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	T
-	Motu Pasikala	T

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

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: 23/30
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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[WA Warrior]

We once made back to back finals series with a large part of our spine consisting of Rovelli, Witt, Ian Henderson and Georgie Gatis!....it can be done.....don't think you'd progress much further, but play smart enough we can still be in the mix.....that's the best I'm hoping for this year.

Great point mate.
If Webby has the right game plan who knows what we can achieve.

 

[Leon Black]

https://www.theroar.com.au/2025/01/24/ranking-the-nrl-spines-serious-question-marks-for-souths-tigers-on-the-rise-and-panthers-rivals-take-top-spot/

Warriors spine rated second to last. Bullshit article as they list Lussick rather than Egan

The Roar is written by amateurs, non real journos… they make Zero Tackle look like ESPN

 

[Noitall]

The Roar is written by amateurs, non real journos… they make Zero Tackle look like ESPN

Articles I most enjoy are probably those niche cache ones. Good insight

 

[doeeyedwarrior]

I agree we are ranked second to last for our spine. Only rose coloured glasses make our spine look good.

The only type of glasses worth wearing

 

[Iridescent]

For something to talk about. Sorry if its wasting your precious time to have to come and say everything’s a shit idea

I'm not sure you understand my question; I genuinely want to know why all the talk about trades, I get it if it's the NBA but otherwise it makes no sense when it's not even possible with the way NRL contracts are set up.

I think you may be getting confused with Supercoach

 

[Noitall]

I'm not sure you understand my question; I genuinely want to know why all the talk about trades, I get it if it's the NBA but otherwise it makes no sense when it's not even possible with the way NRL contracts are set up.

I think you may be getting confused with Supercoach

Bulldogs and Warriors Trade Players

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors have today agreed to a player trade with Shaun Lane to join the Auckland based side and Raymond Faitala-Mariner set to make the move to Belmore.

www.bulldogs.com.au

Here’s a scenario that involved us regarding RFM some years ago. Situations like when Metcalf signed with us a year out and sharks wouldn’t release him, there’s a good chance they said if you give us x player, we’ll release him to you now. Shit sometimes players are loaned out, we’ve had a few and Harry Grant even spent a season at tigers. There’s plenty of flexibility in these contracts for both players and clubs

 

[OtautahiEast]

I hope they update the website with the women's profile's and nsw cup players this year be a shame to not promote the wahine I think they have a good shot to take it out this year

 

[Iridescent]

Bulldogs and Warriors Trade Players

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and New Zealand Warriors have today agreed to a player trade with Shaun Lane to join the Auckland based side and Raymond Faitala-Mariner set to make the move to Belmore.

www.bulldogs.com.au

Here’s a scenario that involved us regarding RFM some years ago. Situations like when Metcalf signed with us a year out and sharks wouldn’t release him, there’s a good chance they said if you give us x player, we’ll release him to you now. Shit sometimes players are loaned out, we’ve had a few and Harry Grant even spent a season at tigers. There’s plenty of flexibility in these contracts for both players and clubs

The fact you have had to go back ten years to find an example just emphasizes my point

 

[UpTheWahs]

The fact you have had to go back ten years to find an example just emphasizes my point

Player trade is a possible option when it comes to recruitment. Doesn't matter the frequency.

By your logic why are we wasting our time discussing the warriors? The last time we made the GF was 14 years ago.

 

[Five&Last]

Dolphins, Warriors, dragons, knights and an unnamed sydney team interested in Dylan Brown and he’s asking $1.2 million per season

Cap suicide

He’s a running five eighth that can tackle

i.e. a center in a halves body

Has he actually ever played well when asked to be the primary playmaker?

 

[Noitall]

The fact you have had to go back ten years to find an example just emphasizes my point

Thought I’d give you one you might remember, but I’m not convinced you’re a Warriors fan at all. All your posts are just criticisms of someone else’s posts and never anything of content regarding the team. Francis Molo is a present example. Wants a release from his remaining contract for this season and next and dragons would be within their rights to ask for a player from whatever club shows interest in him and release him or let him finish his stint in nsw cup. Would be a waste of cap but they’d be within their rights. Those are the scenarios where trades exist in nrl

 

[Noitall]

Cap suicide

He’s a running five eighth that can tackle

i.e. a center in a halves body

Has he actually ever played well when asked to be the primary playmaker?

