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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[Five&Last]

So struggling Sydney clubs with halves issues (ie Dragons and Tigers, etc) can try throwing millions at him but I doubt he'd be tempted if he's going to be the fall guy for their failures. Look at what the Tigers did to Brooks, Moses, Galvin, etc. Took years out of their careers and stunted their development.

Luai took those millions thrown at him by the Tigers and did the exact opposite of what you just said.

He improved as a player and improved the club.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Luai took those millions thrown at him by the Tigers and did the exact opposite of what you just said.

He improved as a player and improved the club.

Luai also has 4 rings on one hand lol.

 

[roguei]

Luai took those millions thrown at him by the Tigers and did the exact opposite of what you just said.

He improved as a player and improved the club.

Luai already has four rings, so I doubt that "wanting to win a premiership" is his main driving force anymore. That’s why I’m not entirely sold on the comparison. That said, money will always be a major factor.


To keep Luke, I’d assume we need to tick three key boxes:
1. Be premiership relevant.
If he really is a "footy nerd," as people say, then legacy will matter to him. At his age and with a relatively short career so far, the best way to build that legacy is by winning a ring or two. If he doesn't see that as possible with us, then I’m sure he'd be open to moving. Personally, I think we’ve ticked this box — but I’ll admit I’m biased.

2. Compete on salary.
I don’t think there’ll be much of a “Warriors tax” this time around. He won’t need to relocate again, and we’re no longer the struggling club we were before 2023. But we still need to at least match other offers — both to make him feel valued and because this ties into the third point. I think we’ll get this one right; our management is in a much better place now, and we’ve got the cap space to make it work.

3. Keep his partner and family happy here.
Hopefully, they’ve been able to settle in the way guys like Capewell and Egan have, which has been unreal. Having a baby does change things, but on the positive side, they’ve been in NZ for three years now, so there’s been time to lay down roots. Plus, the team seems to have a strong family vibe with lots of kids around the same age, which could really help build that sense of community.

Everything beyond those three factors is what gives us leeway to just meet those boxes instead of offering better than other teams.

 

[Five&Last]

Luai already has four rings, so I doubt that "wanting to win a premiership" is his main driving force anymore. That’s why I’m not entirely sold on the comparison. That said, money will always be a major factor.


To keep Luke, I’d assume we need to tick three key boxes:
1. Be premiership relevant.
If he really is a "footy nerd," as people say, then legacy will matter to him. At his age and with a relatively short career so far, the best way to build that legacy is by winning a ring or two. If he doesn't see that as possible with us, then I’m sure he'd be open to moving. Personally, I think we’ve ticked this box — but I’ll admit I’m biased.

2. Compete on salary.
I don’t think there’ll be much of a “Warriors tax” this time around. He won’t need to relocate again, and we’re no longer the struggling club we were before 2023. But we still need to at least match other offers — both to make him feel valued and because this ties into the third point. I think we’ll get this one right; our management is in a much better place now, and we’ve got the cap space to make it work.

3. Keep his partner and family happy here.
Hopefully, they’ve been able to settle in the way guys like Capewell and Egan have, which has been unreal. Having a baby does change things, but on the positive side, they’ve been in NZ for three years now, so there’s been time to lay down roots. Plus, the team seems to have a strong family vibe with lots of kids around the same age, which could really help build that sense of community.

Everything beyond those three factors is what gives us leeway to just meet some of those boxes and offer better than other teams.

Again, for someone who will be 27 when he comes off contract and hasn’t earnt that much money in his career…

Getting the most amount of money from his next contract will be a higher priority than winning a premiership.

Especially for someone with his injury history.

Thats not even the issue, we have money to spend. It will be that, plus the opportunity for him to move back home.

 

[CWC]

Again, for someone who will be 27 when he comes off contract and hasn’t earnt that much money in his career…

Getting the most amount of money from his next contract will be a higher priority than winning a premiership.

Especially for someone with his injury history.

Thats not even the issue, we have money to spend. It will be that, plus the opportunity for him to move back home.

