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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[Dlenai]

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

He's my favourite player right now after SJ from 2011-2024

 

[LUKAMIKIAFU]

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

View attachment 13785

More on it

Storm star in sights of cashed-up Saudi backed rebel league — Transfer Whispers

Storm star in sights of rugby union’s cashed-up rebel league — Transfer Whispers

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

View attachment 13785

Just to confirm he'd finish his contract with us first.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Sport is definitely going to look different in 10 years. I can't believe how much cricket has changed, and Football seems to have really sold itself out.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

RTS has been a loyal servant of this club, especially during some of our darkest years. He came over to us when we were a basket case and when everyone told him he would be ruining his career. Don't begrudge him at all to take up this lucrative contract after end of next year if that's what he wants. From our perspective, it's probably the perfect time to think about moving him on anyway and either go to market for a speedy winger or provide a pathway for junior talent (maybe Kali). If he does end up going at the end of next year, I hope we can send him out with a premiership either this year or next.

 

[LUKAMIKIAFU]

Just to confirm he'd finish his contract with us first.

Yup, wouldnt mind if he moved in 2027, he would be around 35? by that time

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Yup, wouldnt mind if he moved in 2027, he would be around 35? by that time

it would be 2026 no? He signed a 3 year contract from 2024.

 

[Noitall]

RTS has been a loyal servant of this club, especially during some of our darkest years. He came over to us when we were a basket case and when everyone told him he would be ruining his career. Don't begrudge him at all to take up this lucrative contract after end of next year if that's what he wants. From our perspective, it's probably the perfect time to think about moving him on anyway and either go to market for a speedy winger or provide a pathway for junior talent (maybe Kali). If he does end up going at the end of next year, I hope we can send him out with a premiership either this year or next.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fnrl-market-watch-dragons-face-battle-to-keep-offcontract-winger-sione-finau-as-rivals-circle%2Fnews-story%2F1cca8fd58c0d9ccd873c2f6aae8ae83d&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-1-SCORE

Behind a paywall unfortunately but I posted a snippet of it on the nrl recruitment thread. I think BangBro’s mentioned this guy the other day but I really hope we’re one of the teams looking at him. 6 foot 5 and got a hell of a strike rate scoring tries in nsw cup and first grade. Defence can use some work but he’s young and if he’s hungry enough, he can sort that

 

[Jaffa J]

JFH liked a post from Michael Chammas reporting the news on RTS must be a done deal

 

[sydneywarrior92]

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_MRE170_a_GGL&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fnrl-market-watch-dragons-face-battle-to-keep-offcontract-winger-sione-finau-as-rivals-circle%2Fnews-story%2F1cca8fd58c0d9ccd873c2f6aae8ae83d&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-1-SCORE

Behind a paywall unfortunately but I posted a snippet of it on the nrl recruitment thread. I think BangBro’s mentioned this guy the other day but I really hope we’re one of the teams looking at him. 6 foot 5 and got a hell of a strike rate scoring tries in nsw cup and first grade. Defence can use some work but he’s young and if he’s hungry enough, he can sort that

saying that he has defensive issues is an understatement. Not being able to defend is kind of a requirement to be a dragons winger. But maybe Webby can improve that side of that game. Personally, I'd want us to go after Will Warbrick.

 

[Noitall]

View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/czgq_B2ub9Q

Dragons also let Tamale go to raiders and he looks the goods. I’d take a punt on a 6 foot 5 try scorer poached from the storm and back the club to bring out the best in him

 

[CWC]

Gannon is signed as Walker replacement, Walker was viewed as a utility even though he wasn’t good at 6. Gannon probably is the Sirinon/Walker hybrid - lock, second row, halves, probably can learn hooker like TMM. Clark will spend more time as prop as Demi and Gannon gets more time. Maybe Fish/Barney prop combo becomes Demi/Clark combo by 27/28 and Gannon be our Yeo

2027 we could be losing Marata, Cape and Barney, so Riki would fit as a veteran replacement, but what happens to our 4 young gun second rowers? Move them to centres? Unless Riki turns into a prop?

RTS still look great, a bummer like who will take over in 18 months? Who’s the understudy? Kosi? There’s Sloane, Wilson on the market, the lack of back 3 juniors coming through is a huge worry, would have gotten big time development with our back 3 injuries, TT unfortunately is not a winger. RTS is a legit super star, we need super star replacement to finish tries

Like maybe Kayliss, EIT can play wing? Leka is probably our best first drop winger

 

[Blain]

Roger is turning 34 in 2027, not many wingers that age running around. I hope he takes the bag, good on him. Knowing Roger, I'm sure he'd be updating the club as early as possible, and we will plans in the shadows for replacements.

 

[Dannevegas]

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

He hasn’t, but I don’t know how Afoa gets picked before he does, he’s had loads of opportunities and doesn’t really offer much. Ale’s had really few opportunities under webby and has gone well in his limited time .
Also we seem to be releasing quite a few players and not signing many so a decent contract to keep him around even just for first drop prop is deserved imo.

And Barnett’s out for a while and Marata’s clearly not a prop, so we could do with Ale on the list.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Create your own team formation

 

[watcher]

He hasn’t, but I don’t know how Afoa gets picked before he does, he’s had loads of opportunities and doesn’t really offer much. Ale’s had really few opportunities under webby and has gone well in his limited time .
Also we seem to be releasing quite a few players and not signing many so a decent contract to keep him around even just for first drop prop is deserved imo.

And Barnett’s out for a while and Marata’s clearly not a prop, so we could do with Ale on the list.

I agree, but what dont we see that Webby does?