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: 18/30
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, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Noitall]

I would say Titans have spent most of their cash on RCG. Would be a great get for the Dolphins, but they may have too much money invested into their forwards? Broncs can't afford him. Bunnies or Dogs should be all over him.

Sounding a lot like bulldogs. JAC seems like the ideal trade for an early release from dragons for Hunt. Wonder if cowboys could turn their attention from Cobbo to Hunt if he’s keen on a Queensland club? Would be an epic spine with Hunt, Dearden, Robson and Drinkwater

 

[Blain]

North QLD is like a state of it's own, he has a house in the GC I thought hence the South QLD link.

On the surface, this looks to be a bad decision by the Dragons. But I actually think it's the right call. Hunt has been leading at the Dragons for years with no success, but has always been seen as untouchable. His attitude looks shit considering how he has handle his contract situation for 2 YEARS. He's a good player, but I think he's been over rated for a couple seasons now. He's never appeared to be a true 7 general or leader of men.

The Dragons are right to rip the band aid off now and move on earlier rather than later. Even if it does hurt them next season. You never know, a million dollar man might pop up mid season and the Dragons will be the only team who can get them. They should have made this decision earlier, that might mean they will have to cover some of his bill next season. I assume their relatively decent season this year made it a more difficult decision to make.

For the Warriors, Ronaldo Mulitalo would be a good target for 2026. The Sharks have heavily invested in their pack and halves, can't imagine them having much coin to spare on backs. DWZ will be in his final year at our club in 2025 IMO, a straight replacement would be a great upgrade. I'm confident we can promote within to replace Marcelo for next season.

 

[Canonball]

My off contract wishlist
Ben Hunt (dreamin')
Nikora
Mulitalo
Savage
Trindall
Hazelton
Willison
Leo Thompson
Kai Pearce-Paul
Jonah Pezet

Any 2 of those I'd be pretty stoked with fo be honest

agree with all of those except Hunt, even if we were a chance the likely scenario is a very large contract for 1 year with an option in the second - that's a recipe for more instability in my book - plus, his best halves play is way behind him, he is slowing down and his kicking game was starting to look a little suspect - we shouldn't be in on these retirement deals for fading aussie stars - also was he ever really a 'star'?

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Hunt has been leading at the Dragons for years with no success, but has always been seen as untouchable. His attitude looks shit considering how he has handle his contract situation for 2 YEARS. He's a good player, but I think he's been over rated for a couple seasons now. He's never appeared to be a true 7 general or leader of men.

Harsh call imo. He's been very public with the contract dramas but he hasn't kicked stones or dropped his lip.

On the field he's still delivering what you'd want a half back to, this year leading the try assists and all kick meters. If you look at that over the 2 last 2 years combined I'm guessing he'd either be at the top of the list, or one of the top halves for try assists, forced drop outs and kicks.
He has flaws, like every player (2nd worse in errors this year) but I dunno, you gotta take the good with the bad.

I agree that it would be best for both parties if he moved on tho.

Again, not that I think he would come here and as he's getting older he probably won't produce the same results, but if you told me we signed a half who's going to guide us around the park like Hunt has this year, and set up 25 tries and 15 forced drop outs next year, I reckon we'd make the top 4. It's the last piece of the puzzle we need

 

[Blain]

I wouldn't like seeing my captain and club leader being wishy washy about if he even wants to be at the club, especially publicly. I'm a black and white operator, I would be pissed if he was my captain. It's likely a result of a shit head office issues, but regardless you have to play 100% committed for your team mates and fans.

 

[KO WAI RA]

Promote ”K road” night spots to Hunt ….
Guy luvs a sausage sizzle hard out…FACTS!!!!

Clubs building foundations which players are accountable for progressing as a collective….
Higher honours are coming….
Selective signings are crucial though…..

Sidestep Hunt….nuff said!!!

 

[BigUCE]

Promote ”K road” night spots to Hunt ….
Guy luvs a sausage sizzle hard out…FACTS!!!!

Clubs building foundations which players are accountable for progressing as a collective….
Higher honours are coming….
Selective signings are crucial though…..

Sidestep Hunt….nuff said!!!

Night life in Wollongong is probably better than Aucklands

 

[Warriorsfan92]

DWZ two year extension. Really like this re-signing. Will be on a greatly reduced deal, (he was coming off 800k), still a fantastic finisher & has found a home in Auckland. Real mana man in our group, and his finishing is up there with the best in the comp.

We’re locking up a lot of off contract nov1 available guys. Off contract November 1:

Bunty
Ale
Ford
Tohu
Kosi
TMM
CNK
Pompey
Tuaupiki
Walker

 

[WahsaurusRex]

DWZ signed for TWO more years??!!

 

[MM51]

That’s a surprise

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Love Dallin, he's easily third best ever to Manu and Meli for mine.

But signing him until he is 32 just seems bonkers, especially this early on.

 

[Inruin]

Love Dallin, he's easily third best ever to Manu and Meli for mine.

But signing him until he is 32 just seems bonkers, especially this early on.

he ain't gonna get any quicker and he ain't going to improve his reads on defence.

 

[CWC]

I don't think we're getting Ronaldo then lol

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Happy with DWZ staying, he's our best winger. Don't worry too much about the contract length, it's a quality extension.

 

[Aman 2.0]

So we’re not signing anyone new just investing in resigning?

 

[John Nick]

he ain't gonna get any quicker and he ain't going to improve his reads on defence.

and we ain't gonna get anyone better.
Montys gone and RTS is not a better winger and apparently our juniors are not yet ready. No other options realistically

 

[cock_o]

So we’re not signing anyone new just investing in resigning?

The contracts that can be negotiated come November 1 are for the 2026 season onwards.
We still got 11 positions for the 2026 top 30.
So could still make new signings for 2026 if Harris, Walker and co finish up after 2025 season.

 

[Inruin]

So we’re not signing anyone new just investing in resigning?

Its not like he was going anywhere either.

Surely there are some guys in NSW cup or QLD cup that are looking for a chance. The Roosters had both their first choice wingers out this season one game and the two replacements looked better than what we had in first grade!

oh well, I guess that's one wing locked up. And RTS on the other wing at 32 years old.....

 

[Alaska238]

DWZ two year extension. Really like this re-signing. Will be on a greatly reduced deal, (he was coming off 800k), still a fantastic finisher & has found a home in Auckland. Real mana man in our group, and his finishing is up there with the best in the comp.

We’re locking up a lot of off contract nov1 available guys. Off contract November 1:

Bunty
Ale
Ford
Tohu
Kosi
TMM
CNK
Pompey
Tuaupiki
Walker

View attachment 9848

With Tohu retiring next year I can see us releasing Bunty, Ford and Kosi.

Plus if Walker decides to move to super league then that's 5 players that will need replacing.

If we do resign Walker I can see it being 1 season at a time like we did with Isaac Luke at the back end of his career

 

[John Nick]

Its not like he was going anywhere either.

Surely there are some guys in NSW cup or QLD cup that are looking for a chance. The Roosters had both their first choice wingers out this season one game and the two replacements looked better than what we had in first grade!

oh well, I guess that's one wing locked up. And RTS on the other wing at 32 years old.....

Would rather have a junior promotion than RTS.
Not a winger imo. We must have better options coming through