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

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance to offtopic chat.

 

[tajhay]

They've just posted a photo of him at training. I reckon he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Webster is a big fan of Berry and can see him bypassing nsw cup to get match fitness back when hes ready. He has missed a fair bit of games but hasnt played any nsw cup games since he solidified his position in the starting team in 2023.

Hoping for the injury gods to spare us this season.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

They've just posted a photo of him at training. I reckon he'll be back sooner rather than later.

Im assuming the issue with a nerve injury in the neck is contact. As per the article the other day it states he hasnt resumed contact training so my guess is not medically cleared.

I could be completely wrong about all that though, lots of assumptions.

 

[Riz]

 

[Tookey 2.0]

View attachment 11836

Maybe things aren't as dire as what's been reported?He's got a big mark on his face, how'd he get that if he's not doing contact training?

If he's back Rd 3 or 4 then I think we can manage with TT and Pompey until then and don't need to recruit for this year.
Until he gets injured in his 2nd game back haha

 

[Zaggo]

Im assuming the issue with a nerve injury in the neck is contact. As per the article the other day it states he hasnt resumed contact training so my guess is not medically cleared.

I could be completely wrong about all that though, lots of assumptions.

I just don't reckon they'd post a solo shot of him without reason.

 

[sup42]

RTS I'm in agreement. But I like CNK to be more a playmaker than finisher.

Moala on wing? Has good temperament in my opinion for the role.

Yeah I just want CNK on the wing so we are strong round one with no weaknesses in our slow and inexperienced backline, I wouldn't suggest it unless Taine was showing he is on the cusp of being a very good NRL player.

Also I agree with MGT going there, but for now the simple and immediate fix to multiple problems would be solved by CNK fixing our wing.

 

[Zahnos06]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/selwyn-cobbo-could-be-forced-out-of-broncos-as-kotoni-staggs-set-to-sign-2-million-deal/news-story/e49d7791b0e6fae9a01020da796dc0ab?amp=#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17401125601285&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com

Could be worth a look

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Yeah I just want CNK on the wing so we are strong round one with no weaknesses in our slow and inexperienced backline, I wouldn't suggest it unless Taine was showing he is on the cusp of being a very good NRL player.

Also I agree with MGT going there, but for now the simple and immediate fix to multiple problems would be solved by CNK fixing our wing.

I see the value of having him there. There is value in having him on the field so where just needs fine tuning if he's on the wing and roams looking for the ball, how do we cover his spot on D if the ball changes sides quickly etc. fine tuning for the role specifically and as a team. Adding layers to the game plan and execution

 

[Horriors2013]

TSS now in the top 30 … I guess no front rower being signed to replace Zyon Maiu’u.
Hopefully they can get a n outside back but not sure if it’ll happen

The future's here: Contract upgrades for promising forwards

One New Zealand Warriors Tanner Stowers-Smith and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava given upgrades.

www.warriors.kiwi

If that's the case, we need Hazelton ASAP. Those two sound like Michael Luck clones. No size. Those tackle breaks will diminish quickly in FG.

 

[afakasi247]

View attachment 11836

Berry looked like a skinny kid 2-3 seasons ago.

Hes the real life example of going from “I’ll bring her home by 10pm sir” to “she calls me daddy now”

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Berry looked like a skinny kid 2-3 seasons ago.

Hes the real life example of going from “I’ll bring her home by 10pm sir” to “she calls me daddy now”

He's all that but with a bung shoulder

 

[run_it_str8_again]

If that's the case, we need Hazelton ASAP. Those two sound like Michael Luck clones. No size. Those tackle breaks will diminish quickly in FG.

Hazelton would be a good get. But we look to be trying to get faster and more mobile than Beasty and massive. Leaner seems to be the recipe

 

[CWC]

View attachment 11836

I really believe they read our forums…

 

[Five&Last]

If that's the case, we need Hazelton ASAP. Those two sound like Michael Luck clones. No size. Those tackle breaks will diminish quickly in FG.

