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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[Noitall]

Hmm I dunno, while Jahrome will be 32 at the beginning of 2027 something to consider for me is that Hughes was a late bloomer - essentially starting his career in first grade in 2017 as a 23 year old (and played fb for the first 2 years) so imo he would have less wear and tear than someone like SJ, who's played as a half in the front line since 18 years old.

I read a story that he nearly signed with the Wahs when he was homesick before Covid, so I wonder if we have a quiet word to him that wed give him a mill for 3 years starting from 2026 (he'd have to break his last year at Storm), surely that kind of money would be hard to turn down

Pezet committing long term is the first piece of the puzzle. Think Hughes needs to ask for a release on compassionate grounds to come to Warriors. Storm got Tyran Wishart contracted until 2026 to consider too. So he’d be able to negotiate from next year with the other 3 I mentioned

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Interesting seeing Jonah Pezet commit to storm long term over 4 years but a clause to depart should Hughes extend. They willing to loan Pezet out for 2026 should Hughes extend for a season obviously like they did with Harry Grant at tigers. It mentions in the article it safeguards both Pezet and storm should Hughes decide to leave. Get the feeling storm are seeing their window with Hughes as next season then potentially willing to move on? Would Hughes be worth throwing an offer for 2026 or too old by then?

The NRL should ban all these types of clauses. It essentially another means of keeping all the best players in a few clubs.

 

[Noitall]

The NRL should ban all these types of clauses. It essentially another means of keeping all the best players in a few clubs.

Dylan Brown got more clauses than the north pole

 

[BigUCE]

2 of our returning players who join us for 2025.

 

[Ref]

F*** me this should be called the Fantasy Thread.
Anyways Brandon Smith was great as a Cameron Smith back up and running random bench guy.
Decent for the Kiwis too.
No F***** way the Warriors would sign him.
He fails all criteria.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

F*** me this should be called the Fantasy Thread.
Anyways Brandon Smith was great as a Cameron Smith back up and running random bench guy.
Decent for the Kiwis too.
No F***** way the Warriors would sign him.
He fails all criteria.

I agree.

To play devils advocate though..
This could be his last contract if he doesn’t sort his shit out and he was playing well for Sydney at the backend of 2024.

He could also be a decent lock for when tohu moves on, or bench forward for us.

Coming home could be the best thing for him, get out of the bright lights of Sydney. Around family, To humble the idiot.

 

[Ref]

I agree.

To play devils advocate though..
This could be his last contract if he doesn’t sort his shit out and he was playing well for Sydney at the backend of 2024.

He could also be a decent lock for when tohu moves on, or bench forward for us.

Coming home could be the best thing for him, get out of the bright lights of Sydney. Around family, To humble the idiot.

I hear you and your post is fair.
However we don’t need him.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I agree.

To play devils advocate though..
This could be his last contract if he doesn’t sort his shit out and he was playing well for Sydney at the backend of 2024.

He could also be a decent lock for when tohu moves on, or bench forward for us.

Coming home could be the best thing for him, get out of the bright lights of Sydney. Around family, To humble the idiot.

He'd see himself as too big for the place. It would be toxic.

The guy's plan is to get paid good coin to walk into the next Premiers team. He reeks of being immature with a inflated sense of himself and where he belongs in the world.

 

[John Nick]

I agree.

To play devils advocate though..
This could be his last contract if he doesn’t sort his shit out and he was playing well for Sydney at the backend of 2024.

He could also be a decent lock for when tohu moves on, or bench forward for us.

Coming home could be the best thing for him, get out of the bright lights of Sydney. Around family, To humble the idiot.

Exactly. Bring him home.
Waiheke Rams.

 

[mrblonde]

I'd rather get Chesdale Cheese than Cheese. Cheese'd stink the place up, smell like your sister's crotch in the morning, to paraphrase Silvio Dante...
He's the Anti-Harris, possibly the Anti-Capewell. Players who don't act like it's all about them, that their current/previous success at clubs was because they were in those teams. They were just lucky enough to be on those teams where everyone there did their job and did it damn well.

 

[Inruin]

I'd rather get Chesdale Cheese than Cheese. Cheese'd stink the place up, smell like your sister's crotch in the morning, to paraphrase Silvio Dante...
He's the Anti-Harris, possibly the Anti-Capewell. Players who don't act like it's all about them, that their current/previous success at clubs was because they were in those teams. They were just lucky enough to be on those teams where everyone there did their job and did it damn well.

By many accounts he is a dick. We shouldn't be signing dick cheese.

 

[Noitall]

I'd rather get Chesdale Cheese than Cheese. Cheese'd stink the place up, smell like your sister's crotch in the morning, to paraphrase Silvio Dante...
He's the Anti-Harris, possibly the Anti-Capewell. Players who don't act like it's all about them, that their current/previous success at clubs was because they were in those teams. They were just lucky enough to be on those teams where everyone there did their job and did it damn well.

View: https://www.facebook.com/nrl/videos/cht-hit-on-cheese-round-14/2959884527665141/

CHT gave him a good whiff here

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

View: https://www.facebook.com/nrl/videos/cht-hit-on-cheese-round-14/2959884527665141/

CHT gave him a good whiff here

What was the score this day?

