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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[wizard of Tauranga]

Goes alright for not being there for his attacking:
11 games
11 try contributions (3 tries, 8 try assists)
2 line breaks, 6 line break assists
11 tackle breaks

Exact same try contributions as the wonder kid that people want to resign for millions!

Not a diss on Metcalf, just more supporting the ability of CHT

 

[Noitall]

Goes alright for not being there for his attacking:
11 games
11 try contributions (3 tries, 8 try assists)
2 line breaks, 6 line break assists
11 tackle breaks

https://www.instagram.com/lukemetcalf99/

Look at the latest picture put up by Metcalf on his instagram page. Looks like him and CHT are close and really seem to complement each other

 

[KO WAI RA]

Just hoping our halves can unlock their 2nd half points scoring potential now!!!!
Pretty much guaranteed our strongest starting line up with strike from the bench….
Maybe TMM gets more minutes to help produce points or expose tired defenders

 

[sup42]

Does he’s got to keep working mean there’s a goal at the end if he can make a fist of it? Got to give credit to TMM, it would be easy to come on in the games he has and try and overdo it to try and impress while seeking an extension but he’s just done what’s needed and made his tackles. Webster likes players that make their tackles

I read that as a luke warm response from Webster at best, certainly no endorsement.

If they wanted him they would just say he is in their plans when the time comes they will sit down and talk yadda yadda.

But hey, this club has changed its mind and extended guys at the last minute before when other moving pieces fell through. So who knows.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Given the Roosters success with Wallaby Mark, I'm wondering whether we need to have a closer look at possible converts from union. Surely there are established ABs playing in super rugby who might be interested in a new challenge. This is one area where I would think that we have the natural advantage over Aussie NRL sides given that ABs>>>>>>>>Wallabies.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

My totally uneducated guess about TMM's situation is that during his health scare he may have been able to put life into perspective a bit more in terms of the balance he needs to live a good life.

Enjoying his hunting/fishing etc. whilst also enjoying the day job at the Warriors. He will be up against other players who are living and breathing footy, and I'd imagine Webster might be the kind of coach that would prefer that mentality and focus.

It sounds like TMM has got a great life, and hopefully there is a way for him to continue to enjoy it the way it is without financial motivations being the be all and end all.

 

[sup42]

My totally uneducated guess about TMM's situation is that during his health scare he may have been able to put life into perspective a bit more in terms of the balance he needs to live a good life.

Enjoying his hunting/fishing etc. whilst also enjoying the day job at the Warriors. He will be up against other players who are living and breathing footy, and I'd imagine Webster might be the kind of coach that would prefer that mentality and focus.

It sounds like TMM has got a great life, and hopefully there is a way for him to continue to enjoy it the way it is without financial motivations being the be all and end all.

Echoes of Ali Lauitiiti in this post, lifestyle factors in his case being God, Church, and family.

However it would be unfair to compare Webster to Daniel Anderson after Anderson went crazy, there is no suggestion Webster will have any of his players marched from Beasley Avenue by security without explanation and trespassed.

TMM won't find himself standing on Maurice Road while his wife is watching a kids movie at Manukau with no way to get home till the movie finishes.

Cold day that, imagine being tossed out by the Warriors literally kicked to the curb without warning and having no way to get home unless you walk for a few hours.

Ali only spoke about that day in private back in the day, but if you were wondering why the club did a reconciliation resigning of him to the 💙 Mighty NSW cup, that is why.

Seeing young Ali running around out there is healing for the soul of this club.

I digress, TMM I hope has told Webster he will do anything to stay and that is why we are seeing him at fourteen.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Echoes of Ali Lauitiiti in this post, lifestyle factors in his case being God, Church, and family.

However it would be unfair to compare Webster to Daniel Anderson after Anderson went crazy, there is no suggestion Webster will have any of his players marched from Beasley Avenue by security without explanation and trespassed.

TMM won't find himself standing on Maurice Road while his wife is watching a kids movie at Manukau with no way to get home till the movie finishes.

Cold day that, imagine being tossed out by the Warriors literally kicked to the curb without warning and having no way to get home unless you walk for a few hours.

Ali only spoke about that day in private back in the day, but if you were wondering why the club did a reconciliation resigning of him to the 💙 Mighty NSW cup, that is why. I hope Ali is cool with me posting that on here all these years later. Thing is that story pissed me off for a very long time.

I digress, TMM I hope has told Webster he will do anything to stay and that is why we are seeing him at fourteen.

