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	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
6	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
7	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
8	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
9	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
10	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
11	Tohu Harris	✔
12	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
13	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
14	Edward Kosi	✔
15	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
16	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
17	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
18	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	C
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Tanah Boyd	S	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Tanner Stowers-Smith	S
T1	Jett Cleary	T	S	S

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract (Formerly, Development), T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 3/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 4/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 20/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 2/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (S), Tanner Stowers-Smith (S), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Schmen]

I don't understand all this halves chat. Sure a backup 7 could be useful but for 6 we have the options of TMM, LM, CHT (obv one will be halfback) and Walker in a pinch. Calling for Charnze in the halves is a poor use of a good player (I mean he doesn't even kick!) and adds depth to an already deep position.

Also don't forget that with the young forwards having more reps and Erin Clark coming in that Walker's probably not a forward pack-necessity anymore. If we need him as a utility he should be played as such.

 

[Dannevegas]

I don't understand all this halves chat. Sure a backup 7 could be useful but for 6 we have the options of TMM, LM, CHT (obv one will be halfback) and Walker in a pinch. Calling for Charnze in the halves is a poor use of a good player (I mean he doesn't even kick!) and adds depth to an already deep position.

Also don't forget that with the young forwards having more reps and Erin Clark coming in that Walker's probably not a forward pack-necessity anymore. If we need him as a utility he should be played as such.

Walker’s not a half. Charnze is getting suggested because he played 6 this year and went awesome, and our starting halves for next year are probably the most injury prone halves in the comp. And then there’s CHT who is ok and is there’s talk he’s moving to lock, so ye we definitely need a half

 

[Damo]

Walker’s not a half. Charnze is getting suggested because he played 6 this year and went awesome, and our starting halves for next year are probably the most injury prone halves in the comp. And then there’s CHT who is ok and is there’s talk he’s moving to lock, so ye we definitely need a half

Charnze played one game there and didn't exactly do anything spectacular. Just made tackles and completed a pass anyone should make for a try assist.. People hanging their hat on him being a viable long term option at 6 are deluded imo.

 

[Zaggo]

Charnze played one game there and didn't exactly do anything spectacular. Just made tackles and completed a pass anyone should make for a try assist.. People hanging their hat on him being a viable long term option at 6 are deluded imo.

Some on this forum are obsessed with the thought that by moving a player they'll instantly become Dally M contenders - CNK to 6, CHT to lock, Pompey to second row, there was even someone saying RTS to lock.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Charnze played one game there and didn't exactly do anything spectacular. Just made tackles and completed a pass anyone should make for a try assist.. People hanging their hat on him being a viable long term option at 6 are deluded imo.

he'd have to grow into it of course - he was thrown in as an emergency gap filler, on debut so we were never going to get 300 kick metres, 2 tries and 4 TAs.. but he was solid. CNK would still be a gap filler for mine unless he does a pre-season there and looks the goods.

Either way I think there's a fair concern based less on skill and more on durability with LM & TMM as the primaries. CHT is further along and was pretty solid though. Solid however doesn't win premierships.

And I wouldn't be surprised if AW dogmatically sticks to his promise of retaining CNK @ No1 even though that doesn't unleash the best overall team result.

 

[Canonball]

Yeah I've said it to anyone who will listen to me, but I really believe we haven't seen the end of SJ just yet.

Whether it's a swansong in Vegas, or an SOS half way through the year, I think we'll see him atleast one more time in Warriors colours

you think? I don't know eh, it all seems pretty final to me, i'd like that to be wrong, don't see it happening tho.

We need another half - having SJ coming back in, even if briefly, would be an admission of failure in planning and reaction from management - however, Webby did joke during that last press conference that he had 5 weeks off... so never say never I guess

 

[Damo]

he'd have to grow into it of course - he was thrown in as an emergency gap filler, on debut so we were never going to get 300 kick metres, 2 tries and 4 TAs.. but he was solid. CNK would still be a gap filler for mine unless he does a pre-season there and looks the goods.

Solid sure. But he did nothing any other half could do apart from being perhaps a bit more solid defensively. Charnze literally kicked 0 metres.. only one game but with his possible partner already having a poorer kicking game than your usual halfback, we would be on a hiding to nothing.

 

[JaggedJ]

CHT to lock, Egan and CNK to the halves, Pompey to second row.

Not gonna lie, our team going to look pretty wild next year.

Just need Kosi playing that NAS bench prop role and we're set.

 

[jonesy101]

CHT to lock, Egan and CNK to the halves, Pompey to second row.

Not gonna lie, our team going to look pretty wild next year.

Just need Kosi playing that NAS bench prop role and we're set.

Not gonna happen. Lussick already has the bench prop role filled.

 

[Noitall]

CHT to lock, Egan and CNK to the halves, Pompey to second row.

