Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



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NZWarriors.com

We're currently looking at starting Kosi in our first reg season game. What a shit show by the club releasing all these players with no recruits. We have 3 spots in the 30 and should have a ton of cap space. Kosi is not good enough to be our only back up winger. Massive own goal right here. Still dirty on us letting Curran go too.
 
This is actually bad recruitment that we find ourselves in a position where we don’t really have any specialist wingers:
RTS- is he a fullback, centre or wing?
TT - is a fullback or five eight?

Pompey - played a few years ago but too slow
Ali - may have to play wing , but may not have sufficient centre cover if Berry and Pompey are injured

Kosi - just not up to the required standard

Plus a few young guys who really are not ready for first grade yet.

Do we call up CHT for wing - a joke but perhaps not?
 
Centres off contract:
Grant Anderson, Braidon Burns, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Asu Kepaoa, Aaron Schoupp, Harley Smith-Shields, Tommy Talau,

Fb off contract;

Corey Allan, Tom Chester, Kade Dykes, Daine Laurie, Will Pryce, Blake Wilson

Wingers off contract:
Selwyn Cobbo, Robert Derby, Haze Dunster, Jojo Fifita, Tony Francis, Albert Hopoate, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro, Sam Stonestreet, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Christian Tuipulotu, Semi Valemei

I only selected the players I’d even be remotely interested. Of these, currently either fighting for 1st grade ops or starting in cup, my targets would be:

Grant Anderson
Asu Kepaoa
Tommy talau
Daine laurie
Blake wilson
Jojo fifita
Albert hopoate
Christian tuipulotu
Semi valemei

None of the above are starters. All have been solid, some have been exceptional when given chances. They’re young too.

My 1,2,3 would be Fifita 1, Wilson 2, Laurie 3.

We have cap. We have a vacant wing spot. We’re not a basket case of a club. If I was any of these guys, I’d be on the phone to my manager tonight, and saying get me over there. I’ll take a pay bump, but more importantly I’ll get a chance to play regular NRL.

We can’t be going into 2025 with Kosi as a starter, it won’t end well. With DWZ sidelines for 6-12 weeks, this has just been exacerbated. In all honesty, this has probably been the first major fuck up from recruitment, alongside Zyon Maiu’u but that’s a different convo. We released Marcelo, essentially saying he’d be third string. We’ve now lost Marcelo AND DWZ, and Kosi is an nrl starter.

Personally I’d be playing Tuaupiki and RTS, but again, our depth has evaporated overnight. I’m expecting a signing in the next 2 weeks, this is actually an urgent issue.
 
Other dreams are free suggestion - Daniel Tupou - he is turns 34 in June. Le Rooster might let him go based on how old he is.
In general i would be on the phone to Roosters as they have been kind to us before and we have a good rapport with them.
 
If I was any of these guys, I’d be on the phone to my manager tonight, and saying get me over there. I’ll take a pay bump, but more importantly I’ll get a chance to play regular NRL.
They wont get a pay bump this season according to nrl rules enforced. So itll be primarily for the opportunity and potential longer contract. But you leave everything you grew up with for that opportunity. Getting people over to Auckland is not as easy as you may think.
 
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