Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

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The forum focuses extensively on the Warriors' 2025/2026 contract situations, recruitment targets, and roster evaluations. Key discussions revolve around Marcelo Montoya's departure to the Tigers #223#230, which fans attribute to backline depth and family considerations, while debating Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's potential shift to wing. Erin Clark's signing as a middle forward #342 generates mixed reactions about his role conversion from hooker. Notable contract concerns include Bunty Afoa's uncertain future #391 and priority re-signings for young talents like Ali Leiataua. Positional debates feature strong opinions about Tohu Harris' reduced role #427, Mitch Barnett's workload management #401, and Jackson Ford's utility value #402. Recruitment speculation highlights interest in Leo Thompson #393#403 amid salary cap constraints. Critical analyses of departing players emerge, including Josh Curran's criticism of Andrew Webster #51#115932 and Jazz Tevaga's emotional exit #437. Fans consistently urge roster upgrades to address goal-kicking deficiencies and spine depth ahead of 2025.

🏷️ Tags:

Player Contracts, Outside Backs, Forward Recruitment

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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

Well this is disappointing


Willison staying at Red Hill​

A big win for the Broncos with exciting young forward Xavier Willison extending his stay at Red Hill until the end of 2027.
Reports emerged earlier in the day suggesting as much, claiming a number of clubs were willing to at least double his $250,000 salary, but Willison was willing to stay loyal.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, I can’t imagine not being a Bronco," said Willison.
“I owe so much to this club, without them I probably wouldn’t even be playing rugby league.
‘They gave me the opportunity to move over from New Zealand and live my dream when I was 15, and I’ll forever be grateful.
“The people here have become like my second family and I can’t wait to stay around the boys.
“Being a Dad now too makes it extra special. This is the kind of environment I want to bring my little girl up in. It gives you that extra motivation, to play for her now too.
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead, and it’s up to us now to turn up every day and do the work together.”

Willison staying at Red Hill
 
Well this is disappointing


Willison staying at Red Hill​

A big win for the Broncos with exciting young forward Xavier Willison extending his stay at Red Hill until the end of 2027.
Reports emerged earlier in the day suggesting as much, claiming a number of clubs were willing to at least double his $250,000 salary, but Willison was willing to stay loyal.
“I wouldn’t be anywhere else, I can’t imagine not being a Bronco," said Willison.
“I owe so much to this club, without them I probably wouldn’t even be playing rugby league.
‘They gave me the opportunity to move over from New Zealand and live my dream when I was 15, and I’ll forever be grateful.
“The people here have become like my second family and I can’t wait to stay around the boys.
“Being a Dad now too makes it extra special. This is the kind of environment I want to bring my little girl up in. It gives you that extra motivation, to play for her now too.
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead, and it’s up to us now to turn up every day and do the work together.”

Willison staying at Red Hill
There were talks of them surely having to let someone go, now they’ve re signed Willison, going after Ben Hunt, re signed Walsh at $1.25 million a season, and have made some smaller signings like Perham. They short of second rowers, but makes me wonder if there is something to Jordan Riki let go by them?
 
There were talks of them surely having to let someone go, now they’ve re signed Willison, going after Ben Hunt, re signed Walsh at $1.25 million a season, and have made some smaller signings like Perham. They short of second rowers, but makes me wonder if there is something to Jordan Riki let go by them?
staggs will be gone burger
 
staggs will be gone burger
Will be interesting to see, he was outspoken about being pissed off at how it went down with Kevin Walters. There’s talk over there that Tom Opacic might be heading that way after it’s turned out he’s finished up at the super league club he was with. Reckon they might prioritise Staggs over Cobbo. But if Cobbo didn’t like playing under Walters, which he said publicly that he couldn’t coach, and Staggs was loyal to him then it could work the other way?
 

This was apparently sent out to broncos members. Sounds like they are going keep him and work through it. Cobbo will be gone, but he wouldn’t have been on a huge salary and would have got an upgrade in the upcoming contract
What's the bet in 3 or 4 short months he will have worked through everything and then the Broncos come out and say something like the best thing for Ezra is to play League, so no games missed
 
Zero chance he gets no games but the QLD PR cycle has already begun with articles about going to rehab, how the racial slur hurt him and sent him down this path, blah blah.

Trying really hard to push the narrative.
Let's see how it plays out. How many games do you think he misses?
 
Let's see how it plays out. How many games do you think he misses?
Needs to be at the least a catalyst for the nrl to have a look how they operate, if he’d killed someone not even the nrl could save him from those consequences. It’s tough because it’s an aspect of life I don’t begrudge anyone from partaking in but they need to make better decisions. Young guys with money and time and an ego to boot can be a dangerous mix. All clubs need to do their best to put the best role models possible to guide these guys
 
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Late to the party, vpn, China, firewall, ad blockers are not a good combo lol

The more I think the more I like the Boyd signing, it is good as depth as long as we have TMM or a good replacement for him, would be crazy to let TMM go and have Boyd as the regular 7.

We could start with TMM/Metcalf, 1 or both will get injured so we will have TMM/Boyd and Boyd/Metcalf. If Boyd elevates himself like Aussie recruits Ford or heck Barney under Webby then we could be a beast next year

The worst case with injuries would be Boyd/CHT, which is a lot better than Pompey/Walker.
Boyd is definitely an upgrade first drop for both half positions than CHT, especially he can actually kick goals, a legit 7 who can cover 6 as well and kick goals, inexpensive and young but experienced enough to potentially have a second spring in the step, it’s exactly what we need. 2 years deal is pretty standard for aussie young recruits now, Metcalf, Ford now Boyd

Don’t know how D Brown fits in 2026 if he wants to come you take him but maybe we end up cleaning up the whole halves to get a Hughes/Brown combo lol, that’s definitely a championship window
 
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