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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[Wrighty]

Here is some more numbers. This is Brown vs Boyd vs TMM who are the two others people have proposed at halfback (other than Hughes). TMM's numbers seem too good to be true.

.

Comparison 2024 Avg numbefs at halfback
	Games	Tries	Try Assists	Kicking Metres
Brown	8​	0.25​	0.625​	226.25​
Boyd	4​	0​	0​	411.5​
TMM	8​	0.375​	1.75​	285.6​

 

[Inruin]

His running metres were great for a Halfback in his 8 games there in 2024 but just the 1 win showcases he ain't currently a 7

Or he was in a not very good team.

 

[Wrighty]

And what are TMM stats at 7 in comparison. If we are thinking Brown is an upgrade

I posted those three posts lower than your post.

 

[Noitall]

Here is some more numbers. This is Brown vs Boyd vs TMM who are the two others people have proposed at halfback (other than Hughes). TMM's numbers seem too good to be true.

.

Comparison 2024 Avg numbefs at halfback
	Games	Tries	Try Assists	Kicking Metres
Brown	8​	0.25​	0.625​	226.25​
Boyd	4​	0​	0​	411.5​
TMM	8​	0.375​	1.75​	285.6​

He deserves first shot at halfback out all our current halves I reckon

 

[Wrighty]

He deserves first shot at halfback out all our current halves I reckon

TMM? You wouldn't put Luke there even though Luke has asked for the 7 shirt.

 

[Inruin]

Here is some more numbers. This is Brown vs Boyd vs TMM who are the two others people have proposed at halfback (other than Hughes). TMM's numbers seem too good to be true.

.

Comparison 2024 Avg numbefs at halfback
	Games	Tries	Try Assists	Kicking Metres
Brown	8​	0.25​	0.625​	226.25​
Boyd	4​	0​	0​	411.5​
TMM	8​	0.375​	1.75​	285.6​

I think Tookey 2.0 at the time posted that TMM at 7 was putting up similar if not better attacking numbers than Hughes was. His problem is that he appears injury prone and needs a better long kicking game.

 

[Inruin]

He deserves first shot at halfback out all our current halves I reckon

I think so too. Give him at 7 and Metcalf 6 the whole off season to work combos and they both deserve first crack.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Its not just the kicking game. Brown had an opportunity to step up whilst Moses was imjured and just went missing in games. For a player thats on around a mill a season. Have a look around Eels forums and fans (except the guy that recently got Browns face tattoeed on his thigh), and you would find the words "inconsistent", "not worth what hes on", "missing" often used.

If he wasnt a kiwi, we wouldnt even be bringing his name up time and time again.

For mine, if we are going to spend a mill on a player, he has to be
a) A decent upgrade on what we have
b) can perform constently on a high level

I dont think hes that much better at Metcalf. Brown is good at chiming in and (lots of) out and best paired with a good controlling halfback. A grand chandelier for nice house you may build. But the chandelier is quite pointless when we have some wooden planks for a roof.

I agree with alot of what’s said here. But…

Of course Brown being a Kiwi raises interest in him for the Warriors. Who else then? DCE, Hunt, Moses? They’re never coming to the Warriors
Hughes, Brown, Nikorima, Foran and TMM are the only NRL quality Kiwi halves atm.
Nikorima? Nuh
Foran’s too old.
I’d take Hughes over Brown any day and pay him over a million.
(Just quietly, I don’t think Nathan Cleary would rule out a Warriors jersey, we’re talking like 1-2% here lol)

If the issue is money…….. let’s just say Metcalfe got “as good” as Brown…..
You thinking that’s not going to bump his price up? So what are we losing there?
(If he got that good, I honestly think he leaves. I’ll gladly eat my words if wrong)

Brown is a fair bit better than Metcalfe bro.
2 years younger and 123 games vs 26 games and GFs and Kiwis.
Brown walks into that Cronulla team 3 years ago.

Yes he is annoyingly inconsistent.
Other than Cleary, Hughes and DCE over the last few seasons.
Who isn’t?

