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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[The Truth]

What if he wasn’t released early? Two years at least is what he’s obviously after. Would you throw in a third with either a mutual or club option?

I would not.

 

[kos]

Sad if Tmm goes
29/30
Prob play for 5 more years- potentially
Better player than any of our other halves

Dce
Pfft
36 years old
I know he s got a good reliable history
But injured second game and out for the season
Pfft up shit creek

I hope Caryianis has bad info
Or it’s a negotiating tactic

Cnk I d like to see another year off but Tmm is the one to keep



But of course Andrew Webster ah shirt sorry AW loves his aussies

 

[Noitall]

Dce
Pfft
36 years old
I know he s got a good reliable history
But injured second game and out for the season
Pfft up shit creek

DCE played today? Not out for the season

 

[kos]

DCE played today? Not out for the season

Talking about 26 if he joined Nzw.
Not talking about 25
Sorry should have included 2026 in that comment

 

[Noitall]

Talking about 26 if he joined Nzw.
Not talking about 25
Sorry should have included 2026 in that comment

He’d be 37 by then

 

[KO WAI RA]

Surely Cameron Hori…..!!!!!
Were you proclaiming your phone was ringing HOT from our own phuckn players?????

Dis roller coaster cork screwing hard right now famz….

 

[chrisnz]

Really happy about this news I honestly belive cnk got the sign for less ride off into the sunset with the bunty treatment take it or leave it and martin is getting sick of it and is going to cash out for 1 or 2 seasons before hangs up the boots young guns need retained and upgraded and we will try land another marquee spine signing in some shape or form

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I wonder if there's any kiwi boys who have seen us go 3-1 and may consider seeking a compassionate release to come home over the next few weeks

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Really happy about this news I honestly belive cnk got the sign for less ride off into the sunset with the bunty treatment take it or leave it

I really hope that CNK does do a Bunty by signing for a moderate amount, and we help him out with his job security with a 3 year contract. England is a long way from his kids and having players like CNK on your roster without hurting the cap too bad are gold dust.

I'm not too fussed if he is in the game day 17 next year. I just selfishly want him in our squad.

 

[Defence]

Tbf fair we’ve been pretty good for cnk- gave him a lifeline when Canberra didn’t want him, handed him the number 1 jersey and guaranteed he’d keep it even when rts came back- he was able to extend his career and reclaim his kiwi jersey.
And he’s been great for us too- played his heart out- it’s been a mutually beneficial relationship and I don’t think there will be any hard feelings when the time to part ways comes.

 

[KPWarrior]

I'd love to get DCE, but it would feel like buying a premiership, which puts us in the brown paper bag category.

Think I prefer the rollercoaster.

 

[Dannevegas]

What about Metcalf to 1 like a Scott drinkwater, it’s been mentioned before. I know he wants to be a 7 but I just can’t see it happening. Than we can have Te maire at 7 with Channel at 6, Metcalf can still chime in for the kicks coming out of our end as he has the biggest boot.
Boyd back up.
And Chats of a new prop, unless it’s a top tier one, I think we need to focus on retaining Ale, or both as we have cash for days.

 

[WA Warrior]

What about Metcalf to 1 like a Scott drinkwater, it’s been mentioned before. I know he wants to be a 7 but I just can’t see it happening. Than we can have Te maire at 7 with Channel at 6, Metcalf can still chime in for the kicks coming out of our end as he has the biggest boot.
Boyd back up.
And Chats of a new prop, unless it’s a top tier one, I think we need to focus on retaining Ale, or both as we have cash for days.

I don’t think it would happen but I’m with you, he could be a very good 1.
Ball playing, another kicking option, extreme speed.

 

[Sam Wahpira]

What about Deine Marriner? Auckland boy, family in Auckland & shibisaki getting selected over him. He must be pretty pissed off a journeyman has jumped him in ranks, whereas he’d be a starter here.

His aiga moved over with him and they have work their as well (lots of extended family are there as well and they are well set-up).

Funnily enough, Lapi was always a massive Bronocs fan (even when he did the matter of faith video). Its a running joke to his close love-ones.

I asked my mate whose really good friends about this when Deine came on the scene and informed me.

 

[Sam Wahpira]

What if with all this money, and CNK leaving, we go after a big fish.

Whose the biggest marquee FB we could land for 1m+?
Kalyn Ponga.

Why not?

 

[3rdstriker]

What if with all this money, and CNK leaving, we go after a big fish.

Whose the biggest marquee FB we could land for 1m+?
Kalyn Ponga.

Why not?

I'd be pretty happy to focus on Tuaupiki.

 

[Beastmode]

Take the money and lock up Leka and Demitric for the next 10 years.

Build a nucleus around these two.

They are the future.

 

[Falcon]

What about Tom Ale have they given up on him? Off Contract and still only 25.

Nek minute he’s blasting holes in opposition defences with Eliesa Katoa

 

[Falcon]

Didn’t CG mention recently a number of kiwis had expressed interest in returning to NZ to play for The Warriors but received a ‘yeah nah’ as their salary expectations were not realistic.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

DCE comes to NZ, goes back to Aussie and tells the world he won't be at Manly next year. TMM wants out the next week. Manly want to move Turbo to 6 this year and Brooks at half. We are cashed up.

I believe DCE will be a Warrior soon.

I hate it, but I can understand the logic. Hope it doesn’t blow up in our faces if your Nostradamus impression pans out.