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	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	C
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Tanah Boyd	S	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
T1	Jett Cleary	T	S	S

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

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 3/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 4/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 20/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 2/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (S), Tanner Stowers-Smith (S), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Garry Saloon]

Ezra September 14, 2024 at 7:43pm

Hearing we have signed Christian welsh . Announced at end of year once mlb have finished there season





This is off the eels forum yesterday. Could see there still be things going on behind the scenes and broncos are the other team interested. Broncos had to pull out of the race for RCG because of salary cap constraints, Welch would be much cheaper. Also storm assistant Ryles off to eels could see Welch land there?

What the hell do we want a thirty year old prop for

 

[Noitall]

What the hell do we want a thirty year old prop for

Copy and pasted off the eels forum

 

[snake77]

Graham-Taufa potentially moving on is understandable. The thing with having guys with potential in the cup squad is they will want to be in first grade and some point. He's 22 so he will want to play first grade and earn what he can.

We could get him back in a few years as a better player.

Or like some that go over there he could enjoy it and stay there. Some players have moved to Super League and you see comments that they won't last or will be back. They end up having good careers over there winning a lot of silverware.

If he was in the 30. It opens up another spot. If he wasn't it is an opportunity for someone else to move into the NSW Cup squad.

 

[Noitall]

Graham-Taufa potentially moving on is understandable. The thing with having guys with potential in the cup squad is they will want to be in first grade and some point. He's 22 so he will want to play first grade and earn what he can.

We could get him back in a few years as a better player.

Or like some that go over there he could enjoy it and stay there. Some players have moved to Super League and you see comments that they won't last or will be back. They end up having good careers over there winning a lot of silverware.

If he was in the 30. It opens up another spot. If he wasn't it is an opportunity for someone else to move into the NSW Cup squad.

Of who there’s speculation around being Montoya, MGT, Bunty, Ford, you’d have to think they’ve been told that they’ve fallen down the order a bit and first grade minutes are unlikely and if you can find a longer contract then take it. Another likely centre arrives next session also in Kahu Capper

 

[JaggedJ]

If some of these guys leave I'm more interested in who we upgrade to top 30 and developmental than who we could potentially sign.

We're playing the "higher potential for less experience" game and I think Webby wants to start getting experience into these younger guys before too much of the current experience moves on in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

If some of these guys leave I'm more interested in who we upgrade to top 30 and developmental than who we could potentially sign.

We're playing the "higher potential for less experience" game and I think Webby wants to start getting experience into these younger guys before too much of the current experience moves on in the next 2-3 years.

I deffo thought that would be the case but I'm baffled that Ale got so little time this year, and both Laban and Halasima could have played a few extra games at the end of the year imo, same as Zyon Maiu’u as he looked good in his very short stint in first grade.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Anyone think we may hear more from the Saifiti and Thompson situation now Newys season is done. Could be an interesting week.

Saifiti cost Newy the game

 

[MrFrankWhite]

But man I hope we make a serious play for Thompson

 

[Neo]

I deffo thought that would be the case but I'm baffled that Ale got so little time this year, and both Laban and Halasima could have played a few extra games at the end of the year imo, same as Zyon Maiu’u as he looked good in his very short stint in first grade.

I can understand Zyon Maiu’u not going back up as he picked up an injury in Cup and then struggled for impact after coming back. Hopefully he is one who can benefit from a solid pre season

 

[Neo]

Couple years away imo.

I still think you would want him playing cup all next year. If you have him and Pasikala in that side it leaves room for a centre and winger who miss out on first grade in the backline as well. Doesn’t leave much room for a guy like MGT

 

[Wahs Up TV]

Graham-Taufa potentially moving on is understandable. The thing with having guys with potential in the cup squad is they will want to be in first grade and some point. He's 22 so he will want to play first grade and earn what he can.

We could get him back in a few years as a better player.

Or like some that go over there he could enjoy it and stay there. Some players have moved to Super League and you see comments that they won't last or will be back. They end up having good careers over there winning a lot of silverware.

