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	✔	✔	✔
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
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
-	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: 24/30
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, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith

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[Noitall]

View attachment 12470

Could he return to play union in NZ? If he did come over to Warriors, I wonder if it would be to play fullback?

 

[Ref]

Family reasons is Tokoroa.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Surely cam George is on the plane to Japan as we speak

 

[MaybeTop8]

View attachment 12470

It's April 9

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Could he return to play union in NZ? If he did come over to Warriors, I wonder if it would be to play fullback?

Yeah, I'm thinking NZ rugby. Not us unfortunately. I'm not believing anything after all this ponga bs.

 

[Noitall]

Family reasons is Tokoroa.

Chiefs territory

 

[Noitall]

Yeah, I'm thinking NZ rugby. Not us unfortunately. I'm not believing anything after all this ponga bs.

Roosters would go into meltdown if he went back to nrl and it wasn’t them

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Roosters would go into meltdown if he went back to nrl and it wasn’t them

He seems to have big respect for the roosters. Must be due to uncle nick and his brown papers bags

 

[Dippa]

I don’t know, but there are reasons why he could come to the Warriors:

- Warriors have plenty of money to throw at him

- Did he follow RTS’s path in Rugby. Where is RTS now?

- The Roosters might consider going all out for Kayla Ponga which has been rumoured for a while too. They might be okay to allow Joey Manu the option to sign at the Warriors. Not sure if there was a contract stipulation which would no doubt block the passage.

 

[Muddogz]

If Manu wants to return to NZ, we’d have to be a good chance. He’d be lucky to earn half as much in rugby as we would be able to offer him.

 

[Noitall]

I don’t know, but there are reasons why he could come to the Warriors:

- Warriors have plenty of money to throw at him

- Did he follow RTS’s path in Rugby. Where is RTS now?

- The Roosters might consider going all out for Kayla Ponga which has been rumoured for a while too. They might be okay to allow Joey Manu the option to sign at the Warriors. Not sure if there was a contract stipulation which would no doubt block the passage.

While everyone was watching the Ponga space, could this be who they were saying is one of Warriors greatest signings?

 

[Dippa]

While everyone was watching the Ponga space, could this be who they were saying is one of Warriors greatest signings?

Michael Chammas Knows!

 

[Noitall]

Michael Chammas Knows!

Would be a great signing. Fullback you reckon?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

While everyone was watching the Ponga space, could this be who they were saying is one of Warriors greatest signings?

I'm not sure Manu would be in my top 10 Warriors signings if he signed on. And if he did I'd want him at centre, which is a position that we are going okay at. He is an excellent player of course, but I'm not sure he'd be the marquee player that Warrior's greatest signing suggests. That would have to be a genuine, world leading spine player, or a dynamic engine room player, and I don't see Manu as either.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I'm not sure Manu would be in my top 10 Warriors signings if he signed on

I agree! Rts first signing with us was a bigger deal to me. If , Manu signed on. Price & Wiki too.
It has to be someone highly regarded in Aus & NZ to be our biggest signing ?
Ponga - Cleary - Haas - Fa'asuamaleaui - Hughes - Munster - Yeo would be players that would fit into my catergory of best ever(possible) warriors signings.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I'm not sure Manu would be in my top 10 Warriors signings if he signed on. And if he did I'd want him at centre, which is a position that we are going okay at. He is an excellent player of course, but I'm not sure he'd be the marquee player that Warrior's greatest signing suggests. That would have to be a genuine, world leading spine player, or a dynamic engine room player, and I don't see Manu as either.

I have to respectfully disagree with you sir.
Webby ball appears reliant on a workhorse fullback who carries for big meters and is reliable worker.
With Manu as a fb you get that in bucket loads, moreso than what we are getting now with Charnz. Manu then gives you that x factor where he can create something from nothing.

If Manu wants it, I think it's his.

I don't think he does tho

 

[Noitall]

I'm not sure Manu would be in my top 10 Warriors signings if he signed on. And if he did I'd want him at centre, which is a position that we are going okay at. He is an excellent player of course, but I'm not sure he'd be the marquee player that Warrior's greatest signing suggests. That would have to be a genuine, world leading spine player, or a dynamic engine room player, and I don't see Manu as either.

Could be why CNK is considering a payday too? Would have thought he’d jump at an offer on the table from Warriors. If someone else is signed to play fullback, it might not be as attractive

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Webby ball appears reliant on a workhorse fullback who carries for big meters and is reliable worker.
With Manu as a fb you get that in bucket loads, moreso than what we are getting now with Charnz. Manu then gives you that x factor where he can create something from nothing.

I respectfully disagree me good mate!
Charnze doesn't have a 5th of the talent Joey does. But there isn't a fullback with as big of a engine than CNK. Joey is a talent on attack. Defensively, He often gets caught out when playing at the back . Or, Is out of position to take opposition kicks(Resting on the wing). Tupou would cover for him more often than not.

Cnk is the definition of a work horse. Offensively & defensely.
Would I take Joey? In a heartbeat! - But would never compare the two. One is talent, The other pure heart.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I have to respectfully disagree with you sir.
Webby ball appears reliant on a workhorse fullback who carries for big meters and is reliable worker.
With Manu as a fb you get that in bucket loads, moreso than what we are getting now with Charnz. Manu then gives you that x factor where he can create something from nothing.

If Manu wants it, I think it's his.

I don't think he does tho

Yep, an upgraded CNK is how I would describe Manu at fullback too. Still wouldn't be in my top ten signings, but I'm not for one minute saying he wouldn't lift our squad.

I'd prefer we went in the direction of a playmaker, but there is very few of those around and beggars can't be choosers. I just feel that right now is such a definitive moment in Warriors history. We have a hardworking squad, with a couple of good rookies, a good coach, investment in the grassroots and the basics sorted. We have the money to spend and the future is ours if we can manage to spend it in the right place. I just feel like this is our chance to sustainably elevate ourselves from mediocrity.

 

[cock_o]

Was the Ponga rumour ever actually a rumour? Just felt like it was something someone put out as a hypothetical and everyone ran with it to give it life.

Thats what a rumour is. A currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.