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	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	Marcelo Montoya	✔
22	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
23	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
24	Motu Pasikala	✔	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔
26	Demitric Sifakula	✔	C
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Dylan Walker	✔
30	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: 30/30
Confirmed Development 2025: 2/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 30/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 3/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 14/30
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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[The Warrior Waka]

Exactly, didn’t he come back from Christmas break about 20kg overweight? Anyway I can’t believe I’m arguing with someone about Te Whare vs Meninga - what’s next, Tanah Boyd having the potential to match Joey Johns?

You're arguing with yourself at this point. You've lost it ever since you slapped Trent Barrett

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

You're arguing with yourself at this point. You've lost it ever since you slapped Trent Barrett

Look all good, you win. From now on when I watch reserve grade or Queensland cup or whatever second rate comp Te Whare ends up in, I’ll stop being superficial & will look past the fat rolls and see his inner Meninga.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Look all good, you win. From now on when I watch reserve grade or Queensland cup or whatever second rate comp Te Whare ends up in, I’ll stop being superficial & will look past the fat rolls and see his inner Meninga.

- Story Time - My son calls me at work - " Dad, How do I cook rice?" - I told him to put it in the rice cooker with water. He said , Ok.

Get home and he's sitting by the rice cooker staring at it. I said what are you doing ? He said "Waiting for it to cook!" I told him did you plug it in and turn it on? He said you didn't tell me to? Was I suppose to? Plug it where? And 10 other questions. Like he was trying to make a point and it was my fault?

Moral of the story is , Never debate with my son or Mrbrownstone

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

Sifakula is money. Money. Money. Money. He finished the season rated ahead of Ale and Bunty on merit.

While I agree, Webster seemed to have a plan of playing bench players a handful of games through the season and then they were back to reserves.

Zyon Maiu’u then Bunty the Laban then Ale then Sifakula. With Ali thrown in there as well.

Each one was exceptional and the next big thing then was sent back to reserves with the next player taking a turn.

Should we read much into Ali and Sifakula finishing the season in the top team or was it just their turn? Recency bias?

Of those 6 names I think all played better than some of the regulars and were in the exciting position of who do you fit in and who do you leave out?

 

[Wrighty]

While I agree, Webster seemed to have a plan of playing bench players a handful of games through the season and then they were back to reserves.

Zyon Maiu’u then Bunty the Laban then Ale then Sifakula. With Ali thrown in there as well.

Each one was exceptional and the next big thing then was sent back to reserves with the next player taking a turn.

Should we read much into Ali and Sifakula finishing the season in the top team or was it just their turn? Recency bias?

Of those 6 names I think all played better than some of the regulars and were in the exciting position of who do you fit in and who do you leave out?

and Halasima

 

[Damo]

While I agree, Webster seemed to have a plan of playing bench players a handful of games through the season and then they were back to reserves.

Zyon Maiu’u then Bunty the Laban then Ale then Sifakula. With Ali thrown in there as well.

Each one was exceptional and the next big thing then was sent back to reserves with the next player taking a turn.

Should we read much into Ali and Sifakula finishing the season in the top team or was it just their turn? Recency bias?

Of those 6 names I think all played better than some of the regulars and were in the exciting position of who do you fit in and who do you leave out?

Zyon Maiu’u, Bunty and Laban were more played through necessity than merit. At that time we had a plethora of forward injuries and others were returning from injury.
Ali is also another played due to injury. Personally, I hope his obvious immense upside keeps him as one of our first picked centres though.

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Look all good, you win. From now on when I watch reserve grade or Queensland cup or whatever second rate comp Te Whare ends up in, I’ll stop being superficial & will look past the fat rolls and see his inner Meninga.

Oh god, we're not back to the Te Whare conversations, are we?

 

[CWC]

Lussick can play Cup and be a starter when Egan's knocked out, Healey keeps his place on the bench for impact
But I think they'll let Freddy go
If Walker/Tohu are finished then I'd use their $ to buy Thompson and Leota
We have the money to buy Willison now
That's why I said Sifakula needs to trim down for second row. Him, Laban and Halasima sharing the 2 backrow positions to take over Marata and Capewah in 1-2 years, since all our overseas elite kiwi boys with a chance of coming home are all props for some reason

 

[JaggedJ]

Oh god, we're not back to the Te Whare conversations, are we?

