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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Haizyn Mellars	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2026: 29/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos), Haizyn Mellars (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Mr. Brownstone]

Just when someone convinces me he's worth a mill someone comes up with a pretty compelling arguement why he isnt......and thats a pretty compelling counter youve come up with fella.

Over to you @Mr. Brownstone

Well if we don’t resign him then we’re running Tanah Boyd as our halfback…. and as far as I’m aware he has never led the Dally M count deep(ish) into the season. Age & games… imagine if James Maloney or Cody Walker were ruled out on that basis.

 

[Tragic]

They are all good points. I think we see what happens next year and if all going well after 8-10 rounds we take a punt and go all in. Maybe not a million but probably not far off.

 

[roguei]

I've said more than enough on halve chocies that untill the end of the year i don't feel like getting into it again. Just wanna back boyd till the end of the year and hope he ices some more important moments to make the discussion more interesting. But until then maybe someone should just start a general "warrior's future halves" thread? At least that way it'll be easier to keep track of how everyone was feeling at one point in time.

 

[Wrighty]

Here is some more gasoline on the Metcalf fire

His ACL season injury ocurred when he got a cracker jack fair dinkum smashed em bro tackle around the ribs. And because he is a "half" he didn't know how to wear a shot and he conspired to get a knee injury despite the fact the tackle was no where near his legs. That is an example of how injury prone he is. Had it been Wayde Egan or Healey or Lussick ie one of our tough nuggety hookers they would have worn the same shot and run it off.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Well if we don’t resign him then we’re running Tanah Boyd as our halfback…. and as far as I’m aware he has never led the Dally M count deep(ish) into the season. Age & games… imagine if James Maloney or Cody Walker were ruled out on that basis.

The Dally M thing im neither here nor there over as their so subjective. Fair point on Maloney and Walker.

I know your not one to throw silly money round as just about every major signing or marquee target we've gone after youve maintained a pretty consistent "overpaid" line.

Like u Im probably of the opinion we'll have to pay a mill cause if we dont someone else will, but take that and the Dally M thing off the table would u really rate him a million dollar influential player?

 

[Naynay]

Here is some more gasoline on the Metcalf fire

His ACL season injury ocurred when he got a cracker jack fair dinkum smashed em bro tackle around the ribs. And because he is a "half" he didn't know how to wear a shot and he conspired to get a knee injury despite the fact the tackle was no where near his legs. That is an example of how injury prone he is. Had it been Wayde Egan or Healey or Lussick ie one of our tough nuggety hookers they would have worn the same shot and run it off.

I mean fair point but watch it back its just that his foot got stuck in the ground that cause the acl injury, maybe if he gets hit at a slightly different angle it would have released from the grass and he’d be fine. More freak accident the doesnt know how to wear a hit

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

The Dally M thing im neither here nor there over as their so subjective. Fair point on Maloney and Walker.

I know your not one to throw silly money round as just about every major signing or marquee target we've gone after youve maintained a pretty consistent "overpaid" line.

Like u Im probably of the opinion we'll have to pay a mill cause if we dont someone else will, but take that and the Dally M thing off the table would u really rate him a million dollar influential player?

I’ve seen enough of him to be comfortable with that price tag - remembering that $1m in 2026 is very different from $1m a few years ago. Dylan Brown’s contract has changed the game for match winning spine players (which I believe Metcalf is & Brown prob isn’t).

 

[chrisnz]

Metcalf situation kinda feels like an easy solve from a club point of view seems to be enjoying it here give him a respectful number around 7-9 hundred for 1 year be clear on the 1 year being saftey net for both party's

 

[Wrighty]

I can't predict how the Warriors will approach this. Since Kearney left and we finally got rid of Isaac Moses influence we have been pretty parsimonious with our contracts. On the other hand the club seems quite smitten with Luke.
I personally am not comfortable with the Narrative that Dylan Brown has reset the market place with his $1.3M contract. I think he is going to be so underwhelmingly kaka next year for the Knights that the entire contract is going to be ridiculed and not taken seriously as anything other than folly by the Knights and will not be seen as industry defining benchmark. If Nathan Cleary gets a raise as touted to $2M then I agree that it is game changing.

 

[Wah's Up]

Must be a quiet night on the telly.
This is a recruitment thread and we already have LM on contract to us.
Lets stop speculating and agree that he is Our best option going forward.
There is no-one that I would be looking to recruit as he has always shown such promise and this year when given the reigns has excelled. The only questions is how much is he worth and would he be better of back in Australia?

 

[Bluecat]

Our backs
TT
DWZ
Pompey
CNK
Roger
CHT
Metcalf

Reserves - Kali, Berry, Ali, Boyd, Linnane, Cleary, Hansen

That is quite thin and screaming for upgrade lol, compared to our stellar pack. Half of the reserves are injury prone. We could try to sign whatever marquee players out there, preferably FB, wing, or halves. Herbie as fullback? J Campbell? C Stewart (upcoming)?

TT might work as great halves/FB utility, plenty of game time since everyone's getting concussed or pulling their hammies all the time.

