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	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

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

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

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

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance for off-topic chat.

 

[Blain]

I think with no Metcalf we have found that we don't have an obvious number 6, or back up 6 or 7. We have too many halves on the books, but he can fill a couple holes in the team so is good utility value. Seems like a great bloke too with some leadership quality. If we can easily keep him, we'd be silly to let him go.

We need more value out of Ed Kosi and Morgan Harpers squad spots for next season. Need some green shoots, hopefully Kali finishes the season strong and can get a good pre season in to take Kosi's spot.

 

[John Nick]

The long, lingering questions over the future of Warriors’ playmaker Te Maire Martin have been resolved.
Martin will extend his time at the NRL franchise. The Herald understands the 29-year-old is close to agreeing a one-year extension on his current contract, which will see him remain at the Auckland club... until the end of the 2026 season.
It’s a big retention call by the Warriors, given the amount of halves already on the books. But it’s also recognition of Martin’s impressive versatility, where he has covered multiple positions off the bench and become the preferred No 14 option.
His attitude – and willingness to put the club first in the opening quarter of the season when he was stuck in reserve grade – has also been noticed by the club hierarchy.
It’s quite a turnaround. Earlier this season it looked like Martin would almost certainly depart at the end of this campaign. He missed out to Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita for a spot in the halves, before Newcastle youngster Jye Linnane was signed as a future playmaking option in April, while Jett Cleary was already on the books as a long-term investment.

That led to speculation from Australian media that Martin could even depart mid-season for a Super League deal or possible NRL switch, though coach Andrew Webster was quick to quash any talk of an early release.
Since then, Martin has reinvented himself as a utility. Starting with the round seven match against Brisbane, Martin appeared in 11 of the next 12 matches off the bench and was used at fullback, centre, lock and hooker as well as in the halves, contributing to eight victories.
He enjoyed his first start of the season last week against the Dolphins, before getting the nod again on Saturday, a surprise pick to supplant incumbent No 7 Tanah Boyd. The match turned into a personal nightmare, with Martin leaving the field after just 22 minutes due to concussion. It was later assessed as category one, which will rule him out of Friday’s clash with the Dragons in Auckland (8pm).

Te Maire Martin will stay at the Warriors. Photo / Photosport
Despite that, Martin’s new contract will be a huge fillip, when it looked like he was headed for the exit a few months ago. He had wanted to stay in New Zealand, to be close to family and also given his enjoyment of various outdoor pursuits, notably hunting and fishing. But Martin also would have considered offers from elsewhere if it meant prolonging his professional career. Options would have eventuated, given the shortage of experienced halves across the NRL.
To stay at the Warriors, Martin will have taken a pay cut, given he was signed as a half ahead of the 2023 season, but there were other things to weigh up.

​

Martin made his first bow in the NRL in round three of the 2016 season, kicking a field goal to help Penrith to a dramatic win over the Broncos in a dream debut. After two seasons at the Panthers, he moved to North Queensland, where he was part of a fairytale run to the grand final from eighth, scoring the Cowboys’ only try in the decider as they were beaten by the Melbourne Storm.
He retired due to medical reasons in 2019, after suffering a brain bleed, before returning three years later via the Broncos, after some time away followed by lower-level league and rugby in New Zealand. Impressive form at Red Hill led to the contract offer with the Warriors, where he has since accumulated 38 matches. Overall, he has notched up 106 NRL games, along with four tests for the Kiwis.

Good luck to him
He has certainly had some setbacks and has shown a lot of determination

 

[Cces]

TMM being on the books all but confirms that Hanson's speculated option is just another development deal and Cleary's pathway remains the same as initially intended with 2027 his opportunity in Top 30

 

[MaybeTop8]

Personally reckon Boyd will develop given 20 or so games as a foundation, but he'll never be a Johnson or even Metcalf. He can be very good with different skillsrt

 

[Neo]

Personally reckon Boyd will develop given 20 or so games as a foundation, but he'll never be a Johnson or even Metcalf. He can be very good with different skillsrt

He has already played over 70 NRL games. I think it does show that there are probably only a dozen quality halves who can control a team in the comp, and that the expansion teams will make things weaker. That level of player like Tanah, Tyson Gamble, Jake Clifford, Sean O’Sullivan will likely be able to command a starting spot, whereas in the past they would have been off to Super League.
You can definitely see why the club has recruited the likes of Linnane and been patient with Metcalf

 

[Jaffa J]

Glad to have TMM back I wasn't confident with the halves room for next season

 

[snake77]

This signing makes sense and was likely on the cards once Metcalf injured his knee.

