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	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔
24	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
25	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
26	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
27	Dylan Walker	✔
28	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	?
-	Motu Pasikala	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: 28/30
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, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker

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[Warriorsfan92]

You would have to think that if there were any possibility of Cheese ever coming here, it would have to be now.

Surprise retirement for Tohu, Cheese being told hes not wanted at the Roosters, and Dyl Walker likely not being here next year...

If it's ever going to happen, now is literally the perfect time.

Can Webby, JFH and Barney keep him in line tho...

Cheese as a middle forward sounds pretty good to me. Coming home and out of the bright lights might sort his shit out. The penny needs to drop soon. He’s one more bad contract away from a uk deal.

 

[Blain]

Thompson would not be a replacement for Tohu. He's a tuck the ball up the jumper meat and spuds prop. I think people under estimated Tohu's ball playing in our team, he was one of the best in the league at it, and his metres/hit ups were prop like which was just a bonus. Our team operates with a ball player (Walker now) in 13, not a tackle bot workhorse like some teams. The Broncos moving Carrigan is another team moving away from that.

Our props are pretty stacked number wise already, JFH, Barnett, Marata, Ford, Afoa and Ale all offer capable NRL experience. Then you have our juniors coming through. I expect most of Tohu's cap space will go to a spine player.

 

[BigUCE]

You would have to think that if there were any possibility of Cheese ever coming here, it would have to be now.

Surprise retirement for Tohu, Cheese being told hes not wanted at the Roosters, and Dyl Walker likely not being here next year...

If it's ever going to happen, now is literally the perfect time.

Can Webby, JFH and Barney keep him in line tho...

Getting out of the Sydney media spotlight in itself would do him wonders. We barely ever get talked about over there so the less background noise the better.

We do also have to remember that he has just done his ACL and probably won’t be back until mid-season.

 

[Inruin]

Cheese as a middle forward sounds pretty good to me. Coming home and out of the bright lights might sort his shit out. The penny needs to drop soon. He’s one more bad contract away from a uk deal.

I think you have summed up why we shouldn't even be considering him. I think he is a good example of what we don't want here. Add in that he has done his ACL and wont return until mid season at the earliest.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Warriors should be lactose intolerant. No Cheese.

 

[BigUCE]

I think you have summed up why we shouldn't even be considering him. I think he is a good example of what we don't want here. Add in that he has done his ACL and wont return until mid season at the earliest.

If where just picking up his current roosters contract with them paying a certain amount I don’t mind it. This gives him the back end of the season to earn a longer term deal. If it dosen't work out, he’s off contract anyway so there’s no long term risk to us. Thats If he would even move over here in the first place with no long term deal secured….

 

[Inruin]

If where just picking up his current roosters contract with them paying a certain amount I don’t mind it. This gives him the back end of the season to earn a longer term deal. If it dosen't work out, he’s off contract anyway so there’s no long term risk to us. Thats If he would even move over here in the first place with no long term deal secured….

I think if that case played out there is a big short term and long term risk with him for us and very limited upside. He just isn't someone we need.

 

[JustVisiting82]

Cheese as a middle forward sounds pretty good to me. Coming home and out of the bright lights might sort his shit out. The penny needs to drop soon. He’s one more bad contract away from a uk deal.

He would also solve the conundrum of having to choose whether to have both a smaller Walker type impact middle as well as adequate hooker cover for Egan on the bench at the expense of more size in the bench as he can fill both roles.

Still not saying I want him as I would be worried about his affect on team culture and whether he can recapture top form.

 

[Noitall]

Something feels to me like they’ve got someone lined up here, and could be a big fish being the stature that Tohu is to the club. It surely wouldn’t have been a decision taken lightly but a few things seem strange judging by what the club has reportedly been doing before Christmas. He’s been with the club training judging by photos in preseason, and front and centre next to Webster at Sonny Fai tribute photos, but the club hasn’t been doing opposed training to test his wrist yet? Perhaps even passing is an issue? Seems odd to me that given his importance to our attack, why they wouldn’t give him more time to see if it comes right to any degree where manageable? Perhaps all as it is on the surface and I’m reading too much into it

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Would take a (in)perfect storm for me to imagine Cheese landing here

• We aren't doing too bad, floating around 8th-11th and well in the hunt for a finals spot
• 2 out of Healey, Egan, and Lussick are out for an extended period
• Roosters, specifically Sandon Smith, Tyler Moriarty and Watson, are healthy and playing well

Then maybe I could see us picking up Cheese for the remainder of the year, give him some decent enough minutes working behind a pair of gun props to put some film out there to find himself a new team for 2026

Even then, we'd probably sooner see Chanel, Clark, or even Auloa step in as backup DH

Besides, even if it is nice to think Cheese would put his best foot forward in that kind of scenario, how many times has this dude fucked up, apologised, and then turned around and fucked up again not even 6 months later lol

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I think if that case played out there is a big short term and long term risk with him for us and very limited upside. He just isn't someone we need.

