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	✔	✔	✔
	Morgan Harper	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
21	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
22	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
23	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
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	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	S	✔	✔
S5	Sio Kali	S
S6	Patrick Moimoi	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Motu Pasikala	T	✔	✔

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

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 21/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Dylan Walker

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[Brightman]

I watched a Manly pre season training vid last week. And Tof looks in tremendous shape. Quite muscular and still big. I'd prefer him over Aloai & Molo of they were the other options.

were there sand dunes..
Hard pass on recruiting Tof please

 

[Wrighty]

Tof Sipley

6 foot 3
120 kgs
Turned 30 in January

 

[The Warrior Waka]

were there sand dunes..
Hard pass on recruiting Tof please

They were at the beach , So close enough. I hope we sign him! I like it when you get mad .....Not at me tho.

 

[Iridescent]

Lol mate, are you Donald Trump? You both seem to not be aware of a process called fact checking.

Galvin requested multiple releases before he played a game in first grade for the Tigers. Let me know if you get stuck and I can help find the source for you

Also, please quote me anything that I've said about Zyon Maiu’u that indicates I'm fixated on him, I think I posted one thing, maybe two?

I'm more fixated on arseholes like you who act high and mighty and say bull shit statements, who then backtrack and try to twist the argument. Get a life man, this is an internet forum, no body thinks your cool.

I look forward to yet another pivot from you, and how you explain how the Tigers didn't dig their heels in with an 18 year old who hadn't tasted first grade. Something you claim doesn't happen lol.

When Zyon Maiu’u is as good as Galvin let me know and you really know how to hurt a guy don't ya

You give off major loser energy bruh

 

[Fizurg]

When Zyon Maiu’u is as good as Galvin let me know and you really know how to hurt a guy don't ya

You give off major loser energy bruh

His point still stands though. It’s not that uncommon for teams to refuse the release of players. How often it happens with NSW cup level guys would be hard to guess since it’s not exactly likely to hit the media like when players like Hunt have it happen.

 

[Blain]

Tof's knees were buggered last season. Would need a full medical pass before even being considered. He is a TPJ style prop which we currently don't have, but I think Vaimauga can grow into that role, judging on how he played last season.

I think he'd be a decent addition on say a 2 year deal, but I really want to see these young guys actually get game time this season.

 

[waipiro]

Tof's knees were buggered last season. Would need a full medical pass before even being considered. He is a TPJ style prop which we currently don't have, but I think Vaimauga can grow into that role, judging on how he played last season.

As far as 30 year old props go Molo may offer a bit more than Tof?
Seems to play more games year on year, Good tackle efficiency and better post contact metres . Also Auckland born.
Impact off the bench in rotation with demetric?

Not sure if we need another senior prop though if they play Marata in the middle (and he provides utility cover).

 

[Canonball]

As far as 30 year old props go Molo may offer a bit more than Tof?
Seems to play more games year on year, Good tackle efficiency and better post contact metres . Also Auckland born.
Impact off the bench in rotation with demetric?

Not sure if we need another senior prop though if they play Marata in the middle (and he provides utility cover).

I don't see the advantage of bringing in any of those older prop options at this stage, even with a gap in the roster that is 'prop-shaped' - kinda think what will happen is we'll see the promotion of a younger back from within the system already - possibly Kali or Moi Moi - the market out there in all positions is not the best, unless we start talking about Brown again and somehow getting him immediately, but then I'm mildly adverse to paying over for him in any circumstances

Will be really interesting to see the front row rotation on Friday

 

[Blain]

As far as 30 year old props go Molo may offer a bit more than Tof?
Seems to play more games year on year, Good tackle efficiency and better post contact metres . Also Auckland born.
Impact off the bench in rotation with demetric?

Not sure if we need another senior prop though if they play Marata in the middle (and he provides utility cover).

Molo would come with almost twice the price tag, and need a longer deal. I agree, Marata is arguably better than Molo anyway.

