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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	M
13	Edward Kosi	✔
14	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
15	Ali Leiataua	✔
16	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
17	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Marcelo Montoya	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 13/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[run_it_str8_again]

Who knows who else from any club will want to follow JFH home? Things are actually taking shape in development, business, women's league, now just performance in men's first grade to set loose. JFH's signing might just be a catalyst for some returns to NZ

 

[Kav1]

"We'd be crazy not to chase Montoya from Warriors so I wouldn't be surprised if he is in discussions "
Quote from an Eels fan from that link. Funny how other fans view our players. Would think a fair few of us would be happy for him to be gone.

I think Montoya is a much maligned player. Very reliable under the high ball and brings the ball back without fear. He's a good finisher too. Puts in the effort at training according to CNK. May be a little slow to turn around and chase but no worse than most wingers up in the line. I think he gives good value for money.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I think Montoya is a much maligned player. Very reliable under the high ball and brings the ball back without fear. He's a good finisher too. Puts in the effort at training according to CNK. May be a little slow to turn around and chase but no worse than most wingers up in the line. I think he gives good value for money.

He's definitely not reliable under the high ball.

 

[Playdaball]

I think Montoya is a much maligned player. Very reliable under the high ball and brings the ball back without fear. He's a good finisher too. Puts in the effort at training according to CNK. May be a little slow to turn around and chase but no worse than most wingers up in the line. I think he gives good value for money.

Is centre his best position?

 

[Kav1]

Is centre his best position?

He played well for us a couple of season's ago (inside Ed Kosi).

 

[Kav1]

He's definitely not reliable under the high ball.

May be he's dropped a couple this season due to difficult circumstances but I meant generally

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

He's definitely not reliable under the high ball.

It's not just him. High balls were definitely an issue across the board this season.

I wonder if it's a confidence thing...

 

[Noitall]

Sounds like Marcelo Montoya is a done deal at tigers

 

[JaggedJ]

Montoya is solid, won't let you down all that often. He does the hard work.

Problem is we've already got a lot of those players. We don't need more 6/10 types who will only ever get you 12th to 6th spot.

Tigers will get a good player and we'll hopefully get more out of whoever replaces him.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

It's not just him. High balls were definitely an issue across the board this season.

I wonder if it's a confidence thing...

My issue with him was his defensive reads. Him & Dwz were both terrible. You're right tho, Our whole backline had issues catching high balls.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

My issue with him was his defensive reads. Him & Dwz were both terrible.

That, I get.

DWZ got a pass from me last year, because of some of the insane intercepts he pulled off.

He lacked that spark this year....

 

[Worried2Death]

Montoya is solid, won't let you down all that often. He does the hard work.

Problem is we've already got a lot of those players. We don't need more 6/10 types who will only ever get you 12th to 6th spot.

Tigers will get a good player and we'll hopefully get more out of whoever replaces him.

Depends who replaces him. If it's Roger, would you rather have Monty or Rog on the left wing? I suppose I'd pick Rog, but we're not gaining a lot except freeing up cap space. Now if you were to tell me we're replacing Montoya with the Fox, I'd do some lines in celebration

 

[Inruin]

I think Montoya is a much maligned player. Very reliable under the high ball and brings the ball back without fear. He's a good finisher too. Puts in the effort at training according to CNK. May be a little slow to turn around and chase but no worse than most wingers up in the line. I think he gives good value for money.

Plenty wanted him dropped. It took about 12 minutes of the Roosters game to see why that wasn't a great idea.

 

[BigUCE]

Montoya is solid, won't let you down all that often. He does the hard work.

Problem is we've already got a lot of those players. We don't need more 6/10 types who will only ever get you 12th to 6th spot.

Tigers will get a good player and we'll hopefully get more out of whoever replaces him.

He’s definitely a slight upgrade on their current wingers. Should slot into a starting role there with no trouble.

 

[Noitall]

On an email to tigers fans welcoming Montoya, but they’ve made a couple of good other good signings. They’ve got Kobe Hetherington heading there and they’ve appointed Neil Henry as an assistant coach. Says they letting Naden go to another team and also Jayden Sullivan. Actually think Sullivan would be a handy pickup. Was signed to tigers for 4 years but it didn’t work out and got Luai heading there now

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Plenty wanted him dropped. It took about 12 minutes of the Roosters game to see why that wasn't a great idea.

Saying he is an upgrade on Kosi really isn't much of a complement.

 

[BigUCE]

So with Monty gone and bunty potentially on the outer, does that mean we would have 3 spots available in the top 30 for next season?

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

So with Monty gone and bunty potentially on the outer, does that mean we would have 3 spots available in the top 30 for next season?

yes

 

[Inruin]

Saying he is an upgrade on Kosi really isn't much of a complement.

no its not, but plenty thought Kosi was a better option.

I'm saying he is a solid enough player that does a number of good things without being a stand out. Having a revolving door of center partners who struggle to read defence themselves wouldn't be helpful either.

If its a choice between RTS and Montoya then RTS it is. Though I have a nagging fear RTS plays center and we get Kosi again on the wing.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

If its a choice between RTS and Montoya then RTS it is. Though I have a nagging fear RTS plays center and we get Kosi again on t he wing.

To me RTS is wing/fb cover or bust.

A center, he is not.