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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[wizard of Tauranga]

Huge year coming up for Leiataua and Berry.

Didn’t we say this at the start of this year? And the year before infact???

 

[Billyspleen75]

Most squads usually carry 3 'specialist' hookers.

You're right. The common squad balance would be 4 halves and 3 hookers.
We are in a weird spot though where with Linnane coming, we are going to have 5 halves and 3 hookers. TMM seems to be considered hooker cover now, so I think we still need to let one go. And lussick is the odd man out.

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Didn’t we say this at the start of this year? And the year before infact???

Haha for the last 5 years I've been reading on here that it was going to be Tom Ale"s breakout season

 

[Noitall]

Haha for the last 5 years I've been reading on here that it was going to be Tom Ale"s breakout season

Having a breakaway season instead instead

 

[sup42]

I feel the backline is still way to bland to be a threat next year. Really need Ali and Berry to have standout seasons next year.

Our forwards depth is developing nicely but our backline needs a bit of a revamp. Maybe thats the way Webby wants it though as he continues to play the conservative, possession based territorial game (not deriding it as it has won us more games than the team on paper should get).

And yet we have these fast young forwards coming through next year. Obviously Leka is really the only one with genuine back line off the mark pace, but the others will surprise opposition from the half way mark like EIT, and Gannon, for their size they would beat a lot NRL forwards in a race.

From what I have seen, the trouble with our fast backs in Reggies is that they have handling and defensive issues.

But if you go to the open market, the type of outside back the Warriors could afford will also come with defensive issues. Actually it is looking more and more like the same old problem, decent Australian backs not willing to come here in the first place.

Which leaves being patient and trying to turn someone like Kali into a tackling skilled player, which many forget takes years, if they ever get there.

I know people hate this suggestion, but it so obvious that they need to think before posting their but but buts.....

Here it comes.....drum roll....brrrrrr......the way the Warriors can add a superstar fast powerful explosive back to their side with Xfactor and insane footwork is to play Leka at Center.

Hush, I know I know, he has never played there, but consider, is it really harder to convert him with his set of skills (he can tackle he's a back row forward ffs) and he can learn to defend a three quarter line faster than it takes to find out if ANY of these Junior backs can catch and hold on to the bloody ball.

Do I personally want Leka at Center? no, not as a first choice, my first choice would be for Santa to make one with his elves on the NRL easy to sign star backs for not too much cap space magic tree.

If that is too hard to think outside the box about, then keep Fatialofa at Center in cup.....

But we never did it, we knew it was there and the Warriors said nah....lets make more forwards.

Which tells me we are all in on Berry and Leiataua and on them rides our future....they both better pull finger.....especially Ali, he had so much promise when he was training hard etc....but there is always this thing where these kids have a flash debut, have a try scoring return, then laze around in Cup like they cannot be arsed because they want NRL now....

 

[Boats n Hoes]

Having a breakaway season instead instead

Just our luck he tears a new one with the Panthers eh?

I suspect he'll just be depth over there as well bur good luck to the dude.

 

[Blain]

Just our luck he tears a new one with the Panthers eh?

I suspect he'll just be depth over there as well bur good luck to the dude.

Penrith have a well established bench and forward pack. Leota, Smith, Sorenson, Martin and Yeo are established and wont be moved. Papalii, Henry are rock solid bench/starters. Chuck in a Patea, Eisenhuth and Garner, they are set. They need guys to cover origin and deep injuries, Ale is a good guy for them to cover 3-8 games a season and do a job. Crosby is a project player, can see him getting some bench minutes over origin possibly, but he will need to bide his time there.

Looking at the Warriors squad next season, the best we could have offered Crosby is a Development deal. If the 4 times premiers offer you the same or better, would be hard to turn down!

 

[Theking267]

And yet we have these fast young forwards coming through next year. Obviously Leka is really the only one with genuine back line off the mark pace, but the others will surprise opposition from the half way mark like EIT, and Gannon, for their size they would beat a lot NRL forwards in a race.

From what I have seen, the trouble with our fast backs in Reggies is that they have handling and defensive issues.

But if you go to the open market, the type of outside back the Warriors could afford will also come with defensive issues. Actually it is looking more and more like the same old problem, decent Australian backs not willing to come here in the first place.

Which leaves being patient and trying to turn someone like Kali into a tackling skilled player, which many forget takes years, if they ever get there.

I know people hate this suggestion, but it so obvious that they need to think before posting their but but buts.....

Here it comes.....drum roll....brrrrrr......the way the Warriors can add a superstar fast powerful explosive back to their side with Xfactor and insane footwork is to play Leka at Center.

