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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[BangBro's (still banging)]

New Zealand Warriors 2025 NRL season scouting report: Best 17, every player’s contract status, rookie watch​

Can the Warriors bounce back to the form that captivated a nation in 2023? Or will they struggle without favourite son Shaun Johnson? DAVID RICCIO breaks down their best 17, issues facing the club, rookies to watch and more.
David Riccio
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@DaveRic1

3 min read
December 30, 2024 - 5:00AM
1 Comment

New Zealand Warriors deep dive.

NRL​

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The honeymoon period is well and truly over for Warriors coach Andrew Webster, whose first-season glow turned into a sickly green the further last season went in 2024.
And while they now face a rebuild without favourite son Shaun Johnson, they will be led by inspirational New Zealand captain and four-time premiership-winner James Fisher-Harris.
David Riccio investigates how the Warriors plan to bounce back in a bid to keep their hungry Wahs fanbase on the up or risk them heading back dow

New Zealand Warriors' best 17 for 2025.

Free agency wrap and rating​

Impossible to fault the extraordinary signing of James Fisher-Harris from Penrith. The champion prop is an acquisition that is the envy of the NRL.
Depth signings of Erin Clark and Tanah Boyd could prove invaluable throughout the course of the season.
Warriors fans shouldn’t expect any NRL out of Jett Cleary in 2025. That won’t be the case for Sam Healey, the son of former Sharks star Mitch Healey, who has joined the Warriors as an attacking dummy-half.
RATING: B

WARRIORS OFF-CONTRACT IN 2025​

Bunty Afoa	Tom Ale
Tohu Harris	Edward Kosi
Te Maire Martin	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Adam Pompey	Dylan Walker

Coach status & safety rating​

Andrew Webster isn’t going anywhere soon with the developing head coach contracted until the end of 2028.
That isn’t to say there isn’t pressure on the coach after the Warriors disappointed in 2024, following such a sensational 2023 season.
Finishing 13th in 2024, Webster needs a response from his team in 2025, particularly given a roster that features representative stars and established NRL footballers including James Fisher-Harris, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Tohu Harris, Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell and Wayde Egan.
RATING: B

What is Andrew Webster's safety rating at the Warriors?​

Likely debutant
Unable to breakthrough to the NRL at the Sharks with Blayke Brailey and Jayden Berrell in front of him, Samuel Healey signed with the Warriors to fulfil his NRL dream.
The back-up to Wayde Egan is primed to earn his first grade debut in 2025. The 21-year-old has come through the grades with the Sharks, establishing himself in the New South Wales Cup with 36 games for feeder club Newtown since last season.
In his 24 NSW Cup appearances in 2024, Healey scored eight tries and averaged 56 metres and 23 tackles a game with 60 tackle breaks, four try assists, four line break assists and 21 off loads.

Samuel Healey playing for Newtown in the 2024 NSW Cup grand final. Picture: NRL Photos

Who takes the next step​

Luke Metcalf is renowned for his outstanding running game with his blistering pace a major feature of his game.
But what few fans know is that Metcalf began his career as an organising halfback, who can kick and isn’t afraid to order his team around the park.
In the post-Shaun Johnson era, Metcalf only needs to stay injury-free and string back-to-back games to prove he’s capable of running the Warriors in the halves.

Luke Metcalf could be set to step up for the Warriors in the post-Shaun Johnson era. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

The three burning issues​

SO LONG SJ
How will the Warriors handle life without the experienced presence of retired playmaker Shaun Johnson? Given Johnson struggled in his final year in the NRL, the belief from inside the Warriors camp is that the team will embrace a new style of play with a new-look halves pairing of either Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita or Te Maire Martin.

The Warriors face a new era following Shaun Johnson’s retirement. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
FISH FOR AFB
Viewed by fans as one champion prop out and one champion prop in, the departure of Addin Fonua-Blake to the Sharks and arrival of James Fisher-Harris from Penrith runs a lot deeper than that. In contrast to AFB’s big engine to play long minutes and destruction close to the tryline, JFH’s greatest asset is his willingness to make the toughest carries, when getting out of his team’s end of the field. How the Warriors learn to play differently with JFH is critical.

James Fisher-Harris will be critical to the Warriors’ success. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
MORE FROM ROGER
The return to the NRL from rugby union last season of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck showed enough glimpses of brilliance to believe that the champion ballrunner will increase in confidence in 2025. The key for the Warriors is avoiding the shuffle of positions he was forced to endure between fullback, wing and centre last season, which impacted his comeback season.

