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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[Makasene]

Yeah we talked about this aspect a couple days ago on this thread

There’s definitely top 30 guarantees in the contract given the length of it.

So if his brother got an identical deal, then it’s hard to compete with that. We have too much talent coming in to guarantee development spots (let alone top 30 spots) to someone who couldn’t even crack the Harold Matts 17 man team

The Dolphins are establishing a bit of a relationship with St Kents now, poached Tevita Naufahu from there who was hot property. And now Lucian. Something to keep tabs on

Painful we can't identify and develop these outside backs like Naufahu

 

[Five&Last]

Painful we can't identify and develop these outside backs like Naufahu

Very. Wasn't aware he wanted to commit to league. Could've had his pick of Super Rugby sides having made NZSS union. We should've definitely been the favourites to get him so makes you wonder if we ever even enquired.

I think we're heading towards a good direction now investing in actual talent, like Sio Kali (who's on a similar level to Naufahu)

But the fact that we spent so long trying to develop park footballers like Kosi is just baffling.

 

[Noitall]

I would still like Benji and Richo to have a look a Tom Ale from the Wahs. Anytime i saw him play i thougbt he was full of effort. Has been injured and can't crack 1st for wahs. Webster should put him in selection thoughts coz thier kids are not cutting it. Does anyone know more about what is going on about his situation? I think from what i have seen he would be a great buy.

Yes...Benji is aware of him and making moves behind the scenes. The trouble is you are not the only one that noticed him and it's believed 12 or 13 teams are interested as well as R360 and AFL....Watch this space











Interesting post off the tigers forum

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Yeah, he was involved. I don't watch enough footy outside of the Wahs to have an opinion on him but have seen some people criticize his lack of speed so would be surprised if he was a target for us

Hes a handy player, but our young centres have way more upside. He would only be back up.

Anyway this is a moot point because he just recommited to the sharks.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Very. Wasn't aware he wanted to commit to league. Could've had his pick of Super Rugby sides having made NZSS union. We should've definitely been the favourites to get him so makes you wonder if we ever even enquired.

I think we're heading towards a good direction now investing in actual talent, like Sio Kali (who's on a similar level to Naufahu)

But the fact that we spent so long trying to develop park footballers like Kosi is just baffling.

When you talk about length of time for development, what is a good time to find out if they are the goods or not?

Im always thinking when a player signs his first NRL contract, you have three years to show you are a first 17 player week in week out.

Example for me here, is next season Ali Leiataua needs to command a starting position to warrant keeping him here and investing more into him.

But then you see guys like Pompey and i find hes more like the kosi type.

Then you have Props who need to age a lot more

 

[Noitall]

Hes a handy player, but our young centres have way more upside. He would only be back up.

Anyway this is a moot point because he just recommited to the sharks.

He’s off contract end of 2025

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

He’s off contract end of 2025

Oh okay, i thought he resigned this year.

 

[Noitall]

Oh okay, i thought he resigned this year.

Mawene Hiroti

Mawene Hiroti of Cronulla Sharks player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

Hard to say the position we’re looking to bolster? Chevy Stewart plays predominantly at fullback and AKP on the wing and those are two that seem to have been looked at by us. One thing seems confirmed that we’re looking to add speed

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Mawene Hiroti

Mawene Hiroti of Cronulla Sharks player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

Hard to say the position we’re looking to bolster? Chevy Stewart plays predominantly at fullback and AKP on the wing and those are two that seem to have been looked at by us. One thing seems confirmed that we’re looking to add speed

Hiroti Doesn't fit that bill then right?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Mawene Hiroti

Mawene Hiroti of Cronulla Sharks player profile including contract information, NRL news, stats and rumours.

www.zerotackle.com

Hard to say the position we’re looking to bolster? Chevy Stewart plays predominantly at fullback and AKP on the wing and those are two that seem to have been looked at by us. One thing seems confirmed that we’re looking to add speed

I would rather some height on the wings, Sam Stonestreet would be good.

 

[Noitall]

Hiroti Doesn't fit that bill then right?

He is an outside back and that’s what we’re after apparently? Right centre needs Berry or Leiataua to stake their claim on it. Perhaps CNK is seen as a potential fit, interesting they swapped Pompey to the right rather than putting CNK on that side though

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

He is an outside back and that’s what we’re after apparently? Right centre needs Berry or Leiataua to stake their claim on it. Perhaps CNK is seen as a potential fit, interesting they swapped Pompey to the right rather than putting CNK on that side though

Yeah I thought CNK would go right also. Played well there late last season.

 

[juju]

Yes...Benji is aware of him and making moves behind the scenes. The trouble is you are not the only one that noticed him and it's believed 12 or 13 teams are interested as well as R360 and AFL....Watch this space











Interesting post off the tigers forum

Surely a pisstake? AFL and r360 lol

 

[Noitall]

Surely a pisstake? AFL and r360 lol

AFL certainly had me scratching my head, but he’s from union and that could be on the cards? Hard to imagine he’s not getting some attention from other clubs

 

[Damo]

Surely a pisstake? AFL and r360 lol

Pisstake for sure. He's the total opposite body type to an AFL player

 

[Noitall]

Pisstake for sure. He's the total opposite body type to an AFL player

Think with Ford out it’s the ideal time to bring him in. I reckon there’s no chance he gets an extension if they don’t

 

[Damo]

Think with Ford out it’s the ideal time to bring him in. I reckon there’s no chance he gets an extension if they don’t

Ale hasn't even been named in the squad on Tuesdays, it's been Bunty, so I would be very surprised if that's the case.

I think it will just be Capewell back with Niukore to the middle rotation.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Ale hasn't even been named in the squad on Tuesdays, it's been Bunty, so I would be very surprised if that's the case.

I think it will just be Capewell back with Niukore to the middle rotation.

I bloody hope so. Niukore is a liability in an edge. Everyone blaming Boyd, dwz, but the issues start with niukores inability to move laterally, causing a chain reaction. Niukore is a middle.

 

[Damo]

I bloody hope so. Niukore is a liability in an edge. Everyone blaming Boyd, dwz, but the issues start with niukores inability to move laterally, causing a chain reaction. Niukore is a middle.

Even his defending in the middle has me worried tbh. Such a liability

 

[JustVisiting82]

Ale hasn't even been named in the squad on Tuesdays, it's been Bunty, so I would be very surprised if that's the case.

Generally that's been true, but for what it's worth Ale was named in last week's squad.