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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
5	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	M
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Marcelo Montoya	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔
26	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Dylan Walker	✔
30	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 14/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[Mr. Brownstone]

I'm hoping that Healey will turn in to the next Brent Webb for us,
he came from qld cup and slotted into the top 30.
He was the Queensland Cup leading try scorer in 2001 before being spotted by Daniel Anderson, and signed by the New Zealand Warriors.

That would be a nice outcome, loved Brent Webb! However is it a fair comparison - Q Cup top try scorer vs NSW Cup bench hooker. If he’s that good then why hasn’t anyone chased Berrell yet?

 

[BabylonPink]

That would be a nice outcome, loved Brent Webb! However is it a fair comparison - Q Cup top try scorer vs NSW Cup bench hooker. If he’s that good then why hasn’t anyone chased Berrell yet?

People might have been for all we know. Not a lot of news comes out of reserve grade. And tbf I didn't even know he existed until he signed lol

 

[tajhay]

If he’s that good then why hasn’t anyone chased Berrell yet?

Hes contracted to the Sharks. He played 3 games for the Sharks this season (debut at age 29). Gives you all the info you need on who the Sharks preferred/is ready for NRL.

 

[Cces]

That would be a nice outcome, loved Brent Webb! However is it a fair comparison - Q Cup top try scorer vs NSW Cup bench hooker. If he’s that good then why hasn’t anyone chased Berrell yet?

Berrell has been in the Sharks Top 30 for 3 years now after being the Q Cup Player of the Year in 2021. Queensland age grade rep, NYC team of the Year, Junior Kangaroo & also the Jets 2023 Player of the Year. Currently a better player than Healey but not far off 30 years of age. I guess the Warriors have signed him in the hope he'll take over when Egan retires/is forced to retire

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Berrell has been in the Sharks Top 30 for 3 years now after being the Q Cup Player of the Year in 2021. Queensland age grade rep, NYC team of the Year, Junior Kangaroo & also the Jets 2023 Player of the Year. Currently a better player than Healey but not far off 30 years of age. I guess the Warriors have signed him in the hope he'll take over when Egan retires/is forced to retire

Yeah look to be clear, in my opinion Berrell should be a starting hooker in the NRL, he’s better than a few of the other clubs top options.

 

[~Navigator~]

That would be a nice outcome, loved Brent Webb! However is it a fair comparison - Q Cup top try scorer vs NSW Cup bench hooker. If he’s that good then why hasn’t anyone chased Berrell yet?

Don't know why no one wants Berrell but 1 thing Healey has is pedigree, his old man wasn't a bad player and a lot of the good players from the pass their youngsters seem to play alright.

 

[hornbybrown]

Doesn't count, his Chilean side slightly watered down the Fijian winger awesomeness genes.

Yep, needs to be full blooded Fijian

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I would have him in my best 17

Wait have we poached a young player to give him a start? This is very exciting..

 

[Cces]

Wondering where Roache stands within the club? I've never been a fan of his but his performance at Hooker in the second half vs Panthers was quality. He had more games at Halfback than Hooker in Cup though & they only won 25% of those

 

[JaggedJ]

Wondering where Roache stands within the club? I've never been a fan of his but his performance at Hooker in the second half vs Panthers was quality. He had more games at Halfback than Hooker in Cup though & they only won 25% of those

He's an experienced head in NSW Cup and a break glass encase of emergency in first grade.

 

[Cces]

He's an experienced head in NSW Cup and a break glass encase of emergency in first grade.

It's an odd situation when a 32-gamer is considered an experienced head. Thanks covid.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

I don’t think it means Lussick is gone, just he’d be playing cup and CHT is now a half only. Roache isn’t even top 30, same with MGT as soon as any one offers them a decent contract they’d be gone and if no one does they stay. NRL squads need to be bigger TBH given the attrition rate

 

[Fonzie]

Wait have we poached a young player to give him a start? This is very exciting..

Nothing to do with age. My assessment is that we should play through the middle more next year to take pressure off our halves, and we need a running/creative hooker to complement Egan in the 17 to do that. Healey is the only player at the club who can play that role, and he’s 22 and first grade ready (at least for a bench role)

 

[Blain]

Hes contracted to the Sharks. He played 3 games for the Sharks this season (debut at age 29). Gives you all the info you need on who the Sharks preferred/is ready for NRL.

That's not a knock on any other hooker at the club. Brailey has played 100 games straight in the NRL, hasn't missed a game. He's an 80 minute hooker in a side that's been a constant top 5 team for years.

I think he's been identified as something we're missing big time, X factor off the bench. He hasn't been signed to be a starter. 20-30 minute spells. The staff love Lussick and his work ethic, so I guess he'll stick around.. Who's more your defensive starting hooker.

 

[kos]

That's not a knock on any other hooker at the club. Brailey has played 100 games straight in the NRL, hasn't missed a game. He's an 80 minute hooker in a side that's been a constant top 5 team for years.

I think he's been identified as something we're missing big time, X factor off the bench. He hasn't been signed to be a starter. 20-30 minute spells. The staff love Lussick and his work ethic, so I guess he'll stick around.. Who's more your defensive starting hooker.

Sounds like some insider knowledge there
Are you an employee?

 

[bomb to vats]

I'm hoping that Healey will turn in to the next Brent Webb for us,
he came from qld cup and slotted into the top 30.
He was the Queensland Cup leading try scorer in 2001 before being spotted by Daniel Anderson, and signed by the New Zealand Warriors.

Tuapiki is the comparison to Webb. Best player in the QLD cup comp 2022.