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	Morgan Harper	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
24	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	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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[cock_o]

If we were looking at adding another middle forward i would of thought we would of looked at Leo Thompson.

 

[waipiro]

If we were looking at adding another middle forward i would of thought we would of looked at Leo Thompson.

Bulldogs signed him from 2026

 

[cock_o]

Bulldogs signed him from 2026

Yes but i mean we should of tried to sign him when he was available. CG said they had no interest.

 

[Warriors4lyfe]

Yes but i mean we should of tried to sign him when he was available. CG said they had no interest.

Probably because Hazelton is just as good as Thompson and cheaper.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Probably because Hazelton is just as good as Thompson and cheaper.

100%... and a different body type. Leo's good, but similar dimensions to JFH, Bunty, Ale etc. TH is 1.98cm and 10kg heavier. Always tickles us up when we play him, would be a great addition. Take him over NAS or Thomson TBH

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Probably because Hazelton is just as good as Thompson and cheaper.

I can see Hazelton fitting in very well in a Webby system. A different type of player to the talent coming through.

 

[CWC]

Hope he wasn’t having an affair by the viaduct with the Wahs trainer, oops

Is he off contract in another year like Capewell last time?

JFH
Egan
Barney
Capewell
Marata
Clark
*Walker
Hazelton
Demetric
Healey/TMM/Halasima

 

[CWC]

600K a season probably

How gangster we came out of nowhere

Tom Hazelton next club: Potential NRL destinations for Sharks prop as Storm deny reports | Sporting News Australia

Tom Hazelton's NRL future remains in the air with the Sharks cult hero's current deal expiring at the end of 2025.

www.sportingnews.com

 

[Woofa]

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

No idea. Popped up on FB

 

[SJ2k]

Fonzie was super high on him so i've been wanting him ever since. Geeze this would be good news, especially if he got released for this year.

 

[Blain]

Big man with a motor. Him and JFH in the front row would be a nice combo - You would assume we would sign him to start. Not sure what they would do with Barnett though, lock or second row?

If he DID come to NZ this weekend, that's a serious commitment. He must consider us a serious option.

 

[Jonesy69]

Big man with a motor. Him and JFH in the front row would be a nice combo - You would assume we would sign him to start. Not sure what they would do with Barnett though, lock or second row?

If he DID come to NZ this weekend, that's a serious commitment. He must consider us a serious option.

Could Fish at 13 be an option with Barney and Hazleton in the front row?

 

[WA Warrior]

I would have him off the bench, brings his running game on 1st change.
If we don’t resign Ale, Bunty and Walker my 2026 pack:

Barney
Egan
JFH
Laban
Halasima
Clark

Healey
Hazelton
Vaimauga
Capewell/Ford/Nikoure

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I would have him off the bench, brings his running game on 1st change.
If we don’t resign Ale, Bunty and Walker my 2026 pack:

Barney
Egan
JFH
Laban
Halasima
Clark

Healey
Hazelton
Vaimauga
Capewell/Ford/Nikoure

Imo Hazleton won't be coming over here for a bench spot.

Also, had a bit of a giggle but how much is that last bench spot costing ya, looks like a 1.5mil spot with those 3 in there

 

[Jonesy69]

Apparently where in the box seat to sign Hazleton. Sharks still keen to retain him though.

Panthers make move to retain gun enforcer for life; QLD rival out of Brown race — Transfer Whispers

Panthers make move to retain gun enforcer for life; QLD rival out of Brown race — Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[WA Warrior]

Imo Hazleton won't be coming over here for a bench spot.

Also, had a bit of a giggle but how much is that last bench spot costing ya, looks like a 1.5mil spot with those 3 in there

I know hey, that’s a lot of cash
But I think the young lads step up this year and will be undeniable to start in the pack next season.
Hazelton better get off the pipe if he thinks he dictates where he plays especially when we have 2 of the best props in the game.
Barney’s not a 2nd rower imo anymore.
Clark/Vaimauga to share the 13.
Hazelton/Nikoure to spell Fish and Barney’s pretty handy.

 

[juju]

Sharks just don't lose players they want to keep eh

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Apparently where in the box seat to sign Hazleton. Sharks still keen to retain him though.

Panthers make move to retain gun enforcer for life; QLD rival out of Brown race — Transfer Whispers

Panthers make move to retain gun enforcer for life; QLD rival out of Brown race — Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

It's not a bad proposition for a 26yo prop... Barney came here and lifted to a new level and is now an Origin player ; AFB was always good but lifted to a new level, scoring tries and getting 2 x prop of the year gongs 23-24. It's no longer a team where you go to see out the last years of your career with an 'overs' payday, there's real opportunity and upside. I think he'd be a much bigger deal here alongside JFH and Barney than he would be in the Cronulla pack,, purely because he'd be a great balance to the rest of our lads. Fingers crossed

 

[Blain]

Could Fish at 13 be an option with Barney and Hazleton in the front row?

Na - 13 is basically a prop who links with the halves. JFH is meat and spuds hit it up and tackle, doesn't distribute and that's not his game. Barnett seems more of a potential 13, maybe he moves there when/if Walker goes back to Sydney.

 

[Fonzie]

Fonzie was super high on him so i've been wanting him ever since. Geeze this would be good news, especially if he got released for this year.

I rate him - when it first came out a year ago that we were looking at BHU I said we should be going after Hazelton instead. He’s not elite tier but he’s a proper first grader.