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
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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[chrisnz]

^^ Taine has that as well. And no ACL issues. This club has special needs.

The kids a half is he not ?

 

[Damo]

Poor kid is getting hammered due to us being hyped up by imaginary and unlikely signings.

Certainly an interesting move due to the ACL injuries but unfortunately the club needs to take these risks on young Australian halves on cheap contracts due to having zero production of viable NRL halves from New Zealand.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

The kids a half is he not ?

Oh? I thought he was a FB !? ...Don't mind my geriatric ass....Keep it moving lol

 

[roguei]

Jye Linnane... cappy talking about his best assest are speed and footwork, lucky we've signed him after his second ACL rupture in two years and he is only 3 months into the recovery... whats the point lol TMM gone 100% at years end then. CHT seemingly has a mortgage on the 6 jersey, which im not sure how i feel about.

I don't think this kid will be taking the 6 jersey or is at all brought over for. I can only assume it's the exact same as Healy. He is not taking the 9 off of egan for as long egan is fit to play. It's a devlopment signing, i don't see an issue with it nor do i see it taking up to much space. Iron sharpens iron and such.

 

[chrisnz]

I don't think this kid will be taking the 6 jersey or is at all brought over for. I can only assume it's the exact same as Healy. He is not taking the 9 off of egan for as long egan is fit to play. It's a devlopment signing, i don't see an issue with it nor do i see it taking up to much space. Iron sharpens iron and such.

Bro he very much can take the 6 jersey he has a good short kicking game and very crisp passing unsure about his defence but attacking wise a lot of potential there was playing against the likes of Galvin and blaize In junior comps cht isn't undroppable when tmm can't Crack 1 first grade game devil seems to be in the details of announcements I have noticed We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.” sounds like we got him cheap and will give him a chance to be the next Galvin if he can replicate similar results or better

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Bro he very much can take the 6 jersey he has a good short kicking game and very crisp passing unsure about his defence but attacking wise a lot of potential there was playing against the likes of Galvin and blaize In junior comps cht isn't undroppable when tmm can't Crack 1 first grade game devil seems to be in the details of announcements I have noticed We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.” sounds like we got him cheap and will give him a chance to be the next Galvin if he can replicate similar results or better

I think he's meaning it's not specifically a FG signing to take over from one of our 17 next year.
Looks like he's got wraps on him and in time, absolutely could make the top 17 in the future.

It's just not an upgrade to our 17 for next year

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Our best signing ever would be Nick Politis right now. Then we'd already have Ponga, Cleary , Manu & Still have AFB & Fish.

 

[Playdaball]

The kids Uncle Steve was a half decent player

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

he’d probably make the squad and get a game or two like RTS did (because the union will be chipping in some of the money) but these blokes leave it too long to become really good union players. SBW was 22 when he walked out on the dogs - and it took him a good 3/4 years to become proper world class in union. That’s the age Manu and RTS should have done it, not 28/29.

Fullback might be a younger man’s position TBH but good thing with Joey is you can just move him back to center if Berry can’t hack it

Cappy must hate the state of our local halves, keeps rolling the dice on young Aussie reserve graders, one of them might hit eventually.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

he’d probably make the squad and get a game or two like RTS did (because the union will be chipping in some of the money) but these blokes leave it too long to become really good union players. SBW was 22 when he walked out on the dogs - and it took him a good 3/4 years to become proper world class in union. That’s the age Manu and RTS should have done it, not 28/29.

Cappy must hate the state of our local halves, keeps rolling the dice on young Aussie reserve graders, one of them might hit eventually.

Cappy mate how easy is your job?
Just go find another Jimmy Maloney or SJ

 

[defensivebomb]

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

Hansen was an avid fan of the NRL and was familiar with the stars

Razor strikes me as a died in the wool cantabrian who knows “rugby is best” so I can’t imagine him being too keen to entertain an (albeit outstanding) league prospect like Manu, particularly if it involves making space from his precious players to make room.

So, with that in mind, welcome home manu and kayln

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Someone more knowledgeable may be able to answer this - Did we sign Jack Thompson from Newy as well? Is jack a half or a FB? And is he still with the club ?

 

[Neo]

Hansen was an avid fan of the NRL and was familiar with the stars

Razor strikes me as a died in the wool cantabrian who knows “rugby is best” so I can’t imagine him being too keen to entertain an (albeit outstanding) league prospect like Manu, particularly if it involves making space from his precious players to make room.

