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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[Jonno13]

We’ll have to offload a player or 2 if we make any signings before March ‘26. Pretty sure club has said we have 29 of the 30 spots locked up. Not sure who they’d look to release as we’ve signed a lot of youth to 3-4 yr deals. Lussick, DWZ, and probably CHT would be my ones to move pn if we had a chance

 

[Warriorsfan92]

We’ll have to offload a player or 2 if we make any signings before March ‘26. Pretty sure club has said we have 29 of the 30 spots locked up. Not sure who they’d look to release as we’ve signed a lot of youth to 3-4 yr deals. Lussick, DWZ, and probably CHT would be my ones to move pn if we had a chance

We’re not in a position to move on DWZ atm. At this point he’s our 2nd best winger & with only kali coming through, and the recruitment of a rookie winger, we don’t have that Luxury. It’s 2027 when he’s likely finished with us. Lussick can be moved on at any point, but I disagree that CHT will be, I think he’s had a good year given the circumstances

 

[juju]

NAS for Lussicks roster spot and subsidized by the Storm i could live with

 

[Naynay]

We’re not in a position to move on DWZ atm. At this point he’s our 2nd best winger & with only kali coming through, and the recruitment of a rookie winger, we don’t have that Luxury. It’s 2027 when he’s likely finished with us. Lussick can be moved on at any point, but I disagree that CHT will be, I think he’s had a good year given the circumstances

Yeah the CHT hate is wild, hes been our best half (possibly only because metcalf got injured) all year. Would say Freddy would be the next out as well as Marata, with RTS likely only having another 1 season deal coming and same with capewell we will likely see 3-4 spots open over the next couple of years, atleast planned add on probably a couple of young kids who want to return / try Australia.

Id be suprised if they are in a rush to move any players on at this time instead using the next year to bring in a few other the system players into first grade.

 

[Completion Rate]

The interest in Davy Moale was probably a price check on the market rate for what we can expect some of our own players to demand in the not-too-distant future. Checking we got value on the contracts of someone like Ale who's in a similar position, or TSS who could be in the same position in 3 years time. The timing of it coming out after Ale's been let go tells me this wasnt a recent inquiry - or that Souths might have offered him - despite recent media attention.
Do you cut them if they're asking 4-500k a season for a bench position? Probably, considering the pipeline of juniors on the way.
There is a lot of upside in the forwards in the lower grades - we should only be signing halfs (as we've seen is the first priority) and backs (where aside from just a couple in our lower grades, pickings are slim) from other clubs.
The big $ marquee man notwithstanding.

 

[Jonno13]

We’re not in a position to move on DWZ atm. At this point he’s our 2nd best winger & with only kali coming through, and the recruitment of a rookie winger, we don’t have that Luxury. It’s 2027 when he’s likely finished with us. Lussick can be moved on at any point, but I disagree that CHT will be, I think he’s had a good year given the circumstances

Thing is though, CHT is good with a dominant pack but he doesn’t step up and win us games when our backs against the wall. He has a ceiling and i think he’s hit it. Any player including DWZ can be moved on but we’d have to suck up a fair bit of their contract to do it.
Lots of good players with speed and flare who’ve started at 19-20yrs. Not sure why we can’t inject one onto our wing and make it work?? Webbys good but very much of the conservative mindset.

 

[juju]

Id even consider a one year deal subsidized by Melbourne but leaving a perth deal open for NAS

 

[Noitall]

Id even consider a one year deal subsidized by Melbourne but leaving a perth deal open for NAS

When we identify someone, money doesn’t seem to be a barrier. We paid Dylan Walker $700k to come and play off the bench. Think we’d be mad not to keep an eye on the situation to see what the storm might throw in for him to leave

 

[Warriors55]

The interest in Davy Moale was probably a price check on the market rate for what we can expect some of our own players to demand in the not-too-distant future. Checking we got value on the contracts of someone like Ale who's in a similar position, or TSS who could be in the same position in 3 years time. The timing of it coming out after Ale's been let go tells me this wasnt a recent inquiry - or that Souths might have offered him - despite recent media attention.
Do you cut them if they're asking 4-500k a season for a bench position? Probably, considering the pipeline of juniors on the way.
There is a lot of upside in the forwards in the lower grades - we should only be signing halfs (as we've seen is the first priority) and backs (where aside from just a couple in our lower grades, pickings are slim) from other clubs.
The big $ marquee man notwithstanding.

Mostly agree with that but no way do we need to sign any half's (unless you mean re-signing Metcalf).

We have Jett coming through the ranks and Jett and Luke could potentially (strong focus on potentially) be our best ever half pairing.