Tanner is a Michael Luck clone. Eddie is a lot more athletic and he's 6'3, but he also has those work horse characteristics. I'm super high on him.

 

[SJ2k]

Hazelton would be a good get. But we look to be trying to get faster and more mobile than Beasty and massive. Leaner seems to be the recipe

Small fast forwards and big slow backs, let's see how that works out for us...Really haven't seen much of TSS, hope he's first grade ready considering our injury luck.

 

[1995 Sufra!]

Been watching these other trial matches and one of the most glaring deficiencies in Wahs game is players backing up and running off good forwards
We seemed to be insisting on buying more forwards
Rather than good attacking backs or coach how to back up running forwards!
Cuddles Webster questions will start to be asked again
Where’s the attack
Where’s the backing up
Where’s the dummy half runners
Watch Manly Storm Penrith Broncos
Up the Wahs
This is our year surely

 

[roguei]

Been watching these other trial matches and one of the most glaring deficiencies in Wahs game is players backing up and running off good forwards
We seemed to be insisting on buying more forwards
Rather than good attacking backs or coach how to back up running forwards!
Cuddles Webster questions will start to be asked again
Where’s the attack
Where’s the backing up
Where’s the dummy half runners
Watch Manly Storm Penrith Broncos
Up the Wahs
This is our year surely

From my understanding we are heavily chasing anyone who plays 2-5 at the moment. And only picking up forwards that fill in the gaps we have there. Hence chasing the tall hazleton and not shorter Thompson.

 

[Noitall]

From my understanding we are heavily chasing anyone who plays 2-5 at the moment. And only picking up forwards that fill in the gaps we have there. Hence chasing the tall hazleton and not shorter Thompson.

Think it might have been Sup42 who mentioned it, but that pursuit of a 2-5 seems obvious that we could retain CNK for Tuaupiki that seems to be fullback in waiting? CNK has filled all fullback/wing/centre throughout his career and seems like the exact player we’re looking for with him coming off contract

 

[1995 Sufra!]

Wahs haven’t resigned TMM CNK or everyone’s fav player Kosi
We have a history of letting people go with no back up in place
I think Taupiki is a good player but too small
He will get done on the wing being outjumped etc
Turn him into a running half I say

 

[Noitall]

Wahs haven’t resigned TMM CNK or everyone’s fav player Kosi
We have a history of letting people go with no back up in place
I think Taupiki is a good player but too small
He will get done on the wing being outjumped etc
Turn him into a running half I say

I really wonder if we were in serious talks with Mulitalo when there was talk of an outside back mentioned and thought he was a real chance? I didn’t expect to see Pompey retained just because of centres we have in the squad and the potential of CNK to play there doing it in internationals. I’m not disappointed to see Pompey retained in saying that being a big fan, but just surprised for reasons mentioned. I see he’s spending a lot of time around Capewell in pictures and think a transition to second row will moderately progress but staying centre for now. I just think CNK could be worth retaining as that outside back with someone like Sio Kali looking to be progressing at a reasonable rate. Think CNK is the ultimate clubman and would fill any role to highest of his ability, so an upgrade is the only reasonable outcome I think. I somewhat agree regarding Tuaupiki to the halves could be worth pursuing but I’ve changed my views regarding his height. You’re right though that it’s an obvious weakness but I think there are ways we can combat that in getting height around him a not isolated, though if fullback is the goal, that becomes tougher. TMM is a conundrum in that there’s he’s an amazing player, but it’s finding the best position for him and the team, and fullback looked like there’s potential with it being a position he’s played in the past. Titans was an interesting watch with 3 fullbacks and 2 in the halves. All Metcalf, CNK and TMM have played fullback in their careers though brief in CHT’s regard. I like our squad and I’m not sure we need any depth players, even Kosi I’d be happy if he only needed to fill a game or two, different story for an extended period though if I’m honest but I think any recruits need to be an upgrades on what we’ve got. We’ll know when the season kicks off where we’re lacking but I wouldn’t be disappointed to see CNK and TMM retained, and if they’re not they need to be upgrades in my view. Sorry for the long post, I’ve had a ban and was pent up