So, with that in mind, welcome home manu and kayln

Razor and Bellamy are pretty close from memory. They have both been in each others coaching boxes for games a few times

 

[roguei]

Bro he very much can take the 6 jersey he has a good short kicking game and very crisp passing unsure about his defence but attacking wise a lot of potential there was playing against the likes of Galvin and blaize In junior comps cht isn't undroppable when tmm can't Crack 1 first grade game devil seems to be in the details of announcements I have noticed We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.” sounds like we got him cheap and will give him a chance to be the next Galvin if he can replicate similar results or better

Aye man if he's that good at 19 to take the jersey off of CHT. Then i think an amazing signing by us. I mean people are willing to pay some insane prices for Galvin then us getting similar for cheap is insane. But I'll keep expectations low untill he has at least half a season of NSW league in him.


But hey could be a great number 6 to our cleary's 7 as they can both come up in SG cup togther. So i'd give them both 2 years at least before full grade, outside of injury cover.

 

[defensivebomb]

Imagine if we had AFB, SJ and KP in the same team. That would have been ridiculous

 

[tajhay]

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

The basketcase that is the ARU is courting Manu.

 

[Rick O’Shay]

The kids Uncle Steve was a half decent player

Yes he was a decent half, Brandy may think otherwise

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Newcastle half Linnane signed

Newcastle five-eighth Jye Linnane to join One New Zealand Warriors on three-year contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

Newcastle half Linnane signed​

Author Richard Becht

​

Highly-rated young Newcastle five-eighth Jye Linnane will join the One New Zealand Warriors on a three-year NRL contract from next season.

The 19-year-old has come through the Knights’ pathways playing for their Jersey Flegg Cup, SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup sides since 2022.

“We’re excited to bring Jye to our club. He’s an exceptional talent and a terrific young man,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.


“His outstanding qualities as a player are his running game and his speed. We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.”

On a NRL development contract with the Knights this season, Linnane was impressive in preseason training with the first-grade squad until his plans were ended by an ACL knee injury in January after coming back from the same injury in his other knee last year.

He was only 17 when he was brought into Newcastle’s Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) side in 2023 where he played alongside current Knights NRL star Fletcher Sharpe.

Linnane represented New South Wales Country Under-18 in 2023 facing a star-studded City side which included current NRL players Casey McLean – who has played Test football for the Kiwis – Tallyn De Silva, Lachlan Galvin and Blaize Talagi.

Profile | Jye Linnane​

Born: August 6, 2005
Birthplace: Newcastle, NSW
Junior club: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
Position: Five-eighth
Height: 179cm
Weight: 89kg
Current club: Newcastle Knights
Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21): 10 appearances (2023)
SG Ball Cup (under-19): 11 appearances (2023-2024)
Harold Matthews Cup (under-17): 15 appearances (2021-2022)
Representative: New South Wales Country Under-18 (2023)

 

[PhilsySH35]

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

just watched the funniest vid, this warrior fan calling out to nathan cleary as the panthers team standing at the entrance to the pitch, ("come back to the warriors Nathan" or something to that affect"), the funny thing was Nathan heard him say it and then looked at him in the crowd and he smiled - with all the noise and chatter going on he could hear him - could this mean... hmm.

 

[3rdstriker]

Newcastle half Linnane signed

Newcastle five-eighth Jye Linnane to join One New Zealand Warriors on three-year contract.

www.warriors.kiwi

Newcastle half Linnane signed​

Author Richard Becht

​

Highly-rated young Newcastle five-eighth Jye Linnane will join the One New Zealand Warriors on a three-year NRL contract from next season.

The 19-year-old has come through the Knights’ pathways playing for their Jersey Flegg Cup, SG Ball Cup and Harold Matthews Cup sides since 2022.

“We’re excited to bring Jye to our club. He’s an exceptional talent and a terrific young man,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.


“His outstanding qualities as a player are his running game and his speed. We look forward to developing him in our system and giving him every opportunity.”

On a NRL development contract with the Knights this season, Linnane was impressive in preseason training with the first-grade squad until his plans were ended by an ACL knee injury in January after coming back from the same injury in his other knee last year.

He was only 17 when he was brought into Newcastle’s Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) side in 2023 where he played alongside current Knights NRL star Fletcher Sharpe.

Linnane represented New South Wales Country Under-18 in 2023 facing a star-studded City side which included current NRL players Casey McLean – who has played Test football for the Kiwis – Tallyn De Silva, Lachlan Galvin and Blaize Talagi.

Profile | Jye Linnane​

Born: August 6, 2005
Birthplace: Newcastle, NSW
Junior club: Kurri Kurri Bulldogs
Position: Five-eighth
Height: 179cm
Weight: 89kg
Current club: Newcastle Knights
Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21): 10 appearances (2023)
SG Ball Cup (under-19): 11 appearances (2023-2024)
Harold Matthews Cup (under-17): 15 appearances (2021-2022)
Representative: New South Wales Country Under-18 (2023)

Good to have some recruitment news better than no news