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

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[Five&Last]

Fatialofoa looks the real deal in limited appearances, strong runner, great footwork and speed. TSS more a Steve Price type player, big motor, does the donkey work well but speed is a slight issue. Pure professional though.

I would bet Fatialofa gets upgraded to top 30 next season. Similar kind of break through to Eddie last year. He's looks very polished in NSW cup at the moment. Wasn't sure what kind of player he would become, some SG ball games he looked like a Talakai type of player which imo wouldnt translate that well to first grade. But he looks to of added to his game, saw a good comparison in another thread that he looks like a Kotoni Staggs type of player. Will be interesting to see what position he ends up in. We have Halasima, Eddie and Laban all second rowers. So wonder if he moves to center full time or stays in second row.

Would be ideal if he was taller, but that low center of gravity combined with his speed and explosiveness is a real handful.

 

[Wrighty]

Hi Forum
Are we chasing the Englishman for 2026 or is it for immediate release - or are we waiting for more details to emerge?

 

[Noitall]

Hi Forum
Are we chasing the Englishman for 2026 or is it for immediate release - or are we waiting for more details to emerge?

Warriors identify Walker replacement as Super League gun targeted: Transfer Whispers

Warriors identify Walker replacement as Super League gun targeted: Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

Off contract end of 2025, so presumably 2026. Arthurs doesn’t sound like he’d entertain the idea of letting him go early

 

[Riz]

How is concussion history different than our TMM signing? I don't mean to put you on the spot. I jam just responding.

Te Maire's brain bleed wasn’t a concussion type injury, more a medical event for lack of better words.

“Because there was no severe bang to my head they are a bit shocked, they want to get to the bottom of it.

“You sort of think it would be a build-up of all the head knocks over my time playing.”

Doctors have been unable to pinpoint the cause of the bleed, and Martin continues to be monitored and has not returned to full contact training.

There's an episode of a show he did with Piri Weepu where he said that doctors have indicated that following recovery from the brain bleed, he is at no higher risk than any other person as far as future head injuries go.

So with those things in mind, I'd say he isn't comparable to someone who has repeated head knocks causing concussion.

 

[PhilsySH35]

It'd be cool for 12 months, but come that first offseason the homesick card would be played

agree, eyes wide shut lol.

 

[SJ2k]

There's a big difference between the UK and Aus. Many English people choose to live in NZ over England, for the long term. Kiwis choose to live in Aus long term. Won't always workout, but defintely possible players would come over to settle long term. Nice house in the bays with the poms and saffas.

 

[Falcon]

Same.
Stowers Smith is on an upward trajectory and I think he’d bring the same form to first grade.
Fatialofa has so much game to him.
We aren’t badly off for up and comers.

Very true. A lot of young talent. I like TSS high energy style of play.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

There's a big difference between the UK and Aus. Many English people choose to live in NZ over England, for the long term. Kiwis choose to live in Aus long term. Won't always workout, but defintely possible players would come over to settle long term. Nice house in the bays with the poms and saffas.

Yeah it is quite a different proposition to move from the north of England to Australia/NZ compared to moving from the climes and hustle and bustle of Brisbane/Sydney. Add in good contracts, and a more competitive league.

Canberra is not high on a lot of people's list as a place to settle down, yet Sticky has had very good success with Englishmen over a long time. I've been surprised at how few we have picked up over the years. We had picked guys at the wrong end of their career early (Betts, Platt) and Tomkins was always too small for the NRL at the time (and was only a disaster because of his high contract/injuries). We tried a couple of young never rans, but we have never targeted top players at the start of their dominance. Over 30+ years of mediocrity, that is a surprise to me.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I would bet Fatialofa gets upgraded to top 30 next season. Similar kind of break through to Eddie last year. He's looks very polished in NSW cup at the moment. Wasn't sure what kind of player he would become, some SG ball games he looked like a Talakai type of player which imo wouldnt translate that well to first grade. But he looks to of added to his game, saw a good comparison in another thread that he looks like a Kotoni Staggs type of player. Will be interesting to see what position he ends up in. We have Halasima, Eddie and Laban all second rowers. So wonder if he moves to center full time or stays in second row.

