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

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance to offtopic chat.

 

[Wrighty]

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.

if we don't take the risk we have no chance of making the top four. If we do take the risk we may only have a ten percent chance of making the top four but at least there is something to hope for. I think some of you blokes are going to get a rude awakening this year when we are sitting 14th after 12 rounds with our current spine being ridiculous and not at NRL standard.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

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

I just noticed that there is a Cameron Smith playing in the English Super League at the moment!

 

[Inruin]

I think some of you blokes are going to get a rude awakening this year when we are sitting 14th after 12 rounds with our current spine being ridiculous and not at NRL standard.

Is that your call for round 12?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

if we don't take the risk we have no chance of making the top four. If we do take the risk we may only have a ten percent chance of making the top four but at least there is something to hope for. I think some of you blokes are going to get a rude awakening this year when we are sitting 14th after 12 rounds with our current spine being ridiculous and not at NRL standard.

I get your point there, and yes brown is by far better than any of our halves, but our halves have more potential to play above the pay packet than brown playing above a player on 1.2 mil.

Just look at what that did to Luke brook! It was sad really.

Man if he really thinks he can carry the team on his back, than I'm all for it, it's still a risk.

I would still chahoo! If he did sign with us.

 

[Wrighty]

I get your point there, and yes brown is by far better than any of our halves, but our halves have more potential to play above the pay packet than brown playing above a player on 1.2 mil.

Just look at what that did to Luke brook! It was sad really.

Our Halves do not have great potential. They are not going to improve. Maybe Metcalf is the exception. The other three are journeymen even though CHT and Boyd are young they are young journeymen with no potential to improve and TMM has no upside to get any better.

I think Metcalf and Brown could be good enough for top 4.
I think any halves combination relying on TMM or CHT or Boyd is not going anywhere.

TMM 29 years old
CHT turns 26 in April
Boyd is the young pup at 24
Metcalf turns 26 in March

 

[Wrighty]

@BangBro's (still banging)

The other point I want to make is that I suspect some of you are still thinking about salaries like it is a 2022.
It is 2025 - Cleary is the biggest name in the game and will soon sign a $1.5M agreement.
$1.2M is the old $1M in 2022 under the current cap.
Let's say Brown is worth $850K like you say (which I think is a 2022 pricing estimate) then to outbid him away from Eels who want to keep him then surely we have to offer $1M - which is $1.2M in today's cap money. Hope that all made sense.
It is a new world and new contract amounts.

 

[doeeyedwarrior]

Our Halves do not have great potential. They are not going to improve. Maybe Metcalf is the exception. The other three are journeymen even though CHT and Boyd are young they are young journeymen with no potential to improve and TMM has no upside to get any better.

I think Metcalf and Brown could be good enough for top 4.
I think any halves combination relying on TMM or CHT or Boyd is not going anywhere.

TMM 29 years old
CHT turns 26 in April
Boyd is the young pup at 24
Metcalf turns 26 in March

I think Brown and Metcalf would be about as fruitful as the Sandow, Ben Roberts half partnership for the Eels.

Most people's big argument about Boyd over TMM is the kicking threat. 1.2 on a player who has a worse kicking game than all our halves. He managed 2 more try assists than TMM in 8 games last year, was the lead half for some of it and disappeared whereas TMM stood up and was awesome.

Us Warriors fans are too often like an 8 year old with their birthday money from their grandparents, think everything we don't have is shiny and better than what we already have.

IMO I would keep TMM all day over Brown at the price being put out

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Based on my assessment of our current halves stocks, I don’t think Brown is a great fit. I also don’t think he’s worth more than $900k a year. However I do see him as a top 3 stand off in the NRL. Does he improve our side - absolutely he does, no question of that. Is he the perfect fit? Definitely not, however I’d be happy if we signed him. He’s a player that can be part of the nucleus that we look to build a more competitive side around. He’s still young for a half & I don’t think we should view him in isolation of the potential to sign other players in the future that compliment him. But geez, surely a low probability that this all plays out.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

It’s been a week and still no list of these “organising 7s” that might REALISTICALLY come to the Warriors.
Fine I’ll start…… Jahrome Hughes.
Maybe (we’re talking 1-2%) Nathan Cleary.
Can anyone name 1 more?

Anyway……
Metcalf is signed until the end of 2026.
When ALOT of older playmakers will probably be retired.
Assuming he kicks on, if you think he isn’t getting a significant pay rise……. You’re delusional……..

So who give a shit if Brown wants 1.2 million.
You’ll save a bit of money in 2026 then Metcalf will probably be expensive anyway. (If he even resigns)

As other members have written.
Signing Brown takes pressure off our need to recruit halves for 4-8 years. Plus he’ll probably be the poster boy of the club.

 

[Damo]

It’s been a week and still no list of these “organising 7s” that might REALISTICALLY come to the Warriors.
Fine I’ll start…… Jahrome Hughes.
Maybe (we’re talking 1-2%) Nathan Cleary.
Can anyone name 1 more?

