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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	M
13	Edward Kosi	✔
14	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
15	Ali Leiataua	✔
16	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
17	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Marcelo Montoya	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 13/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[Boats n Hoes]

I don't rate Turuva. Hunt or Bird and the Warriors more keenly astute team would not acquire any of them.

To be fair tho Wrighty u never rated Jeremy Marshall King and Jamayne Isaako and those guys have come up diamonds

Turuva is probably better than any centre/wing on our books atm, Hunt pending on your prop rotation would be a very handy interchange impact prop......and Bird im not too fussed about.

 

[Neo]

I don't rate Turuva. Hunt or Bird and the Warriors more keenly astute team would not acquire any of them.
We have chased Korosaiu previously- we would have taken Luai - maybe we didn't want him because of his grating attitude though.

Hunt has been huge this year. Massive impact off the bench

 

[Wrighty]

To be fair tho Wrighty u never rated Jeremy Marshall King and Jamayne Isaako and those guys have come up diamonds

Wayne Bennett sprinkled gold dust on them. They will both revert to being complete shit house as soon as Wayne leaves mark my words.

 

[Inruin]

I don't rate Turuva. Hunt or Bird and the Warriors more keenly astute team would not acquire any of them.
We have chased Korosaiu previously- we would have taken Luai - maybe we didn't want him because of his grating attitude though.

I think I'd take Turuva over any of our current wingers

 

[Wrighty]

Hunt has been huge this year. Massive impact off the bench

Stats say otherwise he averaged 63 metres this year

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Dragons apparently pull their offer for Hunt, Its like watching a toxic relationship on a trashy reality TV show those two.. If the Tits get him like they were trying to at the start of the year, surely something has to give with Campbell, Brimson, or Kini??

All are too good to not be starting, even if for only a year before Foran rides off into the sunset.

Just baseless speculation on my part, but I would cut Taine and Charnze loose in a heartbeat for Keano.

 

[Neo]

Stats say otherwise he averaged 63 metres this year

He is not there to rack up massive running metres. He is there to leave guys on the ground and generate a quick play the ball, which he did very well. It’s why he stayed in the side ahead of Hamlin-Uele and Rudolf during the year. He could get his 10m per run and generate momentum

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Stats say otherwise he averaged 63 metres this year

Do the stats say how his high energy bursts off the bench shortened defensive lines or changed a games tempo and momentum?

Seriously....dudes need to stop evaluating games from fantasy stats......use your eyes.

 

[Leon Black]

Glad we didn’t sign Royce Hunt… 10 awesome minutes and then flat lined like that time Kramer took that car for a spin!

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Royce Hunt is a luxury item that you carry on your bench if - you have supremely fit props who play big minutes, Then you can have him come on for 10 - 15 min spells each half and fuck shit up. He is a human wrecking ball that can hurt people.

The type you want to come on vs teams like the storm who beat you up and wear you down. Gives those around him a lift of energy and hypes them up with a huge run or big hit. Yes, In very short spurts....

We could of done with a player like him. Jazz, Bless his heart! Tried to be that guy. Barney would too. But most times he was exhausted from playing big minutes. We had fit work horse props. Lacked a big impact player. Players like Royce are undervalued because of the short minutes. Ive always had a soft spot for players like Royce or our very own Iafeta Paleasina.

 

[BigUCE]

Glad we didn’t sign Royce Hunt… 10 awesome minutes and then flat lined like that time Kramer took that car for a spin!

Retirements come early for him!

 

[watcher]

One of the major problems is not plauer quality. It is availability. Once a team is able to be selected regularly timing improves across the board, particularly in the spine. Case in point SJ only played 3 consecutive games the last 3 of the season.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Well, Now I tihnk about it. Barney at lock would be nice? Lock is a hybrid between a prop & a secondrower. Barney is a tackling machine & can ball play a little. He'd do well. JFH & Leota starting props, Sifakula & Ahem, Xavier Willison off the bench? (Wishful thinking)
Halasima & Capewell backrow. Tohu off the bench so he doesn't have to endure the ferocity of the first 15 mins. I like the balance with Halasima there. Speed , Power , Talent.

And mulitalo, no worries!

 

[Noitall]

And mulitalo, no worries!

Just been released too. Lorenzo Mulitalo at least

 

[Dannevegas]

anyone keep hearing walker back to Australia? Wonder if the roosters would do a trade for Naufahu Whyte, even with JWH leaving they’re still stacked with middles

 

[CWC]

We need a half!

Imagine having the kiwi pack + Barney & Capewah while you half/back up half keeps grubbering the ball over the dead ball line

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

So according to a News Corp study. Wayde Egan is in less than 320k. If so, well played Cappy.

I don’t believe it for a second btw.

How much do people seriously (and I mean seriously) think CNK is on? 450-550k? Maybe less.

 

[Billyspleen75]

So according to a News Corp study. Wayne Egan is in less than 320k. If so, well played Cappy.

I don’t believe it for a second btw.

How much do people seriously (and I mean seriously) think CNK is on? 450-550k? Maybe less.

On the topic of those shitty lists.. I saw someone say that Niukores salary has been incorrectly calculated over 3 years rather than 4. And that makes so much more sense to me

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...ata-niukore-on-fouryear-deal-worth-25-million

Reported 2.5m deal.
Over 4 years = 625k

But one of the numpties has calculated 2.5m over 3 years = 840k

 

[Playdaball]

On the topic of those shitty lists.. I saw someone say that Niukores salary has been incorrectly calculated over 3 years rather than 4. And that makes so much more sense to me

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...ata-niukore-on-fouryear-deal-worth-25-million

Reported 2.5m deal.
Over 4 years = 625k

But one of the numpties has calculated 2.5m over 3 years = 840k

$840K (or thereabouts) is correct. He is one of the highest paid Warriors, behind Tohu, and one of the highest paid NRL 2nd rowers.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

On the topic of those shitty lists.. I saw someone say that Niukores salary has been incorrectly calculated over 3 years rather than 4. And that makes so much more sense to me

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...ata-niukore-on-fouryear-deal-worth-25-million

Reported 2.5m deal.
Over 4 years = 625k

But one of the numpties has calculated 2.5m over 3 years = 840k

NRL announces record-high salary caps for 2023 season

The National Rugby League (NRL) is excited to announce the NRL and NRLW salary cap for season 2023 at a new record-breaking level for both male and female players.

www.nrl.com

This shows that from 2023 the salary cap went up and everyone with clauses in their contract got an 18% pay rise in line with the cap going up.

I remember we signed Addin for about $800k or so and then nek minute he was over a mill, so I think this is what's happened