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	Kalani Going	S
S2	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: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 16/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Noitall]

do you see him staying and living in NZ for the next 10 years?

Id love him to be our next #7 long term, but just cant shake the thought that we develop him, give him his shot and then he heads back "home" in 3 years. Especially in that article with the way Ivan talks about him leaving the home and mum being upset.

If he is up to it then we have 3 years to convince him to stay.

Hope so. Ivan genuinely seems to love the club so I don’t think it would be a conscious plan between them for him to bail back to Australia at first opportunity? You never though

 

[Noitall]

I've got a nagging feeling that he'll never make 1st grade.

That’s a real possibility, he’s got a lot of hard work to do to cut his own path out of his brothers shadow. This Cleary seems like a social butterfly too. He’s on a tricky ride because he’s constantly going to be compared to his brother so its going to take patience to not expect him to carve up from the get go

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

That’s a real possibility, he’s got a lot of hard work to do to cut his own path out of his brothers shadow. This Cleary seems like a social butterfly too. He’s on a tricky ride because he’s constantly going to be compared to his brother so its going to take patience to not expect him to carve up from the get go

and warriors fans are the most patient

 

[Leon Black]

What about wings? If we're still relying on Kosi to be our depth we're in deep doo-doo.

Other teams seem to have an endless bounty of random backup wingers with a turn of pace, whereas we really battle with it.

Pasikala long term prospect, he just needs to fill out a bit. All the skills

 

[Leon Black]

What times?????
He was very average all year and struggled for an impact, which 3 line breaks and 2 line break assists in 22 games points to (I know stats aren’t everything but I had to look because I thought he had struggled). Also offloads at a far less rate than Nikora.
I understand recruiting a known quantity like Nikora, but if you are going on potential then you would have to back Halasima and Laban above this bloke at 600k

Roosters game, waltzed through Butcher palm on Teddy like he was a kid and casual ball to Best. He had a fair few moments.

Coming rom Super League would have been a culture shock too.

He will be a decent player. But if you go off stats you’re probably a Jackson Ford fan too.

8.4K views · 177 reactions | KAI PEARCE-PAUL 2024 HIGHLIGHTS | Kai Pearce-Paul is a Rugby League handful 🇬🇧 | By JBP Sports Edits | Facebook

Kai Pearce-Paul is a Rugby League handful 🇬🇧

www.facebook.com

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Pasikala long term prospect, he just needs to fill out a bit. All the skills

I don't think he needs to fill out at all. He's Jacked already! Come on now, He's Tongan lol.

 

[JaggedJ]

Personally I'd rather we spent cap on players who have proven it rather than those who may one day justify it.

In the spine we might have to pay overs for potential but we shouldn't be doing that for forwards.

 

[Neo]

Roosters game, waltzed through Butcher palm on Teddy like he was a kid and casual ball to Best. He had a fair few moments.

Coming rom Super League would have been a culture shock too.

He will be a decent player. But if you go off stats you’re probably a Jackson Ford fan too.

8.4K views · 177 reactions | KAI PEARCE-PAUL 2024 HIGHLIGHTS | Kai Pearce-Paul is a Rugby League handful 🇬🇧 | By JBP Sports Edits | Facebook

Kai Pearce-Paul is a Rugby League handful 🇬🇧

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Yeah I don’t think highlight packages are the greatest measure of a player’s effectiveness either.
But when it comes to wingers I do love this one


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gcTm_EcT0NU&pp=ygUWZWR3YXJkIGtvc2kgaGlnaGxpZ2h0cw%3D%3D

 

[Boats n Hoes]

What about wings? If we're still relying on Kosi to be our depth we're in deep doo-doo.

Other teams seem to have an endless bounty of random backup wingers with a turn of pace, whereas we really battle with it.

Staggers me that we seemingly dont have a ready made production line of wingers in this country....i mean it should be in the gene pool.......are they all playing rugby or what?

 

[Kav1]

Because winning is the highest priority I suppose. We may be sacrificing the energy guys for performance levels. As in we want to win

I just hope this doesn't come back to bite us.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Players Locked in for 2026 and beyond:

Fisher Harris
Mitch Barnett
Wayde Egan
Ali Leiataua
Eric Clarke
Jacob laben
Freddy lussick
Demitric sifakula
Leka Halasima
Marata niukore
Luke metcalf
Kurt Capewell
Rocco berry
Motu pasikala
Roger tuivasa sheck
Zyon Maiu’u maiu’u
Sam healey

Everyone else is off contract. Of that group, I can also see rts & Niukore being moved on for an early release if things don’t work out. So too lussick if Healey jumps him.

Still expecting a lot of movement over the next 12 months to our squad. We have locked down some serious talent.