Ronald Volkman
Toby Sexton
Jake Clifford

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Our Halves do not have great potential. They are not going to improve. Maybe Metcalf is the exception. The other three are journeymen even though CHT and Boyd are young they are young journeymen with no potential to improve and TMM has no upside to get any better.

I think Metcalf and Brown could be good enough for top 4.
I think any halves combination relying on TMM or CHT or Boyd is not going anywhere.

TMM 29 years old
CHT turns 26 in April
Boyd is the young pup at 24
Metcalf turns 26 in March

Saying Boyd has no potential at age 24, being one of the best young halves coming through junior grades is harsh. 7s don’t fully grasp the role until mid to late 20s, with Cleary the exception. Jerome only really clicked in his late 20s. There’s still hope for Boyd & he has the fundamentals to be a quality 7.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I thought that at times last year, one of the big criticisms of our club was that we were too robotic, too slow and didn't have enough game breakers in our team to capitalise on our forwards being so dominant.

I get that we still don't have a dominant kicking half, but Brown (along with Ali and Metcalf) would really help with this and bring some off the cuff, attacking plays that make us quite a dangerous team.

How many times last year did we dominate a game for decent periods (15-25 minutes) and come away with bugger all points. Being up another 6-12 points can build scoreboard pressure and paint the opposing team into a corner where they have to take risks. This is just one way we can build pressure when you don't have a top kicker in the halves

 

[JaggedJ]

We made the top 4 in 2008 with a spine of McKinnon, Witt, Rovelli, Fien/Gatis.

Winning the premiership and making the top 4 are too different beasts, but it's not like our season is over before it begins.

 

[Tragic]

We made the top 4 in 2008 with a spine of McKinnon, Witt, Rovelli, Fien/Gatis.

Winning the premiership and making the top 4 are too different beasts, but it's not like our season is over before it begins.

An international and a city/country rep who should played SOO in that lot. And Witt was probably better than any half we have now too. Not saying we can't make the top 4 but we got a worse spine than that lot.

 

[Wahs Up TV]

The GM from panthers did a good interview with James graham sharing their wage structure per position and how they never tend to break it. In saying that they have produced talent that on paper they wouldn’t be able to afford within the salary cap if they bought what they produced hence why they’ve let that talent go. Let’s be honest we haven’t produced any talent right now worth more than 400k current value but I know the goal is to eventually produce that talent ourselves. Until we get our development to a level where we lose 750-1mil talent and replace it with talent that will be of that value we will always need a Dylan brown or jahrome Hughes to compete. This will be my gripe if in 5 years we still aren’t producing high quality talent and are still trying to buy million dollar halves and spine players from aus. That will tell me the club has failed at being a successful development club ala Penrith.

 

[UpTheWahs]

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

There's been more trades in the NRL than the number of times we've played in NRL finals. Go figure.

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

Says the guy on a warriors forum

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

Right after we trade you for geepee

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

The GM from panthers did a good interview with James graham sharing their wage structure per position and how they never tend to break it. In saying that they have produced talent that on paper they wouldn’t be able to afford within the salary cap if they bought what they produced hence why they’ve let that talent go. Let’s be honest we haven’t produced any talent right now worth more than 400k current value but I know the goal is to eventually produce that talent ourselves. Until we get our development to a level where we lose 750-1mil talent and replace it with talent that will be of that value we will always need a Dylan brown or jahrome Hughes to compete. This will be my gripe if in 5 years we still aren’t producing high quality talent and are still trying to buy million dollar halves and spine players from aus. That will tell me the club has failed at being a successful development club ala Penrith.

I realise you’re talking about development.

But….
This was kinda the argument I was making on one of the other threads. And I was using Tanah Boyd as my example…
Boyd is a good signing, bad selection. (At least as a first choice)

IMO, it’s madness to be playing Tanah Boyd over TMM who are pretty much on the same level. (Obviously with injuries, it just is what it is)
Chances of TMM leaving vs Boyd?
If Boyd plays 20+ games, gets his career back on track in 2025 and leaves.
Then what? (Heaven forbid he takes up 2 seasons then leaves)

We’re not going to win the NRL in 2025.
And you’d be hard pressed to say we’re a sure bet to play finals.
So what are we losing?
So what are we building towards?
IMO, we need a REAL rebuild year……
Choose a direction.
Commit to it.
Regardless of the results of 2025.
(That includes sorting out whose actually going to be in in 2+ years time)

Obviously that doesn’t mean we don’t take risks. Metcalfe is in my team. And yes he could leave too…. But you gotta make a play somewhere.

I feel people get trapped in the “I’m happy just to scrape into the 8” and considering that success. You peel back the top layer and there’s really nothing there.

What even constitutes a successful club?
Melbourne were winning comps and were also losing money for years….. Is that successful? Maybe…….

2027 round 1 halves pairing.
6. Brown 7. Metcalf/TMM/Cleary
When you consider who will be retiring in the next 2 years. And the extra NRL teams by 2028. There’d certainly be worse out there.

