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	The Greatest of All-Time	✔	✔
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	✔	M
13	Edward Kosi	✔
14	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
15	Ali Leiataua	✔
16	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
17	Zyon Maiu’u	✔	✔
18	Te Maire Martin	✔
19	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
20	Marcelo Montoya	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
24	Adam Pompey	✔
25	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
26	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
27	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
28	Dylan Walker	✔
29	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔
D1	Kalani Going	D
D2	Tanner Stowers-Smith	D
T1	Jett Cleary	T	D	D

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, D = Development contract, 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: 13/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Jackson Ford, Tohu Harris, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin, Marcelo Montoya, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Taine Tuaupiki, Dylan Walker, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Kalani Going (D), Tanner Stowers-Smith (D), Chanel Harris-Tavita (M), Demitric Sifakula (C)

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[Worried2Death]

That's the best Warriors bench I have ever seen in my short tenure

That's a little concerning given the lack of size except Sifa

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

This forward pack will be better than round one 2024

8 JFH
9 Egan
10 Barnett
11 Niukore
12 Capewell
13 Harris

14 Walker
15 Sifakula
16 Clark
17 Lussick

That's the best Warriors bench I have ever seen in my short tenure

Back up forwards
18 Leka - will get plenty of games and might be able to replace Niukore on merit as opposed to injury.
19 Ford - I hope he also gets released
20 Ale - will be in the prime of his career
21 Bunty - safe pair of hands
22 Zyon Maiu’u
23 Laban

One worry I have is the number of 30 year old plus forwards and their longevity in the season.

 

[Wrighty]

That's a little concerning given the lack of size except Sifa

14 Walker
15 Sifakula
16 Clark
17 Lussick

Walker is in the conversation for best 14 in the competition despite our ladder position
Sifakula is trending to be one of the better bench props in the league next year. Better than what the Roosters can put out - would predict Sifa will be better than Leniu next year. Read that twice if necessary.
Clark is a rich man's Jazz
Lussick is required as we need two hookers. He is an NRL standard second hooker.
Leka will join the bench next year as well and other teams will be fearing our bench.

 

[Worried2Death]

14 Walker
15 Sifakula
16 Clark
17 Lussick

Walker is in the conversation for best 14 in the competition despite our ladder position
Sifakula is trending to be one of the better bench props in the league next year. Better than what the Roosters can put out - would predict Sifa will be better than Leniu next year. Read that twice if necessary.
Clark is a rich man's Jazz
Lussick is required as we need two hookers. He is an NRL standard second hooker.
Leka will join the bench next year as well and other teams will be fearing our bench.

I just struggle to see teams fearing a bench with Lussick on it, but yes needing two hookers is a problem without a utility who can slot in.

 

[Wrighty]

I just struggle to see teams fearing a bench with Lussick on it, but yes needing two hookers is a problem without a utility who can slot in.

probably Lussick will be 9 and Egan 17 how they finished the season. If that helps.

 

[Worried2Death]

probably Lussick will be 9 and Egan 17 how they finished the season. If that helps.

Would be good if Clarke could play hooker regularly but he seems more a 13/middle now

 

[Wrighty]

Would be good if Clarke could play hooker regularly but he seems more a 13/middle now

Someone said he is cooked as a hooker. Back/hamstrings etc....can't repeatedly bend down to service the ruck anymore.

 

[kos]

Someone said he is cooked as a hooker. Back/hamstrings etc....can't repeatedly bend down to service the ruck anymore.

Where did you hear that Wrighty?
Watching him live at Titans certainly he s a better 13/prop than hooker
At hooker he is a little better than Jazz but not that hot
Hope Paul Roach gets a few games at hooker - he can spark attack
Egan will probably freshen up and come back revitalised after the off season

 

[PhilsySH35]

Where did you hear that Wrighty?
Watching him live at Titans certainly he s a better 13/prop than hooker
At hooker he is a little better than Jazz but not that hot
Hope Paul Roach gets a few games at hooker - he can spark attack
Egan will probably freshen up and come back revitalised after the off season

True, liked Erin when he was playing at 7 he was ok not electric but adequate and when he played nrl at hooker I liked how he scooped from dummy half and feed the forwards but not as deceptive as Egan reminds me of Havilli (gutted when he left us).

 

[Leon Black]

One worry I have is the number of 30 year old plus forwards and their longevity in the season.

Lost me at Lussick

 

[coozerface]

Don’t know why they sign a 22 y/o hooker who’s never played FG and releasing Freddy who’s got a gun defense, is durable and is improving fast with his service, running and reads after we invested 2.5 years of resources into him and he’s entering his prime, especially when Roache is behind him. Unless it’s another compassionate release situation.

Makes more sense if they sign the new guy AND keep Freddy, like what if the new guy is a bust?

Who is this 22yo you speak of

 

[Falcon]

We are getting this !

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_ngO_qpwFW/?igsh=eWowczFkdDVueWMx

 

[Teets]

Wouldn't mind trying to wrangle Mason Barber away from whoever he's signed with.

 

[Noitall]

Wouldn't mind trying to wrangle Mason Barber away from whoever he's signed with.

Cowboys

 

[Noitall]

We are getting this !

View: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_ngO_qpwFW/?igsh=eWowczFkdDVueWMx

He’s still got plenty of games to play for panthers and Kiwis before arriving. Hope he can stay fit and healthy in them

 

[kos]

True, liked Erin when he was playing at 7 he was ok not electric but adequate and when he played nrl at hooker I liked how he scooped from dummy half and feed the forwards but not as deceptive as Egan reminds me of Havilli (gutted when he left us).

Still a fan of old mate Siliva Havilli

 

[Canadian_Warriors_Fan]

Officially announced, Erin Clark(not Clarke ) has signed

Clark signed on three-year deal

Erin Clark returning to One New Zealand Warriors after signing three-year deal to end of 2027.

www.warriors.kiwi

 

[JaggedJ]

I'm sceptical on this one but I look forward to seeing how we use Erin Clark (not Clarke) when he gets here.

 

[Riz]

 

[Noitall]

I'm sceptical on this one but I look forward to seeing how we use Erin Clark (not Clarke) when he gets here.

Sceptical about his signing or the position he’ll play?