to win a comp? I really like TMM and he’s a special talent so I’m conflicted if this was to be the case? As we learned with Ali, all players play for different reasons. Madden could be the type of Webster spoke about on here regarding halves saying sometimes they don’t get enough time to show their worth?

 

[Inruin]

I would be happy to let TMM go for Madden to be honest.
Madden and Metcalf with Boyd as back up.

I know some (deluded) people dont rate TMM but Madden is 24years old and heading to Super League if he cant find someone in the NRL to take his $250k salary, some of which will likely be subsidised by the Broncos..... who curently have 6 halves and they dont consider him in the top 4 of them.

Super League-linked NRL star offered 'lifeline' as potential salary 'revealed'

Brisbane Broncos half-back Jock Madden could be offered an NRL lifeline by South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia: as his reported salary has also emerged.

www.loverugbyleague.com

 

[WA Warrior]

I know some (deluded) people dont rate TMM but Madden is 24years old and heading to Super League if he cant find someone in the NRL to take his $250k salary, some of which will likely be subsidised by the Broncos..... who curently have 6 halves and they dont consider him in the top 4 of them.

Super League-linked NRL star offered 'lifeline' as potential salary 'revealed'

Brisbane Broncos half-back Jock Madden could be offered an NRL lifeline by South Sydney Rabbitohs in Australia: as his reported salary has also emerged.

www.loverugbyleague.com

I like TMM but him and Metcalf are too similar imo.
Both runners, questionable kicking games.
I just don’t think they are a 7 and 6 combo.
I would love them to prove me wrong this year though.

 

[Inruin]

I like TMM but him and Metcalf are too similar imo.
Both runners, questionable kicking games.
I just don’t think they are a 7 and 6 combo.
I would love them to prove me wrong this year though.

but look at him......



No way Lara Pitt is going to look at him, let alone interview him

 

[Noitall]

I like TMM but him and Metcalf are too similar imo.
Both runners, questionable kicking games.
I just don’t think they are a 7 and 6 combo.
I would love them to prove me wrong this year though.

Good point. Might even be no truth to at all to that post regarding Madden, but I still feel like TMM is worth holding onto as our most experienced halve and what he can produce. If there was something to it, it could just be an acknowledgment that we want more in the halves. Paying a small amount could see some upside for a decent defender and goal kicker. Couple of tries and 5 assists out of 10 appearances over the year isn’t bad and could be worthy of that 30th spot?

 

[Inruin]

Good point. Might even be no truth to at all to that post regarding Madden, but I still feel like TMM is worth holding onto as our most experienced halve and what he can produce. If there was something to it, it could just be an acknowledgment that we want more in the halves. Paying a small amount could see some upside for a decent defender and goal kicker. Couple of tries and 5 assists out of 10 appearances over the year isn’t bad and could be worthy of that 30th spot?

yup, id take him over CHT as a 6/7 for cover. that would leave us a little unbalanced in our squad though with halves/hookers IMO. outside backs, actually wings, is where we lack at the moment

 

[Noitall]

yup, id take him over CHT as a 6/7 for cover. that would leave us a little unbalanced in our squad though with halves/hookers IMO. outside backs, actually wings, is where we lack at the moment

Rising star opens up on shock move to New Zealand Warriors

“It was a tough decision, but it was one that needed to be made.”

www.zerotackle.com

Was reading this yesterday and took note of the part where Healey mentions CHT as well as Egan and Lussick to learn off and wondered he’s now looked at as a dummy half? Could CHT be viewed as the 14 once Walker departs? Or at potentially in competition with Healey for it? Wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those wingers on a train and trial deal picked up, Amituanai or Norris?

 

[Inruin]

Rising star opens up on shock move to New Zealand Warriors

“It was a tough decision, but it was one that needed to be made.”

www.zerotackle.com

Was reading this yesterday and took note of the part where Healey mentions CHT as well as Egan and Lussick to learn off and wondered he’s now looked at as a dummy half? Could CHT be viewed as the 14 once Walker departs? Or at potentially in competition with Healey for it? Wouldn’t be surprised to see one of those wingers on a train and trial deal picked up, Amituanai or Norris?

And still no news on whether Paul Roache is moving on or staying at the club?

 

[Boston Boy]

How does a team with aging backs not invest heavily in a kiwi like this -
View: https://youtube.com/shorts/3GC-pgP8vN0?si=Kfw-6_6_Tav2Bu0W

He's also from the Hokianga I think, isn't JFH from up there? Break the bank I say, at least if he cries and wants to go home we can take for a day trip up north! He seems much quicker than Kahn Capper, and can finish long range too.


View: https://youtu.be/HRhXvcxF0JQ

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I had wondered if we might be interested. Would he have been coming through at tigers when Webster was there? Now thinking that TMM is not in their future plans?

Any indication TMMs neck injury might be a bigger issue than they're letting on?

 

[Noitall]

Any indication TMMs neck injury might be a bigger issue than they're letting on?

Seems to be in preseason pictures here and there but obviously no contact training at present so could very well be an issue?

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

Promising prospect Ieremia-Toeava extends contract

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has One New Zealand Warriors contract extended by two years to 2026.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[Noitall]

How does a team with aging backs not invest heavily in a kiwi like this -
View: https://youtube.com/shorts/3GC-pgP8vN0?si=Kfw-6_6_Tav2Bu0W

He's also from the Hokianga I think, isn't JFH from up there? Break the bank I say, at least if he cries and wants to go home we can take for a day trip up north! He seems much quicker than Kahn Capper, and can finish long range too.


View: https://youtu.be/HRhXvcxF0JQ

Tweed a feeder to titans? They seem to have an endless supply of fullbacks

 

[Boston Boy]

Tweed a feeder to titans? They seem to have an endless supply of fullbacks

Bro, get someone talking to him. Even if it’s for 2027… (I know we can’t sign but tell him he will be the face of the warriors. I hope we are in his ear. Maori boy through and through). Get fish, whoever. We got snag a couple of our kids like that. He will be a superstar.

I read the Cowboys are eyeing him up.

 

[Noitall]

Promising prospect Ieremia-Toeava extends contract

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has One New Zealand Warriors contract extended by two years to 2026.

www.warriors.kiwi

Didn’t realise he was that tall at 190cm. Really like this guy