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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[run_it_str8_again]

Pre-season game number 2 vs Storm I quite liked what Ieremia-Toeava did at left center during the first half.

What kind of contract is he on? I don't see many people talking about him on here, which is kind of surprising. Looked as good as someone like Pompey in that game.

Wondering why we've gone for a backup NSW Cup signing over someone already in the club system.

He played well in NSW cup last year and showed potential there. I think he played every game and had the versatility to cover centre and second row.

It's still early days for him but

 

[Noitall]

Pre-season game number 2 vs Storm I quite liked what Ieremia-Toeava did at left center during the first half.

What kind of contract is he on? I don't see many people talking about him on here, which is kind of surprising. Looked as good as someone like Pompey in that game.

Wondering why we've gone for a backup NSW Cup signing over someone already in the club system.

Wonder if there could be still deciding where the best position for EIT is? He played nsw cup at predominantly second row, but played centre and prop apart from that. Those hybrids of second row/centre seem to be reasonably sought after in the likes of Capewell and Niukore. EIT got upgraded to top 30 along with TSS, so I think he might have impressed at centre in the game you’re talking about. I think what someone like Harper has over someone like EIT at the moment is first grade experience

 

[SJ2k]

Crazy how stacked a lot of squads are this year, and are still able to re sign players (e.g. Hazelton and Mulitalo). Yet we are releasing players and making signings like Harper. After losing AFB/Tohu/SJ. No one wants to come to NZ I guess, we should ask for some kind of cap bonus like PNG would get.

Really don't like our squad management this off season. Releasing Montoya and trying to get rid of MGT without a plan to replace and upgrade on them. Harper/Montoya are probably equivalent, but Monty's been in our system and knows the team and coach well. We can't be shooting own goals like this when everything else is up against us.

 

[Kestrel84]

What does it mean that this apparent Harper signing hasn't been announced by the club? Is there any chance he could go on a development contract for the year and we might promote one of those lads up to the top 30?

I've completely lost track of what our development players are atm.

 

[WarriorsForever]

What does it mean that this apparent Harper signing hasn't been announced by the club? Is there any chance he could go on a development contract for the year and we might promote one of those lads up to the top 30?

I've completely lost track of what our development players are atm.

Articles released so far mention he will be in our top 30 for this season

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Let’s hope he has eradicated the niggle and lip. Got some sprint training. Learnt the draw and pass. Stays on his man when defending.
He has some natural talent and great hair.

So hopefully he learns how to play league?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Can recall many being pretty distraught when we signed Marcelo Montoya back when we did. Not saying Harper will be a success like that ended up being, but he might find some form again? He was going alright at manly a few years ago

Bruh? Monty was a hard nuts 100% commitment bloke in a dogs team that were diabolically bad. Harper has been the worst bloke on field for like the last 8 games hes played, in teams were he just needs to fall over the line

 

[OtautahiEast]

Talakai's off spring had 11 errors in 8 games last year.
Great head of hair tho! I think that's probably more important.
Kosi's year I reckon!

 

[juju]

Wonder if they tried for Jaxson Paulo

 

[Noitall]

Bruh? Monty was a hard nuts 100% commitment bloke in a dogs team that were diabolically bad. Harper has been the worst bloke on field for like the last 8 games hes played, in teams were he just needs to fall over the line

Not sure if you recall the angst on here when Montoya was signed, but it almost mirrors that of Harper currently. One of the most outspoken under a different username is just as negative about Harper as he was about Montoya. At 26, I’m not sure you can write Harper’s career off, especially being that he was one of the form centres of the comp about 4 years ago. Seems like another guy that thought it was all going to come easily and a dose of reality might see a different result. Happy with the signing personally, especially being a Māori NZer so should feel an identity in the club. Might not kick on but there’s a contract extension to at least put his best foot forward to earn

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Realistically, I don't think there's many NRL ready outside backs who would be willing to sign with a team, relocate to NZ on minimum wage with the understanding that you are back up to the back up players. That essentially means you have almost no chance of showing your skills in the hopes of getting a better/bigger contract next year.

It's a stop gap measure because we have 2 of our top back 5 out for an extended run this year, with RTS's hammy's always a bit of concern and Pompey also getting injured often.

We already have Taine and Ali in the backline, who have a combined total of 18 NRL games. Another injury and having to play Kali, MGT or another green rookie for more than 1 or 2 games in a row could be catestrophic to our season.

Morgan Harper to be the buy of the year. You heard it here first

 

[Noitall]

Wonder if they tried for Jaxson Paulo

I wondered if Dean Ieremia, EIT’s half brother was in their sights? Been at the storm and fallen out of favour and another who plays nsw cup for north Sydney bears. Picked up a serious injury in preseason and out for the season I think?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Not sure if you recall the angst on here when Montoya was signed, but it almost mirrors that of Harper currently. One of the most outspoken under a different username is just as negative about Harper as he was about Montoya. At 26, I’m not sure you can write Harper’s career off, especially being that he was one of the form centres of the comp about 4 years ago. Seems like another guy that thought it was all going to come easily and a dose of reality might see a different result. Happy with the signing personally, especially being a Māori NZer so should feel an identity in the club. Might not kick on but there’s a contract extension to at least put his best foot forward to earn

Fair points and yes people were overly down on Monty but the dogs were terrible, he wasnt. Dont get me wrong I hope theres a redemption story there too.

 

[JaggedJ]

Needed a centre encase of further injury, got a centre encase of further injury.

Pray for no more injuries.

 

[Chchfanatic]

Funny how there is still no official post on any club page or NRL page. Is this actually true.

 

[tajhay]

Funny how there is still no official post on any club page or NRL page. Is this actually true.

Morgan Harper Release - North Sydney Bears

Morgan Harper released from club, effective immediately.

www.northsydneybears.com.au

The North Sydney Bears announce the release of Morgan Harper, effective immediately. Harper joined the Bears Knock-On Effect NSW Cup team during the 2025 pre-season and has since been offered a full-time contract with the New Zealand Warriors.

Offered. Imagine if he knocks us back.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Funny how there is still no official post on any club page or NRL page. Is this actually true.

Likely to be the 10 day cooling off period. Contract is not official until that finishes.