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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[The Warrior Waka]

I have high hopes for a lot of our Juniors. Would somehow love to keep all these players lol. Promote, Extend , Paper bag payments. Whatever it takes.
Some could be ready by next year. Some we will have to wait a few years. But right now, We have the best Juniors in the nrl!

I would love to keep longterm -

Daeon Amituanai
Toby Crosby
Kayliss Fatialofa
Jason Seu Salalilo
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Joseph Ratcliffe
Brandon Norris
Caelys Putoko
Jack Thompson
Tepatasi Laumalili
Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea

Jeremiah Lemana
Lucian Mikaele
Dougal Grant
Bishop Neal
Ronan Byford
Hinkley Ioka
Krushil Koteka
Satali Asolelei Fretton

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Apparently we kind left him in the cold when we moved to Redcliffe. I don't think he's too fond of us now.

But then Daeon Amituanai was in the same boat and he returned so who knows.

Different times and different coaching staff, obviously he should be able to move past that after having one meeting with Webby.

 

[Cces]

Playing Flegg out of high school is not a negative. And living away from home in a foreign city where you are living and breathing RL and mostly training with the first grade team are development boosters in my mind.

Playing Flegg was the ideal starting point once he left high school. Going from a Prop in that grade to jumping into the role of a starting Second Rower in the NRL the next year was the mistake.
In theory, living & breathing rugby league could help development but the overwhelming majority of Development contracted players in 2020-22 didn't improve to the level required to establish professional careers afterwards

 

[MrFrankWhite]

TBF his first season was alright, he scored quite a few tries and set a number up. His form unfortunately was the reason locke was released to Salford that year, to be compounded by Tomkins himself deciding he wanted to go home early the next year.

Yeah ST himself was a good player. He was a poor fit for the Warriors and the NRL though and it destabilised the team right when we desperately needed stability.

 

[Theking267]

Katoa’s development was hindered due to a coaching change. Brown moved Euan Atkin into the second row so that Vailea and Berry could get some NRL game time. Then Sironen was on the other edge & Katoa got moved to the middle but couldn’t get on the bench because BMM could cover middle and edge.

 

[miket12]

If were throwing outside backs names out Caleb Clarke's contract with the NZRU expires at the end of the year. He only signed a 1 year deal with them last year to keep his options open and its no secret he's harboured Rugby League aspirations which in his words "would be a dream come true".

25, absolute prime, couldnt think of a current union outside back more suited to League tbh, good friends with the Tuivasa Sheck's and a host of League boys.....money might be the stumbling block as itd probably take a bit......never know tho......id at least be putting the feelers out if i was the club.

Clarke has re-signed with NZ Rugby and the Blues till the end of the 2027 season.

All Blacks winger re-signs with NZ Rugby and Blues

Caleb Clarke re-signed with the Blues until the 2027 season.

www.nzherald.co.nz

 

[Five&Last]

Playing Flegg was the ideal starting point once he left high school. Going from a Prop in that grade to jumping into the role of a starting Second Rower in the NRL the next year was the mistake.
In theory, living & breathing rugby league could help development but the overwhelming majority of Development contracted players in 2020-22 didn't improve to the level required to establish professional careers afterwards

I think that was a talent ID issue more than anything

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

 

[WahsaurusRex]

The One New Zealand Warriors have locked in three highly promising South Island players – Makaia Tafua, Jason Salalilo and Bishop Neal – until the end of the 2028 season.

All Christchurch-born and raised, the trio have underlined their potential coming through the club’s pathways system.

Hooker Tafua (21) has already made 22 appearances for the Warriors’ reserve grade side in the New South Wales Cup, prop Salalilo (20) has played eight NSW Cup games this year and second rower Neal (17) was an influential figure as the club secured its second consecutive Harold Matthews Cup (under-17) premiership this season.

“Makaia, Jason and Bishop are all terrific examples of the talent coming out of our academy in Christchurch,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development.

“Their development has been outstanding since coming into our system.

“Makaia and Jason have grabbed every opportunity through the grades to earn exposure with our New South Wales Cup side while Bishop has huge potential a back rower.

“He would have played in the Harold Matthews Cup as a 15-year-old last year only to be ruled out through injury but he certainly showed what he can do this year despite still being only 16 at that time.”

Tafua, a Linwood Keas junior and Shirley Boys’ High School product, started his journey with the Warriors in the club’s first year back home after the Covid era when he played four times for the SG Ball Cup (under-19) side.

By last year he was a New South Wales Cup regular making 17 appearances and scoring four tries as his development was fast-tracked alongside senior players. He also scored three tries in three Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) games while he has split his time between the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg teams this year.