Most urgent re signings imo:
Taine
Charnze
Dallin
Walker

Happy to release the rest if they don’t prove themselves next year:

Kosi
Pompey
Bunty
Cht
Ford
Tohu
Tmm
Ale

Of note, I’m a fan of Pompey, ford, TMM, ale but they need to prove themselves this year. I wouldn’t be concerned if tohu retires, CHT and Kosi are released. Hang onto CHT until better option arrives as the depth is helpful but he’s not the half we need imo. The game has evolved & accurate short kicking game is extremely important

 

[Leon Black]

Yeah I don’t think highlight packages are the greatest measure of a player’s effectiveness either.
But when it comes to wingers I do love this one


View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gcTm_EcT0NU&pp=ygUWZWR3YXJkIGtvc2kgaGlnaGxpZ2h0cw%3D%3D

Didn’t he go off injured?? such an Ed thing to do

 

[Leon Black]

Players Locked in for 2026 and beyond:

Fisher Harris
Mitch Barnett
Wayde Egan
Ali Leiataua
Eric Clarke
Jacob laben
Freddy lussick
Demitric sifakula
Marata niukore
Luke metcalf
Kurt Capewell
Rocco berry
Motu pasikala
Roger tuivasa sheck
Zyon Maiu’u maiu’u
Sam healey

Everyone else is off contract. Of that group, I can also see rts & Niukore being moved on for an early release if things don’t work out. So too lussick if Healey jumps him.

Still expecting a lot of movement over the next 12 months to our squad. We have locked down some serious talent.

Most urgent re signings imo:
Taine
Charnze
Dallin
Walker

Happy to release the rest if they don’t prove themselves next year:

Kosi
Pompey
Bunty
Cht
Ford
Tohu
Tmm
Ale

Of note, I’m a fan of Pompey, ford, TMM, ale but they need to prove themselves this year. I wouldn’t be concerned if tohu retires, CHT and Kosi are released. Hang onto CHT until better option arrives as the depth is helpful but he’s not the half we need imo. The game has evolved & accurate short kicking game is extremely important

You forgot Leka Helasima

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Re my above post, price matters. I’d absolutely re sign most of those players except Kosi, if the price was right. Clubs need depth players that are serviceable. Most of those players can do. Job, but not win you games.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

You forgot Leka Helasima

Nice find. 1030pm lol

I think it’s important to see where the club is recruiting in future years to see the direction. We haven’t really missed any of the urgent re signings & Locked up a lot of the nrls best young talent. Still not sold on laben yet but he’s young.

 

[Noitall]

Didn’t he go off injured?? such an Ed thing to do

Best one for me was when Mulitalo was giving him lip and Ed ended up owning him and let him know about it. Worst was of course the storm game

 

[Worried2Death]

I just hope this doesn't come back to bite us.

They might want a different kind of energy, the kind that wants to train 2 days after a grand final. Not saying Montoya and Jazz didn't have those attributes too, I don't know.

 

[Noitall]

They might want a different kind of energy, the kind that wants to train 2 days after a grand final. Not saying Montoya and Jazz didn't have those attributes too, I don't know.

Could see RTS being a starter for that

 

[JaggedJ]

Players Locked in for 2026 and beyond:

Fisher Harris
Mitch Barnett
Wayde Egan
Ali Leiataua
Eric Clarke
Jacob laben
Freddy lussick
Demitric sifakula
Leka Halasima
Marata niukore
Luke metcalf
Kurt Capewell
Rocco berry
Motu pasikala
Roger tuivasa sheck
Zyon Maiu’u maiu’u
Sam healey

As it stands....

1. ???
2. RTS
3. Leiataua
4. Berry
5. Pasikala
6. Metcalf
7. ???
8. Barnett
9. Egan
10. JFH
11. Capewell
12. Laban
13. Sifakula

14. Healy
15. Clark
16. Niukore/Zyon Maiu’u
17. Halasima

18. Zyon Maiu’u/Niukore
19. Lussick

CNK will almost definitely be re-signed and will be our fullback.

That leaves the biggest question mark over our halves. Re-sign TMM and/or CHT? We're filling up our lower grades with Aussie educated halves - is that a sign of the direction we're going? Worked for Ivan until SJ emerged.

We're not going to fill spots 20-30 with inexperienced juniors so there's going to be some movement on either the recruiting or re-signing side of things to get solid experienced depth.

The other glaring loss would be the middle ball playing of Harris and Walker. Sifakula/Clark don't add the same type of game.

In summary I could see us going after a half, a lock, a utility, and an outside back as priorities for 2026. Not necessarily marquee players, but guys who will fit a specific role in Webby's gameplan.

 

[Five&Last]

I've got a nagging feeling that he'll never make 1st grade.

Same feeling. Halfback is one of those positions that hard to predict development with. But as of right now, he's not an NRL player in my eyes.