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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[Makasene]

I wouldn't even hesitate to go the 900k to 1 mill and long term, if he can deliver at finals time i would go as far as 1.2, either way it should be a long term no clause out contract.

Unfortunately it's not the way employment law works.

Any contract will carry clauses for early termination.

A pipe dream to think we can contractually forces Aussies to stay lol

 

[sup42]

Any news on Lennox Tuiloma? Good to read the other young Powerhouses being signed.

 

[Riz]

Any news on Lennox Tuiloma? Good to read the other young Powerhouses being signed.

He had another surgery relecenty, shoulder I think.

 

[Boston Boy]

I believe Luke will want to go home at some stage. If we can get him for another 3 years that would be a major win.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I believe Luke will want to go home at some stage. If we can get him for another 3 years that would be a major win.

You could say the same for Ford or Egan. Some aussies actually love it here and if the club is going to look after you why would you leave?

Especially when the club is going places, have a bit more faith.

 

[watcher]

To be fair family and friends are an insurmountable pull on the Aussie guys the Warriors jusy have to make it attractive for 5 or so years

 

[Boston Boy]

You could say the same for Ford or Egan. Some aussies actually love it here and if the club is going to look after you why would you leave?

Especially when the club is going places, have a bit more faith.

I think the difference is that Luke has the world at his feet and has the media all over him. You could argue that Egan is similar but he went under the radar for so long. Luke is on the news feeds for the biggest league media. They are all over him and he is a halfback in an era that it is extremely difficult to find a good one, plus his speed which adds sexiness. He is a star in the making. He has already been anointed by the Sydney media. He would be in the top 3 young players a team would want. I also think we will need to work some magic to hold Healey.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I believe Luke will want to go home at some stage. If we can get him for another 3 years that would be a major win.

Or he could be a Wade McKinnon, Brent Webb, Steve Price or Blake Ayshford and settle here after footy because he is so comfortable. I haven't seen anything that makes him look uncomfortable.

 

[Boston Boy]

Or he could be a Wade McKinnon, Brent Webb, Steve Price or Blake Ayshford and settle here after footy because he is so comfortable. I haven't seen anything that makes him look uncomfortable.

I hope you are right. I think our best shot is that he feels indebted to us for everything we have put into developing him because of injuries etc. I think we have a chance of getting him for a couple more years before he heads home.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Haumole is the only edge forward 6ft4 & above but is listed at 113kg. Which means Neal will probably be too big to play on an edge once he hits first grade. By the time he’s playing first grade he will be 6’6 & 120kg

Neal is a big boy alright. Some of these lads who are naturally large and athletic haven't transitioned to first grade well as they are used to skittling smaller bodies in the lower grades. How good is it that we're getting closer to Australia in getting skills drilled in and competition hardened through the grades now, even back to St Thomas' and the Chch academy. If they keep his development on track he could make some serious waves in FG in a couple of years - exciting times

 

[MrFrankWhite]

To be fair family and friends are an insurmountable pull on the Aussie guys the Warriors jusy have to make it attractive for 5 or so years

If that’s the case, no one would ever live overseas. Not all cultures are the same and not all place extended family as the be all and end all.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Luke is on the news feeds for the biggest league media. They are all over him and he is a halfback in an era that it is extremely difficult to find a good one, plus his speed which adds sexiness.

All of which he achieved AT the Warriors.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I believe Luke will want to go home at some stage. If we can get him for another 3 years that would be a major win.

I agree
Was listening to Sam Healy
Same thing
That’s the danger of signing Aussies
That or compassion
Trouble is we haven’t found a NZ half or 5/8
That does it all
I haven’t give up on CHT
YET
But want sum 40/20s
And more attack

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Z

If that’s the case, no one would ever live overseas. Not all cultures are the same and not all place extended family as the be all and end all.

100%

This club isn't just a kiwi thing anymore. It's full of Aussie expats, wanting to stake their claim on this clubs firsts premiership. History book stuff.

Luke will stay if he gets paid, the team is managed well and he is able to play his best footy.

 

[Get them onside ref!]

To be fair family and friends are an insurmountable pull on the Aussie guys the Warriors jusy have to make it attractive for 5 or so years

Family first my friend
Just ask Six60
Don’t Forget Your Roots

 

[sup42]

I think people are forgetting that Metcalfs career was in dire straights before the Warriors invested heavily in retraining his legs.

That is the real reason the Sharks let him go, they (and the Warriors for that matter) knew there were significant risks because he had a well documented history of chronic hamstring tears.

Where Metcalf is now would likely not have happened at any other NRL organization, he was an unproven promising reserve grade half that had been miss managed in terms of someone at the Sharks missing his running gait was causing tears.

The Warriors medicos diagnosed that issue, sent him to the U.S.

He now has his own leg workouts that are twice the training he did before being given a hamstring program.

What do you guys recon that is worth to Metcalf?

I am not talking about being grateful.

For any of us, having a chronic potential career killing chronic illness through our youth, then eventually finding people that get behind you when you break down, people who send you to America to see the best.....what is that worth?

Metcalfs no fool, he has a lot more to keep him here than just liking the lifestyle.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Family first my friend
Just ask Six60
Don’t Forget Your Roots

Hahaha Sux60. The Nickleback of NZ

 

[Noitall]

I think people are forgetting that Metcalfs career was in dire straights before the Warriors invested heavily in retraining his legs.

That is the real reason the Sharks let him go, they (and the Warriors for that matter) knew there were significant risks because he had a well documented history of chronic hamstring tears.

Where Metcalf is now would likely not have happened at any other NRL organization, he was an unproven promising reserve grade half that had been miss managed in terms of someone at the Sharks missing his running gait was causing tears.

The Warriors medicos diagnosed that issue, sent him to the U.S.

He now has his own leg workouts that are twice the training he did before being given a hamstring program.

What do you guys recon that is worth to Metcalf?

I am not talking about being grateful.

For any of us, having a chronic potential career killing chronic illness through our youth, then eventually finding people that get behind you when you break down, people who send you to America to see the best.....what is that worth?

Metcalfs no fool, he has a lot more to keep him here than just liking the lifestyle.

He’s got a lot of leverage salary wise when you look at for instance Hynes on a million per season or Dylan Brown picked up for crazy money. Must be considered though that even though Hynes can’t get sharks past top 4, they are consistently playing finals and even though crazy money for Brown, he’s played a grand final at eels

 

[j_p]

Hahaha Sux60. The Nickleback of NZ

This may be the first non league related topic I've agreed with you on

 

[kos]

If that’s the case, no one would ever live overseas. Not all cultures are the same and not all place extended family as the be all and end all.

Females generally want to be near extended family especially around child birth and young child rearing.