If we are going to spend money over the next 2 years it should be on almost completely changing the backline.

After 2027 I would say RTS, CNK, DWZ will be gone. Possibly someone like Berry could be medically retired (hopefully not), so that is an urgent focus for us over the next year or so. Maybe one steamrolling prop as well but at a lower priority. How we replace that backline and also how we deal with players like Barnett and Fish aging is going to have a big impact on our premiership chances.

Another thing is Healey. Because of his age and the style of game that he brings (and that we should be aiming for), he is the priority over Egan long-term and I think most of us will be gutted if Healey left the club because of lack of opportunity. A good hooker is damn hard to find and we are lucky we have two of them now.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Thing is though, CHT is good with a dominant pack but he doesn’t step up and win us games when our backs against the wall. He has a ceiling and i think he’s hit it. Any player including DWZ can be moved on but we’d have to suck up a fair bit of their contract to do it.
Lots of good players with speed and flare who’ve started at 19-20yrs. Not sure why we can’t inject one onto our wing and make it work?? Webbys good but very much of the conservative mindset.

I agree that everyone has ceiling, and while CHT may have hit his this year, 18 try assists and 8 tries as a half is certainly not an issue. I would lock him up for the next 5 years if we knew he would consistently hit that, as our non dominant half.

I think the big problem for a lot of us fans is that our team is largely made up of pieces that fit together to form a really decent team. When we lose some of the bigger pieces and the team starts to perform poorly, we then look as someone like CHT and say 'he doesnt step up when required, he's shit, or move him on' when in reality, what he's provided this year has been exceptional.

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

Someone already posted about expecting Metcalf to resign. Seems like we are in the "box seat".

Luke Metcalf In Talks For Warriors Extension

The Warriors are looking to to lock up halfback Luke Metcalf long term before rival clubs have the chance to pounce.

articles.listnr.com

 

[Billyspleen75]

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

NAS for Lussicks roster spot and subsidized by the Storm i could live with

One prop for another prop makes sense

 

[Dannevegas]

View attachment 14431
View attachment 14432

Eeww

 

[Noitall]

View attachment 14431
View attachment 14432

Seems unlikely that he’d come over as a depth winger? I wonder if DWZ or RTS are departing the club early?

 

[Billyspleen75]

Seems unlikely that he’d come over as a depth winger? I wonder if DWZ or RTS are departing the club early?

I do think RTS, DWZ, AKP, Mellars and Kali is too many wingers.

Surely 2 starters and 2 up and comers is the right balance. I'd prefer DWZ leaving. Then the better of Mellars or Kali can replace RTS in 2027

 

[Christchurch_Warrior]

I do think RTS, DWZ, AKP, Mellars and Kali is too many wingers.

Surely 2 starters and 2 up and comers is the right balance. I'd prefer DWZ leaving. Then the better of Mellars or Kali can replace RTS in 2027

Have to agree unless one or more of them can cover Centre which I think none of them can. Have to wonder if we are losing an existing winger next year.

 

[Lance155]

Seems unlikely that he’d come over as a depth winger? I wonder if DWZ or RTS are departing the club early?

Honestly I think DWZ is on borrowed time. As much as the club defends his D etc by blaming inside players etc (which is true to a certain extent). The guy simply cannot effectively make either decision, if he jams and he still misses that player, doesn't touch the ball in the passing lane and get's burnt on the outside if he holds. Unless he comes over at centre I fully expect DWZ not to start next year....

 

[Tragic]

I agree that everyone has ceiling, and while CHT may have hit his this year, 18 try assists and 8 tries as a half is certainly not an issue. I would lock him up for the next 5 years if we knew he would consistently hit that, as our non dominant half.

I think the big problem for a lot of us fans is that our team is largely made up of pieces that fit together to form a really decent team. When we lose some of the bigger pieces and the team starts to perform poorly, we then look as someone like CHT and say 'he doesnt step up when required, he's shit, or move him on' when in reality, what he's provided this year has been exceptional.

He seemed better when he was paired with Metcalf. Be interesting to see his stats with Metcalf vs with Boyd.
But then everyone was going better then with less injuries

 

[Tragic]

Honestly I think DWZ is on borrowed time. As much as the club defends his D etc by blaming inside players etc (which is true to a certain extent). The guy simply cannot effectively make either decision, if he jams and he still misses that player, doesn't touch the ball in the passing lane and get's burnt on the outside if he holds. Unless he comes over at centre I fully expect DWZ not to start next year....

RTS>AKP>Kali>DWZ>Ed