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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[Warriorsfan92]

Is Crosby to Penrith confirmed or not?

Not yet but apparently him & ale all but going

 

[Neo]

Yeah man, who needs attacking forwards

Vaimauga, Halasima, Gannon, EIT, TSS, Fatialofa, Laban.

Which one would you leave out so that you can fit in a guy with 39 tackle breaks, 4 tries, and 4 offloads in 22 games of cup this year?

 

[CWC]

Is Crosby to Penrith confirmed or not?

Lots of smoke right now

Can see why they're choosing 2-3 20 year olds over Crosby at 22 who's still doing 20min+ off the bench.

We're keeping the likes of Leka, Laban, Demi etc and letting others take Ale and Crosby

 

[Theking267]

Vaimauga, Halasima, Gannon, EIT, TSS, Fatialofa, Laban.

Which one would you leave out so that you can fit in a guy with 39 tackle breaks, 4 tries, and 4 offloads in 22 games of cup this year?

Gannon

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Vaimauga, Halasima, Gannon, EIT, TSS, Fatialofa, Laban.

Which one would you leave out so that you can fit in a guy with 39 tackle breaks, 4 tries, and 4 offloads in 22 games of cup this year?

If i had to pick. Gannon, His history of concussion is worrying. Unknown. Could get homesick anytime and ask for a release.

 

[Neo]

If i had to pick. Gannon, His history of concussion is worrying. Unknown. Could get homesick anytime and ask for a release.

Gannon is there as a point of difference though for his ball playing ability. Not that the others can’t be he was sort after once Walker was released.
If anything TSS and EIT playing through the middle have taken the spots previously occupied by Bunty and Ale, with the other young props in Cup seemingly ahead of Crosby.
When you actually sit back and look at who you would have to let go to accommodate Crosby it becomes very tough. EIT may now predominantly be a middle going forward with Fatialofa, Halasima, and Laban specialising on an edge

 

[Noitall]

Gannon is there as a point of difference though for his ball playing ability. Not that the others can’t be he was sort after once Walker was released.
If anything TSS and EIT playing through the middle have taken the spots previously occupied by Bunty and Ale, with the other young props in Cup seemingly ahead of Crosby.
When you actually sit back and look at who you would have to let go to accommodate Crosby it becomes very tough. EIT may now predominantly be a middle going forward with Fatialofa, Halasima, and Laban specialising on an edge

EIT or Laban could be handy to transition to the middle to add a bit of height, Gannon will add some. Laban very similar size to Tapine

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Gannon is there as a point of difference though for his ball playing ability. Not that the others can’t be he was sort after once Walker was released.
If anything TSS and EIT playing through the middle have taken the spots previously occupied by Bunty and Ale, with the other young props in Cup seemingly ahead of Crosby.
When you actually sit back and look at who you would have to let go to accommodate Crosby it becomes very tough. EIT may now predominantly be a middle going forward with Fatialofa, Halasima, and Laban specialising on an edge

His highlights reel shows him hitting holes, And not much else. Would love to see this point of difference (Ball playing) via NSW Cup next year. Because I wouldn't trade him for any of our youngsters just yet. I remember having this debate with a few people who wanted Katoa gone. Got the old "hEs uSeLeSs, GeT RiD oF hIM! nOt eVeN bElLaMy cAn FIx hIm" nek minit....

 

[Neo]

His highlights reel shows him hitting holes, And not much else. Would love to see this point of difference (Ball playing) via NSW Cup next year. Because I wouldn't trade him for any of our youngsters just yet. I remember having this debate with a few people who wanted Katoa gone. Got the old "hEs uSeLeSs, GeT RiD oF hIM! nOt eVeN bElLaMy cAn FIx hIm" nek minit....

Below quotes were at the time of signing. I don’t think his signing has in any way affected the ability to keep Crosby or Ale.

Potentially Fatialofa has exceeded expectations since then but I would imagine he will play a different role to Gannon.


It is understood that Gannon, 21, will join the Warriors from next season on a three-year contract after the club identified him to be their Dylan Walker replacement.

“He has a strong work ethic, runs hard lines, has ball playing ability and defends well. He’ll complement our back row forwards and he'll prosper in our environment and in the NRL.”

 

[sup42]

His highlights reel shows him hitting holes, And not much else. Would love to see this point of difference (Ball playing) via NSW Cup next year. Because I wouldn't trade him for any of our youngsters just yet. I remember having this debate with a few people who wanted Katoa gone. Got the old "hEs uSeLeSs, GeT RiD oF hIM! nOt eVeN bElLaMy cAn FIx hIm" nek minit....

You should watch the Leeds Rhinos games. Flying up in support is his thing sure, which I am struggling to think which one of our forwards does that multiple times a game, apart from Capewell when Metcalf was seven. But passing is part of his role every week. You won't see that in highlights.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

You should watch the Leeds Rhinos games. Flying up in support is his thing sure, which I am struggling to think which one of our forwards does that multiple times a game, apart from Capewell when Metcalf was seven. But passing is part of his role every week. You won't see that in highlights.

Is he a good player?

 

[sup42]

Is he a good player?

I think so. But you aren't allowed to say that without people getting silly and claiming you think he is the next super star.

If he was a local kiwi kid the same critics who haven't even seen the bloke would be gagging,

One thing he does really well and often, is when the half back is looking for runners he is hitting that line at full pace and at the gap. That takes vision and timing, and confidence.

The other thing the others can't do that he does is look to for support on the break and finish with an accurate pass.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I think so. But you aren't allowed to say that without people getting silly and claiming you think he is the next super star.

If he was a local kiwi kid the same critics who haven't even seen the bloke would be gagging,

One thing he does really well and often, is when the half back is looking for runners he is hitting that line at full pace and at the gap. That takes vision and timing, and confidence.

The other thing the others can't do that he does is look to for support on the break and finish with an accurate pass.

I understand. I’m optimistic about him but also realistic. Judging by the contract he’ll take a while to get the ball rolling, and they probably also didn’t predict the rapid rise of leka, Laban, kayliss prior to this signing, but he’s walkers replacement & marata will be out the door soon enough

 

[The Warrior Waka]

You should watch the Leeds Rhinos games. Flying up in support is his thing sure, which I am struggling to think which one of our forwards does that multiple times a game, apart from Capewell when Metcalf was seven. But passing is part of his role every week. You won't see that in highlights.

Oh no, That means I have to watch a Superleague game? Why would I torture myself? I'll take your word for it.

 

[Stgeorgenz]

With all three players being linked or moving to Penrith, it makes me think is Jett Cleary feeding info to Dad about the best prospects we have? I’d be very surprised if those conversations weren’t happening. Not in a sinister way but just a casual convos here n there

 

[sup42]

Oh no, That means I have to watch a Superleague game? Why would I torture myself? I'll take your word for it.

It has gotten pretty bad. Too many ex Warriors next great hopes stinking up the comp like Gannons team mate Sam Lisone.

I am leaning towards the school of thought that NSW cup would be a good place for Gannon to start and not for the same reasons as others (an assumption he needs to prove himself).

Rather I think Reggies would be a good place for him to get to know his club and in our top of the line squad he will get to play at a decent standard to adjust to the Warriors playing style.