Salalilo and Neal both come out of New Zealand rugby league’s new powerhouse St Thomas of Canterbury College.

Salalilo has followed the same path as Tafua coming through the SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and now NSW Cup sides. He has been impressive in eight interchange appearances for the table topping Warriors in the NSW Cup this year.

Neal is a standout both physically and talent-wise, an imposing figure standing 194cm and weighing 113kg. He routinely ploughed through defences using his combination of size, power and pace in the Harold Matthews Cup this year finishing as the team’s top try scorer with eight in 10 games.

He was almost unstoppable with two tries in the grand final after which he was named the player of the match.

Profile | Makaia Tafua​

Born: June 14, 2004
Birthplace: Christchurch, NZ
Junior club: Linwood Keas
Position: Hooker
Height: 180cm
Weight: 88kg
New South Wales Cup:
Appearances: 22 (2024-2025)
Points: 16 (4 tries)
Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21):
Appearances: 9 (2024-2025)
Points: 32 (8 tries)
SG Ball Cup (under-19):
Appearances: 4 (2023)
Points: 0

Profile | Jason Salalilo​

Born: April 28, 2005
Birthplace: Christchurch, NZ
Junior club: St Thomas of Canterbury College
Position: Prop
Height: 183cm
Weight: 102kg
New South Wales Cup:
Appearances: 8 (2025)
Points: 4 (1 try)
Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21):
Appearances: 6 (2024-2025)
Points: 20 (5 tries)
SG Ball Cup (under-19):
Appearances: 7 (2024)
Points: 0

Profile | Bishop Neal​

Born: May 10, 2008
Birthplace: Christchurch, NZ
Junior club: Hornby Panthers
Position: Second row
Height: 194cm
Weight: 113kg
Harold Matthews Cup (under-17):
Appearances: 10 (2025)
Points: 32 (8 tries)

 

[Noitall]

This could be why we’re sitting on a fair bit of money in our salary cap, because we’ve got a production line that’s coming through fast?

 

[Noitall]

How much past 17 do males tend to continue to grow? Very much reminds me of NAS to look at does Bishop Neal

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Neal has to be the priority. 194cm / 113kg at 17

 

[Rizzah]

How much past 17 do males tend to continue to grow? Very much reminds me of NAS to look at does Bishop Neal

Height stops anywhere between 16 and early 20s.

Freak example - Dennis Rodman had a growth spurt post high school, going from 180cm (5'6") to 201cm (6'8") - he talks about it in 'The Last Dance'

 

[Noitall]

Height stops anywhere between 16 and early 20s.

Freak example - Dennis Rodman had a growth spurt post high school, going from 180cm (5'6") to 201cm (6'8") - he talks about it in 'The Last Dance'

NAS listed as 2.01m tall and 115kg. He could potentially end up similar? Anything possible I guess, but already has some size about him

 

[roguei]

Damn and there all christchurch kids... Good to see a lot of devlopment coming out of there, if these kids get into FG then i think the only main junior club left without some warriors representation ever would be Celebration. 3 years is a good amount of time although i'd of gone an extra year or two for Neal. A lot of junor talent now is secured until 2028.

 

[LeagueJunkie]

Bishop Neal is an impressive specimen at 17 years old. Big, athletic, powerful but also very skillful. Glad we have locked him in.

 

[CWC]

So is Tafua taking over from Healey when/if he leaves? Or Egan who probably still has 3+ prime years

Neal surely becoming a prop when we get to 2028? Couple of years in Cup then debut at 19-20?

2028 - Old Fish/Demi/TSS/Crosby/Ford/Salalilo/Neal

 

[MrFrankWhite]

NAS listed as 2.01m tall and 115kg. He could potentially end up similar? Anything possible I guess, but already has some size about him

I would guess 120kg. He hasn't even reached peak free testosterone yet.

 

[Noitall]

3 years is a good amount of time although i'd of gone an extra year or two for Neal. A lot of junor talent now is secured until 2028.

Some big decisions over the coming years and they might not get them all right and some depart who we wish we’d kept? As it stands Halasima and Laban look like our future second row and with what’s possible might be hard to displace? Neal has impact player written all over him with his size and skill, biggest hurdle is going to be keeping them all grounded. As it stands we’ve got 25 signed for next year with 1 supplementary contract according to the information at the top of the page, so a bit space to put some on development contracts

 

[Noitall]

I would guess 120kg. He hasn't even reached peak free testosterone yet.

Yeah weight wise seems like he could surpass him at 115kg. Could be bullshit stats too, NAS does seem bigger than 115kg?