Brown has a good 8-10 years left.
And TMM has 3-5 years. Then we’ll see what Halves our development programs have come up with.

 

[Wahs Up TV]

I realise you’re talking about development.

But….
This was kinda the argument I was making on one of the other threads. And I was using Tanah Boyd as my example…
Boyd is a good signing, bad selection. (At least as a first choice)

IMO, it’s madness to be playing Tanah Boyd over TMM who are pretty much on the same level. (Obviously with injuries, it just is what it is)
Chances of TMM leaving vs Boyd?
If Boyd plays 20+ games, gets his career back on track in 2025 and leaves.
Then what? (Heaven forbid he takes up 2 seasons then leaves)

We’re not going to win the NRL in 2025.
And you’d be hard pressed to say we’re a sure bet to play finals.
So what are we losing?
So what are we building towards?
IMO, we need a REAL rebuild year……
Choose a direction.
Commit to it.
Regardless of the results of 2025.
(That includes sorting out whose actually going to be in in 2+ years time)

Obviously that doesn’t mean we don’t take risks. Metcalfe is in my team. And yes he could leave too…. But you gotta make a play somewhere.

I feel people get trapped in the “I’m happy just to scrape into the 8” and considering that success. You peel back the top layer and there’s really nothing there.

What even constitutes a successful club?
Melbourne were winning comps and were also losing money for years….. Is that successful? Maybe…….

2027 round 1 halves pairing.
6. Brown 7. Metcalf/TMM/Cleary
When you consider who will be retiring in the next 2 years. And the extra NRL teams by 2028. There’d certainly be worse out there.

Brown has a good 8-10 years left.
And TMM has 3-5 years. Then we’ll see what Halves our development programs have come up with.

Yeah im talking about development but this situation with Boyd is a symptom of a potential bigger issue that our development isnt there yet or could potentially not reach the level. But i would be concerned if we are 5 years down the track and we sign a tanah boyd type as a starter. Brown would get you over the next years solidly but we need to unearth another SJ to be sustainable long term in much the same sense penrith produced cleary luai to'o yeo etc.

The most sustainable and consistent periods of our clubs success have been with 2 warriors produced halves, I dont think thats a coincidence. But whoever can bridge the gap between then Im happy for the club to pay for but lets not kid ourselves that development needs to kick in in the next 3-5 years to build sustainability

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Yeah im talking about development but this situation with Boyd is a symptom of a potential bigger issue that our development isnt there yet or could potentially not reach the level. But i would be concerned if we are 5 years down the track and we sign a tanah boyd type as a starter. Brown would get you over the next years solidly but we need to unearth another SJ to be sustainable long term in much the same sense penrith produced cleary luai to'o yeo etc.

The most sustainable and consistent periods of our clubs success have been with 2 warriors produced halves, I dont think thats a coincidence. But whoever can bridge the gap between then Im happy for the club to pay for but lets not kid ourselves that development needs to kick in in the next 3-5 years to build sustainability

I completely agree development is the key to our long term success. The fact is we have to recruit.
IMO, we’re at least 3 years away from winning the NRL. Probably 5 years more realistically.

That’s why the JFH signing is so important. Not for 2025…… But for 2027 onwards.
Don’t get me wrong, if we can make the finals every year. Excellent.
But I genuinely don’t care if we don’t. I’ve been here since 2002, I’m not going anywhere. If we have a “trust the process” style rebuild in 2025, maybe even 2026.
As long as we’re building REAL foundations…..
I realise Andrew Webster has pressure for results NOW.

6. Metcalf 7. Boyd is just unnecessarily risk with pretty low upside. IMO
Both coincidentally coming off contract at the same time.

I’m sick of scraping into the finals and considering it “successful”.
Hey, if Webby can sort it all out by 2026. Great…….. I’ll happily accept.
Realistic? Probably not……….

 

[WA Warrior]

I completely agree development is the key to our long term success. The fact is we have to recruit.
IMO, we’re at least 3 years away from winning the NRL. Probably 5 years more realistically.

That’s why the JFH signing is so important. Not for 2025…… But for 2027 onwards.
Don’t get me wrong, if we can make the finals every year. Excellent.
But I genuinely don’t care if we don’t. I’ve been here since 2002, I’m not going anywhere. If we have a “trust the process” style rebuild in 2025, maybe even 2026.
As long as we’re building REAL foundations…..
I realise Andrew Webster has pressure for results NOW.

6. Metcalf 7. Boyd is just unnecessarily risk with pretty low upside. IMO
Both coincidentally coming off contract at the same time.

I’m sick of scraping into the finals and considering it “successful”.
Hey, if Webby can sort it all out by 2026. Great…….. I’ll happily accept.
Realistic? Probably not……….

Bro how can you be sick of scrapping into the Finals, we only made the 8 twice since 2012.
We need to consistently make the 8 first before thinking of the title.
But I agree fully with development being the key to our long term success.