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	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
21	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
22	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
23	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
24	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
25	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
26	Dylan Walker	✔
27	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: 27/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 27/30
Unconfirmed 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, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dylan Walker

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[Makasene]

If were throwing outside backs names out Caleb Clarke's contract with the NZRU expires at the end of the year. He only signed a 1 year deal with them last year to keep his options open and its no secret he's harboured Rugby League aspirations which in his words "would be a dream come true".

25, absolute prime, couldnt think of a current union outside back more suited to League tbh, good friends with the Tuivasa Sheck's and a host of League boys.....money might be the stumbling block as itd probably take a bit......never know tho......id at least be putting the feelers out if i was the club.

He said playing for the Rabbits would be his dream.

I think he'd command more than what we got RTS back on. Wouldn't be comfortable with that.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

He said playing for the Rabbits would be his dream.

I think he'd command more than what we got RTS back on. Wouldn't be comfortable with that.

Pretty sure he just said playing Rugby League would be a dream.....he just happened to be training with the Rabbits at the time.

But yes size of the contract would be the deal breaker.....but as i said.....we'd be silly not to at least have a look at.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

Think high profile union converts are just too risky unless they are in their early 20s and you can afford to pay them to play reserve grade for a year for them to adjust

 

[Fizurg]

They have a massive catchment area and juniors unlike Sydney clubs. Like saying the Chiefs are based in Auckland

That’s the thing though. Moving from Sydney to a club in a city and hour and a half away isn’t that big of a deal. Moving to another state or country is.

 

[Fizurg]

Suali’li is young and still explosive. RTS was to old to change and more a workhorse at that point.

He only transitioned because he was burnt out from covid and only came back because he failed at union. He became a square peg in a round hole because his fullback position wasn’t available.

More unfortunate career planning from RTS due to covid than mismanagement from the teams he went to..

I never understood where RTS was going to play in union. He wasn’t fast or explosive enough to be on the wing. He’s never been much of a ball player and on the small side for an out side back in union. No real kicking game either.
His best trait in league was his massive engine and that just isn’t as big of a factor in union.

 

[Blain]

The rumour doing the rounds on the radio at that time was that it was Shaun Stevenson. Maybe as outlandish as it sounded there was some truth to it

Stevenson would not have been classed a marque signing. Except maybe in the Waikato.

On Clarke being compared to RTS - I can't remember Clarke winning the Dally M Medal for being the best in the NRL?

A union player changing to NRL is not a quick thing. Who was the last union player to change codes and made an immediate impact in the NRL? I can't think of any who performed to a high level, especially one who never played NRL previously. They would be a project player, and no way we would spend good coin on someone for a dice role like that. Watch Suaalii go from being a good NRL player, to a top 5 player in Super Rugby.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

it's been said before.. but I thing this is the guy to chase.

Top FIVE potential landing spots for Sam Stonestreet

With both Sharks wingers now contracted, where does that leave the talented youngster?

www.zerotackle.com

Any chance?

 

[RTS’s Calves]

Code sports are saying Tom Hazelton flew to NZ to have a meeting with the warriors over the week

 

[Damo]

Code sports are saying Tom Hazelton flew to NZ to have a meeting with the warriors over the week

Scores a 60m try against us and we think he's a winger

 

[Dannevegas]

Return the favour Cronulla give him a immediate release.

I saw an article saying the sharks would release him immediately if he could get a multi year deal securing his future. Not to us thou, just a deal.

Get this done, and release Capewell for an outside back

 

[CWC]

Warriorholic: What’s up whanau I have scoop for that outside back…

Honestly though I have a low bar so the current pack is already wetting my pants and this will send me over the edge. Talk about tunnel vision recruitment overkill though

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Hazelton to start prop, Barnett to 13. I like it

 

[Playdaball]

James O’Connor was gun for the Crusaders tonight lol, looking like Reese Walsh these days; their debutant sub halfback came on and scored a hat trick looking like Egan too They’ve actually applied the 30 sec rules to speed up the game and we had 2 crackers, Suali’i looked great; I reckon speeding up the Super games will help the union boys transit to league easier fitness wise, if we still want to snap up union guys

The way Suali’li is going makes you wonder how mismanaged RTS was in both codes since 2022, if Reiko ends up being on the outer he could be interesting, ton of pace still and great defender, a showboat like AFB too

JOC an ex Te Atatu Rooster !!!
Went to Parra as a young fella and told too small for RL .

 

[Playdaball]

Hazelton to start prop, Barnett to 13. I like it

Although still very early, Erin Clark is looking good at 13.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Hazelton and Stonestreet package deal....

 

[Billyspleen75]

Hazelton's not coming. Weather was shit in Auckland this weekend.

 

[Woofa]

 

[Jonesy69]

Good news. Would love this bloke on our team

 

[tajhay]

View attachment 11766View attachment 11766

I have code sports subscription and theres no such article or mention of this happening. Was the mention via a tweet by their account or something

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

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