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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	M
13	Edward Kosi	✔
14	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
15	Ali Leiataua	✔
16	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
17	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Marcelo Montoya	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 13/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[Noitall]

[IMG alt="The Punisher"]https://sharksforever.com/data/avatars/m/27/27773.jpg?1694220982[/IMG]

The Punisher​

Bull Shark​

• 36 minutes ago
• 
  
• #2,099

Dragons are close to securing RCG according to the rumours going around. Him and big red would be a massive improvement to that forward pack.

Ive also heard that RCG could be going to the other red vee - St.Helens.

And i expect Horse & Bunty Afoa to be in Tigers colours

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I reckon Barnett should play in the 2nd row with Capewell and Laban on the bench. JFH and Niukore to start games with Tohu and Sifakula coming off the bench..

Barnett has zero lateral mobility

 

[Damo]

[IMG alt="The Punisher"]https://sharksforever.com/data/avatars/m/27/27773.jpg?1694220982[/IMG]

The Punisher​

Bull Shark​

• 36 minutes ago
• 
  
• #2,099

Ive also heard that RCG could be going to the other red vee - St.Helens.

And i expect Horse & Bunty Afoa to be in Tigers colours

Horsburgh has said today he's staying at the Raiders.

Raiders’ Horsburgh makes call on playing future

The Raiders forward was being courted by the Wests Tigers.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Inruin]

Barnett has zero lateral mobility

agreed, but for that first 20 minutes it isn't a bad option having him in the second row with a young impact player to come off the bench when the game has opened up a little. Then Barney can revert back to prop.

 

[Noitall]

Horsburgh has said today he's staying at the Raiders.

Raiders’ Horsburgh makes call on playing future

The Raiders forward was being courted by the Wests Tigers.

www.smh.com.au

Certainly sounds like RCG is going to St George too. Bunty’s name still being linked to other clubs though

 

[Noitall]

Warriors forward attracting interest from Australian clubs

He is free to speak with rival teams from November 1.

www.zerotackle.com

 

[Blain]

Props;
JFH, Barnett, Marata, Ale, Sifakula, Afoa, Maiúu
Locks;
Harris, Walker, Clark
Second Rowers;
Capewell, Ford, Halamisia, Laban

Real quick exercise, but basically our props/middles are stacked number wise. Barnett might play lock next year looking at it, and Ford perhaps front row.. If Harris is fit, I expect him to be starting at lock or prop, him and Barnett will do a similar job. I think everyone here has forgotten about Tohu's ball playing, I wouldn't write him off. There is a lot of combo options available, but if everyone is on the park at the start of the season our pack is pretty easy to pick except for Capewell's opposite second rower.

JFH
Egan
Barnett
Capewell
Laban/Halamasia (I think we really need some youth in the pack, really hope one of these guys steps up)
Harris

Clark
Walker
Ford
Niukore

Sifakula/Ale/Afoa/Zion

Is Afoa getting much game time? Probably not. Is he on much money? Don't think so. I don't think there is any point in letting him go unless we really need his roster spot for another position, and have a signing lined up.

 

[Noitall]

Great timing to get Thompson bros for 2026 if it works out, Leo to be the spearhead entering his prime, Barney and JFH starting to come down from their alpha peak so can be amazing supporting players, Sifakula/Zyon Maiu’u etc got 2025 another year of development to become regular FGers in 2026

I thought that article I posted last week about whether Leo Thompson’s brother could hold the keys to his future. As it stands I can’t see anywhere officially that Tyrone Thompson is on a development contract at the knights next year, though their forum believes he is. If Leo were to sign elsewhere after November 1, the knights could see it worthless to persevere with Tyrone knowing that he’s going to leave with his brother in 2026? Being that the knights have Leo Thompson on a salary that’s a win for them next year, I would doubt they’d let him walk early, but if there’s no upside in developing his brother for a year, they may just cut their losses? I see Mat Croker has been told by knights he won’t be extended, had seen somewhere that he was going to tigers but I think there’s a lot of fast changing negotiations going on

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Bloody hell, we're really cleaning house at the minute....

