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: 25/30
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, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[MrFrankWhite]

Do we have something against young, fast backs?
A bit shit letting him go, without giving a real opportunity.
Backs is where we lack our starting back 3 are all 30+.
As long as we don’t re-sign Morgan Harper

My guess is he's more centre than winger therefore hes probably our last choice centre and / wing.

 

[Wrighty]

MGT signed to Rabbitohs for 26

Well he wasn't getting a chance here so this is good news for all concerned.

 

[Cces]

Do we have something against young, fast backs?
A bit shit letting him go, without giving a real opportunity.
Backs is where we lack our starting back 3 are all 30+.
As long as we don’t re-sign Morgan Harper

The reluctance to give him a go on the Wing is an odd one. Showed plenty of toe when Dom Young was on his tail at the weekend. Setu Tu getting upgraded to Top 30 last season ahead of him continues to confuse me

 

[CWC]

Could be work ethic or ability to read defense? If he’s performing but not given the chance either Webby doesn’t like him or it’s off field, like they let Vailea, Curran, AFB, Zyon Maiu’u go before.

Or we are making space for Ponga

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5XbhASWPj/

These guys love this club

 

[Worried2Death]

I need to watch Laban more closely, haven't formed an opinion on him yet. What player would people say he is similar to at this stage?

When he first comes off the bench I sometimes don't recognise him and I think who tf is this giant unit who moves like lightning and tackles like a maniac. I liken him to a young Jake Laban, there's no one quite like him.

 

[CWC]

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5XbhASWPj/

These guys love this club

So heart warming

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 13087

View attachment 13088

So heart warming

As much as we talk about it being a challenge to get recruits down here, it also works the other way with guys who love home

 

[tyrael]

How do you go from 2023 💙 Mighty NSW player of the year, 2024 players player of the year, to GTFO?

The amount of chances he got was so limited. Crazy.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

How do you go from 2023 💙 Mighty NSW player of the year, 2024 players player of the year, to GTFO?

The amount of chances he got was so limited. Crazy.

Has to be something behind it. Wasnt he being offered to others clubs a while back?

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

I wouldn't stress about that. We still plenty of $$$ in the cap.

Do you know something???

Clearing players to announce a new signing?

 

[Cces]

Has to be something behind it. Wasnt he being offered to others clubs a while back?

Nah that was a click bait headline. His own manager was shopping him around. Warriors can shop guys without contracts

 

[Jaffa J]

The front row is so intriguing.

We have Fish, Barnett, Vaimauga, and Ford who are first 17, and Bunty, Ale, and Smith behind.

I think Smith should be signed next in the front row. Do we k ow what Crosby contract situation is?

I would love if the club got Crosby and Salalilo on development contracts for the next two seasons.

Then let Ale go and keep bunty for two more years. Buntys experience with Crosby Smith and Salalilo would be huge in the cup team when he can.

Ale is ready to fly, I wouldn't stand in his way.

Might be unpopular opinion but I’d let Ale walk

 

[Wrighty]

Might be unpopular opinion but I’d let Ale walk

Big Call. I like the courage to call this before anyone has.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

Do you know something???

Clearing players to announce a new signing?

Our centres/wingers back up just got smaller WTF

 

[Leon Black]

Has to be something behind it. Wasnt he being offered to others clubs a while back?

He did play a couple of shockers in 1st grade.

 

[Wrighty]

Our centres/wingers back up just got smaller WTF

As someone said it clears the decks for an outside backs signing for those who like speculation.

 

[Leon Black]

Chances of TMM or Boyd leaving for next season, worth a shout??
From the Mole so take with a grain of salt:


Remember former Warriors, Titans and Dragons halfback Paul Turner?

The Kiwi-born halfback looked like he could have been a real star when he debuted for the Warriors back in 2020 as a teenager but injuries and lack of opportunity resulted in his career stalling.

He had a successful stint with Featherstone Rovers in England last year before injury struck again, resulting in surgery on his forearm.

Now 24 years of age, Turner is in great form in the QLD Morons Cup for Tweed Seagulls and has attracted the attention of several NRL clubs.

A smart playmaker, he is on track for a train and trial deal with at least two interested clubs in 2026.

 

[Noitall]

As someone said it clears the decks for an outside backs signing for those who like speculation.

Your slipping. Once upon a time you’d be saying there’s this great player Starford To’a we could recruit

 

[Noitall]

Chances of TMM or Boyd leaving for next season, worth a shout??
From the Mole so take with a grain of salt:


Remember former Warriors, Titans and Dragons halfback Paul Turner?

The Kiwi-born halfback looked like he could have been a real star when he debuted for the Warriors back in 2020 as a teenager but injuries and lack of opportunity resulted in his career stalling.

He had a successful stint with Featherstone Rovers in England last year before injury struck again, resulting in surgery on his forearm.

Now 24 years of age, Turner is in great form in the QLD Morons Cup for Tweed Seagulls and has attracted the attention of several NRL clubs.

A smart playmaker, he is on track for a train and trial deal with at least two interested clubs in 2026.

I saw that today. Crazy he’s only 24. Like I mentioned with MGT earlier, feels like he’s been around for ages