Not gonna lie, our team going to look pretty wild next year.

Just need Kosi playing that NAS bench prop role and we're set.

Think it’s potentially things like footage of SJ mentioning CHT in a promo video as his position being a ball playing lock that also involved Niukore. Certainly don’t think it’s totally implausible that they try to emulate Walker’s role in CHT being a good defender and from the halves with some ball playing. Could take a season or two to get his body in the shape to handle the middle consistently, but he’s young so got the time. Egan is an ex five eighth, think people just trying to fathom the plan with us looking light in the halves. Pompey and your boy Berry may need to look at transitioning to another position because Leiataua has one spot sewn up in a matter of time and we’ve got some decent young centres looking good. Interesting that Eddie Ieremia Toeava has been getting time there in nsw cup. Think he’s really going under the radar still so young. Has been often played in the second row but also centre and prop and hasn’t looked out place in any

 

[Leon Black]

Some on this forum are obsessed with the thought that by moving a player they'll instantly become Dally M contenders - CNK to 6, CHT to lock, Pompey to second row, there was even someone saying RTS to lock.

Egan to 6, Ed Kosi to hooker…

 

[Leon Black]

TMM had a more than decent short kicking game and I recall a fair few led to tries. He is getting hammered for having a poor kicking game… do some of you not watch all the games? A no to SOS… to slow plus he’d be short odds to land at the Knights with POS there now

 

[chrisnz]

Honestly people are trying to reinvent positions for players because our team composition is getting semi whack and having glaring issues can't tell me anyone is 100% comfortable having metcalf or tmm as our primary #7 I was happy to see cht return but never wanted him to be a major cog and given metcalfs made of glass he will probably find himself having a massive role at some point ..

 

[Wrighty]

I would trade one of our assets for Dane Laurie. Contracted Panthers in 2025 is approachable November 1.

Primarily because I think he is a good option for halves depth, he can also cover full back and wing.

18 games at 5 8th in the NRL and 2 games at half back. At 25 years old he is in the peak years of his career,

 

[UpTheWahs]

I would trade one of our assets for Dane Laurie. Contracted Panthers in 2025 is approachable November 1.

Primarily because I think he is a good option for halves depth, he can also cover full back and wing.

18 games at 5 8th in the NRL and 2 games at half back. At 25 years old he is in the peak years of his career,

I'm with you on this one Wrighty

I believe he was the player of the year at the tigers in 2022. Put in effort when the rest of the team had checked out. Skillful and versatile, can't imagine him looking for elite money.

 

[Dannevegas]

I'm with you on this one Wrighty

I believe he was the player of the year at the tigers in 2022. Put in effort when the rest of the team had checked out. Skillful and versatile, can't imagine him looking for elite money.

That’s a good call, would be a good fullback for us.
Probably in line for the 6 spot next year tho at panthers

 

[hornbybrown]

Glad to see we are bringing in another young Hooker, such a critical position. So having lots of options coming through is great. You never know where we might strike gold

 

[Noitall]

Wouldn’t it be something to land Jahrome Hughes. Seems like the ideal candidate being older and in his best years so would be great bringing the next crop of halves through on the field and SJ mentoring off the field. There was talk during the year that Hughes was keen to head to home, which was said to be Queensland and the titans were mentioned. Dream are free to think home meant NZ. You never know, it could be apart of his massive form to be paying the storm back for his development before he departs? By all accounts Webster was a massive Jett Cleary fan at the panthers, Hughes and SJ would be unreal to bring him through. Hopefully wouldn’t fuck off back to panthers if he turns out the goods

 

[watcher]

With all teams in the vaious comps silence on the recruiting front may br due to coaching and management seeing themselves as a Development club. We are looking for outside backs, Pasikala and Kali are two that are worth a try. Just do not expect miracles overnight. Then there is a landslide of Forwards. The usual suspects ut also Crosby, Ieremia and Stowers. Then s war chest of Cap for a decent Half is there.

 

[Billyspleen75]

Wouldn’t it be something to land Jahrome Hughes. Seems like the ideal candidate being older and in his best years so would be great bringing the next crop of halves through on the field and SJ mentoring off the field. There was talk during the year that Hughes was keen to head to home, which was said to be Queensland and the titans were mentioned. Dream are free to think home meant NZ. You never know, it could be apart of his massive form to be paying the storm back for his development before he departs? By all accounts Webster was a massive Jett Cleary fan at the panthers, Hughes and SJ would be unreal to bring him through. Hopefully wouldn’t fuck off back to panthers if he turns out the goods

There was the article recently that said he was very close to signing at the start of 2020, but his trip to NZ was curtailed by covid.
Could have been NZ that was being referred to in those "head home" articles too.
Though that means he's also said no to is twice. 3rd times a charm? Maybe once he's won a Dally M and another Premiership at the Storm