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	Tanah Boyd	✔	✔
6	Kurt Capewell	✔	✔
7	Erin Clark	✔	✔	✔
8	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
9	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
10	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
11	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔
12	Morgan Harper	✔
13	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
14	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
15	Edward Kosi	✔
16	Jacob Laban	✔	✔
17	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
18	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
19	Te Maire Martin	✔
20	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
21	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔
22	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
23	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
24	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔
25	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
26	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
27	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
28	Dallin Watene-Zelezniak	✔	✔	✔
S1	Kayliss Fatialofa	S
S2	Kalani Going	S
S3	Luke Hanson	S
S4	Eddie Ieremia-Toeava	S	✔	✔
S5	Sio Kali	S
S6	Patrick Moimoi	S
-	Kahu Capper	T	T
-	Jett Cleary	T	S	S
-	Motu Pasikala	T	✔	✔

C = Club option, M = Mutual option, P = Player option, S = Supplementary contract, T = Train & Trial contract

Confirmed Top 30 2025: 28/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2025: 6/6

Confirmed Top 30 2026: 23/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Nil
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith

---

This thread is solely for Warriors recruitment and retention discussion. Any posts not related to the above will be deleted.

Repeat offenders will have their access to this page limited.

Please be mindful of what you are posting in this thread before clicking the reply button. Zero Tolerance to offtopic chat.

 

[CLQV3R]

Trick.

 

[chrisnz]

Not going to lie I hated the Tanah news at first glance but as long as we didn't pay big bucks I'm happy with it and it may end up being a complete master stroke. we have done well in recent times with players that are struggling especially from clubs that are also struggling coming through the grades he was highly touted for good reason. I think his running game was slowly coached out of him and ultimately just down on confidence however he's one of us now hate it or love it all the best to the kid hope hopefully he hits the ground running literally

 

[tyrael]

Most players don't hit their straps until around 50 NRL games (or so I've heard). He's hit that, young, can kick, probably cheap for a half. I don't see the problem?

I think SJ and Webby will unlock him.

Let's go Tanawa(h) !

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Most players don't hit their straps until around 50 NRL games (or so I've heard). He's hit that, young, can kick, probably cheap for a half. I don't see the problem?

I think SJ and Webby will unlock him.

Let's go Tanawa(h) !

Problem is he's not a once in a generation sort of player like Cleary or SJ, or SJ. i think he can do a job for us and a change of scenery might unlock him to play better.

Either way worst case scenario he's a stop-gap backup, best case he kills it and we make finals.

 

[Hazza]

The warriors social media post with the kiwis featured all warriors players, very Jordan Riki heavy

Are we being linked to Jordan Riki are we

 

[watcher]

YOu have to be realistic snd say unless they are developed here it is a casr of not who we want, rather who we can get. Boyd is young, has played over 50 games can defend and has both a short or long kicking game, plus kicks goal. That now gives us 4 Halves, 5 if you count CNK. Lets give him a chance

 

[Noitall]

Rumour on the knights forum reckons TMM to knights. Says it’s for 2026 at this stage but possibly 2025. Apparently Sean O Sullivan to broncos for 2 years. Looks like teams filling halves depth

 

[Wrighty]

Rumour on the knights forum reckons TMM to knights. Says it’s for 2026 at this stage but possibly 2025. Apparently Sean O Sullivan to broncos for 2 years. Looks like teams filling halves depth

For some reason, and don't ask me to back this up. he would fit in better at the Knights than here. There style of play and players they promote fits him to a Tee. I hope it is for 2026 and we get him for one more year.

By the way tomorrow is November 1st. Yes I know nothing will happen tomorrow or the next few weeks, but the rumours start pretty soon after November 1 from Buzz and people. So something to look forward to.

 

[Noitall]

For some reason, and don't ask me to back this up. he would fit in better at the Knights than here. There style of play and players they promote fits him to a Tee. I hope it is for 2026 and we get him for one more year.

By the way tomorrow is November 1st. Yes I know nothing will happen tomorrow or the next few weeks, but the rumours start pretty soon after November 1 from Buzz and people. So something to look forward to.

Would be disappointed to lose TMM but I still think we’re in for a halve? Potentially for 2025 could mean that we’re waiting to see if we get someone early?

