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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[Ref]

Healey/EIT/Demi/Fats should be pretty gangster, I don’t think Gannon’s going to be there until Barney or Fish wanes and we move Demi or Clark to prop. Ford should be first drop prop especially in 2027. TSS looks to be a career good depth forward like Bunty or Jazz, not a first 17 trying to win a title

But maybe Webby will play Healey/Gannon/Ford/Demi and keep EIT and Fats in reserves

You forgot Laban.
He’s a middle for me simply because not only would he be awesome there, but we are stacked enough with edges.

Gannon has to prove himself in pre season first and he will get a trial or 2.
Our NSW Cup team with their best players available would be super competitive in the ESL.
I’m happy with the signing.
There’s a lot of proven and up and coming players already at the club.
If he makes the starting 17 in round 1 2026 it means he’s gotta to be pretty decent.

 

[Five&Last]

I very much doubt that happened for 8 games.

I said majority. I literally posted a comment last week with one of his highlights with him scoring tries out at center with a bench number on his back

 

[Five&Last]

Where is the EIT to prop stuff coming from? Dude is lanky asf. Laban is about the same height and he must have 10 kg on him, I can kinda maybe see Laban making prop next year but EIT seems like a forum pipe dream.

Yeah I was skeptical for the same reasons.

But he has the largest motor in the team easily, which is used best in the middle.

I’m doubtful Laban has the motor to play prop, that’s his biggest weakness right now is drifting in and out of games. That move probably comes much later

EIT does need to to put another 5-8kg on to play prop at an elite level which will be difficult but not impossible given he’s 6’3

But I think the best approach will be keep him as a hybrid type player. Who knows he might even develop into our long term number 13.

 

[Brightman]

EIT does need to to put another 5-8kg on to play prop at an elite level which will be difficult but not impossible given he’s 6’3

His build reminds me of a young Utoikamanu, obviously EIT has a better engine and will likely be a better player too..

 

[Five&Last]

Less tackling at fullback maybe but with the Webster battering ram and multiple hit ups model, wouldn’t his overall work rate would increase?

I don't think that's a Webster model, its just CNK doesn't offer anything else besides that so it's what we are accustomed to.

TT certainly doesn't play that way.

 

[Cces]

I very much doubt that happened for 8 games.

NSWRL differs from RLP, with just 7 games off the bench to go with his start in Round 12 at Centre.
In those 7 bench games he came on to replace Zyon Maiu’u, Going, Tu, Going, Doyle, Tupouniua & EIT. Who knows what reshuffles occurred but at first glance it looks like he was predominantly an edge.

On Berry, I seriously hope there's no thought of re-signing him before the halfway mark of next year and doubt there'd be many approaches come November 1st for a guy that failed to finish 44% of the games he started this season, got himself suspended in another & has only 2 try assists in his last 26 game (0 in last 14)

 

[CWC]

Where is the EIT to prop stuff coming from? Dude is lanky asf. Laban is about the same height and he must have 10 kg on him, I can kinda maybe see Laban making prop next year but EIT seems like a forum pipe dream.

He’s been playing middle or lock in basically his whole short FG career… Cape/Leka/Marata were the edges when he was on

You forgot Laban.
He’s a middle for me simply because not only would he be awesome there, but we are stacked enough with edges.

Gannon has to prove himself in pre season first and he will get a trial or 2.
Our NSW Cup team with their best players available would be super competitive in the ESL.
I’m happy with the signing.
There’s a lot of proven and up and coming players already at the club.
If he makes the starting 17 in round 1 2026 it means he’s gotta to be pretty decent.

I had him as a starting edge in 2027 for his aerial threat but yes he’s been awesome in the middle until the dog shot. He and EIT have the frames to be in the middle and EIT has the hands of a lock or backs