 

[Five&Last]

Some of this reporting makes no sense to me.

They made a huge announcement on the Motu Pasikala re-signing only for him to be on a train and trial.

They're now over the development contract limit with 7. Maybe Kalani Going moves into the top 30?

Not going to lie, a little bit surprised that Kayliss Fatialofa got one. Great future player, but hasn't really stamped his mark at NSW cup level yet. I'm not sure what his best case scenario ceiling looks like either?? Maybe a slimmer Siosifa Talakai?

Sio Kali getting one isn't really a surprise. Dude is future NRL star if he can stay injury free long enough (fingers crossed)

Been re-watching some of the Eddie Ieremea-Toeava highlights. He already has by far the highest motor I've ever seen from a Warriors prospect (some future Simon Mannering shit) but theres some serious athletic ability I missed or forgotten about. Some of those break aways down the sideline and corner dives are amazing for a dude his size. He doesn't have the skill level, speed or feet that Halasima has. Development isn't linear though. Could Eddie end up being the most successful first grader of this crop of juniors in 10 years time?

They most rate Patrick Moimoi very highly. To get another development contract after missing the year with an ACL injury. I'd be giving him the year to work his way back through NSW cup first.

Neither hooker prospect Jacob Auloa or Makaia Tafua got one? Will either leave off the back of that especially with us signing Sam Healey?

 

[Leon Black]

Completely disagree with that. Halasima has one game where he got carried away (i think straight after returning from injury) made some immature plays which gives him that rep on this forum. We've seen Laban do the same shit in NSW cup (get in players faces and try to start shit).. Overall Halasima has better discipline than Laban on defense and is way quicker to react on defensive reads.

At the end of the day, Halasima creates plays for others and is always more likely to break the line. But most importantly (and for me the most likely indicator of how well they'll do at the next level) is his work rate is way higher (both on attack and defense). You'll never go a long period without Halasima involved in the game in some way.

I watched most Cup games, Laban got king hit by Corey Horsbrough and had no dumb niggle in his game. His work rate was not at Laban’s level. He played minimal first grade. Fact!

 

[Leon Black]

Some of this reporting makes no sense to me.

They made a huge announcement on the Motu Pasikala re-signing only for him to be on a train and trial.

They're now over the development contract limit with 7. Maybe Kalani Going moves into the top 30?

Not going to lie, a little bit surprised that Kayliss Fatialofa got one. Great future player, but hasn't really stamped his mark at NSW cup level yet. I'm not sure what his best case scenario ceiling looks like either?? Maybe a slimmer Siosifa Talakai?

Sio Kali getting one isn't really a surprise. Dude is future NRL star if he can stay injury free long enough (fingers crossed)

Been re-watching some of the Eddie Ieremea-Toeava highlights. He already has by far the highest motor I've ever seen from a Warriors prospect (some future Simon Mannering shit) but theres some serious athletic ability I missed or forgotten about. Some of those break aways down the sideline and corner dives are amazing for a dude his size. He doesn't have the skill level, speed or feet that Halasima has. Development isn't linear though. Could Eddie end up being the most successful first grader of this crop of juniors in 10 years time?

They most rate Patrick Moimoi very highly. To get another development contract after missing the year with an ACL injury. I'd be giving him the year to work his way back through NSW cup first.

Neither hooker prospect Jacob Auloa or Makaia Tafua got one? Will either leave off the back of that especially with us signing Sam Healey?

Pasikala long term signing, Warriors smart, 1st year is train and trial and then potentially top 30. Don’t forget 50% off contract for 2026

 

[Leon Black]

What? I'm pretty sure you've got them mixed up lol. Yes, Halasima has more upside , Talented kid with so much potential. For a while there he was a cocky shit that would show boat a lot & liked a bit of push & shove.
Laban is more the work horse that I also see plenty of potential in. I've seen him stick up for team mates but not instigate shit lol.

Anyway, I can see Laban turning into either, a big wide running player like Eli Katoa, Or a Mannering type depending on where the club thinks his potential lies.

Halasima is a smaller & just as poweful, but faster Ali Lauitiiti !

Demetric reminds me of Moses Leota. Compact and powerful. Insane leg drive and good footwork with good speed.
I still think he has the most potential out of all the young bucks.

I just hope we can keep them all. They all offer something different & all three have incredible potential.

Waka, Laban got dog shotted by that dumb Raiders ranger Horserooter

 

[Leon Black]

Didn't most of the Panthers guys come up together? Or was that more at 19s and 21s?

I'm shocked at how few of the winning sides make it to first grade. I thought it would be at least a handful from each squad.

The exciting thing for us, could be 5 years away are those kids in the Matt’s team. A lot of Rugby boys but the quality was off the scale in the finals. Some huge talent

 

[Worried2Death]

Waka, Laban got dog shotted by that dumb Raiders ranger Horserooter

And to think there was a time some of us wanted the Warriors to sign big red. I'm ashamed of that now.

 

[Leon Black]

Looks like the storm have signed Setu Tu on a train and trial deal.

He won’t get further than North Sydney Oval