If he was in the 30. It opens up another spot. If he wasn't it is an opportunity for someone else to move into the NSW Cup squad.

Off topic but I wonder if the NRL would ever agree to allow players to be loaned out like how the premier league do? You could send MGT out on loan for a year or 2 then bring him back in once hes developed abit more.

 

[~Navigator~]

Off topic but I wonder if the NRL would ever agree to allow players to be loaned out like how the premier league do? You could send MGT out on loan for a year or 2 then bring him back in once hes developed abit more.

It already happened remember the Broncos lent us Jesse Arthars

 

[MM51]

It already happened remember the Broncos lent us Jesse Arthars

He’s referring to send MGT to super league on a loan deal

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Off topic but I wonder if the NRL would ever agree to allow players to be loaned out like how the premier league do? You could send MGT out on loan for a year or 2 then bring him back in once hes developed abit more.

That would be good for both parties! I like the idea, just look at Harry Grant and his stint at the tigers.

This should really happen.

 

[Wahs Up TV]

That would be good for both parties! I like the idea, just look at Harry Grant and his stint at the tigers.

This should really happen.

Could look something like

MGT goes on loan to the storm lets say . One year deal with a second year option if the storm like him and are happy with him. If they like him they can buy off the warriors for a fee if not they can release him back after 2 and we get a potentially 25-40 game experienced player coming back into our club. Just an example of what it could be like, and vice versa.

 

[Neo]

Could look something like

MGT goes on loan to the storm lets say . One year deal with a second year option if the storm like him and are happy with him. If they like him they can buy off the warriors for a fee if not they can release him back after 2 and we get a potentially 25-40 game experienced player coming back into our club. Just an example of what it could be like, and vice versa.

How do you manage the cap though? What if they go away and you dont want them back (eg the juniors have filled the gap), and you are left having to pay it out

 

[OtautahiEast]

The fact they gave Pasikala a 3 year contract starting next year and heard nothing on MGT, I'm not surprised he's leaving. He's definitely been pretty consistent in cup I hope we keep him

 

[OtautahiEast]

Off topic but I wonder if the NRL would ever agree to allow players to be loaned out like how the premier league do? You could send MGT out on loan for a year or 2 then bring him back in once hes developed abit more.

John Batemans on loan atm to a super league club and coming back to the tigers next year I think

 

[Wahs Up TV]

How do you manage the cap though? What if they go away and you dont want them back (eg the juniors have filled the gap), and you are left having to pay it out

Well hes off your books for as long as the loan. If he comes back you may have more experienced player on your hands to add to depth etc. If hes not then you could loan out again or cut someone or someone comes to the end of their contract and move on he then fits back into your cap. It would require abit of work but can be done.

The idea behind it is to give your development players first grade experience but not on your books or time as you may have top talent in those positions for the next 2-3 years. It means when those players who are starters move on you have a experienced first grader coming back in straight away.

What if Demetric was at the Dragons for the last 2 years and played 20-25 first grade games then comes back next year, is he better prepared to play first grade than what he currently is after just 5 first grade games over the last 2 years? Demetric isnt the perfect example as he would better be served in cup but you know what im getting at.

Reality is it would probably never happen as the players haver most of the power in these contracts eg compassionate grounds but in theory could work to give more players experience wether in NRL or Super League while still being on the clubs books.

A dream scenario is Eli Katoa has been on loan to the storm the last 2 seasons and hes back next year. That would be the dream lol

 

[Kav1]

I'm liking this, it means we aren't putting our cue in the rack for 2025. Things are happening behind the scenes.

We have too many centres. Ali, Pompey, Berry, and I wouldn't be surprised to see CNK there with RTS at the back at times. Kali up and coming too.

MGT could get a name for himself in the SL if he plays well enough, and still have plenty of years to come back and play in the NRL

I agree that we have too many centres (Pompey, Berry, CNK, RTS, Ali) and short of halves. My solution is to use Pompey in the halves as a no 6. (He played some junior football there)