 

[Wrighty]

I agree with alot of what’s said here. But…

Of course Brown being a Kiwi raises interest in him for the Warriors. Who else then? DCE, Hunt, Moses? They’re never coming to the Warriors
Hughes, Brown, Nikorima, Foran and TMM are the only NRL quality Kiwi halves atm.
Nikorima? Nuh
Foran’s too old.
I’d take Hughes over Brown any day and pay him over a million.
(Just quietly, I don’t think Nathan Cleary would rule out a Warriors jersey, we’re talking like 1-2% here lol)

If the issue is money…….. let’s just say Metcalfe got “as good” as Brown…..
You thinking that’s not going to bump his price up? So what are we losing there?
(If he got that good, I honestly think he leaves. I’ll gladly eat my words if wrong)

Brown is a fair bit better than Metcalfe bro.
2 years younger and 123 games vs 26 games and GFs and Kiwis.
Brown walks into that Cronulla team 3 years ago.

Yes he is annoyingly inconsistent.
Other than Cleary, Hughes and DCE over the last few seasons.
Who isn’t?

I don't agree with all your conclusions but I like the critical thinking skills on display. Good analysis. A good read.

 

[Cces]

Or he was in a not very good team.

You're right about that but Daejarn Asi managed 3 times as many wins for the Eels wearing the 7 jersey in exactly the same amount of games as their Halfback.
I just think he's an out & out #6 & a very good one at that. Much like Tom Dearden who has lost 26 of his last 27 NRL starts at Halfback but is the incumbent Kangaroos #6.
Brown wouldn't be on my shopping list given our current roster

 

[Wrighty]

You're right about that but Daejarn Asi managed 3 times as many wins for the Eels wearing the 7 jersey in exactly the same amount of games as their Halfback.
I just think he's an out & out #6 & a very good one at that. Much like Tom Dearden who has lost 26 of his last 27 NRL starts at Halfback but is the incumbent Kangaroos #6.
Brown wouldn't be on my shopping list given our current roster

We are here on Christmas eve - some of us are busy with our families. Some of the men live alone. Some a mixture of both and some somewhere in between. For those of us online tonight and not waiting for Santa to come down the chimney give us a more in depth analysis if you would be so kind of why he is not a 7 apart from the fact it is just your opinion. Provide rugby league reasons. Because he has a decent kicking game and some of those games Brown started at half back this year he was accompanied by Talagi who was good on the wing but so Kaka at standoff that Brown violently and sarcastically dissed Talagi in a pre game interview openly stating that he couldn't pass or kick and only had a running game. One good reason for not bringing Brown here is do you really want someone who is so brtual about their own team mate. It was all true of course as Talagi was 3 shades of crap at stand off and did much better in the outside backs where he could just run like Dlylan said.

 

[Inruin]

We are here on Christmas eve - some of us are busy with our families. Some of the men live alone. Some a mixture of both and some somewhere in between. For those of us online tonight and not waiting for Santa to come down the chimney give us a more in depth analysis if you would be so kind of why he is not a 7 apart from the fact it is just your opinion. Provide rugby league reasons. Because he has a decent kicking game and some of those games Brown started at half back this year he was accompanied by Talagi who was good on the wing but so Kaka at standoff that Brown violently and sarcastically dissed Talagi in a pre game interview openly stating that he couldn't pass or kick and only had a running game. One good reason for not bringing Brown here is do you really want someone who is so brtual about their own team mate. It was all true of course as Talagi was 3 shades of crap at stand off and did much better in the outside backs where he could just run like Dlylan said.

And didn't Asi have Brown at 6. I actually agree though that Brown isn't what we need as a 7 and I would like to see how Metcalf goes this season too

 

[roguei]

I think metcalf has got the 7 and that we'll see TMM playing at 6 like he did with SJ back in 2023. Leaving byod as direct cover if (really when) metcalf goes down. And CHT as direct cover for TMM, as we now have a walker and clark to cover uitility. Obiviously this is just vibes based as webby has already said there has been no stand outs form the preseason yet.

If metcalf was wise, he would of spent all of that time injuried studying rugby league (typing it out that sounds dumb). He talks about how he used to be an organizing half, that could be a skill he has focused in on if he was just watching replays and learning the game etc. TMM is great at that as well, don't get me wrong. But i don't think thats because of a large want anymore, he's just been playing for so long and with two of the great halfs, thurston and SJ.

