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	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Fatialofa	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
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	✔	✔

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 24/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[UpTheWahs]

This may be the most substantial recruitment news we've had in the last few pages

Whoever it is probably is using us to get their asking price up like Hazelton. I wouldn't get too excited. We are one of the least attractive teams to come down to at the moment.

 

[The Undertaker]

Whoever it is probably is using us to get their asking price up like Hazelton. I wouldn't get too excited. We are one of the least attractive teams to come down to at the moment.

To attract good players without paying massive overs like Newy, you have to be a winning club or a club that reliably makes the 8.

2023 was our best year in 8 seasons. Last year was the one year too long so we slipped down the order.

This year is the first rebuild year given who has left the club. Are we attractive? I don’t think we are tip of the list of anyone, no.

Can we be? Yes. But we need to be 8th or better this season. We have to play a brand of footie that players notice - like 2023.

I know we are growing our own - but we really need a marquee half and fullback. Metcalf could be it in time. Tuaupiki could be it too.

Sometimes you need to roll the dice. Personally we need a destructive second rower (not a tackle bot) another big middle and some pace on the wing.

A six like Galvin would be useful too. Jett Cleary looks like our best 7 option long term and Hanson has some talent too, probably at 6. If we can hold them then we might be in business in 3 years time when our young guys mature together.

I’m very hopeful but for now we need to recruit enough quality to be in the hunt. We don’t want to become the tigers or dogs (pre Gould)

 

[Kav1]

If the warriors are going to let Bunty Afoa and Tom Ale walk, then I would be seriously pursuing Ethan Bullemore, I've been big on this guy for ages and he's still only 25.

Also a big watch for me would be Clayton Faulalo on Friday, maybe a replacement for CNK, To go behind Tuaupiki, also why not Tommy Talau?

I think Manly will want to keep Bullemore as there best bench player. Also they have lost Lawson to the Cowboys so will need to retain Bullemore. I agree on trying to sign up Tommy Talau, son of an ex kiwi,
who cannot get a run at this stage. He usually plays left wing and can play centre.

 

[Noitall]

With Dylan Brown heading to the knights, they apparently are parting ways with Will Pryce who’s a British player in the nrl. They’ve spent a couple of seasons on him but has only managed about 5 first grade games, though won 4 of them in the knights teams he slotted into. Only 22 and can play five eighth, halfback and fullback. Think he’d be worth a look

 

[Boston Boy]

With Dylan Brown heading to the knights, they apparently are parting ways with Will Pryce who’s a British player in the nrl. They’ve spent a couple of seasons on him but has only managed about 5 first grade games, though won 4 of them in the knights teams he slotted into. Only 22 and can play five eighth, halfback and fullback. Think he’d be worth a look

Apparently he's got poor defense, would have probably been better off going after Tristan Sailor. Seems like they are the same type of player.

 

[Noitall]

Apparently he's got poor defense, would have probably been better off going after Tristan Sailor. Seems like they are the same type of player.

His tackle efficiency doesn’t read any much worse than Metcalf, but more of another running halve which probably wouldn’t suit being paired with Metcalf. If TMM isn’t extended, we’re going to be after another halve unless we promote. Not really seeing any halves showing enough to be promoted in the club though at present

 

[Playdaball]

Although looking to be Tiger bound, did the Warriors try for Taylan May?
We must have money in the cap, could release 1-2 players if need be too.
We are still short of outside backs and now have a few ex Penrith players and a coach on our books.
Remember the guy was innocent too .
Thoughts?

 

[Blain]

Although looking to be Tiger bound, did the Warriors try for Taylan May?
We must have money in the cap, could release 1-2 players if need be too.
We are still short of outside backs and now have a few ex Penrith players and a coach on our books.
Remember the guy was innocent too .
Thoughts?

Well those charges were withdrawn. Look at his check sheet, the guy would be lucky to make it through to NZ for a vacation, let alone sign a contract with the Warriors. He's a good player, but yeah I don't think he's an option TBH. Would need a long and expensive contract which for a guy like him would just be desperation.

100% he'll be at the Tigers, those guys will sign anyone and his brother is already there who has been vocal about playing with his brothers.

 

[Old Sid]

I agree, we must have substantial money available within the cap???

Tohu? 850?
SJ? 650?
MM? 400?

Harper/Zion
Jazz/Erin Clark
AFB/FH

Apart from the odd upgrade that's a family bucket right there? (and perhaps this was covered by the cap increase anyhow?)

Hopefully something substantial brewing for the available slots.

 

[Billyspleen75]

I would rather tap up Starford To'a after May takes his spot

 

[Playdaball]

Maybe our Penrith connection (Webster, JFH, Capewell, Hansen, Cleary etc) don't think he'd fit into our team??

 

[CWC]

Was in the city when I walked into the Manly boys on Vulcan Lane. Cheekily asked Daly if any of his boys would be coming over to us next year. 'They've been on the phone mate' was the response.

Our current state

 

[ShaunJohnson7]

Could we maybe prioritise some speed in the backline? It seems we haven't gone after or recruited fast players for years.

I remember the last fast player we went after, George Jennings.....and he made a real difference in that 2020 season he came in as a ring in when we were based in Oz.

Did we even make an attempt to keep him? He didn't have much of a career after he left us.

 

[CWC]

I feel TMM probably will be re-signed and Charnz let go, TMM legit covers 1 and 7 and Charnz is falling behind at 1 or blocks young centers

 

[WA Warrior]

I feel TMM probably will be re-signed and Charnz let go, TMM legit covers 1 and 7 and Charnz is falling behind at 1 or blocks young centers

I agree, I’m thinking it might be time for Charnze to Super League.
He will always be a Warrior but I think he has regressed a bit too much to resign him.
TMM seems settled in NZ so we can low ball him. As bad as that sounds, that’s business.
He will be perfect depth and like you say covers the backline.

 

[Playdaball]

Don't be surprised to see TMM back in Qld next year.
There is also a shortage of halves and he'd be a good pick up for Parra.

 

[John Nick]

Don't be surprised to see TMM back in Qld next year.
There is also a shortage of halves and he'd be a good pick up for Parra.

Only going to get worse as expansion takes place. $1.3m will be the new Norm.

 

[Noitall]

Don't be surprised to see TMM back in Qld next year.
There is also a shortage of halves and he'd be a good pick up for Parra.

Have you heard something?

 

[j_p]

I agree, I’m thinking it might be time for Charnze to Super League.
He will always be a Warrior but I think he has regressed a bit too much to resign him.
TMM seems settled in NZ so we can low ball him. As bad as that sounds, that’s business.
He will be perfect depth and like you say covers the backline.

I thought cnk was wanting to move back to nz the year before he signed with us due to his kids being here with the kids mother.
Maybe they're back together and could all move overseas but I could see management holding out on him knowing he doesn't want to leave NZ.

 

[Noitall]

I thought cnk was wanting to move back to nz the year before he signed with us due to his kids being here with the kids mother.
Maybe they're back together and could all move overseas but I could see management holding out on him knowing he doesn't want to leave NZ.

Doesn’t mean much about an extension, but just about every picture I see of JFH he is in an embrace or a handshake with CNK. They seem really close