Hush, I know I know, he has never played there, but consider, is it really harder to convert him with his set of skills (he can tackle he's a back row forward ffs) and he can learn to defend a three quarter line faster than it takes to find out if ANY of these Junior backs can catch and hold on to the bloody ball.

Do I personally want Leka at Center? no, not as a first choice, my first choice would be for Santa to make one with his elves on the NRL easy to sign star backs for not too much cap space magic tree.

If that is too hard to think outside the box about, then keep Fatialofa at Center in cup.....

But we never did it, we knew it was there and the Warriors said nah....lets make more forwards.

Which tells me we are all in on Berry and Leiataua and on them rides our future....they both better pull finger.....especially Ali, he had so much promise when he was training hard etc....but there is always this thing where these kids have a flash debut, have a try scoring return, then laze around in Cup like they cannot be arsed because they want NRL now....

I don’t think they see Leka’s future in the backs. Eventually he will move to the middle, similarly to Taumalolo

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Didn’t we say this at the start of this year? And the year before infact???

Even more so now!

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Based on this, we have 29 spots filled with upgrades to EIT, kayliss, & recruiting gannon, mellers & linnane to replace Kosi, MGT, ale, Harper & bunty. So we listed had 29 spots filled last year right? It seems like all our 2026 signings are completed as they usually leave 1 spot open to development upgrades or someone looking for an opportunity.

Off contract from November:
TMM
Taine
RTS
Rocco
Marata
Metcalf
Capewell
Chanel
Lussick

Of these 9 players, I’m going to assume lussick, marata, RTS, TMM are tapped on not retained. If Roger wants to go again, he’s 100% a priority. Lussick can only be moved on if we find another hooker. We need to release marata, there’s too much talent in 2nd row coming through, and taine needs to be retained too.defining year for Rocco too with all the injuries. Capewell may sign on again, one year extension? And Chanel & Metcalf a priority resigning. This would open up 4 spots going into 2027, releasing RTS, Lussick, marata, TMM.

 

[Theking267]

I would keep Marata just not on the salary he’s currently getting. From a top five salary based player, I would move him down to 17. He provides nice versatility & will be a good interchange player

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I would keep Marata just not on the salary he’s currently getting. From a top five salary based player, I would move him down to 17. He provides nice versatility & will be a good interchange player

Perhaps. Hes experienced but we have Laban, leka, kayliss, Capewell, EIT, gannon all as edge options. Unless he's a bench prop, theres no room for him & a bench prop will cause a 50%+ reduction in salary. I’d rather offload him personally.

 

[BlackToko88]

. I know by EO Sept the rugby 360 needs to have signed a quota of players for funding etc (i think so far they had hit half of that amount). So theres no guarantee what happens with it.

i wouldnt mind asking him to stay for one more season if he wants. Gives us time to develop more backs if need be

 

[Theking267]

Perhaps. Hes experienced but we have Laban, leka, kayliss, Capewell, EIT, gannon all as edge options. Unless he's a bench prop, theres no room for him & a bench prop will cause a 50%+ reduction in salary. I’d rather offload him personally.

I’m not sure Capewell will stay its more likely Marata would being a Kiwi

 

[juju]

I’m not sure Capewell will stay its more likely Marata would being a Kiwi

Exactly - Capewell could actually be a candidate to captain the Perth Bears - but at the very least can use the Perth Bears as leverage to get the Warriors to pay more if they want him to stay.

Losing Capewell and Marata in one year might be a bit much.

 

[Dannevegas]

I don’t think they see Leka’s future in the backs. Eventually he will move to the middle, similarly to Taumalolo

He shouldn’t be moved to the middle, he has the physique of a winger. And potential to be the best back rower of all time

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Can we sign just one player with speed ??
We are the slowest side in the NRL and often sides score long range tries against - I don’t have any evidence to back that up ( haha ) - maybe Foxes try is still fresh in my mind?
I think Metcalf is our fastest player but he could be slower now due to injuries?
Our back five are solid but no speed .
Yep, broken record from me , but the Titans have a number of outside backs that could be signed now that a new coach is in anti g to make a mark .

Raiders had 3 of the top 10 speedsters in their starting 13 at one point.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Haha for the last 5 years I've been reading on here that it was going to be Tom Ale"s breakout season

Just @ me next time.

 

[Theking267]

He shouldn’t be moved to the middle, he has the physique of a winger. And potential to be the best back rower of all time

He won’t be going up straight away but as his body mature’s he will move to the front row. He already struggles getting through 80 minutes now. As he get’s older it will get harder for him to play 80minutes

 

[CWC]

Didn’t we say this at the start of this year? And the year before infact???

It will be make or break for Ali debuted at 20 and hasn’t done much at 22, if he’s still injury prone or dropped to do work ons for the season the following year he will be 24 his prime career years reduce again and other 21 year olds will be demanding spots