That's more than thin.
From that line up RTS and Metcalf would be starters at most clubs.
I like Adam Pompey and I would definitely keep him because he's solid and he earns his place but he's not a superstar.
Probably CNK too but maybe as depth? Maybe only possibly?
From the rest Ali in reserve grade as a fill in for injury. Boyd too. Cleary stays because he's a Cleary.
Linnane gets the benefit of the doubt and Kali I don't know.
Chanel I like too so maybe keep him for depth. Although his stats read better than he appears to be.

The others have all had their chance. TT is too small. Quick but doesn't make an impact.
DWZ has too many issues.
Berry looks to be too fragile
Hansen? I haven't seen much of him and opinion seems divided. Maybe he's unlucky to be on my hit list?

We need real first grade standard players for right wing, fullback, right centre and stand off.
Hopefully that's where the brains trust are looking

 

[Muddogz]

How many years we offer Metcalf to me is probably more important that the actual price tag. He’s going to be wanting a long term contract ideally given his injury history.

I think we’ll have the salary cap to upgrade him for next season and the following on a million. Its hard for me to like an extension more than that given his injury history.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

And when Metcalf is finished laughing and then signs with someone else, what's our plans for 2027?

There will be some new kid the forum will be all wetting thier pants over by then.

Probably Jack Thompson

 

[Wah's Up]

I can't predict how the Warriors will approach this. Since Kearney left and we finally got rid of Isaac Moses influence we have been pretty parsimonious with our contracts. On the other hand the club seems quite smitten with Luke.
I personally am not comfortable with the Narrative that Dylan Brown has reset the market place with his $1.3M contract. I think he is going to be so underwhelmingly kaka next year for the Knights that the entire contract is going to be ridiculed and not taken seriously as anything other than folly by the Knights and will not be seen as industry defining benchmark. If Nathan Cleary gets a raise as touted to $2M then I agree that it is game changing.

In response to your first line, I finally gave up my membership in 2017 after the Kearny BS. after being a 95 loyal supporter.
Have continued to support the club but have not been a member since.
Moses destroyed our club and many others, so any player that he represents does not sit well with me.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I can't predict how the Warriors will approach this. Since Kearney left and we finally got rid of Isaac Moses influence we have been pretty parsimonious with our contracts. On the other hand the club seems quite smitten with Luke.
I personally am not comfortable with the Narrative that Dylan Brown has reset the market place with his $1.3M contract. I think he is going to be so underwhelmingly kaka next year for the Knights that the entire contract is going to be ridiculed and not taken seriously as anything other than folly by the Knights and will not be seen as industry defining benchmark. If Nathan Cleary gets a raise as touted to $2M then I agree that it is game changing.

If Craig Bellamy brought Brown for that price it would set the market, but its the knights and Adam O'Brian

I would not be offering metcalf more than 700k

 

[Wrighty]

Must be a quiet night on the telly.
This is a recruitment thread and we already have LM on contract to us.
Lets stop speculating and agree that he is Our best option going forward.
There is no-one that I would be looking to recruit as he has always shown such promise and this year when given the reigns has excelled. The only questions is how much is he worth and would he be better of back in Australia?

Its a recruitment AND RETENTION thread so the topic is 100% in scope and not off topic. You are the second person who has been disconcerted by the discussion. For those who don't value this discussion please don't read this thread for the next few days. This is a discussion thread and there is an unfair view by some posters it should be strictly monitored with very few posts with just high quality rumours in it for people to get their information quickly as they stop by into the forum during their busy lives two or three times per week. Please use zero tackle and code sports to get a quick summary of rumour news for those who just want executive level news as many of us don't have lives and want to discuss back and forth the Warriors recruitment and retention strategies.

 

[Bluecat]

That article is just a journo creating a story
You or I could write that
There absolutely no facts around it it’s just pure conjecture

It's about as substantial as a Women's Weekly article. It's just missing a photo of Luke attending a premier opening or something and a comment on how good he looks now that he's got his new bikini body

 

[Wrighty]

In response to your first line, I finally gave up my membership in 2017 after the Kearny BS. after being a 95 loyal supporter.
Have continued to support the club but have not been a member since.
Moses destroyed our club and many others, so any player that he represents does not sit well with me.

Well said and sorry for making a long response to your other post. Didn't mean to single you out !!!

 

[roguei]

Its a recruitment AND RETENTION thread so the topic is 100% in scope and not off topic. You are the second person who has been disconcerted by the discussion. For those who don't value this discussion please don't read this thread for the next few days. This is a discussion thread and there is an unfair view by some posters it should be strictly monitored with very few posts with just high quality rumours in it for people to get their information quickly as they stop by into the forum during their busy lives two or three times per week. Please use zero tackle and code sports to get a quick summary of rumour news for those who just want executive level news as many of us don't have lives and want to discuss back and forth the Warriors recruitment and retention strategies.

Oh nah i don't think this conversation is "disconcerting". I would of just prefered if it was it's own thread. Sort of like the "Will we make the 8?" thread. It's really interesting to read the ups and downs of that specific topic as our season has changed. And it's a bit of a shame that this one will be harder to track the same way, as im sure public opinion will change.

 

[Wrighty]

Oh nah i don't think this conversation is "disconcerting". I would of just prefered if it was it's own thread. Sort of like the "Will we make the 8?" thread. It's really interesting to read the ups and downs of that specific topic as our season has changed. And it's a bit of a shame that this one will be harder to track the same way, as im sure public opinion will change.

Oh then I did misunderstand. My apologies.