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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[tajhay]

And yes he does have an elite boot

View: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6nHWaV7/

 

[Noitall]

View: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6nHWaV7/

Will be the last time they seek out Dylan Brown to give CHT kicking tips

 

[LeagueJunkie]

View: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6nHWaV7/

1.2m a year for CNK-esq goal kicking... Yeah nah.

 

[tajhay]

1.2m a year for CNK-esq goal kicking... Yeah nah.

I swear some people writing essays on how hes worth 1.2m have hardly seen him play. Elite? lol looks like the meaning behind "elite" and "franchise player" is eroded if those words are being associated with him.

This is an interesting stats driven piece on him from an eels fan from 3 years ago.

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/s/PcCliSCVet

Someone tell me whats changed since except his paypacket.

 

[Wrighty]

I swear some people writing essays on how hes worth 1.2m have hardly seen him play. Elite? lol looks like the meaning behind "elite" and "franchise player" is eroded if those words are being associated with him.

This is an interesting stats driven piece on him from an eels fan from 3 years ago.

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/s/PcCliSCVet

Someone tell me whats changed since except his paypacket.

Yes but I don't recall you backing any acquisition except for captain obvious ones like AFB.
Me and Bruce were the only posters on the forum who backed us taking DWZ off the bulldogs and to be fair he played like shit for them. But Bruce i knew that he had gunned it for the Kiwis and would therefore lift for the NZ Warriors. He is the grandson of a Great Chieftain and we pointed that out and were met with derision. Yet he has been an outstanding buy for the Warriors and he was a big part of our big run in 2023.

 

[Noitall]

I swear some people writing essays on how hes worth 1.2m have hardly seen him play. Elite? lol

This is an interesting stats driven piece on him from an eels fan from 3 years ago.

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/s/PcCliSCVet

Someone tell me whats changed since except his paypacket.

Bit of an essay you’ve used as your example in saying that but certainly 2021 wasn’t the best year for Brown as a 21 year and his 3rd year in the comp, played 21 games, 4 tries, 2 try assists, 98m average, 95% tackle efficiency. 2022 the eels made the grand final and Brown played 18 games, 11 tries, 17 try assists, 125m average, 93% tackle efficiency, so I bet that person had a different attitude of Brown that year although they didn’t win the comp. 2024 he played 24 games, 5 tries, 18 try assists, 131m average, 89% tackle efficiency. Based on that it seems he’s always been a strong defensive halve but his stats also show growth most year upon year. There’s no doubt he’s a running halve and not the game manager, but he’s certainly not a shit player. Perhaps asking for a high figure, but any job I’ve ever gone for I’ve started high because you can often go down but not up

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

I swear some people writing essays on how hes worth 1.2m have hardly seen him play. Elite? lol

This is an interesting stats driven piece on him from an eels fan from 3 years ago.

View: https://www.reddit.com/r/nrl/s/PcCliSCVet

Someone tell me whats changed since except his paypacket.

How is this even an argument? Seriously
Quick look on the “league live” app and his numbers are clearly better now.
He’s easily a better defender than our halves. And his offensive running game is just as good as Metcalf. Maybe even better.
You had to look 3-4 years ago to find this? He’s literally played 70 odd games and a GF and made the Kiwis since then. It’s ridiculous, he was 21.

Or what, in 3 years if Leka doesn’t turn into Sonny Bill Williams we arsehole him…..

Ok, Browns not and “organiser” yet. (Perhaps you can add to the “realistic options” list on who to sign alternatively)
I’m looking at the 2027 season when I assess Brown. He’ll probably have a good 150+ games under his belt.

Metcalfe comes off contract at the end of 2026.
We ALL want Metcalf to come good. But that just means he gets paid more from 2027 onwards. (Assuming he resigns)
So what’s the problem with Browns (potential) salary?
We sign Brown I’ll be happy to let Metcalf walk if push came to shove……
We have a secure half for 4-8 years.

In 2027 there will DEFINITELY be worse than
6. Brown 7. Metcalf/TMM/Cleary

Round 1 2027. Age and games (Assuming everyone plays at least 24 games (50%) of available 48 games for the next 2 seasons)

Brown 26 and 147 games
TMM 31 and 117 games
Metcalf 28 and 50 games
CHT 27 and 95 games
Hughes 32 and 174 games

 

[Noitall]

Would be interesting to know more about this potential manly prop? Could there be more movement to come in the team? Surely would be Sipley if there’s any truth?