Ali is my favourite player to have played for the club. There have been dark days, but this was the darkest of all for me as a fan.

 

[Cces]

At this stage, our halves under contract for 2027 are Linnane & Cleary, who will begin that year as 21 and 22 year olds. Although unsigned, Hanson would only be 22 as well if he was to be retained. It must be somewhat tempting to offer TMM a 2 year extension for a sense of security if Metcalf was to leave at the end of '26

 

[Kav1]

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

Ponga is over the odds at this stage of the season and his State of Origin performance was under-whelming.

 

[Blain]

Ponga seems to have a nasty attitude problem ATM. Even on the field he's playing like a real sulky bastard.. He is a great player no doubt, but this year he has been bad on pitch and not much better off it. If we signed him for $1.5 million, I wouldn't be jumping over the moon TBH.

 

[KO WAI RA]

Echoes of Ali Lauitiiti in this post, lifestyle factors in his case being God, Church, and family.

However it would be unfair to compare Webster to Daniel Anderson after Anderson went crazy, there is no suggestion Webster will have any of his players marched from Beasley Avenue by security without explanation and trespassed.

TMM won't find himself standing on Maurice Road while his wife is watching a kids movie at Manukau with no way to get home till the movie finishes.

Cold day that, imagine being tossed out by the Warriors literally kicked to the curb without warning and having no way to get home unless you walk for a few hours.

Ali only spoke about that day in private back in the day, but if you were wondering why the club did a reconciliation resigning of him to the 💙 Mighty NSW cup, that is why. I hope Ali is cool with me posting that on here all these years later. Thing is that story pissed me off for a very long time.

Seeing young Ali running around out there is healing for the soul of this club.

I digress, TMM I hope has told Webster he will do anything to stay and that is why we are seeing him at fourteen.

DAAAAAMMMMM !!!!!!
Thats sum COLD hearted shit right there hard out ,WOW…..

Definitely some dark chapters in this clubs history & thanks for sharing Sup…
Really appreciate the new evolution & journey the club is now building

 

[roguei]

Given the Roosters success with Wallaby Mark, I'm wondering whether we need to have a closer look at possible converts from union. Surely there are established ABs playing in super rugby who might be interested in a new challenge. This is one area where I would think that we have the natural advantage over Aussie NRL sides given that ABs>>>>>>>>Wallabies.

I think we are at a disadvantage here instead of a advantage. Kiwis rate the ABs 100x higher than any aussie would rate the wallabies. And for good reason. If they're a chance at being a AB or currently are, swaying them over to league is very, very hard. And i honestly don't see that changing anytime soon unless the ABs somehow lower themselves to being a wallabies quality side.

 

[Noitall]

I think we are at a disadvantage here instead of an advantage. Kiwis rate the ABs 100x higher than any aussie would rate the wallabies. And for good reason. If they're a chance at being a AB or currently are, swaying them over to league is very, very hard. And i honestly don't see that changing anytime soon unless the ABs somehow lower themselves to being a wallabies quality side.

Nathan Cleary on Wallabies radar if headlines are to be believed

 

[Damo]

Ponga is over the odds at this stage of the season and his State of Origin performance was under-whelming.

Every fullback would struggle with the lack of platform the forwards gave them. The Blues absolutely dominated up front.

 

[peewee]

Overall I would rate Ponga over CNK 60/40

 

[kos]

Given the Roosters success with Wallaby Mark, I'm wondering whether we need to have a closer look at possible converts from union. Surely there are established ABs playing in super rugby who might be interested in a new challenge. This is one area where I would think that we have the natural advantage over Aussie NRL sides given that ABs>>>>>>>>Wallabies.

Fxxg pussy
Too scared to write Marks surname

 

[Dannevegas]

Trade Afoa for Staines, would love To’a instead but Tigers wouldn’t let him go. Staines straight to Dallins wing. There’s express pace and he gets dirty in yardage as well.

 

[3rdstriker]

Trade Afoa for Staines, would love To’a instead but Tigers wouldn’t let him go. Staines straight to Dallins wing. There’s express pace and he gets dirty in yardage as well.

We'd need a new aerobics instructor then

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Trade Afoa for Staines, would love To’a instead but Tigers wouldn’t let him go. Staines straight to Dallins wing. There’s express pace and he gets dirty in yardage as well.

Id rather the stains on my jocks play wing before Staines from the Tigpies.