Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 9546 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 20s
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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
-Player20252026202720282029
1Bunty Afoa
2Tom Ale
3Mitchell Barnett
4Rocco Berry
5Tanah Boyd
6Kurt Capewell
7Erin Clark
8Jett ClearySS
9Wayde Egan
10James Fisher-Harris
11Jackson Ford
12Leka Halasima
13Morgan Harper
14Chanel Harris-Tavita
15Sam Healey
16Edward Kosi
17Jacob Laban
18Ali Leiataua
19Jye Linnane
20Freddy Lussick
21Te Maire Martin
22Luke Metcalf
23Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
24Marata Niukore
25Adam Pompey
26Tanner Stowers-Smith
27Taine Tuaupiki
28Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
29Demitric Vaimauga
30Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
S1Kayliss FatialofaS
S2Kalani GoingS
S3Luke HansonS
S4Eddie Ieremia-ToeavaS
S5Sio KaliS
S6Patrick MoimoiS
-Kahu CapperTT
-Morgan Gannon-
-Haizyn Mellars
-Motu PasikalaT??
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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Wonder how much Curran shot himself in the foot? Found that line about being at a review hungover and wondering what was going on interesting. Remember his off field incident of being at club punching a kid and breaking his phone, admittedly the kid shouldn’t have been there by the sounds. Interesting that this type of figure was let go and a figure like Capewell recruited. Think a big part of this is the type of figure they want bringing this next lot through. Something I’ve noticed a bit from Jazz this year about hitting the piss after a game or two after deciding to lay off the previous year
I'm sure he wasn't the only one hungover that day 😉
 

NZWarriors.com

Oh my Rocco Berry, that’s pretty scathing. You should add this to the Webby thread too

On one hand he was awesome and the fact that he dropped out of favour so much was a sad to see- telling him we wouldn’t resign him instead of letting him try earn an extension is crazy too

On the other hand, is he not maybe proving that he was a fit here coming out like that? Idk, with the benefit of hindsight it is maddening that Craig Hodges went out and got Marata, at such a big wicket too.
He really looked good under Nathan Brown. Was about the only player that progressed
 
I always thought Curran would be ideal to take the 13 jersey when Tohu retired. That’s where he plays his best footy imo.
Everyone saying how well he is playing but I think he played for us the exact same way pre Webby.
It’s because our team has had a shit year and the Doggies are the Warriors of 2023 that this decision looks a lot worse.
Obviously something about Curran that Webby didn’t like/want.
 

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]MullosLefttoRight

Tony Herman​


Tohu Harris and Dylan Walker will both be gone by the end of 2025.

Warriors have plenty of young guns coming through but Leo will be a massively attractive prospect - meanwhile for Leo/Tyrone they possibly get to return home and have the NZ Captain who has been the best prop in the game for years mentoring them, with said bloke sharing quite a few similarities to Leo being a quiet māori man himself





Knights fans beginning to see Warriors as a real prospect for Leo Thompson
I also believe Niukore is off-contract at the end of next season. With his current contract earning him 850k/year, I would assume the club would be in no rush to extend him, hoping for a much improved year in 2025.
 
That article makes Curran look like an arrogant, self entitled immature flog.

Still hungover 2 days after mad Monday

Didn’t take coaches feedback professionally

Instead of getting better instantly pulled the “I’m out of here card” because he knew he had options.

Proceeds to talk shit about the coach even when Webby is extending the olive branch.

Didn’t fight for his position in the team just throw a tantrum when we recruited Marata.

I was a big fan of Curran but that article makes me think we made the right decision. What a fucking cancer. Imagine him around our younger guys. That’s before we talk about the drinking, his weight, fighting teenagers and doing cocaine.
 
That article makes Curran look like an arrogant, self entitled immature flog.

Still hungover 2 days after mad Monday

Didn’t take coaches feedback professionally

Instead of getting better instantly pulled the “I’m out of here card” because he knew he had options.

Proceeds to talk shit about the coach even when Webby is extending the olive branch.

Didn’t fight for his position in the team just throw a tantrum when we recruited Marata.

I was a big fan of Curran but that article makes me think we made the right decision. What a fucking cancer. Imagine him around our younger guys. That’s before we talk about the drinking, his weight, fighting teenagers and doing cocaine.
1725516628424.webp
Not saying this describes Curran, but an interesting line all the same
 
Well that’s the same for all fringe nrl/ NSW cup players- people get chances due to injury etc every week- taine got one last week…. so what’s the point here?
My post u responded to said that I don’t think any other clubs would offer him a starting spot- do u disagree?
He’s got a chance to fight for a starting spot here next year- why the fark would he walk away from that to go play reserves somewhere else?
Idk what u guys r u guys worried about?
Do u think we need to promise Taine a starting spot or something?
It’s possible I misinterpreted the meaning of your original post.
 
The good news about Marata is that in November next year he'll be allowed to be approached by other teams, so you would think he's going to go gangbusters next season while he's looking for a new contract/extension.

I'm a bit torn on Niukore - I love what he can do as a player and last year was great, but this yeah injury and changing between prop and edge didn't help him so he looked fairly average. Didn't earn his massive price tag this year so I'm hoping next year we see his full worth and he absolutely belts some fuckers
 
Some more learnings for webby. I would take Curran All day over Niukore right now.

All I see in that article is the reasons he would be let go. Be taking his words with a big grain of salt.

Don't understand the comments on Niukore 'subsequently being signed...' Marata was signed in November 2021. It was known he was coming for a looooong time.

Currans a good player but his off field antics cost him. That's not on the coach
 
Curran had a very slow start to his career, which he has admitted was due to his lack of professionalism. He missed tackles for fun, was overweight, and people wanted rid of him for the first couple of years. Then the penny seemed to drop, he limited his grog and the performances followed. The sniping between him and Shaun (friends off field), seemed to show he had a petulant side. His comments in this article are honest to some, but very immature to me. Especially about a year that he was facing criminal prosecution. It's weird because it stands in contrast to some of his other candid interviews about his time here.

I understand his frustration at coming off the bench, after being an Origin contender etc. But a team player is 1-17. People lay into Webby about the bench (ours has been shit all year), but last year it was fire. Curran, and the Bald Brothers coming on at 25-30 was more than most teams could handle and a big part of our success.

I like Curran as a player, he is fun to watch, but I don't feel too quick to lay this at Webby's feet if he is trying to build a professional, team-first culture of success. Yes, we would probably have been a better team with him on the field in 2024, but there are a lot of things to balance in these matters. We have forwards coming through, not promising him beyond 2024, probably wasn't stupid. He would have wanted an upgrade and our cap needs re-balancing a bit.
 
Doesnt seem to be a cancer at the Doggies. 😮‍💨. Seriously a lot of sand in vaginas about the Dogs on this forum. Would have though there would be more love for the underdogs...
 
Doesnt seem to be a cancer at the Doggies. 😮‍💨. Seriously a lot of sand in vaginas about the Dogs on this forum. Would have though there would be more love for the underdogs...

They certainly didn’t get underdog level calls against us our two meetings this year.

Also the same club that en masse, threw bottles at refs leaving the field, crowding away team families leaving the stadium..
 
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