Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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📝 Summary:

The forum centers on the Warriors' 2025/2026 roster planning, with significant focus on roster adjustments and player roles. Discussions highlight Erin Clark's signing #342 as a key middle-forward addition for defensive grit, though some skepticism about his ideal position persists #343. Backline restructuring dominates the dialogue, particularly Marcelo Montoya's likely departure to the Tigers for family reasons #88#232, prompting debates about shifting Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to wing despite concerns over his positional fit #13#240. Fan sentiment emphasizes securing Ali Leiataua's long-term deal #192 and explores Taine Tuaupiki's viability at fullback #50#288.
Controversy arises around Josh Curran's critical exit interview, where users #69 interpret his remarks as unprofessional while acknowledging his on-field value. Recruitment targets like Leo Thompson #108 and development signings such as Sam Healey #202 suggest strategic futureproofing. Forward pack balance remains contentious, with members debating Tohu Harris's reduced role #427, Jackson Ford's utility value #404, and dissatisfaction with Marata Niukore's output relative to salary #86#378. The analysis concludes that cap management and injecting pace into the outside backs are critical priorities moving forward.

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Recruitment Strategy, Player Contracts, Backline Restructuring

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Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention Discussion
C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Top 30 2025: 30/30
Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Top 30 2026: 26/30
Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
2026 Losses: Edward Kosi (South Sydney Rabbitohs)

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Te Maire Martin
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) 🐻: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck



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NZWarriors.com

Is Stevenson linked to another league club? Otherwise that report has basis, and his answer was basically he’s interacting with another sport organization lol

If he’s replacing Dallin then it won’t impede the youngsters, he’d have the pace people want, union fullbacks are legit tacklers, and the boot to punt for territory which is what we need
 
Isn’t there a discount for enticing union players over ala nawaqanatawase? So perhaps it’s around cap management whilst securing someone with huge potential. He’s similar to a will warbrick, tall athletic winger. We don’t have any tall wingers
I don't think so at least as of July this year it was still just a proposal - see this article

 
Not sure if this has been reported yet but Eden Ackland has signed with the tigers - not as a top 30 and would have to earn and play his way into a top 30 contract.
 
Wayne just signed Schuster for Souths….and ate Whate for Dolphins a couple years prior - Wayne’s not been the Mesiah for some time.
What lol surely this is parody. Watch Souths make the top 8 next year, and his record for player development is only rivalled by Bellamy imo.

He turned isaako from a reserve grader at the broncos back to an international player. Plath will play origin in the next years, denveloped under Bennett. Te whare was a groundsman who made his nrl debut & is now the qld cup final.

He’s also taken a brand new side one game from the top 8 in 2 years, losing 3 of his best players in Aitken, flegler & Gilbert. Take yeo, fisher Harris & Martin out of the panthers pack and they’re a completely different side. I think you’re underselling what Bennett has done.
 
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Stevenson a complete waste of time for mine if we're buying a winger.

Opposite of Warbrick in that Warbrick was much younger, likely cost nothing, and was low profile. So they could stash him in Q Cup for a year to learn the game and there was no pressure to put him in first grade before he was ready.

Stevenson will be too expensive for a winger, old as fuck for a rookie OB, and no matter how shit he goes pressure will be on to pick him every week.

All those flash highlights in union as a FB who gets to roam right across the field and pick his spots will dry up. His job on offence will be 80% yardage carries into set D lines and he'll barely touch the ball in the good ball zone.
 
Stevenson a complete waste of time for mine if we're buying a winger.

Opposite of Warbrick in that Warbrick was much younger, likely cost nothing, and was low profile. So they could stash him in Q Cup for a year to learn the game and there was no pressure to put him in first grade before he was ready.

Stevenson will be too expensive for a winger, old as fuck for a rookie OB, and no matter how shit he goes pressure will be on to pick him every week.

All those flash highlights in union as a FB who gets to roam right across the field and pick his spots will dry up. His job on offence will be 80% yardage carries into set D lines and he'll barely touch the ball in the good ball zone.

That's exactly why I have thought any chat is BS. He'll be 28 soon, why would he play NRL for a cheap deal when he can go get 4 times that in Japan. And shoe on the other foot, why would the Warriors invest in a guy like that, who wouldn't bring a lot of additional interest to the club anyway. Best thing to do is go out and recruit the best 21-22 year old outside back in Super Rugby/NPC. Wouldn't cost too much and have plenty of time develop.
 
Stevenson a complete waste of time for mine if we're buying a winger.

Opposite of Warbrick in that Warbrick was much younger, likely cost nothing, and was low profile. So they could stash him in Q Cup for a year to learn the game and there was no pressure to put him in first grade before he was ready.

Stevenson will be too expensive for a winger, old as fuck for a rookie OB, and no matter how shit he goes pressure will be on to pick him every week.

All those flash highlights in union as a FB who gets to roam right across the field and pick his spots will dry up. His job on offence will be 80% yardage carries into set D lines and he'll barely touch the ball in the good ball zone.
couldn't agree more ... it's not a thing - he's sitting there with his mentor/manager trying to pressure the organisation he's currently contracted to to give him higher honours ... so on top of these extremely valid assessments of his non-suitability for our team it's a little disrespectful to the Warriors as an organisation
 
couldn't agree more ... it's not a thing - he's sitting there with his mentor/manager trying to pressure the organisation he's currently contracted to to give him higher honours ... so on top of these extremely valid assessments of his non-suitability for our team it's a little disrespectful to the Warriors as an organisation
Be interesting if he does join us. It would mean management is really only serious about marketing instead of winning a grand final. He has no background in RL and just too old. It would be like us signing RTS as a Centre....oh shit we did.
 
Mark Nawaqanatawase.

He's 5 years younger than Stevenson so still has the prime years of an Outside back 23-27 ahead of him.

And he's started in Cup too. Got a run in 1st grade in a dead rubber game vs Souths and straight back out for the Roosters finals run.
thanks for that. and a little bit different.
 
Mark Nawaqanatawase.

He's 5 years younger than Stevenson so still has the prime years of an Outside back 23-27 ahead of him.

And he's started in Cup too. Got a run in 1st grade in a dead rubber game vs Souths and straight back out for the Roosters finals run.
I'm not particularly supportive of the Stevenson signing...

But we really have no insights into the clubs plans of how it would be used IF we sign him.
 
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