Would you prefer every 4th post mentioning Willison?

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Would you prefer every 4th post mentioning Willison?

Yes

 

[Dannevegas]

Watched the Itm cup on the weekend, and if the Stephenson rumours are true there’s no way he should be coming here as a winger. Ye he’s fast but he’s way to creative to be on the wing, has a big boot on him but also real creative with his kicks as well, probably would be a better five eight then he would a wing.

But if he does come here I’d try him at fullback, could chime in when we need to go long on our kicks, he’s creative with speed, and leave the yardage carries to Dallin and Roger on the wings

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Watched the Itm cup on the weekend, and if the Stephenson rumours are true there’s no way he should be coming here as a winger. Ye he’s fast but he’s way to creative to be on the wing, has a big boot on him but also real creative with his kicks as well, probably would be a better five eight then he would a wing.

But if he does come here I’d try him at fullback, could chime in when we need to go long on our kicks, he’s creative with speed, and leave the yardage carries to Dallin and Roger on the wings

Good on you for even giving time to watch that terrible competition! And agree! We need league players.

Man I'm not happy the club is letting MGT go! He could have been the perfect guy to give the cup lads a huge lift.

A guy who busted his gut for the cup team and even getting an nrl Debut! Player of the year.

If they put him in the 30 centre depth Chart, that would have been a great sign on the developing front to continue with him.

My Guess is that Kali is seen as a centre and probably ahead of MGT, but MGT could have been converted to a wing also.

Good on the club for getting him a gig in SL though, and at least that is the best you can hope for that people are getting opportunity's at the warriors.

 

[Dannevegas]

Good on you for even giving time to watch that terrible competition! And agree! We need league players.

Man I'm not happy the club is letting MGT go! He could have been the perfect guy to give the cup lads a huge lift.

A guy who busted his gut for the cup team and even getting an nrl Debut! Player of the year.

If they put him in the 30 centre depth Chart, that would have been a great sign on the developing front to continue with him.

My Guess is that Kali is seen as a centre and probably ahead of MGT, but MGT could have been converted to a wing also.

Good on the club for getting him a gig in SL though, and at least that is the best you can hope for that people are getting opportunity's at the warriors.

Haha na just watched a micd up segment on Stevenson, just highlights from the weekend. One thing we need is X factor and he’s got it. Pull things out of your ass type X factor

 

[france]

Yes

no

 

[Dannevegas]

Good on you for even giving time to watch that terrible competition! And agree! We need league players.

Man I'm not happy the club is letting MGT go! He could have been the perfect guy to give the cup lads a huge lift.

A guy who busted his gut for the cup team and even getting an nrl Debut! Player of the year.

If they put him in the 30 centre depth Chart, that would have been a great sign on the developing front to continue with him.

My Guess is that Kali is seen as a centre and probably ahead of MGT, but MGT could have been converted to a wing also.

Good on the club for getting him a gig in SL though, and at least that is the best you can hope for that people are getting opportunity's at the warriors.

Ye he should’ve been kept he’s good cover, but Kali is destined for a big future in first grade if he can stay fit

 

[The Warrior Waka]

no

Yes, Speak it into existence! It shall happen!

 

[watcher]

What position would you have him play in League? Hooker?

maybe, but he is a Halfback.

 

[chrisnz]

Haha na just watched a micd up segment on Stevenson, just highlights from the weekend. One thing we need is X factor and he’s got it. Pull things out of your ass type X factor

what show was that I will give it a watch.

 

[Cces]

On the back of chat of us being an outlier in carrying 3 specialist Hookers in our Top 30 why don't the NRL just make it a Top 36 rather than a Top 30 as your Development players, often referred to as Supplementary players these days, can play from Round 1 & can be in their late 20's like Kalani Going. Pretty much every team has 3 specialist Hookers when you factor in the 6 Development/Supplementary players

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

no

Maybe?

I don't know.