 

[Five&Last]

You actually can……

When you consider that Metcalf comes off contract in 2 years.
There’s a grocery list of older halves that will retire by round 1, 2027.
Assuming Metcalf comes right, you think he isn’t getting a pay rise?
I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s getting 1 million dollar offers at all by then.
(Fun fact, if Metcalf somehow plays every game over the next 2 seasons, lol. Brown would still have more games today)

So really, you’d save a bit of money in 2026 and then it’ll pretty much be the same.

If Brown and Metcalf were both eligible for the Kiwis. Who would you select?
Browns defence alone gets him over the line for me…..
Come on down, Dylan Brown……

That same logic tells us we shouldn't sign him because Halasima is going to be commanding 900k a year when he comes off contract

 

[Noitall]

That same logic tells us we shouldn't sign him because Halasima is going to be commanding 900k a year when he comes off contract

You reckon lock is where they’re going play him like rumours suggest?

 

[Five&Last]

I can and I did. Thank u.

Well then, salary cap aside, I'd like to sign Ponga, Cleary, Tino, Haas and Munster

In all seriousness, you or anyone else is yet to tell me a time where Brown has stood up and delivered when Moses has been absent. He put up okay-ish stats against average teams in those games last year but imo didn't even really look noticeably better than Daejarn Asi

Those ACL niggles he's had recently is also a ticking time bomb.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

View: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS6nHWaV7/

We do have CHT as a back up though

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Well then, salary cap aside, I'd like to sign Ponga, Cleary, Tino, Haas and Munster

That's the spirit! Take your grumpy panties off and have a little fun.

 

[Tragic]

Dylan brown would only be worth the risk for a short term gig, 1-2 years and only if you have spare cap. The reality is, looking at his current behavior, he will ask for more at renewal time and then go to market if you don't give it to him. He is not a club guy, he just wants money, fair enough but is that what we want?
Overpaying for a short term to win a premiership is ok with me. But it's a massive risk with DB. It comes at a cost of not growing someone who wants to be at the club so impacts your medium and long term trajectory.

If it was nathan or even dce I would say yes. DB has more downside risk than upside opportunity.

 

[Noitall]

Not too sure I quite understand those wanting to shoot others down for interest in Brown as the truth is nobody knows how he’d fit or how the Warriors would intend to use him? Don’t think anyone is disputing he’s not a game manager at this point in his career but as wrighty pointed out, DWZ had his critics initially, as did Montoya though his was low risk high reward in terms of salary. Perhaps the Warriors aren’t even interested the second time around? But if they are, surely the club would have a plan on how they’d use him if there was interest again?

 

[Cces]

Do people forget DWZ's form in 2021 & 2022? 2022 saw him play 18 games, 24 errors to go with 9 tries & some horrible defensive reads. He also went on a run of 1 win from 17 starts. Undoubtedly he's improved and some of his finishing has been incredible but has he actually been an astute signing given his pay packet? 1.4 errors per game across '23/'24

 

[Noitall]

Do people forget DWZ's form in 2021 & 2022? 2022 saw him play 18 games, 24 errors to go with 9 tries & some horrible defensive reads. Undoubtedly he's improved and some of his finishing has been incredible but has he actually been an astute signing given his pay packet? 1.4 errors per game across '23/'24

Still has some shocking reads defensively, but the upside outweighs the negative for me

 

[juju]

Do people forget DWZ's form in 2021 & 2022? 2022 saw him play 18 games, 24 errors to go with 9 tries & some horrible defensive reads. Undoubtedly he's improved and some of his finishing has been incredible but has he actually been an astute signing given his pay packet? 1.4 errors per game across '23/'24

He's pay packet was pretty irrelevant given it was pay partly by the Bulldogs.

He won over so many new fans in 23, it was marketing you count really buy for the club.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Whether it’s the age, the head injury, the interests outside footy that coincide with being in NZ, the club has all the leverage on TMM, he might have a great season this year … you probably still low ball him and dare him to take another offer.

Metcalf is the opposite, if he breaks out he can immediately play the family card, and the club will have to extend on serious money, so few good attacking halves around and the right age for a big contract.

CHT and Boyd aren’t getting more than back-end top 30 contracts so they don’t really matter.

I think Brown is better than some of the slander going on in here – but we don’t need that sort of break the line by myself half.

What kind of players are we producing internally? Strike running backrowers and centres, we need a smart passing half that can set these guys up, like an Egan of halves.

 

[Cces]

like an Egan of halves.

Some posters on here have noted that Tallan Egan is looking impressive this offseason. Jersey Flegg Fullback/6 who will probably feature in NSW Cup too