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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[MrFrankWhite]

DCE to 7 and Metcalf to 6 for one year? Left field suggestion here at around 28:50:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz-VhpfIeUI&t=2440s

lol @ signing DCE. Then be back at square 1?

 

[Fowardpass]

Yep, Ali was starting to become a real weapon. Close to the line he was very hard to stop and the Warriors were starting to figure out how to get him in those spots where he was devastating in attack. Next thing he was moved for Berry (Berry was no where near the attacking threat of Ali, but perhaps a better defender), then Berry got injured and we kept Ali on the other side waiting for Berry to come back. We have not ever got Ali into spots on the other side there anywhere near as threatening, and his form kind of tanked. I think we all love Berry's effort game, his hard chase and working from marker but I believe SJ made him look better than he was and now with vanilla halves with less ball playing and speed threat at the line than SJ and Metcalf (respectively) we need some strike out there to break the line to help our attack.

Look at Ali Katoa
Surrounded by guns at Storm
His game went to next level there
That’s what we can do with Leka Dem and Laban
Get someone to put these guys into space running onto ball
We can’t keep relying on Leka to pull the big plays out all the time
Broken play yeah
But good teams will shut him down
Rest of Wahs performance in Knights game was pretty ordinary
Regardless of what Webby says
To win this comp
We need more than one gamebreaker on field at once
Healey is one of those!

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Look at Ali Katoa
Surrounded by guns at Storm
His game went to next level there
That’s what we can do with Leka Dem and Laban
Get someone to put these guys into space running onto ball
We can’t keep relying on Leka to pull the big plays out all the time
Broken play yeah
But good teams will shut him down
Rest of Wahs performance in Knights game was pretty ordinary
Regardless of what Webby says
To win this comp
We need more than one gamebreaker on field at once
Healey is one of those!

 

[Horriors2013]

Think Ali busted defenders around halfway vs dolphins, then sharks that directly lead to a try last year, bullied his way to a try vs Roosters this year, shifted to the left and that was the end of his form for 2025

Injury hasn't helped either. Hasn't had a consistent go at right centre.

 

[Horriors2013]

lol @ signing DCE. Then be back at square 1?

Can't see it. Tanah/Metcalf for mine.

 

[UpTheWahs]

I would look at enticing Jamayne Isaako home for a wing spot. Got decent speed, athletic, can offer decent fullback cover and would be the best kicker in the team. Can't be worse than DWZ in defence. Both Kosi and DWZ can go.

 

[Playdaball]

With the Titans in town , can we make an offer to a couple of their outside backs ... any of them! They have more speed than the likes of Harper and Kosi and should be targeted. Any of these 5 would do - they would thrive under Webster. Probably already under contract but the Titans need to target other areas and a new coach may want a fresh start!

1. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
2. Brian Kelly
3. AJ Brimson
4. Jojo Fifita
5. Phil Sami

 

[kos]

With the Titans in town , can we make an offer to a couple of their outside backs ... any of them! They have more sppeed than the likes of Harper and Kosi and should be targeted. Any of these 5 would do - they would thrive under Webster. Probabaly already under contract but the Titans need to target other areas and a new coach may want a fresh start!

1. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
2. Brian Kelly
3. AJ Brimson
4. Jojo Fifita
5. Phil Sami

Sami hinted to Perth bears in 27
Fifita is a good player Kelly ditto
Akp needs defence work ongoing

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

AKP yes. No to the others.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

For this year we haven't used the money left over from Tohu and Dylan Walkers contracts, and I had guessed we would have had a little money left over from the year prior.

That translates to over a million left for next year, before we even look at spending money from anyone we let go at the end of this year, like Ale and TMM. We've only added Gannon for next year, who I'm assuming isn't going to break the bank.

What do we actually do with that money we don't spend this year?
And who is actually available from 2026 onwards that will improve our team?

Outside backs and centre look to be the priority, but whose actually available?

 

[Playdaball]

AKP yes. No to the others.

Do you rate Kosi and Harper ahead of the others?

 

[Cces]

What do we actually do with that money we don't spend this year?

We have to spend at least 97% of the cap so there's probably been a whole lot of upgrades/bonuses that us fans are oblivious of. Maybe even some front loading (if that's even still legal) so there's more available for new signings next year

 

[MrFrankWhite]

We have to spend at least 97% of the cap so there's probably been a whole lot of upgrades/bonuses that us fans are oblivious of. Maybe even some front loading (if that's even still legal) so there's more available for new signings next year

Upgrades since Nov 1st last year:

Pompey
Halasima
Laban
Vaimauga
TSS
CNK

 

[Boston Boy]

AKP and Tuaupiki had awesome chemistry for QCup, they were deadly together. AKP would be top 5 fastest players in the game, but can have crap defense. Tuaupiki knew how to get him into space. There are games where he is fire and scores 3 tries, just a matter of getting him the ball. Hard decision, because that pace is almost irresistible..

 

[Tokyo Warrior]

Do you rate Kosi and Harper ahead of the others?

Are the others willing to come here on a downgrade and play reserve grade?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Upgrades since Nov 1st last year:

Pompey
Halasima
Laban
Vaimauga
TSS
CNK

All of those guys were already contracted to us for 2025 or 2026, so surely none of that money would then be used for their contracts for those years, surely?

Unless as Cces said, they have been front loaded a wee bit (I think you could only do 10% more or something minimal).

Or, can we do something like this?
Leka was signed til end of 2027. We tell him we like the way he moves, so we're going to give him 800k per year for 2028 and 2029, but because we have extra money on 2025 and 2026 were going to increase his salary 200k for those 2 years, and only pay him $600k for 2028 and 2029.
Or is that not allowed?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

All of those guys were already contracted to us for 2025 or 2026, so surely none of that money would then be used for their contracts for those years, surely?

Unless as Cces said, they have been front loaded a wee bit (I think you could only do 10% more or something minimal).

Or, can we do something like this?
Leka was signed til end of 2027. We tell him we like the way he moves, so we're going to give him 800k per year for 2028 and 2029, but because we have extra money on 2025 and 2026 were going to increase his salary 200k for those 2 years, and only pay him $600k for 2028 and 2029.
Or is that not allowed?

Re-signed means entirely new contract. Leka could be on 500k right now...

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Re-signed means entirely new contract. Leka could be on 500k right now...

Does it though?
The below information says they've extended....which to me infers we have extended their current deal, not completely resigned them.

 

[Leon Black]

His x factor is overrated though

Like he is a bit of a weight bully out there.

Give me a fully fit Berry over Ali every day of the week.

I remember the start of this season, especially against Manly — Ali was fully fit and full of confidence, and he was crashing through the line in a way that reminded me of Kayal Iro or Herbie Farnworth.

He’s got it in him — just lacks confidence, in my opinion. Fair enough if we disagree.

I rate Rocco highly too, when he’s fit. His kick chase, hole running, defence — all at a solid level.

Both remind me of an early Jerome Ropati — constantly injured during his first few years, but once he got a consistent run (even after that late-career ACL), we finally saw what he could do. Fingers crossed it’s the same for these two.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Does it though?
The below information says they've extended....which to me infers we have extended their current deal, not completely resigned them.

View attachment 13912

Because the new contract replaces the old one. You don’t just white-out the date a put a new one in.

Pompey’s contract expired this year 2025. Last year he extended / re-signed, until 2027. That’s a new contract covering 2025, 2026 and 2027. Yes he had a contract but that has been superseded. He might have stayed on the same $$ for 2025 or he might have got more.