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 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: 28/30
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

---

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.

 

[3rdstriker]

Doubt it, but you'd have to think given how budget our roster is, especially in the backs, that we are a team in position to have a luxury expensive winger.

You'd think in terms of recruitment we'd be in a position to have multiple luxuries.
Wonder what's happened with all our extra recruitment money from previous contracts, is it being embezzled?

 

[Inruin]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

I guess it depends if the alternative is Morgan Harper

Cobbo is a talent, but one that is unlikely to be realised in NZ I'd imagine

 

[Worried2Death]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

Even if he we got him as a winger you wouldn't take him? Anyway who knows if that was even him at the airport, could be any half Tongan bloke in a broncs shirt.

 

[3rdstriker]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

He seems to love scoring hatricks for Brisbane and Queensland, looks like he's a bit outspoken and might not be the best fit for our team.

 

[Worried2Death]

He seems to love scoring hatricks for Brisbane and Queensland, looks like he's a bit outspoken and might not be the best fit for our team.

Or the wahs might be the best fit for him, and Cuddles could be the best coach, can't be any worse than Kevvie.

 

[3rdstriker]

Or the wahs might be the best fit for him, and Cuddles could be the best coach, can't be any worse than Kevvie.

Yep Webster seems to do well with middle of the road players he may slot in well also. Another guy with Origin experience maybe what we need.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Am I the only one that wouldn't be keen on Cobbo?

He was never at the top of my list, but I wonder if that big x factor he possesses would really help out our cause.

It's obvious were trying to play a game where we grind a team to dust and capitlise on their fatigue and mistakes. Last year we were able to do that for large periods, but our attack was so poor that we came away with no points, then we'd make an error or penalty and the other team would score.

Cobbo would not only create x factor and likely set up and score a bunch of tries, but the defence then needs to keep a closer eye on him which creates a bit more space for others too. He's a big body so can also play the Edwards/CNK role of hitting up 150+m a game.

Again, probably not my first pick as a signing but it looks like we're not going to be signing any marquee forwards now that our pack is stacked. Outside backs are lacking for us too, so if one of the elite ones show a willingness to move to NZ and play for us, we'd have to be open to it at the very least. Interesting that he's the 2nd Broncos outside back pictured over here in the last few months (Staggs), I wonder if Reecy Boy has talked up NZ and what it has to offer to some of the boys

 

[Defence]

That’s wild I was just thinking about this yesterday- cobbo would make a lot of sense to me.
With cnk seemingly on the outer, I don’t really see them replacing him with rts or taine which means going to the market and with our budget spine we can afford to go big and he’s easily the most talented player on the market- guys a freak!
Saw a broncos video the other day where they were asking all the bronco players who would win a arm wrestling competition and most of them said cobbo which is pretty outrageous when u have hass and taupau and all those young monsters in the team.
Concerns would be work rate (although he seems to have addressed that this year) and how he would settle.
Little bit risky but all signings come with a bit of risk.
Id be pretty excited if happened- he’s a rare talent.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

That’s wild I was just thinking about this yesterday- cobbo would make a lot of sense to me.
With cnk seemingly on the outer, I don’t really see them replacing him with rts or taine which means going to the market and with our budget spine we can afford to go big and he’s easily the most talented player on the market- guys a freak!
Saw a broncos video the other day where they were asking all the bronco players who would win a arm wrestling competition and most of them said cobbo which is pretty outrageous when u have hass and taupau and all those young monsters in the team.
Concerns would be work rate (although he seems to have addressed that this year) and how he would settle.
Little bit risky but all signings come with a bit of risk.
Id be pretty excited if happened- he’s a rare talent.

How is CNK on the outer?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Lets say the warriors were looking at Cobbo to play FB, is this as bad as signing Brown as a halfback?

Cobbo has never played FB no?

 

[Canonball]

Cobbo would be an insanely good signing, and exactly in the position we're most short, 100% would have him - just can't see the exact circumstances where it would happen

 

[Wrighty]

Lets say the warriors were looking at Cobbo to play FB, is this as bad as signing Brown as a halfback?

Cobbo has never played FB no?

2 times in the NRL
9 times in reserve grade

 

[Ever Hopeful]

A bit of a random one, but I am a collector of cricket memorabilia. I recently came upon Cobbo's grandfather, who was taken as part of the stolen generation and went on to be the fastest bowler that Don Bradman said he ever faced!

I just don't see him being at home in Auckland. I'd be staggered if a signing like that didn't end in tears.

 

[Wrighty]

Cobbo would be an insanely good signing, and exactly in the position we're most short, 100% would have him - just can't see the exact circumstances where it would happen

He may be wanting to be a fullback for the prestige of the position and fullback's money. Perhaps we are one of a handful of clubs looking for one in 2026.

 

[Garry Saloon]

Or the wahs might be the best fit for him, and Cuddles could be the best coach, can't be any worse than Kevvie.

This cuddles thing needs to die.

 

[John Nick]

He may be wanting to be a fullback for the prestige of the position and fullback's money. Perhaps we are one of a handful of clubs looking for one in 2026.

More likely wanting a leg up as the No.1 for a longer-term pay out with PNG
Their entry would have a huge impact on pay rates for 1s and 7s and 6s.

 

[Noitall]

A bit of a random one, but I am a collector of cricket memorabilia. I recently came upon Cobbo's grandfather, who was taken as part of the stolen generation and went on to be the fastest bowler that Don Bradman said he ever faced!

I just don't see him being at home in Auckland. I'd be staggered if a signing like that didn't end in tears.

Last year there was talk on the roosters forum that they were keen on him and there was a poster who said he is extremely close with his family and was very unlikely to leave Queensland. For memory I think he was over here doing a podcast when he rubbished Kevin Walters a year or two back too, not sure if it coincided with broncos playing over here?

 

[Wrighty]

Last year there was talk on the roosters forum that they were keen on him and there was a poster who said he is extremely close with his family and was very unlikely to leave Queensland. For memory I think he was over here doing a podcast when he rubbished Kevin Walters a year or two back too, not sure if it coincided with broncos playing over here?

Then perhaps its the old tired play of strike up an offer from the warriors to leverage what you really want.

 

[Noitall]

Then perhaps its the old tired play of strike up an offer from the warriors to leverage what you really want.

You never know. We surely must be looking to spend some money in the backs though. He would be a great signing if it was a possibility. Speed and skill