Would be ideal if he was taller, but that low center of gravity combined with his speed and explosiveness is a real handful.

He looks very tough aye! Not sure he has the speed for outside back. Hopefully we can get him some game time in the NRL in the future, but to be honest, he looks like one that will get picked up from another club, he is stuck behind.

He will be a handy back up though. But I have Crosby ahead at this stage.

I would try upgrade him to 30 for a few years though.

 

[hornbybrown]

miss the rhinoceros. Watching him run like a madman is what got me hooked into league back in the good old days of 2002-2003. Don't think he was ever that tall or big but geez he used to run like his life depended on it. Shouldn't be too hard to find another one in our NZ backyard right?

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA1KuanpYGA

For me this is the type of player we miss in our rotation. Someone who maybe only plays 20-25 mins a game, but is an absolute wrecking ball. The type of player who causes players on the other team to make business decisions when it comes to wanting to play next week.

 

[Five&Last]

He looks very tough aye! Not sure he has the speed for outside back. Hopefully we can get him some game time in the NRL in the future, but to be honest, he looks like one that will get picked up from another club, he is stuck behind.

He will be a handy back up though. But I have Crosby ahead at this stage.

I would try upgrade him to 30 for a few years though.

Gotta disagree there.

I think Kali and Fatialofa are definites for top 30 next year if they continue as they have been (and as long as Kali doesn’t get injured). Think Eddie will be top 30 by June.

Fatialofa could be huge off the bench with ability to cover centre and second row equally well.

He has wheels. He’s faster than most of our outside backs, definitely faster than Ali, Berry, Pompey and probably on par with RTS, CNK

The thing you have to remember with Crosby is he’s two years older than Fatiolofa. Crosby is way behind Fatiolofa on the development curve

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Gotta disagree there.

I think Kali and Fatialofa are definites for top 30 next year if they continue as they have been (and as long as Kali doesn’t get injured). Think Eddie will be top 30 by June.

Fatialofa could be huge off the bench with ability to cover centre and second row equally well.

He has wheels. He’s faster than most of our outside backs, definitely faster than Ali, Berry, Pompey and probably on par with RTS, CNK

The thing you have to remember with Crosby is he’s two years older than Fatiolofa. Crosby is way behind Fatiolofa on the development curve

I thought Toeava is already in the 30?

 

[Cces]

I thought Toeava is already in the 30?

When Tanner Stowers-Smith got upgraded to Top 30, Ieremia-Toeava basically took his Development Contract spot. NRL website has Eddie moving up to Top 30 next year

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

When Tanner Stowers-Smith got upgraded to Top 30, Ieremia-Toeava basically took his Development Contract spot. NRL website has Eddie moving up to Top 30 next year

Your always on the pulse Cces! Thanks man!

 

[SJ2k]

Was montoya a compassionate release or did we just release him straight up?

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Was montoya a compassionate release or did we just release him straight up?

compassionate

 

[j_p]

compassionate

I'm not sure about that, seems like he was just given an early release to get a longer contract as he probably wasn't seen in the long term plans.

Just what I got from this article.

Montoya released by Warriors to return to Sydney

Marcelo Montoya leaving One New Zealand Warriors to return to Australia to continue career.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I'm not sure about that, seems like he was just given an early release to get a longer contract as he probably wasn't seen in the long term plans.

Just what I got from this article.

Montoya released by Warriors to return to Sydney

Marcelo Montoya leaving One New Zealand Warriors to return to Australia to continue career.

www.warriors.kiwi

He and his wife just had twins didn’t they? Obviously looking for longer term stability, Warriors not keen on an extension but agreed to release so he could sign with another team.

 

[Inruin]

If Montoya became available again would you be happy to sign him? I seem to remember nearly everyone not happy with his play when he was here and not unhappy to see him go.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

He and his wife just had twins didn’t they? Obviously looking for longer term stability, Warriors not keen on an extension but agreed to release so he could sign with another team.

We only offered him a 1 year extension, he wanted 2.