They likely would have discussed what their halves' options would look like until Metclaf was ready. Boyd and CHT and 1-2 juniors just who have just come into the top 30, likely were too much of a risk.

 

[JaggedJ]

An early Boyd release in the off season wouldn't surprise me in the least.

2026 could be a very interesting transition year when you compare who's coming off contract in 2026 versus who we have locked in for 2027.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Lots of different ways to look at this.

First of all, IMO. It’s a good thing for the club.

I’ve said it time and time again that with expansion coming in 2027. We need settled (or at least semi-settled) halves combo.
I’ll bet almost anything that either Metcalf or Boyd won’t be here in 2027.

Hopefully Metcalf gets back to his best and he and CHT get at least double digit games together next year. I see them as our long term halves combo.

Part of me would have been happy to see TMM go to another team next year. Use all their game time then come back in 2027 on “compassionate grounds” which I don’t think would be to hard to convince him.

 

[CWC]

In a surprising twist TMM seems to be Webby's first choice halfback until Metcalf returns. Wow

 

[Blain]

CHT should be the one under pressure for his spot, not Boyd. At least Boyd is clearly our best kicking option. CHT really needs to step up, feels like he's flown under the radar in terms of offering an attacking option - TMM would offer more IMO.

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

CHT should be the one under pressure for his spot, not Boyd. At least Boyd is clearly our best kicking option. CHT really needs to step up, feels like he's flown under the radar in terms of offering an attacking option - TMM would offer more IMO.

Yeah I'm with you, really surprised CHT avoids alot of criticism. I really don't rank CHT any better than Gamble, SOS, Boyd, Flannagan etc, biut for some reason it seems baring injury that jerseys his for good.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Yeah I'm with you, really surprised CHT avoids alot of criticism. I really don't rank CHT any better than Gamble, SOS, Boyd, Flannagan etc, biut for some reason it seems baring injury that jerseys his for good.

Cos he is dirt cheap and local and has got pretty solid defense. Also there's isn't anyone better at 6 in them.

 

[roguei]

CHT should be the one under pressure for his spot, not Boyd. At least Boyd is clearly our best kicking option. CHT really needs to step up, feels like he's flown under the radar in terms of offering an attacking option - TMM would offer more IMO.

On pure speculation Boyd was dropped because of defense. Not the typical "failing to make the tackle" defense, but his reads seemed to allow a lot of points on his side. I.E he would often get caught on a overlap.

So until he fixes that I don't think he'll replace TMM. Unless of course TMM is injured or has a head knock....

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

Cos he is dirt cheap and local and has got pretty solid defense. Also there's isn't anyone better at 6 in them.

Can I assume if you've got staff,that none of them would ever ask for a reference after reading that lol.

 

[Boston Boy]

On pure speculation Boyd was dropped because of defense. Not the typical "failing to make the tackle" defense, but his reads seemed to allow a lot of points on his side. I.E he would often get caught on a overlap.

So until he fixes that I don't think he'll replace TMM. Unless of course TMM is injured or has a head knock....

From his first game I could see Boyds side were not fully confident in his defense. They lost a fraction of a second in regards of when and who to slide to, as it seemed they weren't sure. That's what it looked like to me. Metcalf had won the trust of those boys and to throw in Boyd meant they lost a little synergy. It also compounded DWZ's decision making, gave him a fraction less time and made him a little more shaky, which meant he went from poor to crap. Anyway, that was my read of his first games defense and it hasn't got hugely better from there.

 

[Buzz Killington]

Smart move re-signing TMM while he is still concussed.

 

[Ref]

On pure speculation Boyd was dropped because of defense. Not the typical "failing to make the tackle" defense, but his reads seemed to allow a lot of points on his side. I.E he would often get caught on a overlap.

So until he fixes that I don't think he'll replace TMM. Unless of course TMM is injured or has a head knock....

That’s how I have seen it too. Kind of plants a foot for a second and then shuffles too late.

 

[sup42]

TMM is big news, and welcome news.

It puts to bed all the fan angst and anti Webster slurs.

The club knows what they are doing, to coin a Warriorism, try having a little faith.

Smart deal, one year extension.

Well done Warriors. Perfect contract length, right player, right time, and it will be for the right price.

 

[steakncheese]

Surely we would be putting out feelers about Bailey Simonson, no superstar but better than our current centres and ahem wingers