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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	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: 26/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
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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[Lance155]

Which is why I think despite his obvious flaws, within 50 games Metcalf will be one of the elite halfbacks. It’s because he chooses to take on those moments. I want him to succeed and what we are seeing is the dawning of a special player.

Hard to say elite yet but I agree, the fact he demands the moment and the ball at those critical moments is so good.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Anyone know how often a player changes manager? Do they have them for their whole career? Or can a player have 2-4 managers like most players have 2-4 clubs?

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Anyone know how often a player changes manager? Do they have them for their whole career? Or can a player have 2-4 managers like most players have 2-4 clubs?

Agents and You

Agents and You

www.nrl.com

 

[mangereMB]

Yes. It’s not about the club. It’s about the money he can make.

The problems arise when he has a coach and players he can leverage the club in his favour.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Agents and You

Agents and You

www.nrl.com

This part is interesting:

‘You are bound to pay the agreed commission on your earnings from any contract negotiated by your Agent during the term of your agreement, irrespective if the playing contract exceeds beyond the end date of your player-agent agreement.’

If you sign a long contract (eg 10 years) the agent gets the commission the whole period. It would be impossible to change agent as the new agent wouldn’t get any commission until the long term contract ends effectively locking you in to the king term agent.

Even on a standard 3 year contract it would be hard to switch agents until the final year.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

If Newcastle continue to disintegrate, I can see players wanting to leave on mass. We may have missed out on Leo Thompson, but his identical twin brother Tyrone seems pretty handy too. Might be worth a go.

 

[Damo]

If Newcastle continue to disintegrate, I can see players wanting to leave on mass. We may have missed out on Leo Thompson, but his identical twin brother Tyrone seems pretty handy too. Might be worth a go.

Don't think we need to recruit role players like Thompson, got plenty coming through the grades.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

So much good comes from winning. We’re packing out stadiums, increasing revenue for pathways investment but importantly, we’re a desirable club.

Players must be able to see our players are improving when they come across the ditch. Ford, Metcalf, Taine, Egan, clark etc are playing career best football. We’re sitting in the top 4, with an under strength side & our youth talent is starting to flourish with the future very bright.

For our homesick kiwis, and aussies who aren’t happy/getting minutes, we’ve got to be near the top of the list at this point as a club they want to come to.

 

[shuffle]

To me I think the warriors should focus on getting a speedy/experience winger! But Deaon Amituamai is an amazing talent coming through. Reminds me of Mulitalo looks like he can break the line with nothing on!

 

[Billyspleen75]

To me I think the warriors should focus on getting a speedy/experience winger! But Deaon Amituamai is an amazing talent coming through. Reminds me of Mulitalo looks like he can break the line with nothing on!

I think we will sign Christian Tuipulotu in 2027. He signed a 1 year extension with the Dragons which is unusual, and it lines up perfectly to replace RTS.

 

[Wrighty]

So much good comes from winning. We’re packing out stadiums, increasing revenue for pathways investment but importantly, we’re a desirable club.

Players must be able to see our players are improving when they come across the ditch. Ford, Metcalf, Taine, Egan, clark etc are playing career best football. We’re sitting in the top 4, with an under strength side & our youth talent is starting to flourish with the future very bright.

For our homesick kiwis, and aussies who aren’t happy/getting minutes, we’ve got to be near the top of the list at this point as a club they want to come to.

Look for a gestation period though while people look at us through squinted eyes not quite sure if they believe what they see and then an impact

 

[Ref]

I think we will sign Christian Tuipulotu in 2027. He signed a 1 year extension with the Dragons which is unusual, and it lines up perfectly to replace RTS.

He’s become a fantastic player.
What we hope Ed Kosi might still become.
I’d buy him .

 

[KO WAI RA]

Our 1st grade flanks are already set contract wise with RTS & DWZ(both require premiership sendoffs if we could)
The lower grade youth will be pushing for game time/injury cover from nxt season…
Getting through this year requires exactly what this team is doing….NOW!!!!
Grinding out there wins with total team effort….
Also
•Great to finally see impact off the bench & better bench use

UGLY WINS are still worth 2points

 

[Wrighty]

Here is a stat for you MGT finished 5th in the NSW cup last year for tries with 14

That is a fair effort from MGT - maybe he can be a redemption story at some point after blowing last opportunity

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

The London Broncos are reportedly the latest team to offer CNK a contract from next season.

 

[Wrighty]

Jett Cleary starting to get raps on him - this from an article in Code Sports

"
Last weekend, Jett Cleary was on the right side of the field when he took the ball against St George Illawarra, but he, like his brother, swung around the ruck, stepped back on his inside and beat three defenders to score next to the posts.

Ironically, part of the reason Cleary left Penrith was to avoid comparisons with Nathan, but the family’s rugby league DNA hasn’t allowed that to happen.

While he still has a long way to go in his development, Cleary is impressing the Warriors with his progression."

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Jett Cleary starting to get raps on him - this from an article in Code Sports

"
Last weekend, Jett Cleary was on the right side of the field when he took the ball against St George Illawarra, but he, like his brother, swung around the ruck, stepped back on his inside and beat three defenders to score next to the posts.

Ironically, part of the reason Cleary left Penrith was to avoid comparisons with Nathan, but the family’s rugby league DNA hasn’t allowed that to happen.

While he still has a long way to go in his development, Cleary is impressing the Warriors with his progression."

Yep he looked all class. I was excited to see him in cup. Still 2 years away minimum, and I’m assuming he’ll return. Be a mutual decision. He’s come over and shared his Aussie half wisdom with our young players, he got development outside of the Sydney lights. That’s what I’m expecting anyway.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Yep he looked all class. I was excited to see him in cup. Still 2 years away minimum, and I’m assuming he’ll return. Be a mutual decision. He’s come over and shared his Aussie half wisdom with our young players, he got development outside of the Sydney lights. That’s what I’m expecting anyway.

As a younger brother he gets the benefit of the pathways Nathan has trod. Plus his Dad is pretty handy so we might get more out of Jett than Penrith and the universe have out of Nathan

 

[Playdaball]

I saw in some photos of CHT that his younger brother was beside him in his Broncos shirt. Calvin is in their development squad and is rumoured to be tyhe better of the two brothers - playing for the Kings 1st XV too.
Should the Warriors make a play for him or do we just go for Australian halves now?

 

[PhilsySH35]

Because it is disrespectful towards a man most of us respect highly. Webster has mana, and seems to treat our players, fans and club with fidelity.

And Tiny makes sense, it is ironic. Andrew Webster, doesn't seem to have logic. Even Princess was given to SJ by the players in jest. Andrew Webster does not seem to have that history, and has been created to criticise.

I'll leave it now too, as I don't want to derail the thread either.

apologies ever hopeful, totally love his nickname, more term of endearment, because he is such a respectful person to one and all, we give nicknames to people we love. in keeping with the tikanga on this forum, hope we go after stone-street from the sharkies as per previous poster a while ago.