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: 25/30
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, 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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[John Nick]

TMM's stats at 6 last year were similar or better to Metcalf at 6 last year with SJ playing 7.

Questioning his effort you would think he would have a decline in defensive stats which we didn't see either.

Are people seeing his play at 7 and expecting the same at 6? Perhaps SJ was the difference there? But then what we are seeing from Metcalf at 7 is very similar to what we saw at 6 from him.

Perhaps TMM shines when given the freedom to be the main playmaker as we saw at 7 last year, at fullback in the pre season game this year and with Boyd organising and happy to hand that over to TMM in cup.

Looking at TMMs game @ 6 last year he completely lacked interest. Went to 7 & had a couple of very good games .

Please dont compare Cup form with NRL form . TMM looked sensational 2 weeks ago but against defensive no hopers.

 

[John Nick]

Yeah I don't think anyone can question the effectiveness as it was plain to see it didn't work when he was next to SJ.
But thanks John, I appreciate your response and maybe I'm forgetting how bad it really was last year.

My view is while TMM can drift in and out of a game (many halves are guilty of this), I've never considered him someone who has ever dropped lip or not given 100%

Cheers Tooks & always respect your opinions but your second line answered your own thoughts.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

KP to Wahs has a JFH to Wahs feel about it. Almost….. inevitable. Not committing to the Kangaroos and considering a switch to NZ feels like someone not just wanting money, but also a connection to their heritage.

There is only one place where someone like KP can get the connection, and that’s us.

If that’s remotely true, and is a possibility for 2026 assuming Knights approve a release of course, it’s no wonder CNK might not be retained.

TT looks very comfortable on the wing and I am liking what he brings to us there. Slippery.

Add KP to an already imposing forward pack and a developing halves combination and we are an outside back and prop away from being massive contenders.

Hughes on the other hand, I can’t see. He’s going to go out to pasture at the Dolphins or titans once Melbourne move to transform their squad to the next generation. He will be past his best and I’d rather invest heavily on CHT and Metcalf who could be guns, with Boyd as a solid back up and Jett developing nicely behind them. I can see CHT moving to 14 when Cleary is ready.

Add EIT MGT TSS and Laban onto a developing team and my goodness we could have the best roster in the NRL if this group stays together.

Come home KP. The time is now.

You think hes heard the Karanga bro?

 

[Boston Boy]

You think hes heard the Karanga bro?

You would expect something to be happening with some Kiwi talent wanting to come home. Its looking like the club is more than happy to clear a lot of cap space.

 

[Leon Black]

Been a heap of stuff on social media, saying biggest signing announcement in club history on Wednesday. Waiting for, Kane Evans returns

 

[Leon Black]

Chances of us getting Ponga are near zero, if not below it. If he wants to leave and we’re ready to pay $1.4m then you can bet that another team will too.

I can see us making a big play for Kini though. He’s contracted for next year but with the right offer I think we’d have a good shot at getting him for ‘26.

Wouldn’t touch Kini after he was almost paralysed and out for rest if this season, potentially

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Been a heap of stuff on social media, saying biggest signing announcement in club history on Wednesday. Waiting for, Kane Evans returns

Can't be cobbo then! He hasn't been man of steel yet!

 

[Billyspleen75]

Because this is getting a bit of attention, the Sydney journos will have caught wind of it and followed it up with all their sources. And if it's a genuine rumour we should expect some articles / X posts about it tomorrow (Even on April Fools day)

Otherwise I'm very very dubious about the way this has caught on. Seems so far that 5 people have seen and then repeated the same Facebook post and it's being considered a wide spread rumour.

 

[nzwarriorsfaithful]

View attachment 12373

Did u check the comments ?

 

[Billyspleen75]

Did u check the comments ?View attachment 12374

Cool, I'll check back in 2026, 2029 and 2034 for the next major recruit signing.

 

[tajhay]

Did u check the comments ?View attachment 12374

He is a journalist. Do you think for a second he wouldnt have penned a quick story if there was any truth to it?

Journalists get fed on clickbaits for a living. No journalist would have passed on posting a story on it if they know anything about it.

 

[PhilsySH35]

I know you've said you have no evidence around what you've said, but I dunno man, seems like you're just coming up with things.

I don't recall anyone ever questioning TMMs effort, so to suggest that he dropped lip last year is a bit out of the blue. Also with him only playing well this year for another contract....you're essentially speculating he's a shit club man based off of nothing.

gotta question why he's looking at super-league, must admit felt a weird vibe from tmm second to last game he played in reserves when he was interviewed, seemed like he was pissed off and didn't give 2 f*@#ks, really like the guy and if cuddles really doing a cleanout would explain not using tmm, also cuddles last interview with ZB he mentioned that tmm still a part of his plans. was really hoping tmm down in reserves picking up much needed reps to take his game to a higher level, most likely not now - dam! really like his all round game. oh well can't be helped still gotta support the coach no matter what, really our saviour - up da wahz!

 

[chrisnz]

based off of recent signings its really not here or there we have been super good at keeping our cards to our chest i hope if we are in for a big signing its a mega star union convert

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

based off of recent signings its really not here or there we have been super good at keeping our cards to our chest i hope if we are in for a big signing its a mega star union convert

Yuck

 

[Warriorsfan92]

based off of recent signings its really not here or there we have been super good at keeping our cards to our chest i hope if we are in for a big signing its a mega star union convert

Agree. Every signing has been kept close to the chest & then announced to our surprise. Assume any new signing will be the same.

 

[Wrighty]

I wonder if @Fonzie has any mail - he hears things ???

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Wouldn’t touch Kini after he was almost paralysed and out for rest if this season, potentially

We touched TMM after a brain bleed. Evans after his reputation preceded him and Lodge after being Lodge.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

based off of recent signings its really not here or there we have been super good at keeping our cards to our chest i hope if we are in for a big signing its a mega star union convert

From rugby who would we want if we could pick and choose? Dupont? I don't know who the rugby stars are anymore

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

From rugby who would we want if we could pick and choose? Dupont? I don't know who the rugby stars are anymore

Only Joey Manu, that's it!

 

[pompower]

CNK and TMM isn’t indicative of a clear out I reckon. These are upgradable parts of our team.

TMM — back up spine player who wants to start, who justifiably won’t get that opportunity here. We can replace him without losing too much, especially as we have Boyd in reserve.

CNK — he’s been great for us. I love what he brings to the table. His work rate is incredible, he’s a very safe pair of hands at the back, and he does have an intangible quality that I think we’ll find hard to replace. But I think there are other fullbacks with higher ceilings that could fit in and give us something different too. We’re just in too good of a position here; we can take a risk on a younger player with massive potential ala what we did with Walsh, and worst case it all goes wrong and we play RTS at fullback.