The Warriors need to unlock more from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Picture: Dave Rowland/Getty Images

Crystal ball​

With so much talent and experience across their entire squad, anything less than a top-eight finish will be disappointing.

2025 odds​

Winners: $41
Minor premiership: $34
Top 4: $6.50
Top 8: $2.50
Most losses: $15
*Odds courtesy TAB

You lost me at tuapiki on the wing and CHT at 7!

 

[Blain]

I saw one of these on Facebook yesterday, the dude had picked Kosi on the wing. So could be worse I guess.

I can't see Marata in the second row this season. Was meant to play middle last year but had to play there for injury, he was just surviving out there trying to keep up with the pace for 50 minutes. I want to see 40 min spell at prop from the bench, and Laban/Halamsia step up to start.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Seeing some of the 2025 predicted round 1 lineups by the media outlets and realising that even tho I hate it. It could well be the lineup lol
The general consensus is it will be this

CNK ar FB...I can live with it, But I'd prefer some speed.

Rts - Same as Charnze. Could be even slower? Fuck.

Ali Leiataua - Very happy

Rocco Berry - Happy

Dwz - Happy

Luke Metcalf - Like TMM & CHT when the going gets tough they disappear like a fart in a Hurricane.
Not ideal at all. But he's fast? Lol neither mad nor sad.

Tannah Boyd - Stick to the basics and to your strengths young fulla. Don't over play your hand. I have a good feeling about him.

Barney - Well, Our Rock. No complaints.

Egan -Like the rides at rainbows end. Something is always broken. Stay healthy & we're good. And stop giving head in the tackle.

JFH - You'll need bigger arms and engine over here fish. You'll be busy covering for our wingers lack of speed & our miniature forwards on the bench & lack of creativity in the spine....I'm such a hater.

Luke Capewell - "Luke Capable" of doing good things. Works hard. Hopefully injury free this year.
Kinda old tho - "When God said let there be light. Luke flicked the switch.

Marata Niukore - Oh God no. Bench prop or Nsw Cup. Last year he was so unfit, And dare I say it....Soft. Looked like he could run out of breath sleep walking. Must be his big ears, Throws off his feng shui.

Tohu Harris - Captain fantastic! Is the fantastic still there tho? Got them young bulls Demetric & Leka biting at his heels.... a fit and firing Harris will do wonders for this team. He is the glue.

Cast of the Hobbit - The Unexpected Journey

Erin Clarke
Dylan Walker
Jackson Forward
CHT

Meh....

 

[John Nick]

Seeing some of the 2025 predicted round 1 lineups by the media outlets and realising that even tho I hate it. It could well be the lineup lol
The general consensus is it will be this

CNK ar FB...I can live with it, But I'd prefer some speed.

Rts - Same as Charnze. Could be even slower? Fuck.

Ali Leiataua - Very happy

Rocco Berry - Happy

Dwz - Happy

Luke Metcalf - Like TMM & CHT when the going gets tough they disappear like a fart in a Hurricane.
Not ideal at all. But he's fast? Lol neither mad nor sad.

Tannah Boyd - Stick to the basics and to your strengths young fulla. Don't over play your hand. I have a good feeling about him.

Barney - Well, Our Rock. No complaints.

Egan -Like the rides at rainbows end. Something is always broken. Stay healthy & we're good. And stop giving head in the tackle.

JFH - You'll need bigger arms and engine over here fish. You'll be busy covering for our wingers lack of speed & our miniature forwards on the bench & lack of creativity in the spine....I'm such a hater.

Luke Capewell - "Luke Capable" of doing good things. Works hard. Hopefully injury free this year.
Kinda old tho - "When God said let there be light. Luke flicked the switch.

Marata Niukore - Oh God no. Bench prop or Nsw Cup. Last year he was so unfit, And dare I say it....Soft. Looked like he could run out of breath sleep walking. Must be his big ears, Throws off his feng shui.

Tohu Harris - Captain fantastic! Is the fantastic still there tho? Got them young bulls Demetric & Leka biting at his heels.... a fit and firing Harris will do wonders for this team. He is the glue.

Cast of the Hobbit - The Unexpected Journey

Erin Clarke
Dylan Walker
Jackson Forward
CHT

Meh....

I gotta a feeling it's gonna be another long hard year unfortunately

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I gotta a feeling it's gonna be another long hard year unfortunately

Longer the better at our age isn’t it.

The years seem to race by!

 

[John Nick]

Longer the better at our age isn’t it.

The years seem to race by!

Longer the better at our age isn’t it.

The years seem to race by!

A losing Warriors season drags out for me but then..