You kinda answered your own points lol, we are the club that have the cap to spend and yes, what clubs are gonna overpay him with that injury history? The club has the proven track record of treating him and his wife like royals and invested on getting his chronic injury right, and waited 2 years for him to recover, and gave him the keys and build around him, that’s called career stability, good luck having that at the roosters/sharks/dogs

So sounds like treating it as money only is a bit naive.

 

[CWC]

Luai already has four rings, so I doubt that "wanting to win a premiership" is his main driving force anymore. That’s why I’m not entirely sold on the comparison. That said, money will always be a major factor.


To keep Luke, I’d assume we need to tick three key boxes:
1. Be premiership relevant.
If he really is a "footy nerd," as people say, then legacy will matter to him. At his age and with a relatively short career so far, the best way to build that legacy is by winning a ring or two. If he doesn't see that as possible with us, then I’m sure he'd be open to moving. Personally, I think we’ve ticked this box — but I’ll admit I’m biased.

2. Compete on salary.
I don’t think there’ll be much of a “Warriors tax” this time around. He won’t need to relocate again, and we’re no longer the struggling club we were before 2023. But we still need to at least match other offers — both to make him feel valued and because this ties into the third point. I think we’ll get this one right; our management is in a much better place now, and we’ve got the cap space to make it work.

3. Keep his partner and family happy here.
Hopefully, they’ve been able to settle in the way guys like Capewell and Egan have, which has been unreal. Having a baby does change things, but on the positive side, they’ve been in NZ for three years now, so there’s been time to lay down roots. Plus, the team seems to have a strong family vibe with lots of kids around the same age, which could really help build that sense of community.

Everything beyond those three factors is what gives us leeway to just meet those boxes instead of offering better than other teams.

On the babies thing, most parents would know your friends change when you become one, and having grandparents around as requirement is a myth, it’s about the support network you have here, Webby, Lussick, then non-parents like Egan, heck, even Ford met his partner and got a house here, or previous aussie warriors mostly fine bringing their kids up here, Montoya wasn’t looking to leave when they have a baby coming either, the only ones leaving on their terms were Walker (separated from kids) and AFB with that brownie wife.

And this is speculation but with birth control these days, they decide to have a baby here while he’s injured and up for talks with other clubs later in the year, instead he signs an extension…doesn’t scream they’re desperate to go home

Of course he could pull the compassionate card but our biggest draw for these guys is still Webby, divorce and stuff is another since he will stick with bubs but unless anyone has evidence of that then it’s very hypothetical imagination

Lastly if he does run away we know Webby has proven to dial up SJ into a dally m halfback and Metcalf is on his way to do the same….keep the coach and we will be fine

 

[Five&Last]

You kinda answered your own points lol, we are the club that have the cap to spend and yes, what clubs are gonna overpay him with that injury history? The club has the proven track record of treating him and his wife like royals and invested on getting his chronic injury right, and waited 2 years for him to recover, and gave him the keys and build around him, that’s called career stability, good luck having that at the roosters/sharks/dogs

How? i said we won't be able to compete with that combination of money and opportunity to return home. And there's plenty of clubs with cap.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Luke Metcalf is not the best player in this competition not even close! I dont give a fuck what the Dally M points system says.

I do however think I've seen enough to have a crack at locking him down first before November 1.

I dont think he's worth 1 million yet but a healthy upgrade for a further three years and leave it open to another upgrade in his next cycle?

The really good halves seem to be playing close to mid 30s nowadays.

750 to 850 would be more than fair no? You could even upgrade like halasima if he was to go super sayan mid this deal.

I think the club does need to be a little cautious given his history.

But at the same time you just trust the two Andy's to get this over the line.

 

[Dannevegas]

Wonder if those rumours of Ponga have a lil something to it.
Knights had there first game of the season without Ponga and looked much better with Sharpe at fullback. Looks like he needs a fresh start,
Ponga in this club this year would make us heavy title contenders.