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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[Fizurg]

Regarding St Thomas. A word of caution. While they are top of the pops it would be a mistake to focus more closely on their players to the detriment of missing others. Need to be able to assess individual players rather than how someone performs in a well coached high performing team. Let's not forget the number of players that have looked good in a Melbourne Storm system only to be signed by another club that's left scratching their head when they don't quite work out as well in their new team.

For sure. It’s similar to signing the kids that develop earlier and dominate at age groups, vs the kids who have talent but will develop later. There’s really interesting stats on sports that have set dates for separating age groups. Professionals are far more likely to be born on months just before the cut off than just after. The older kids make all the rep teams. So they have more development and gain more confidence.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

That can be put down to environment. As we know, Cantabs don't suffer imposter syndrome, they inherently know Aucklanders are the imposters, which is why this new franchise will be the best rivalry since Blues v Crusaders back when anyone cared about Super Rugby.

You mean the best of Auckland FC Wellington rivalry.

 

[Worried2Death]

You mean the best of Auckland FC Wellington rivalry.

Yes that's a better example from this decade

 

[Five&Last]

I was surprised the Warriors snapped up so few from the NZ champion high school, then I thought about, the Warriors old bias towards Auckland schools and was not so surprised.

Every single talented player to come through that school in the last 4 years has signed with us.

Could you provide more details on us signing so few players from there?

They are the most widely represented school in our pathways

Two guys from the 2023 championship team are training with our fist grade squad as we speak

Jackson Stewart is the only notable loss. Probably a result of us signing Kahu Capper. Plus we have Nganatatafu Vake and Hiraka Waitai-Haenga. All in the same age/same position who are better than Stewart.

Can you name a player from that school that has actually looked decent at junior level with another NRL club post-Jordan Riki?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Every single talented player to come through that school in the last 4 years has signed with us.

Could you provide more details on us signing so few players from there?

They are the most widely represented school in our pathways

Two guys from the 2023 championship team are training with our fist grade squad as we speak

Jackson Stewart is the only notable loss. Probably a result of us signing Kahu Capper. Plus we have Nganatatafu Vake and Hiraka Waitai-Haenga. All in the same age/same position who are better than Stewart.

Can you name a player from that school that has actually looked decent at junior level with another NRL club post-Jordan Riki?

I like the look of Waitai -Haenga. He's a blend of SJ in running and stepping style & Laumape with the power running. Can hit too. Hope he goes well.

 

[sup42]

Every single talented player to come through that school in the last 4 years has signed with us.

Could you provide more details on us signing so few players from there?

They are the most widely represented school in our pathways

Two guys from the 2023 championship team are training with our fist grade squad as we speak

Jackson Stewart is the only notable loss. Probably a result of us signing Kahu Capper. Plus we have Nganatatafu Vake and Hiraka Waitai-Haenga. All in the same age/same position who are better than Stewart.

Can you name a player from that school that has actually looked decent at junior level with another NRL club post-Jordan Riki?

I am not interested in a pissing contest here. Just gave an opinion after watching all the tournament games.

 

[Brightman]

I am not interested in a pissing contest here. Just gave an opinion after watching all the tournament games.

Well it's good to know you're back on track @sup42 and even better to establish our warriors do actually in fact have a well placed bias with St Thomas.
Bring on that 2nd Sth Island based NRL team I say..

 

[Zaggo]

It's quite hard to keep up with all the young guns we've got on our books - is anyone able to give their view on who the top 3 age-grade players we've got are?

 

[sup42]

I know there is a separate NRLW recruitment thread but bear with me.

Skip to 5:47 for the best ever lines in a new Warrior signing interview (Men and Womens which why it is here in the high profile mens thread). Hands down the all time best response to a reporter. If you are sick of the mind numbing cliche answers of the blokes game then this is your medicine.


View: https://youtu.be/bYBEr2MCghk?si=6duJv-C4mcSTvs-k

 

[SJ2k]

When she says she's a professional and knows nothing else. Focuses on fitness, eating and recovery. It's exactly what you want to hear, and an attitude that's missing from most NRL players, as has been discussed in this thread.

 

[Wrighty]

Dylan Brown has a players option for 2026 and he appears to be waiting all the way to the deadline of May 2025 before making up his mind. This will allow him to get a good look at Jason Ryles and where the team is heading under his direction. It also, from our point of view, allows us to make a good impression next year, if we want to approach him as an alternative destination for 2026.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Dylan Brown has a players option for 2026 and he appears to be waiting all the way to the deadline of May 2025 before making up his mind. This will allow him to get a good look at Jason Ryles and where the team is heading under his direction. It also, from our point of view, allows us to make a good impression next year, if we want to approach him as an alternative destination for 2026.

He already turned us down, not sure if I want someone. I know times are different but I’d prefer he wants to come here rather than us chasing.

 

[Wrighty]

He already turned us down, not sure if I want someone. I know times are different but I’d prefer he wants to come here rather than us chasing.

That was when he was 17 wasn't it?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

He already turned us down, not sure if I want someone. I know times are different but I’d prefer he wants to come here rather than us chasing.

I get that, but things change. It sounds like he's quite close to Fisher-Harris, and the fact that he's grown up a little in the last few years (and also Paramatta have been fairly poor lately) could see a change of heart.

If he was interested (and I highly doubt he is) we'd be mad not to consider it

 

[Wrighty]

If we get in 2026 a halves pairing of Metcalf and Brown - I would say that would the best we have since Foran and SJ.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

I think a combo of TMM and Brown would be a great halves pairing.

 

[tajhay]

I think a combo of TMM and Brown would be a great halves pairing.

who is the halfback in that great halves pairing?

Seen games of Brown being the main playmaker? They are both alike in that sense.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Brown and Boyd?

 

[Wrighty]

Sometimes rightly or wrongly I read a lot into just one or two games from someone.
Metcalf looked greatly improved in terms of composure and his play making skills in his final two or three games after returning from injury. I have a small hunch he could be as good as Fogarty this year - sort of that sort of level. Not elite but a level above NRL standard.

 

[Noitall]

If we get in 2026 a halves pairing of Metcalf and Brown - I would say that would the best we have since Foran and SJ.

With Pezet committing to Storm, I think we should approach Jahrome Hughes. On good coin, but $100k on top might be enough to tempt?