To those saying he won't stay at the warriors... To me he seems pretty happy here at the moment. Im sure he would of gotten some good offers from the knights, raiders, dragons etc.

 

[Cces]

We are here on Christmas eve - some of us are busy with our families. Some of the men live alone. Some a mixture of both and some somewhere in between. For those of us online tonight and not waiting for Santa to come down the chimney give us a more in depth analysis if you would be so kind of why he is not a 7 apart from the fact it is just your opinion. Provide rugby league reasons. Because he has a decent kicking game and some of those games Brown started at half back this year he was accompanied by Talagi who was good on the wing but so Kaka at standoff that Brown violently and sarcastically dissed Talagi in a pre game interview openly stating that he couldn't pass or kick and only had a running game. One good reason for not bringing Brown here is do you really want someone who is so brtual about their own team mate. It was all true of course as Talagi was 3 shades of crap at stand off and did much better in the outside backs where he could just run like Dlylan said.

I just think Dylan Brown is a run first type of player. That instinct suits the 6, 13 or Centre role well and I'd play him in all 3 of those positions before I'd hand him the #7. Zero 40/20s in 123 NRL games showcases he has no real long kicking game. Sure, he kicked for over 300m twice as a Halfback this year but the scores in those were 8-41 & 16-44.
Also zero Field Goals, apart from one in an U16 game in 2016 which was 30 minutes before fulltime, doesn't convince me he's a guy to lead a team to success.
Merry Christmas Wrighty

 

[Wrighty]

I just think Dylan Brown is a run first type of player. That instinct suits the 6, 13 or Centre role well and I'd play him in all 3 of those positions before I'd hand him the #7. Zero 40/20s in 123 NRL games showcases he has no real long kicking game. Sure, he kicked for over 300m twice as a Halfback this year but the scores in those were 8-41 & 16-44.
Also zero Field Goals, apart from one in an U16 game in 2016 which was 30 minutes before fulltime, doesn't convince me he's a guy to lead a team to success.
Merry Christmas Wrighty

Hard to argue with that analysis. Thanks Cces !!!!
Who would you play at 7 and 6 for the Warriors in 2025 this coming year out of the options in our squad.

 

[Cces]

Hard to argue with that analysis. Thanks Cces !!!!
Who would you play at 7 and 6 for the Warriors in 2025 this coming year out of the options in our squad.

I'd ask Metcalf what side he wants to play & work backwards from there. If he wants to play right-side I'd lean towards CHT as his partner & if he wants the left I'd probably give TMM first crack

 

[Cces]

And didn't Asi have Brown at 6. I actually agree though that Brown isn't what we need as a 7 and I would like to see how Metcalf goes this season too

That's true. Brown also had Asi as his 6 in his only win as a Halfback & Asi cemented the win with a late Field Goal. In that game their total touches & number of kicks were near identical

 

[Warriors4lyfe]

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.

My Barber is Dylan Browns cousin.
I was saying to him he should come home to the warriors and he was telling me the warriors approached him last time he was off contact and Dylan turned them down because when he was younger living in NZ the warriors didn't want a bar of him so that's why he went over to the eels for a opportunity.
Apparently he hasn't forgotten that the warriors didn't want him when he was younger so not interested in coming to the warriors.

 

[Noitall]

My Barber is Dylan Browns cousin.
I was saying to him he should come home to the warriors and he was telling me the warriors approached him last time he was off contact and Dylan turned them down because when he was younger living in NZ the warriors didn't want a bar of him so that's why he went over to the eels for a opportunity.
Apparently he hasn't forgotten that the warriors didn't want him when he was younger so not interested in coming to the warriors.

Jahrome Hughes it is then

 

[Dannevegas]

My Barber is Dylan Browns cousin.
I was saying to him he should come home to the warriors and he was telling me the warriors approached him last time he was off contact and Dylan turned them down because when he was younger living in NZ the warriors didn't want a bar of him so that's why he went over to the eels for a opportunity.
Apparently he hasn't forgotten that the warriors didn't want him when he was younger so not interested in coming to the warriors.

Can’t blame us we had CHT coming through lol