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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[MrFrankWhite]

Nine hundred thousand first offer is exactly where you would have expected.

The Warriors knew at that time that they were going to have to pay at least a million for Metcalf.

Even though fans struggle with that reality. He is a million dollar player, and opening negotiations at 90% of that mark when he was fully fit proves that point.

What the Warriors would not have wanted was to pay too much more than a Million ergo starting offer nine hundred thousand, still close enough to a million not to scare the guy away from the negotiating table.

And yes, offering less after injury is just being practical, but I bet if Metcalf came back with a demand for at least 900k the Warriors would privately be happy to pay it.

Factoring in he would probably get the 900K for his already contracted 2026 year, its realistically $1m+

 

[Inruin]

Factoring in he would probably get the 900K for his already contracted 2026 year, its realistically $1m+

Why would he get that?

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Why would he get that?

We're the only ones that can upgrade 2026 for him, meaning a deal to stay is more attractive because he gets an year extra on an improved contract. It could work out $100k+ a season extra we are offering over three years even if our offer for 2027-29 matches another club.

"sign for 2027-29 and we'll give you a $300k bonus for 2026."

 

[Inruin]

We're the only ones that can upgrade 2026 for him, meaning a deal to stay is more attractive because he gets an year extra on an improved contract. It could work out $100k+ a season extra we are offering over three years even if our offer for 2027-29 matches another club.

No I get that. But given he is currently injured, unlikely to be back until mid season and then with absolutely no guarantee that he is back to where he was earlier this season why would you need to upgrade his contract next season! The only legitimate reason I can think of would be to spread his salary out more to balance our cap

 

[Rizzah]

No I get that. But given he is currently injured, unlikely to be back until mid season and then with absolutely no guarantee that he is back to where he was earlier this season why would you need to upgrade his contract next season! The only legitimate reason I can think of would be to spread his salary out more to balance our cap

Because we want to keep him.... that's the legitimate reason to do it. Otherwise we are team 1 of 4 offering him ~$900k a season from 2027.
Major upside to our negotiations if we are able to match the new salary in year 0; if the cap allows it.

 

[John Nick]

No I get that. But given he is currently injured, unlikely to be back until mid season and then with absolutely no guarantee that he is back to where he was earlier this season why would you need to upgrade his contract next season! The only legitimate reason I can think of would be to spread his salary out more to balance our cap

The club along with others have to take managed risks with their injured players.
Metcalf is the one in question here but we also have Berry Ali Egan Barnett Charnze Laban that come to mind when we are looking at getting through next year

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Why would he get that?

Because we can probably afford it, its the smart thing to do, and it gives us a significant advantage.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Has no one else noticed the drop off since Metcalf was injured? Lol he’s an urgent re signing

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Has no one else noticed the drop off since Metcalf was injured? Lol he’s an urgent re signing

Its that Aussie hunger to win. Healey has it too.

 

[Inruin]

Because we can probably afford it, its the smart thing to do, and it gives us a significant advantage.

I think his injury and continued risk of injury given his history has already given us the advantage. We apparently have already withdrawn a $900k offer. I think some may also be overestimating what other clubs may be willing to offer him taking all of that in to consideration. They might get interested in him but I'm not convinced they will be tabling an offer as high as some think.

If we give him a two year extension with a slight upgrade next season that helps with our cap, then I'm ok with that.

 

[Inruin]

Has no one else noticed the drop off since Metcalf was injured? Lol he’s an urgent re signing

No, I've noticed the drop off since Barnett got injured.

 

[John Nick]

No, I've noticed the drop off since Barnett got injured.

I have noticed a huge drop off since the loss of Barnett. He is signed until the end of 2027 and has a history of knee injury that has ended his goal kicking career. Hopefully he gets back to his best and makes it through the next 2 seasons with no further issues.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

No, I've noticed the drop off since Barnett got injured.

Sure, they go hand in hand. Barnett injured round 13, Metcalf round 17.