Perhaps that’s the model the club wants to go back to when SJ was a running threat and we recruited the likes of Blake Green to complement him? Many didn’t think they’d see SJ organising like he did in 2023 earlier in his career. He could be handy in guiding Brown as to how he became the organising halfback. SJ’s always had a good boot on him though and that’s probably an area where Brown will never be strong in. I back the club whether their decision is to go in hard on Dylan Brown or pass it up, trusting their plan moving forward

 

[Noitall]

The fact you have had to go back ten years to find an example just emphasizes my point

Storm Farewell Premiership Star Olam, Welcome Blore

Melbourne Storm and Wests Tigers have agreed on a player swap that will see Justin Olam and Shawn Blore trade jerseys for the start of the 2024 NRL season.

www.melbournestorm.com.au

Here’s another a bit more recent in case you’re not convinced. Anyway what’s your thoughts on Warriors recruitment?

 

[Noitall]

The top TEN recruits for the 2025 NRL season

Who are you most looking forward to watching?

www.zerotackle.com

JFH pipped by one spot by AFB in what they offer. Interesting to extend it to 11 just for an honourable mention to Sam Healey out of all players recruited to all teams

 

[Iridescent]

Player trade is a possible option when it comes to recruitment. Doesn't matter the frequency.

By your logic why are we wasting our time discussing the warriors? The last time we made the GF was 14 years ago.

If the Warriors hadn't played a game in 10 years then yes no one would be discussing them, however the fact is they have played over 250 games since the last "trade" so there has been a bit to discuss

But by all means keep fantasizing about things that will never happen,

Here I have one for you, we should trade Lussick for Cam Smith

 

[roguei]

If the Warriors hadn't played a game in 10 years then yes no one would be discussing them, however the fact is they have played over 250 games since the last "trade" so there has been a bit to discuss

But by all means keep fantasizing about things that will never happen,

Here I have one for you, we should trade Lussick for Cam Smith

It'd be a very boring and uneventful thread if people only ever talked about confirmed things mate. Gotta have some interesting thoughts and speculations to keep things lively.

 

[Five&Last]

Perhaps that’s the model the club wants to go back to when SJ was a running threat and we recruited the likes of Blake Green to complement him? Many didn’t think they’d see SJ organising like he did in 2023 earlier in his career. He could be handy in guiding Brown as to how he became the organising halfback. SJ’s always had a good boot on him though and that’s probably an area where Brown will never be strong in. I back the club whether their decision is to go in hard on Dylan Brown or pass it up, trusting their plan moving forward

If you’re getting paid 1.2m a year, you are already elite. You don’t need coaching from SJ on how to organise.

Brown is not a kicking threat at all and I’m pretty sure he’s always struggled creating attacking plays when Moses has been out.

SJ even in some of his most down years always had 10x the creative spark Brown has.

He’s a great player, but he’s not the type of player we are going to ask him to be if we’re paying him 1.2m a year.

 

[Iridescent]

It'd be a very boring and uneventful thread if people only ever talked about confirmed things mate. Gotta have some interesting thoughts and speculations to keep things lively.

Like I just said we should trade Lussick for Cam Smith, thoughts?

 

[Wrighty]

If you’re getting paid 1.2m a year, you are already elite. You don’t need coaching from SJ on how to organise.

Brown is not a kicking threat at all and I’m pretty sure he’s always struggled creating attacking plays when Moses has been out.

SJ even in some of his most down years always had 10x the creative spark Brown has.

He’s a great player, but he’s not the type of player we are going to ask him to be if we’re paying him 1.2m a year.

I think you are probably right. And the main reason I agree with you is that when he played, Brown, for the Kiwis, he did not stand out at test match level. However the question I pose to you is that surely you agree we will probably sneak into the playoffs most years with him in the halves vs running with TMM and Metcalf or Metcalf and CHT. He is an upgrade on our present halves significantly so why would we not do this when we can afford the dollars.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

If you’re getting paid 1.2m a year, you are already elite. You don’t need coaching from SJ on how to organise.

Brown is not a kicking threat at all and I’m pretty sure he’s always struggled creating attacking plays when Moses has been out.

SJ even in some of his most down years always had 10x the creative spark Brown has.

He’s a great player, but he’s not the type of player we are going to ask him to be if we’re paying him 1.2m a year.

It's just the money side of it for me. If it was 850k and moving up in that direction I would be happy with, but 1.2 off the bat means you need instant results, because if he doesn't deliver, it can turn quickly and that could be crippling for the club.

It's a huge risk, do they need to take that risk right now? I'm not sold sure.