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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[SBW1]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...1&cvid=6896d798aac049518aaf71f9e2aa5af7&ei=14 Wonder if he is looking at returning home.

 

[Playdaball]

https://www.msn.com/en-au/sport/rug...1&cvid=6896d798aac049518aaf71f9e2aa5af7&ei=14 Wonder if he is looking at returning home.

He is home - Sydney

 

[Cces]

AKP only plays left Wing. Do we even create chances on the left that we don't exploit due to lack of speed? Finishing is important but our game model requires a big contribution of metres from our left Wing as RTS is showing

 

[MrFrankWhite]

AKP only plays left Wing. Do we even create chances on the left that we don't exploit due to lack of speed? Finishing is important but our game model requires a big contribution of metres from our left Wing as RTS is showing

Drop DWZ, move RTS in his last year and play AKP?

 

[3rdstriker]

here is another transfer rumor

EXCLUSIVE: New Zealand Warriors express interest in Titans speedster

He has been shopped to rival teams.

www.zerotackle.com

Thanks mate seems like the 1st bit of actual recruitment news/rumour in 6 to 8 months.

 

[Leon Black]

Zero Tackle and Leo Le Chalk aren’t exactly Michelin-star sources…but I’d take him in a heartbeat.

Leading try-scorer last season, and we’ve got about as much backline speed as a pensioner on a mobility scooter.

53 games played, 53 tries!

 

[Jaffa J]

Metcalf’s asking price has gone up lol AKP should be seriously considered though

 

[Five&Last]

Give Metcalf the 1m per season he's asking for over 3 years and be done with it.

The rest of our halves are probably going to phased out as our younger crop becomes ready. Boyd > Cleary (2027) & CHT > Thompson (2028)

So in 2028 our four halves are likely Metcalf, Linnane, Cleary and Thompson. 2029 Tyson Hansen likely hits top 30.

We need Metcalf over this transitional period.

 

[Dannevegas]

Why did we re-sign CNK and Pompey

 

[Five&Last]

He’s scored 53 tries in 53 games playing in a very poor team. Thats an incredible strike rate, better than Josh Addo-Carr when he was at the Storm. He may be a one trick pony but its a great one.

I’d definitely be keen on him, especially if its for next season. Lightening quick wingers dont stay lightening quick for too long past 26.

No thanks, he's terrible. There's more to being a first grade winger than just being fast. DWZ being case in point.

I'm happy with Kali to be used as a specialist winger next year (replace Kosi in the top 30 next year)

And Fatialofa to be used as a specialist center next year (replace Harper in the top 30 next year)

That should fill out outside back needs.

Behind that, we have Norris, Pasikala, Vake, Moimoi and Putoko as NSW cup depth that could debut next year if injuries happen.

 

[Damo]

Why did we re-sign CNK and Pompey

Pompey is literally the only healthy 'specialist' first grade centre we have left

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Pompey is literally the only healthy 'specialist' first grade centre we have left

So true!

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Unless your RTS outside backs should be let's go when they hit 30.

 

[Damo]

Unless your RTS outside backs should be let's go when they hit 30.

Interesting thought. I think it's a bit different these days with the way players train and prepare, Tedesco still performs at a high level (albeit not at his obvious physical peak) and RTS is arguably one of the best performing wingers this season. If he was in a better team, he would be a shoe in for Dally M winger of the year you would think.

 

[sup42]

Why did we re-sign CNK and Pompey

Pompey is the best player we have if you consider what he does for what he costs our salary cap he is a rare gem indeed. Also he is physically robust and can take the knocks.
Lastly Pompey is a late bloomer, his story hasn't ended, he gets better year on year.

 

[kos]

Pompey is the best player we have if you consider what he does for what he costs our salary cap he is a rare gem indeed. Also he is physically robust and can take the knocks.
Lastly Pompey is a late bloomer, his story hasn't ended, he gets better year on year.

Spot on Sup
He is just so reliable never gets injured great defender.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I think it's a bit different these days with the way players train and prepare

Some players definitely, some definitely not.

 

[Cces]

Think this is the best spot to put this. Apologies if not.

My understanding is the salary cap is a grant distributed by the NRL to the clubs to pay their players. Teams are obligated to spend 97.5% and if they don't they receive some form of monetary fine.

The reason I bring this up is I was talking to someone who is adamant we're 1M under the cap and the club is content with paying a fine which seems an outrageous claim. Yes, Tohu retired, but contracts begin on 'Nov 1st so there's a couple hundred thousand gone before his announcement without even factoring in upgrades and bonuses that have occurred since.

In what world would a club pay money out of their own pockets to the NRL, for the privilege to underspend their grant $ which can't be carried forward anyway? In the same vein how would guys in the playing roster feel if their team spent the bare minimum of 97.5% and $285,000 allocated to the club was left unused?

 

[Billyspleen75]

Think this is the best spot to put this. Apologies if not.

My understanding is the salary cap is a grant distributed by the NRL to the clubs to pay their players. Teams are obligated to spend 97.5% and if they don't they receive some form of monetary fine.

The reason I bring this up is I was talking to someone who is adamant we're 1M under the cap and are content with paying a fine which seems an outrageous claim. Yes, Tohu retired, but contracts begin on 'Nov 1st so there's a couple hundred thousand gone before his announcement without even factoring in upgrades and bonuses that have occurred since.

In what world would a club pay money out of their own pockets to the NRL, for the privilege to underspend their grant $ which can't be carried forward anyway? In the same vein how would guys in the playing roster feel if their team spent the bare minimum of 97.5% and $285,000 allocated to the club was left unused?

What are the rules on front loading nowadays?
If it's allowed, then yeah mental to not pay an extra $200k to a couple players in 2025 to then have them take a little bit less in 2026/2027

 

[Cces]

What are the rules on front loading nowadays?
If it's allowed, then yeah mental to not pay an extra $200k to a couple players in 2025 to then have them take a little bit less in 2026/2027

I'm unsure but this article, from 2023, was talking about the Dolphins potentially front loading 2 million into their 2024 roster!

The Dolphins’ ‘extraordinary’ salary cap headache... which could see them land a marquee star

Dolphins have an ‘extraordinary’ salary cap headache. It could land them a superstar

www.foxsports.com.au