Round 13: W against rabbits no Barnett
Round 14: W against sharks
Round 16: L against panthers
Round 17: L against broncos, Metcalf injured
Round 19: W against tigers
Round 20: W against knights
Round 21: L against titans
Round 22: L against phins
Round 23: L against dogs
Round 24: W against dragons
Round 25; w against titans
Round 26: loss against eels
Round 17: loss against manly

Without Barnett we lost against Penrith and broncos (two top 8 sides) and beat the sharks by 40.

Without Metcalf we’ve won 4/9, with 8 of those 9 not even in the top 8.

Losing Metcalf has been instrumental in our downfall

 

[Matiunz]

Him for 30-40min and Egan 40-50min each week would be great

I used to like that style we had where we would chuck a hooker on last 10-15 of a half to exploit the tiring defences- chuck a Halasima/Vaimunga at a similar time and we could have some decent impact subs

 

[Noitall]

That article about Metcalf mentions a long term deal, I wonder if it could be that they give him a 3 year deal on top of the contract to 2026? That would be until the end of 2029, that would make 30 by then and be good stability for him. Would be good for the club to go all in and the length of the contract would probably see the salary happy for both parties to sit somewhere in the $800,000’s somewhere, where it should be. I think that would see CHT partner him again when he’s healthy and TMM utility, then in 2027 a hope that someone like Linnane is set to partner him at five eighth and CHT becomes utility with TMM likely departing. I think Boyd likely departs end of 2026 too and Jett and Hanson become the backups? Starting to see a potential plan

 

[Inruin]

Sure, they go hand in hand. Barnett injured round 13, Metcalf round 17.

Round 13: W against rabbits no Barnett
Round 14: W against sharks
Round 16: L against panthers
Round 17: L against broncos, Metcalf injured
Round 19: W against tigers
Round 20: W against knights
Round 21: L against titans
Round 22: L against phins
Round 23: L against dogs
Round 24: W against dragons
Round 25; w against titans
Round 26: loss against eels
Round 17: loss against manly

Without Barnett we lost against Penrith and broncos (two top 8 sides) and beat the sharks by 40.

Without Metcalf we’ve won 4/9, with 8 of those 9 not even in the top 8.

Losing Metcalf has been instrumental in our downfall

Panthers C grade at Mt Smart.

Performances, not results (Sharks game being the exception though a large number of our points were through kicks) declined with Barnett out IMO.

 

[CWC]

Luke is getting married in October so I am guessing the club will seal the deal this month as a nice little gift and let him focus on the event, the timing of the scoop fits too, good to hear he’s settled here

 

[WAH MAN]

Healey’s passing is easy fix - repetition repetition repetition and practice under fatigue

One hand passing off the ground will help him. Build that muscle memory so he can fire absolute bullet passes from off the deck. Also, he's got to know who's the next target and the target has to know as well. Repetition of the best form and with your guys in practice too.

 

[CWC]

That article about Metcalf mentions a long term deal, I wonder if it could be that they give him a 3 year deal on top of the contract to 2026? That would be until the end of 2029, that would make 30 by then and be good stability for him. Would be good for the club to go all in and the length of the contract would probably see the salary happy for both parties to sit somewhere in the $800,000’s somewhere, where it should be. I think that would see CHT partner him again when he’s healthy and TMM utility, then in 2027 a hope that someone like Linnane is set to partner him at five eighth and CHT becomes utility with TMM likely departing. I think Boyd likely departs end of 2026 too and Jett and Hanson become the backups? Starting to see a potential plan

Too many speedy halves backing up Capewah line break by then, what are we going to do?

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Panthers C grade at Mt Smart.

Performances, not results (Sharks game being the exception though a large number of our points were through kicks) declined with Barnett out IMO.

Are you seriously trying to argue Metcalf’s injury wasn’t a key catalyst for our season decline? Come on mate, there’s a few meatheads on this forum but you aren’t one of them… are you?