 

[Fonzie]

I wonder how bad the Berry injury is. The Mole is reporting that we released Zyon Maiu’u to use the roster spot to bring in another outside back

 

[Canonball]

I wonder how bad the Berry injury is. The Mole is reporting that we released Zyon Maiu’u to use the roster spot to bring in another outside back

Yeah that was my thinking too - the comments from AW about the release referred to the opportunity to get the balance of the squad better, and mentioned he was happy with the 'local talent' but mixed that comment in with 'forwards', therefore leaving it open as to whether a back may be recruited, tho Kali and MGT are there in the interchange numbers for friday possibly as an audition for the top squad

 

[WarriorsForever]

Can we just get a long rangy back from sevens already

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Why would we want to sign Sipley? He’s over 30 & doesn’t fit the mould of what Webster wants from a modern day prop. Won’t we have a prop rotation of Barnett, JFH, Niukore, Ford & Vaimauga (if they decide he’s better suited to prop given Halasima & Laban are also competing for second row spots). Why would we want Sipley for anything other than a boring depth signing?

 

[WarriorsForever]

Why would we want to sign Sipley? He’s over 30 & doesn’t fit the mould of what Webster wants from a modern day prop. Won’t we have a prop rotation of Barnett, JFH, Niukore, Ford & Vaimauga (if they decide he’s better suited to prop given Halasima & Laban are also competing for second row spots). Why would we want Sipley for anything other than a boring depth signing?

Based on reports that we released Zyon Maiu’u to free up a roster spot to potentially sign another back I feel those rumours were false.

 

[SJ2k]

Why would we want to sign Sipley? He’s over 30 & doesn’t fit the mould of what Webster wants from a modern day prop. Won’t we have a prop rotation of Barnett, JFH, Niukore, Ford & Vaimauga (if they decide he’s better suited to prop given Halasima & Laban are also competing for second row spots). Why would we want Sipley for anything other than a boring depth signing?

Webby's idea of a prop rotation would have been a dire failure last year if it wasn't for having the best prop in the game, which we no longer have. We had huge issues when AFB came off. JFH is the man, but he is not AFB and we can't get away with the midget bench Webby has insisted on. We got monstered in so many games if AFB was not on the field. Tohu helped, who is also gone.

So yeah, if he's fit, he would be of immediate benefit for the next 2 years.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Webby's idea of a prop rotation would have been a dire failure last year if it wasn't for having the best prop in the game, which we no longer have. We had huge issues when AFB came off. JFH is the man, but he is not AFB and we can't get away with the midget bench Webby has insisted on. We got monstered in so many games if AFB was not on the field. Tohu helped, who is also gone.

So yeah, if he's fit, he would be of immediate benefit for the next 2 years.

AFB is a top 2 prop in the game, however we’ve signed an ok replacement in JFH. Tohu added zero value last year, he was a liability on the field. We have plenty of prop depth. Sipley wouldn’t get near our top 17.

 

[Riz]

Webby's idea of a prop rotation would have been a dire failure last year if it wasn't for having the best prop in the game, which we no longer have. We had huge issues when AFB came off. JFH is the man, but he is not AFB and we can't get away with the midget bench Webby has insisted on. We got monstered in so many games if AFB was not on the field. Tohu helped, who is also gone.

So yeah, if he's fit, he would be of immediate benefit for the next 2 years.

Marata and Demetric should be able to provide a much more consistent rotation than what we had last season.

 

[WA Warrior]

Webby's idea of a prop rotation would have been a dire failure last year if it wasn't for having the best prop in the game, which we no longer have. We had huge issues when AFB came off. JFH is the man, but he is not AFB and we can't get away with the midget bench Webby has insisted on. We got monstered in so many games if AFB was not on the field. Tohu helped, who is also gone.

So yeah, if he's fit, he would be of immediate benefit for the next 2 years.

I can see him being a benefit as well.
Our current middles are good but we haven’t got an imposing player for real impact - Vaimauga could be this player.
Sipley gives a bigger body type that could really help us off the bench.

 

[Tonbridge(aka Swanley)]

In Webster and Cappy I trust. No big loss, not a regular one was pretty one dimensional.

 

[Brightman]

I wonder how bad the Berry injury is. The Mole is reporting that we released Zyon Maiu’u to use the roster spot to bring in another outside back

Have been waiting to see how that will play out but at least we have ample cover in Kosi before recruiting..