Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum centers on the Warriors' 2025/2026 roster planning, with significant focus on roster adjustments and player roles. Discussions highlight Erin Clark's signing #342 as a key middle-forward addition for defensive grit, though some skepticism about his ideal position persists #343. Backline restructuring dominates the dialogue, particularly Marcelo Montoya's likely departure to the Tigers for family reasons #88#232, prompting debates about shifting Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to wing despite concerns over his positional fit #13#240. Fan sentiment emphasizes securing Ali Leiataua's long-term deal #192 and explores Taine Tuaupiki's viability at fullback #50#288.
Controversy arises around Josh Curran's critical exit interview, where users #69 interpret his remarks as unprofessional while acknowledging his on-field value. Recruitment targets like Leo Thompson #108 and development signings such as Sam Healey #202 suggest strategic futureproofing. Forward pack balance remains contentious, with members debating Tohu Harris's reduced role #427, Jackson Ford's utility value #404, and dissatisfaction with Marata Niukore's output relative to salary #86#378. The analysis concludes that cap management and injecting pace into the outside backs are critical priorities moving forward.

🏷️ Tags:

Recruitment Strategy, Player Contracts, Backline Restructuring

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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



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NZWarriors.com

If you are a decent player, and probably have demand for your services it would make very little sense to sign a contract as soon as that window is open - unless ofcourse you had been waiting for that team to come knocking and know no team will outmatch that offer. 12 months is a long time and if you are half decent, you would have to be a moron to sign a contract that early.

And btw noone would be reading zerotackle for news. They have become a bit of a joke - one of their headlines in past few days was that "Latrell signs for Broncos". It was Latrell Siegwalt a QLD cup player.
OK don't hold back tell us how you really feel.
100% disagree. The year we were waiting for news on Joey Manu we heard tell tale rumours (we were not getting him) maybe two weeks or so after Nov 1.
I won't defend zero tackle but it recycles its content refresh rate the fastest on the Interweb. (Some license taken with that statement in case you fact check it).
 
OK don't hold back tell us how you really feel.
100% disagree. The year we were waiting for news on Joey Manu we heard tell tale rumours (we were not getting him) maybe two weeks or so after Nov 1.
Why wouldnt you want to name a decent player who signs a contract around nov 1? That would actually be disagreeing with me.

Zerotackle is an AGGREGATOR who use "editors"/AI to reword articles so they dont get penalised from google and get authorative originality for SEO. Add in clickbait titles. IF you actually want to get latest info, you could do what they do, collect all media RSS feeds (nrluniverse.com does this without modifying content), put that into a RSS feed app and get more content then you have time to read.

If you want just warriors related news/content just follow this for example: https://nrluniverse.com/new-zealand-warriors-news/

Its all via RSS feeds. They even connect to this forums RSS (though that seems to be pre hack so that info they prob need to update lol)
 
OK don't hold back tell us how you really feel.
100% disagree. The year we were waiting for news on Joey Manu we heard tell tale rumours (we were not getting him) maybe two weeks or so after Nov 1.
I won't defend zero tackle but it recycles its content refresh rate the fastest on the Interweb. (Some license taken with that statement in case you fact check it).
We locked up Isaac Liu… was that not Zero Tackle? Only thing they are good for are player contracts
 
Priority 1 right now should be resigning Ali Leiataua before other clubs can approach him in November.
What’s taking so long? Are there road bumps in the negotiations ?

What’s his value? We’re stuck with 2 centres we’re already paying starter money to (Berry and Pompey). What money do we have to offer him and what’s his worth?

Is Ali seeing a pathway to first grade to want to resign? He will be 22 next year which is getting relatively ancient for a power player and it’s not guaranteed he’s got a starting position locked in.
 
What’s taking so long? Are there road bumps in the negotiations ?

What’s his value? We’re stuck with 2 centres we’re already paying starter money to (Berry and Pompey). What money do we have to offer him and what’s his worth?

Is Ali seeing a pathway to first grade to want to resign? He will be 22 next year which is getting relatively ancient for a power player and it’s not guaranteed he’s got a starting position locked in.
I doubt Pompey is on starter money, he extended his contract in July 2023 for the 2025 season, 3 months after RTS was announced as returning, who was supposed to be the new centre.
Ali's progress has been held up a bit due to being injured twice in his first two first grade games and having to have 2x extended periods out injured.
My thoughts are they are possibly planning on giving him Montoya's money (with the plan to shift RTS to the wing), but are just waiting for negotiations with the Tigers to be completed.
 
What’s taking so long? Are there road bumps in the negotiations ?

What’s his value? We’re stuck with 2 centres we’re already paying starter money to (Berry and Pompey). What money do we have to offer him and what’s his worth?

Is Ali seeing a pathway to first grade to want to resign? He will be 22 next year which is getting relatively ancient for a power player and it’s not guaranteed he’s got a starting position locked in.
Imagine what Penrith or Melbourne could do with him. He has longer upside than say Roger I reckon. He might not be their future centre if delaying a renewal
 
Paid close attention to JFH last night. His attitude and effort on defence is something I don’t know that anyone in our team has.
No laying down, slowly getting up after a tackle being late back into the line leaving a hole. He sprints back into the line and this happens at the start of his stint and the end.

I love Tohu but it really pissed me off at times how often he would slowly get off the ground and slowly get back into the line. Tohu wasn’t the only one to do it but he really stood out for it.

JFH is going to bring new standards
 
Paid close attention to JFH last night. His attitude and effort on defence is something I don’t know that anyone in our team has.
No laying down, slowly getting up after a tackle being late back into the line leaving a hole. He sprints back into the line and this happens at the start of his stint and the end.

I love Tohu but it really pissed me off at times how often he would slowly get off the ground and slowly get back into the line. Tohu wasn’t the only one to do it but he really stood out for it.

JFH is going to bring new standards
Tohu was lucky to get up off the ground most of the time, he got up like someone who was physically broken.
 
    Nobody is reading this thread right now.
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