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	Tanah Boyd	S	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	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: 3/6
Unconfirmed Top 30 2025: 29/30
Unconfirmed Development 2025: 4/6 (Luke Hanson, per Zero Tackle)

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 20/30
Confirmed Development 2026: 2/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Tohu Harris, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Adam Pompey, Dylan Walker, Kalani Going (S), Tanner Stowers-Smith (S), Demitric Vaimauga (C)

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[Wrighty]

I might've incorrectly taken your statement as saying he's a bit of a flat track bully. Apologies if that's not the case but statistically he averaged 104m pg this year. Solely in losing matches (10) it was 101.4m. Seems pretty consistent, regardless of the teams form, considering 5 of those losses were by 16+

Would you be kind enough if you have the time, and don’t worry if you don’t, to repeat that analysis but factor in average minutes played.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

I just do not get why there is so mich talk about buying Props. FFS, we have JFH, Barnet, Niukore, Ford Ale Bunty Harris. This forum always want unicorn players they need Halves (incidentally I think MGT had promise there) and speed out wide.

Mate that list is pretty average outside of the first two if you're being fair:

JFH - Fantastic
Barney - Fantastic
Niukore - 6 starts in 7 years at prop in the NRL. Not his main role
Ford - 3 starts at prop in 6 years in the NRL. Not his main role
Ale - Barely played 20m a game this year - prop also isn't his main role.
Bunty - Average. Depth at best. Might be gone nek year anyways
Tohu - Is older and slower, and will likely play prop in stints. Not his main role

We've really only got 2 out n out experienced props for nek year and even then, Barney and JFH are smaller front rowers. Based on those names I think we would be hoping that our propping rotation really aims up next year

 

[peewee]

Mate that list is pretty average outside of the first two if you're being fair:

JFH - Fantastic
Barney - Fantastic
Niukore - 6 starts in 7 years at prop in the NRL. Not his main role
Ford - 3 starts at prop in 6 years in the NRL. Not his main role
Ale - Barely played 20m a game this year - prop also isn't his main role.
Bunty - Average. Depth at best. Might be gone nek year anyways
Tohu - Is older and slower, and will likely play prop in stints. Not his main role

We've really only got 2 out n out experiences props for nek year and even then, Barney and JFH are smaller front rowers. Based on those names I think we would be hoping that our propping rotation really aims up next year

Ford and Ale arnt going to be top class in any other position so bulk them up and make them props and nothing else.
Similar to BHU or RCG

 

[Sam Wahpira]

Your list needs Clark - he will be the 3rd ranked prop in the club.

 

[Cces]

Would you be kind enough if you have the time, and don’t worry if you don’t, to repeat that analysis but factor in average minutes played.

39.1 mins (101.4m pg) in a losing side, & in one of these games he started at Second Row & ran for his fewest metres all year.
38.6 mins (104m pg) across the entire season.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

I just do not get why there is so mich talk about buying Props. FFS, we have JFH, Barnet, Niukore, Ford Ale Bunty Harris. This forum always want unicorn players they need Halves (incidentally I think MGT had promise there) and speed out wide.

So who is this unicorn half you want?

 

[Woofa]

Lets go hard for Trindall and Mulatalo - no one Id like to f-over more than the Sharks.. lol

 

[CWC]

Mate that list is pretty average outside of the first two if you're being fair:

JFH - Fantastic
Barney - Fantastic
Niukore - 6 starts in 7 years at prop in the NRL. Not his main role
Ford - 3 starts at prop in 6 years in the NRL. Not his main role
Ale - Barely played 20m a game this year - prop also isn't his main role.
Bunty - Average. Depth at best. Might be gone nek year anyways
Tohu - Is older and slower, and will likely play prop in stints. Not his main role

We've really only got 2 out n out experienced props for nek year and even then, Barney and JFH are smaller front rowers. Based on those names I think we would be hoping that our propping rotation really aims up next year

Now we need to double down on props #PropGate

 

[Kav1]

Would love to see that kind of speed in our team, got a cheeky kick in him too.

Not that fast as he couldn't outrun the Hammer who gave him a good start.

 

[shuffle]

Great article. I’ve been saying for years we need to recruit from all over NZ.

The Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters are very good at this

 

[tajhay]

Not that fast as he couldn't outrun the Hammer who gave him a good start.

"Not that fast", but faster than anyone else by a country mile in our team.

Anyway, the ball carrier will always be slower than a person chasing.

 

[Wrighty]

39.1 mins (101.4m pg) in a losing side, & in one of these games he started at Second Row & ran for his fewest metres all year.
38.6 mins (104m pg) across the entire season.

Good analysis
( I work with numbers for a living )

 

[Noitall]

Good analysis
( I work with numbers for a living )

I like numbers too. I’d rather smoke mine though

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

I like numbers too. I’d rather smoke mine though

I'm more of a weed guy, but different strokes I guess..

 

[Leon Black]

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

Briton Nikora, available Nov 1, need a stud like him in the no.11

 

[Leon Black]

Agreed, now he's not coming I've decided he's a flog and I never wanted him anyway.

Never got the fuss, the younger beast, Te Kura looked better… Toa Sipley and the Kepu brothers/twins?? looked world beaters, this one time at band camp!!!

 

[Wrighty]

Never got the fuss, the younger beast, Te Kura looked better… Toa Sipley and the Kepu brothers/twins?? looked world beaters, this one time at band camp!!!

Here's Te Kura's highlights. Played 3 or 4 games only this year. Could get a much better turn this year.

Broncos are idiots if they let him go

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J40wbufRQCA​

 

[Leon Black]

Here's Te Kura's highlights. Played 3 or 4 games only this year. Could get a much better turn this year.

Broncos are idiots if they let him go

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J40wbufRQCA​

Pretty sure they locked him up longer than the Willy Messiah, what’s that tell ya

 

[tajhay]

Pretty sure they locked him up longer than the Willy Messiah, what’s that tell ya

Means he is as valuable as Billy Walters considering they are signed till end of 26?

Te Kura is a great point of difference with his height and frame, will be interesting to see how he progresses. His only affinity to nz is via his parents? Didnt realise he was born in Aus, and has put his hand up for Qld.

 

[Leon Black]

Means he is as valuable as Billy Walters considering they are signed till end of 26?

Te Kura is a great point of difference with his height and frame, will be interesting to see how he progresses. His only affinity to nz is via his parents? Didnt realise he was born in Aus, and has put his hand up for Qld.

If POS stayed in the same place for more than 2 years, SOS son of POS would earn a 3 yr deal somewhere as well…. Knights clearing funds for SOS?