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Bloody hell, we're really cleaning house at the minute....

Good. We’ve made the top GF twice in 15 years. It’s not good enough & a clean out is warranted.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Good. We’ve made the top GF twice in 15 years. It’s not good enough & a clean out is warranted.

But to whom are we cleaning it for? I smell a couple more contracts being negotiated.

 

[Kav1]

I thought that article I posted last week about whether Leo Thompson’s brother could hold the keys to his future. As it stands I can’t see anywhere officially that Tyrone Thompson is on a development contract at the knights next year, though their forum believes he is. If Leo were to sign elsewhere after November 1, the knights could see it worthless to persevere with Tyrone knowing that he’s going to leave with his brother in 2026? Being that the knights have Leo Thompson on a salary that’s a win for them next year, I would doubt they’d let him walk early, but if there’s no upside in developing his brother for a year, they may just cut their losses? I see Mat Croker has been told by knights he won’t be extended, had seen somewhere that he was going to tigers but I think there’s a lot of fast changing negotiations going on

I heard (NRL 360?) that Leo roomed with JFH before the Kiwis/Kangaroos test last year. He came out of it a much improved player due to the latter's influence. The Warriors could do worse than pick him up

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

But to whom are we cleaning it for? I smell a couple more contracts being negotiated.

It should be for Webster. He needs to get his team.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

It should for Webster. He needs to get his team.

Me thinks you could be correct. By the way players talk about Webster, he could be quite a desirable coach to play for.

 

[Noitall]

Bloody hell, we're really cleaning house at the minute....

The Warriors have 13 players who will be free to negotiate with rival teams from November 1 for the 2026 season and onwards. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Te Maire Martinheadline this list.

But it also includes Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, and Dylan Walker.



This is who’s free to negotiate from November. You’d have to think that Ford, like Montoya might be released if he can find a contract past next year being his final year? Ali Leiataua is the obvious one to get done asap. Perhaps Tuaupiki if he’s apart of their future plans

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Think Barney at 13 could be the play, can then get this sort of succession plan going-

2025
8. Fish
10. Marata
13. Barney
15. Harris (Last year of his deal, 33y/o)

2026
8. Fish
10. A recruit (Or, just roll with Marata)
13. Barney
15. Marata

2027
8. Fish
10. A recruit (Or, bring up a young guy from within)
13. Demitric (First year of any new deal he signs and going on 23 so primed for a bigger role)
15. Barney (Last year of his deal, 33y/o)

 

[MrFrankWhite]

This is who’s free to negotiate from November. You’d have to think that Ford, like Montoya might be released if he can find a contract past next year being his final year?

Ford could be an 80min prop. Theres 4-5 players we should be letting go before him.

 

[Noitall]

I heard (NRL 360?) that Leo roomed with JFH before the Kiwis/Kangaroos test last year. He came out of it a much improved player due to the latter's influence. The Warriors could do worse than pick him up

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

This is from February, so hard to know if it’s still the case? I could see these two as a big part of our future if me managed to pick up Tyrone too. Would take a couple of years development probably, but I think these two could be what we thought the Kepu’s might be and more

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Ford could be an 80min prop. Theres 4-5 players we should be letting go before him.

Agreed. He played exceptionally better at 80 minutes. Brothers a straight up line bender, can't be expecting him to be a part of the fancy plays.

It's all square peg, round hole type stuff.

 

[Noitall]

Ford could be an 80min prop. Theres 4-5 players we should be letting go before him.

Depends who’s available. I think our young second rowers are far enough to be adequate cover on an edge, so to me Ford primarily prop that can cover second row at if needed. He’s likely to see first grade if injuries occur next year, or at best bench spot? I think if he was offered something better, the club wouldn’t stand in his way