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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[Dannevegas]

The average age of first-choice fullbacks and wingers across the other 16 teams is 23.5, while we are looking down the barrel of a 31-year-old winger, a 33-year-old winger, and a 31-year-old fullback next year.

There are only six other WG/FB's who are 30+ and signed for next year who will be first-choice starters, and only two of them are signed beyond next season at the moment, while we have two on our own.

I guess we have lost a crazy amount of experience over the past year, there aren't many options out there, and you've got to fill 30 spots somehow, but even still, this extension just makes me feel a bit ehhhhhhhh

For now, I am sitting on the fence, but both of my legs are hanging on the "why did we do this" side lol

Hopefully the likes of Amituanai, Kali, MGT and Moi-Moi can make the transition up to grade quick

 

[Riz]

The average age of first-choice fullbacks and wingers across the other 16 teams is 23.5, while we are looking down the barrel of a 31-year-old winger, a 33-year-old winger, and a 31-year-old fullback next year.

There are only six other WG/FB's who are 30+ and signed for next year who will be first-choice starters, and only two of them are signed beyond next season at the moment, while we have two on our own.

I guess we have lost a crazy amount of experience over the past year, there aren't many options out there, and you've got to fill 30 spots somehow, but even still, this extension just makes me feel a bit ehhhhhhhh

For now, I am sitting on the fence, but both of my legs are hanging on the "why did we do this" side lol

I think it's smart to extend these guys short term to bridge the gap until our young outside backs are ready to go. Realistically we're going to be waiting for the likes of Raph Sio etc to be up to standard before we can move on from RTS, DWZ etc.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I think it's smart to extend these guys short term to bridge the gap until our young outside backs are ready to go. Realistically we're going to be waiting for the likes of Raph Sio etc to be up to standard before we can move on from RTS, DWZ etc.

I mean, we talk about age being an issue etc, but the reality is for RTS hes got the rest of this year and next year left. So, not including finals he's got around 40 games left before finishing up.

Usually when the older fullas are finishing up there's a few young guys pushing the door down. Do we think any of our young fullas are ready to hold a week in/week out wing spot in the NRL in 40 games time?

Genuinely asking, I'm not sure how the progress is going for the outside backs? Or are we going to have to recruit?

 

[Dannevegas]

I mean, we talk about age being an issue etc, but the reality is for RTS hes got the rest of this year and next year left. So, not including finals he's got around 40 games left before finishing up.

Usually when the older fullas are finishing up there's a few young guys pushing the door down. Do we think any of our young fullas are ready to hold a week in/week out wing spot in the NRL in 40 games time?

Genuinely asking, I'm not sure how the progress is going for the outside backs? Or are we going to have to recruit?

I guess that’s the problem, we could be, but why arent we going to the market and looking for decent outside backs.
Because maybe our young guys aren’t ready, but why are we going and buying Harper and putting him higher in the depth chart than Amituanai and MGT who I think are far better.
I don’t see any of Pompey, Kosi, Harper, CNK, Tauapiki starting at any other nrl club.
*CNK at fullback at any other club

 

[Riz]

I mean, we talk about age being an issue etc, but the reality is for RTS hes got the rest of this year and next year left. So, not including finals he's got around 40 games left before finishing up.

Usually when the older fullas are finishing up there's a few young guys pushing the door down. Do we think any of our young fullas are ready to hold a week in/week out wing spot in the NRL in 40 games time?

Genuinely asking, I'm not sure how the progress is going for the outside backs? Or are we going to have to recruit?

Short answer is no. Amituanai is probably closest, Kali (i don't think he's a centre) and Raphael Sio will be in the mix in a year or so but no one is knocking the door down currently.
I think the current approach is the right way to go though, accept that the old fullas aren't going to be exactly what we wish for until we can bring through dynamic youngsters, don't go splashing cash on recruiting wingers just yet unless we don't think the next crop are going to be up to it.

 

[Boston Boy]

Where are the Francis Melis, Manu V's and the Sean Hoppe's of this generation?
To produce a gem winger like that soon would be magic.

 

[Playdaball]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

CNK's attitute that he is a fullback , does worry me as I see him as he moves into his 30's more as a back utility player.

If we stumbled across a superstar fullback such as Ponga , does that mean that CNK would leave the club?

 

[CWC]

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

CNK's attitute that he is a fullback , does worry me as I see him as he moves into his 30's more as a back utility player.

If we stumbled across a superstar fullback such as Ponga , does that mean that CNK would leave the club?

If we get Ponga then the club has absolutely no pressure on whether CNK wanna stay or ask for a release

 

[MaybeTop8]

If we get Ponga then the club has absolutely no pressure on whether CNK wanna stay or ask for a release

We won't get Ponga. We won't get Manu.