 

[Tragic]

Of course, however assuming he plays to his potential then he’s as close to a lock as we have in the halves.

I reckon the thinking will be that Boyd is more of a lock in the halves. I don't rate him that highly but every team needs a decent kicker and he is as close as we will have to that.

 

[mrblonde]

I always subscribed to the idea that the deals have been agreed to prior to November 1. It's just that it's only as of November 1 that the deals can be made public.

 

[Matiunz]

We lost SJ and needed to gain a half, we’ve done that let’s see how the card fall

 

[Wrighty]

I always subscribed to the idea that the deals have been agreed to prior to November 1. It's just that it's only as of November 1 that the deals can made public.

That is not my understanding. My understanding is you can approach and make a pitch to a player whenever the hell you like and even agree to things verbally. No paper work can be tabled until November 1.

 

[Wrighty]

Captain obvious comment but depending on how much we use both SJs the Warriors could be one of the best clubs to play for from a development perspective as a half. Being coached by Stacy Jones, Great. Being Coached by Stacey Jones and Shaun Johnson. Who can beat that as a club? Cowboys have Thurston as a coach. But we are the only club I know of with two coaches with halves experience. Maybe a factor of Tanah coming here and maybe enough to get Dylan Brown for 2026??? Time will tell. I still say we have to make a play at Brown after November 1st. Who cares if he says no. You can't get the girl to dance with you at the school dance if you don't have the guts to walk over to her. Just make it happen. Make an offer.

 

[Noitall]

Captain obvious comment but depending on how much we use both SJs the Warriors could be one of the best clubs to play for from a development perspective as a half. Being coached by Stacy Jones, Great. Being Coached by Stacey Jones and Shaun Johnson. Who can beat that as a club? Cowboys have Thurston as a coach. But we are the only club I know of with two coaches with halves experience. Maybe a factor of Tanah coming here and maybe enough to get Dylan Brown for 2026??? Time will tell. I still say we have to make a play at Brown after November 1st. Who cares if he says no. You can't get the girl to dance with you at the school dance if you don't have the guts to walk over to her. Just make it happen. Make an offer.

Metcalf halfback with Boyd backup and Dylan Brown five eighth with CHT backup would be a great mix. While these guys are now, we develop Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson for next

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Captain obvious comment but depending on how much we use both SJs the Warriors could be one of the best clubs to play for from a development perspective as a half. Being coached by Stacy Jones, Great. Being Coached by Stacey Jones and Shaun Johnson. Who can beat that as a club? Cowboys have Thurston as a coach. But we are the only club I know of with two coaches with halves experience. Maybe a factor of Tanah coming here and maybe enough to get Dylan Brown for 2026??? Time will tell. I still say we have to make a play at Brown after November 1st. Who cares if he says no. You can't get the girl to dance with you at the school dance if you don't have the guts to walk over to her. Just make it happen. Make an offer.

Im not at all convinced about Staceys coaching credentials

 

[Wrighty]

Metcalf halfback with Boyd backup and Dylan Brown five eighth with CHT backup would be a great mix. While these guys are now, we develop Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson for next

Yes but so badly would I bend over for Dylan that if he expressed an interest for the 7 Jumper I would give it to him. He played some for the Eels there this year with distinction in Moses' absence.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Yes but so badly would I bend over for Dylan

Watch that back of yours old fulla. Dylan is fit, He could be there for a while.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

I reckon the thinking will be that Boyd is more of a lock in the halves. I don't rate him that highly but every team needs a decent kicker and he is as close as we will have to that.

They’re obviously completely different players. It will be TMM vs Boyd - I’m not a huge fan of Boyd either however I also think his kicking game might get him across the line.

 

[Wrighty]

Im not at all convinced about Staceys coaching credentials

About two or three years ago he took CHT aside and CHT improved afterwards and you can see shades of Stacey Jones in the way CHT digs into the line and uses the Jones passing technique to shuffle it to the 2nd receiver. CHT has improved due to Jones's coaching. Not all that much you will counter but he has done some work with our halves. From Stacey's perspective he would also claim he had a hand in TMM's year. TMM had a career year for try assists.