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

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[Wrighty]

They may have identified that a 7 is the priority and spending that much coin on DB doesn't solve that. They may be keeping their powder dry for another player that does.

Ok that makes me feel better. I want some reasons here. However for 2026 season there are no good 7s who are free agents.

 

[Inruin]

Ok that makes me feel better. I want some reasons here. However for 2026 season there are no good 7s who are free agents.

So, you are suggesting they should sign DB for a season until a 7 becomes available or are you saying sign DB and forget a 7? It's no different in my mind to Leo Thompson. Yeah be nice to have him but do we really need him? Can we spend our money better elsewhere?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Ok that makes me feel better. I want some reasons here. However for 2026 season there are no good 7s who are free agents.

Upgrading Tanah Boyd bro!

 

[Inruin]

Upgrading Tanah Boyd bro!

I thought we just did. He was off to superleague

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I thought we just did. He was off to superleague

Is 2025 over before it begins?

 

[Wrighty]

So, you are suggesting they should sign DB for a season until a 7 becomes available or are you saying sign DB and forget a 7? It's no different in my mind to Leo Thompson. Yeah be nice to have him but do we really need him? Can we spend our money better elsewhere?

I wasn't saying anything I was hoping you had the answers to a decision I thought was a no brainer to go after Brown.
Maybe they don't like his personality eg how he is chasing big dollars - I don't get it. At least we have each other to commiserate with after each loss over the next 3-4 years.

 

[Brightman]

They may have identified that a 7 is the priority and spending that much coin on DB doesn't solve that. They may be keeping their powder dry for another player that does.

But we already have four 7s: TMM, CHT, Boyd and Metcalf??

 

[Inruin]

I wasn't saying anything I was hoping you had the answers to a decision I thought was a no brainer to go after Brown.
Maybe they don't like his personality eg how he is chasing big dollars - I don't get it. At least we have each other to commiserate with after each loss over the next 3-4 years.

I thought I gave you a plausible answer. You then questioned the available 7's in 2026. I responded to that.

 

[Inruin]

But we already have four 7s: TMM, CHT, Boyd and Metcalf??

In my opinion we have four 6's, one in TMM who looked very good playing 7 and could feasibly get us through to 2027 if he stays injury free and we have three others that aren't good enough to be long term 7's. Signing DB doesn't solve that.

 

[Wrighty]

There must be a good reason we don't know about...some insider information that is medical related...there has to be something the warriors know.

 

[Noitall]

I thought we just did. He was off to superleague

Think he had manly as an option? Must have thought a good opportunity with SJ retiring and an opening

 

[Inruin]

There must be a good reason we don't know about...some insider information that is medical related...there has to be something the warriors know.

Why? Is 1.2million reasons not enough?

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Interesting we didn’t even approach Leo Thompson, probably the right call but still interesting

 

[Worried2Death]

Is 2025 over before it begins?

Depends why you watch nrl, if you want to see the wahs win it you might as well fast forward to 2030 when we're a powerhouse, it's our year

 

[peewee]

In my opinion we have four 6's, one in TMM who looked very good playing 7 and could feasibly get us through to 2027 if he stays injury free and we have three others that aren't good enough to be long term 7's. Signing DB doesn't solve that.

Also dont forget we have Jett Cleary, and couple other youngsters coming up.
Boyd isnt much older than them.
So for me. We are looking good for the next decade

 

[Ref]

Interesting we didn’t even approach Leo Thompson, probably the right call but still interesting

We don't badly need him.
Rather build our young stars who might be as effective as Leo would have been anyway.

 

[Damo]

Interesting we didn’t even approach Leo Thompson, probably the right call but still interesting

Leo is overrated. Slightly better stats than Bunty

 

[Noitall]

Boyd: It's been a pretty big move but I'm loving it

Former Titan Tanah Boyd talks about his 'pretty big move' to the One New Zealand Warriors

www.warriors.kiwi

Seems that playing in NZ has had good results for Boyd in the past

 

[Wrighty]

Why? Is 1.2million reasons not enough?

Boyd: It's been a pretty big move but I'm loving it

Former Titan Tanah Boyd talks about his 'pretty big move' to the One New Zealand Warriors

www.warriors.kiwi

Seems that playing in NZ has had good results for Boyd in the past

The only glimmer of hope I have is that Boyd get's named to partner Metcalf and proves to be a revelation.

 

[Noitall]

The only glimmer of hope I have is that Boyd get's named to partner Metcalf and proves to be a revelation.

Keep the faith Wrighty. We’ve got a chunk of change to spend, someone will be in their mind