Losing Tohu and potentially Dylan Walkers last season with us, I feel we'd be in even bigger trouble next year at lock than we are now.

Deffo Smith wouldn't make a big impact this year due to being injured and won't be hitting his straps til the end of the season, but I dunno man, the cupboards are looking pretty bare atm.

I wonder how the impact of loosing nearly 600 games of experience in Tohu, SJ and Addin in one season will impact us, could be a decent get if the money is right imo

 

[Inruin]

Losing Tohu and potentially Dylan Walkers last season with us, I feel we'd be in even bigger trouble next year at lock than we are now.

Potentially Dylans last year. We also will have a further year of development on our youth players plus if needed we can go to the market with a fair amount of coin to spend.

Deffo Smith wouldn't make a big impact this year due to being injured and won't be hitting his straps til the end of the season, but I dunno man, the cupboards are looking pretty bare atm.

I see plenty of downside and very limited upside with signing him for this year. See above for the cupboard looks bare.

I wonder how the impact of loosing nearly 600 games of experience in Tohu, SJ and Addin in one season will impact us, could be a decent get if the money is right imo

How did that experience go for us this year? Arguably our best results this season were without them. We are also adding in a little bit of experience with JFH don't forget.

I just think many are looking at the Cheese from back at the Storm type form and seeing a kiwi player who might come home, maybe. I just think we have moved on from the mercy signings or the desperate singings and I feel that this would fall in to that camp. I personally would rather push the youth through than sign him or go to market for a player that isnt coming off a major injury and doesn't have an atiitude/maturity problem.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Although it wouldn’t be bad if Brandon Smith came here, I don’t think we need him. As opposed to other positions.

However a positive of signing him would be that he can actually play hooker and a “ball playing” middle. Freeing up a spot on the bench.

What would we do with Healy and Clark?

Given I want us to move away from starting with a “ball playing 13”. Lay a platform with a “tackle bot” or a 3rd prop. Then inject the ball player off the bench. Like Walker in 2023.

13. Ford/Ale/Barnett

14. Brandon Smith
15. Niukore
16. Vaimauga
17. Walker/Clark

That’s a pretty killer bench.
Double barrel Clark and Cheese at the 20 minute mark. Just like Walker and Jazz, probably even better.

 

[Noitall]

Storm squeeze looms as Haas headlines star-studded list of NRL’s next free agents

Storm squeeze looms as Haas headlines star-studded list of NRL’s next free agents

www.foxsports.com.au

Few on there we’d potentially have a look at

 

[Alaska238]

Does anyone know what's going on with Te Maire Martin and CNK?

The fact we havent resigned them yet makes me wonder if we are looking to release them at the end of the year. Same goes with Ale and Pompey

 

[Warriorsfan92]

An Optimistic Perspective About The New Zealand Warriors Future Without Tohu Harris — The Niche Cache

Tohu Harris has retired and New Zealand Warriors continue to plow forwards under the guidance of the two Andys (McFadden and Webster).

theniche-cache.com

 

[Vancent]

Would be happy to use the Tohu and other funds towards Hughes or Dylan Brown.

Yes, aware they have contracts.

 

[CWC]

Does anyone know what's going on with Te Maire Martin and CNK?

The fact we havent resigned them yet makes me wonder if we are looking to release them at the end of the year. Same goes with Ale and Pompey

They're probably offering Hughes $1.6M or something to come here in 2026, TMM still not signed and Tohu/SJ etc $ retired

 

[Wrighty]

Would be happy to use the Tohu and other funds towards Hughes or Dylan Brown.

Yes, aware they have contracts.

I mean this tongue in cheek but if we got one of them we would have too many halves and would offer a half back to the eels or Storm - most likely Boyd, TMM, or CHT. I would say we would take Luke off the table.

 

[CWC]

I mean this tongue in cheek but if we got one of them we would have too many halves and would offer a half back to the eels or Storm - most likely Boyd, TMM, or CHT. I would say we would take Luke off the table.

Probably Boyd or TMM they won't want to be the 4th half in the team after Hughes/Brown + Luke + 1 of Boyd/TMM.