 

[CWC]

We won't get Ponga. We won't get Manu.

Tell that to Playdaball lol I was responding to him

 

[Theking267]

We might not get either of them but we will have a space in the roster as Ponga will be available in 2028, and we have a good back up plan in Taine, if he doesn’t come

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I mean, we talk about age being an issue etc, but the reality is for RTS hes got the rest of this year and next year left. So, not including finals he's got around 40 games left before finishing up.

Usually when the older fullas are finishing up there's a few young guys pushing the door down. Do we think any of our young fullas are ready to hold a week in/week out wing spot in the NRL in 40 games time?

Genuinely asking, I'm not sure how the progress is going for the outside backs? Or are we going to have to recruit?

I reckon easy way to gauge talent
Is watch NSW cup
Nah I’ve just changed my mind on that too
TMM is carving up in NSW cup
But goes to sleep when in top grade
Probably think about his roast pork he just hunted!
I’m hungry now

 

[Wah's Up]

We have to balance marquee signings with development of our young talent. When mohawk took over he stated that he wanted us to win the premiership with home grown players. Thats where we are investing.

Look at our team this year. Ali, Leka, Demetric, Laban and now TT. All have become regular first graders. behind them? MGT, EIT, Jett, TSS. That’s the bones of the 2028 - 2029 premiership team right there. On top of that, we are investing in Metcalf as our million dollar half with Jett coming in behind him.. CHT will be under threat with Jye Linnane next season.

The major change is investment in our systems up and down the grades. This investment is bearing fruit and over time will be our biggest strength. We won’t keep everyone. Good players will be let go. Thats sport.

In terms of what we need right now? Another 30 minute impact prop - likely Bunty replacement. Walker replacement. DWZ /RTS replacement in 2 years - we need pace! We already have a TMM or Boyd replacement in Jye..

Long Story short why throw money at players close to past their prime versus keeping the guns we have? Best nursery in the world is in our back yard. Our cap will reward the talent we have as they continue to grow through good performances. Invest in coaching and facilities.

The key to all of this is a great coach. Amazing pathways and a system that is embedded from a young age coupled with some flair and pace. We have most of that already.

This is why we are winning ugly versus losing closely this season. A bit more time and I firmly believe we will develop into the Melbourne or Penrith style club who are consistently threatening for titles every season.

Let’s hope Webby is still here in 20 years because that is what it will take.

Exciting times.

Great synopsis, and with two more teams entering the competition it is vital to recruit from within.
When the Phins entered the comp there was a real scramble to recruit.
The Bears have just been given the red light to bring Perth into the comp and next will be Papua New Guinea.

 

[CWC]

I'm enjoying watching the juniors gradually becoming superstars - Leka, Ali, Demetric. Taine, Laban, CHT doing well too, don't know why Ale's not given the chance to grow again. Hope Metcalf can grow within this year too, main concern is still how we have so much money left without getting any marquee or even 2 above average players in the squad esp after releasing Walker.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I'm enjoying watching the juniors gradually becoming superstars - Leka, Ali, Demetric. Taine, Laban, CHT doing well too, don't know why Ale's not given the chance to grow again. Hope Metcalf can grow within this year too, main concern is still how we have so much money left without getting any marquee or even 2 above average players in the squad esp after releasing Walker.

Trouble is we don’t know what recruitment team are looking for
Back or fwd
We all can speculate weather waffle wateva!
But none of us know nothing

 

[Theking267]

Morgan Gannon has been reportedly been signed by us he’s also only 21 and Jye Linnane is also 19 who we signed from Newcastle to go along with Sam Healey you can see our philosophy are buying younger players & bring through the youth in the pathways

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Morgan Gannon has been reportedly been signed by us he’s also only 21 and Jye Linnane is also 19 who we signed from Newcastle to go along with Sam Healey you can see our philosophy are buying younger players & bring through the youth in the pathways

Show me the money honey
I mean prove of Gannon!
Then I’ll go take a kip

 

[Riz]

I'm enjoying watching the juniors gradually becoming superstars - Leka, Ali, Demetric. Taine, Laban, CHT doing well too, don't know why Ale's not given the chance to grow again. Hope Metcalf can grow within this year too, main concern is still how we have so much money left without getting any marquee or even 2 above average players in the squad esp after releasing Walker.

Ale has been injured, back in Cup this weekend.

 

[CWC]

Ale has been injured, back in Cup this weekend.

He was not picked even from later half of last year before his injury, hope he gets a shot when opportunity comes out later.

 

[3rdstriker]

Trouble is we don’t know what recruitment team are looking for
Back or fwd
We all can speculate weather waffle wateva!
But none of us know nothing

With premium youngsters like we have coming thru! To promote from within seems like it's the best option at present time.