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	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
19	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
20	Te Maire Martin	✔
21	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
25	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
29	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: 29/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 26/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with others clubs from 01/11/25 (final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Riz]

highly likely that capes and niukore are both gone within the next 18 months, need to balance youth with experience. Riki could be that balance, low risk on the compassionate release card too

True, also kick chase is probably his best asset and we know how highly Webby values that attribute!

 

[Ref]

Riki seems to get a fair bit of smack on this forum but there’s no doubting his ability.
Webby makes everyone better.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I swear that Webby/Cappy could fix world hunger and some people would still doubt their decision making skills.

We are far past the point of being lucky when it comes to getting peak performance out of players.

Believe, you muggles.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

highly likely that capes and niukore are both gone within the next 18 months, need to balance youth with experience. Riki could be that balance, low risk on the compassionate release card too

Yeah that makes sense, but i imagine both Leka and Demi will play every game they're not injured/suspended from now til the end of next year, so it's likely that they'll both be 50-60 game players by the end of 2026.

Add in Fish, Barney, Erin Clark will be on about 150 and Ford about 130, I'm not so sure experience is something we desperately need in the forward pack

 

[Dannevegas]

I think Doehi and Wilson would, if picked up at reasonable cost add value to the squad for next year.

Of the players off contract I think only TMM adds value. Neither Ale or Bunty compel an upgrade.

Decisions need to be made as the player market will be feral.

I do not see the logic of putting a rehabbing player in yhe top 30.

How does Ale not deserve an upgrade? He should be first drop prop at the very least, and has killed it in every cup game this year

 

[Damo]

New Zealander comes home to New Zealand, more news at 6 o'clock.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

im at the point where i trust webby to get the best out of anyone, full faith in them. i dont rate riki but if it eventuated i wouldnt be mad. Niukore permanent bench middle with a backrow rotation of capes/leka/laban/riki isnt bad.

gotta fit Gannon in there too...

 

[SouthernWorrier]

You can never have too many good NRL quality back rowers. I would prefer Riki's to consistency to Marata's efforts.

If they are lining him up for 2027 to backfill Marata or Capewell, I 'm into it. Next year with these 2 still on board, not so much.

 

[Sammyw]

gotta fit Gannon in there too...

likely takes the 14 off TMM tbh

 

[watcher]

How does Ale not deserve an upgrade? He should be first drop prop at the very least, and has killed it in every cup game this year

I like Ale but how has he featured in FG tbis year. I cannot see room for Ale and Bunty, only one.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

likely takes the 14 off TMM tbh

You reckon? I'd have thought he's the ball playing lock they're after as long as he proves himself pre season

 

[The Warrior Waka]

You reckon? I'd have thought he's the ball playing lock they're after as long as he proves himself pre season

He might he a ball playing lock. But he'll have to adjust to playing multiple roles , Cos Erin has that position on lock down at the minute.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

So with out top 30 are they what the Warriors have listed in their Team on the official website? They have 30 listed with 13 backs and 17 forwards. EIT and Fatialofa are in that list.

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[SouthernWorrier]

He might he a ball playing lock. But he'll have to adjust to playing multiple roles , Cos Erin has that position on lock down at the minute.

You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season

 

[Cces]

So with out top 30 are they what the Warriors have listed in their Team on the official website? They have 30 listed with 13 backs and 17 forwards. EIT and Fatialofa are in that list.

Teams

2021 New Zealand Warriors NRL Telstra Premiership squad, Warriors players, Canterbury Cup NSW squad.

www.warriors.kiwi

It is the closest indicator yet but I think clubs are required by the NRL to create a profile for every player who gets listed on a Tuesday. For example Manly have 33 on their website & that includes Matt Lodge who is Train & Trial

 

[sup42]

You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season

Yeah Gannon can go anywhere in the backrow, start, bench, whatever. Before his latest injury he was being used as a Left edge backrower for eighty minutes, which is good for us, gives us options on where he plays and what type of minutes per game.

We are fortunate that Brad Arthur has done that, used him as an eighty minute player, Webster will love that.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

You could be right.

Report at the time was '...identified as Dylan Walkers replacement' https://www.codesports.com.au/nrl/w...l/news-story/b78465a6dfef8df56715713ef98309f0

... but I struggle to see him signing to come out here for a bench role.

Maybe Erin moves to 'fast small prop'? They'll find a place for both, it'll probably come down to who does what in pre-season

Lock is one part of the engine room that doesn't need fixing at the moment. I struggle to find a spot for him in the 17 based off of a handful of SL games i have watched of him.

I don't even think he believes hes coming over as a automatic starter.

I believe Leka is our future 13. Gannon could be a ball playing second rower in the mould of a Feleti Mateo , SBW.

 

[Cces]

Lock is one part of the engine room that doesn't need fixing at the moment.

I find it hard to identify who is playing Lock when Clark gets his spell.
Might have to look back a bit further to see if it's an ongoing trend but RTS' try at the weekend was the first one we've scored without Clark on the field since the Sharks game.
Gannon might have been signed with the initial plan to come on when Clark needs a rest

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Sorry Mods, Couldn't find Deme's player thread.


View: https://youtu.be/ix0_MoJQNXo?si=TGxbNhKCv4kiglhN

 

[Noitall]

Sorry Mods, Couldn't find Deme's player thread.


View: https://youtu.be/ix0_MoJQNXo?si=TGxbNhKCv4kiglhN

So excited for what the future holds for this guy, very smart and articulate. I can see him being one of the leading enforcers in the comp, looks to enjoy the collisions