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	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 27/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
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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[Kaos A.D.]

Hes not making the ABs this year, so if its just for this season get him here, and he can have a good crack at the ABs next year

 

[WA Warrior]

Hes not making the ABs this year, so if its just for this season get him here, and he can have a good crack at the ABs next year

Would be good to get him for the rest of the year but if he is serious about making the ABs the best thing he could do is play NPC and get all the skills he needs for Union.

 

[Ferdie]

The plot thickens…..
So chiefs or warriors?
U rugby folk out there- is he a realistic chance of making the AB World Cup squad? Nz rugby stocks don’t seem to be what they used to be but maybe I’m just out of the loop.

Highly unlikely, fullbacks in top level rugby these days are basically playing as a second line playmaker, so need all the skills of a first 5 (or halfback in league terms). He's got all the skills to be a midfielder, but the midfield is probably one of the most stacked positions in NZ rugby for player depth at the moment.

 

[Defence]

Highly unlikely, fullbacks in top level rugby these days are basically playing as a second line playmaker, so need all the skills of a first 5 (or halfback in league terms). He's got all the skills to be a midfielder, but the midfield is probably one of the most stacked positions in NZ rugby for player depth at the moment.

Yeah right- so hats off to him if he takes on the challenge but the safer and more lucrative option is to return to the nrl…. Must be tempting

 

[Stalefish540]

Teddy can certainly hog a ball, but geez I’d struggle to think of a fullback that held onto the ball more than Manu when he played that position.

That was my immediate thought seeing that line, does the same at centre as well.

Wasn't even great for the Chooks last year and the year before. I'm sure he said in the John podcast if he came back to the NRL it would likely only be to the Roosters. Things obviously change, but if he or Ponga came back to NZ I'd eat my hat.

 

[Defence]

That was my immediate thought seeing that line, does the same at centre as well.

Wasn't even great for the Chooks last year and the year before. I'm sure he said in the John podcast if he came back to the NRL it would likely only be to the Roosters. Things obviously change, but if he or Ponga came back to NZ I'd eat my hat.

Haha I use that expression often and the only time I had to actually eat my hat was when Chad Townsend won a premiership.
How the fark did that happen

 

[Makasene]

If Manu comes to NZ Rugby it will be for the NPC this season. Super Rugby next season.

No way is he walking into a Super Rugby team at this point in the season.

He will get a full season presumably for Waikato.

This is what majorly messed up RTS development, Auckland did not play the Covid NPC season (or most of it) - he lost pretty much a full season of development. SBW got a full NPC and so will Manu if he wants it.

 

[Leon Black]

These guys have better sources than Zero Tackle, The Mole and co.


View: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16EGdS3sHG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

 

[sballer7]

The plot thickens…..
So chiefs or warriors?
U rugby folk out there- is he a realistic chance of making the AB World Cup squad? Nz rugby stocks don’t seem to be what they used to be but maybe I’m just out of the loop.

You'd probably give him a 5% chance at best of making the 2027 World Cup squad. Almost 0% chance of getting a start. He'd be miles behind the likes of Jordie Barrett, Reiko Ioane, and would be contending with far more experienced players in Anton Leinert-Brown, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor and David Havili. There's a couple of bolters in the mix for the midfield this year too.

He also stands to make a lot more money returning to the NRL also. If he chases the Black jersey then you'd have to give him credit for having a crack amd giving up the dollars.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I still have this weird Nathan Cleary vibe.

Me too! My latest weird vibe feeling is his form is down due to him figuring out how he is going to tell the riff boys is off to the wahs next year!?
Sooner he tells them the better hey!? Then he'll start playing better

 

[Playdaball]

Me too! My latest weird vibe feeling is his form is down due to him figuring out how he is going to tell the riff boys is off to the wahs next year!?
Sooner he tells them the better hey!? Then he'll start playing better

So a guy who wants to reportedly be closer to his GF in the UK moves further away from her by playing in NZ ??
Hmmmmm

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Me too! My latest weird vibe feeling is his form is down due to him figuring out how he is going to tell the riff boys is off to the wahs next year!?
Sooner he tells them the better hey!? Then he'll start playing better

So we'd replace an injury prone halfback, with a more experienced injury prone halfback?

Yeah, sounds like a Warriors move.

I hold more stock in Ivan being our new GM.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

These guys have better sources than Zero Tackle, The Mole and co.


View: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16EGdS3sHG/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I love listening to that guy whenever Manly lose.

 

[Makasene]

The plot thickens…..
So chiefs or warriors?
U rugby folk out there- is he a realistic chance of making the AB World Cup squad? Nz rugby stocks don’t seem to be what they used to be but maybe I’m just out of the loop.

Time isn't really on his side.

He would get a full NPC this year, and a full Super Rugby next year. Maybe play NPC again.

By that point, to get to the 2027 WC he would surely need to go on the end of year tour in 2026 - which is possible due to larger squad.

NZRU courted the likes of SBW & RTS. Doesn't seem they are courting Manu.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Maybe it is about time NZ league players stop trying to play union and go for glory with the ABs. Whether it is Benji, RTS, Manu, etc. It never seems to turn out well over the long-run and all it tends to do is make the player unhappy for awhile and waste precious years in the player's career re-adapting back to the league environment. Just stay in league people! It's the better game!

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Maybe it is about time NZ league players stop trying to play union and go for glory with the ABs. Whether it is Benji, RTS, Manu, etc. It never seems to turn out well over the long-run and all it tends to do is make the player unhappy for awhile and waste precious years in the player's career re-adapting back to the league environment. Just stay in league people! It's the better game!

The Japanese league can pay over a million for a season. Europe pays over 500,000 for non internationals if you are good enough. Game is about as much fun as watching Sumo wrestlers take a mud bath but it pays well. Can't blame guys like Manu making a pay day while they still can.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

So we'd replace an injury prone halfback, with a more experienced injury prone halfback?

Yes.

 

[Falcon]

Can we ban any articles from Zero Tackle? Probs one of the most baseless sites for recruitment rumours considering its reputation. It’s only good for tracking contracts and even then it’s highly inaccurate

Dead set those guys have pre written rumours attached to an old school chocolate wheel which they give this a spin each day and wherever the ticker stops.. they post it!

 

[Falcon]

The Japanese league can pay over a million for a season. Europe pays over 500,000 for non internationals if you are good enough. Game is about as much fun as watching Sumo wrestlers take a mud bath but it pays well. Can't blame guys like Manu making a pay day while they still can.

You’re right, but he was a big earner in league too.

 

[chrisnz]

Was a fan of manu until I seen his vlogs ect not really that big on the signing if we are getting him also believe he was overhyped at fullback the stats were always good but won't be a massive upgrade in terms of attack or defence