Recruitment Warriors 2025/2026 Recruitment & Retention

🤖 AI Summary

📝 Summary:

The forum centers on the Warriors' 2025/2026 roster planning, with significant focus on roster adjustments and player roles. Discussions highlight Erin Clark's signing #342 as a key middle-forward addition for defensive grit, though some skepticism about his ideal position persists #343. Backline restructuring dominates the dialogue, particularly Marcelo Montoya's likely departure to the Tigers for family reasons #88#232, prompting debates about shifting Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to wing despite concerns over his positional fit #13#240. Fan sentiment emphasizes securing Ali Leiataua's long-term deal #192 and explores Taine Tuaupiki's viability at fullback #50#288.
Controversy arises around Josh Curran's critical exit interview, where users #69 interpret his remarks as unprofessional while acknowledging his on-field value. Recruitment targets like Leo Thompson #108 and development signings such as Sam Healey #202 suggest strategic futureproofing. Forward pack balance remains contentious, with members debating Tohu Harris's reduced role #427, Jackson Ford's utility value #404, and dissatisfaction with Marata Niukore's output relative to salary #86#378. The analysis concludes that cap management and injecting pace into the outside backs are critical priorities moving forward.

🏷️ Tags:

Recruitment Strategy, Player Contracts, Backline Restructuring

📊 Data Source: Based on ALL posts in thread (total: 9491 posts) | ⏱️ Total Generation Time: 24s
You don't have permission to regenerate AI summary.
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



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 for off-topic chat.
 
Last edited:
Potentially a liability on D. But hes young and raw and has a lot of development still left in him. He instantly made an impression in his debut with his aggressive runs. Could do much worse than having him on the bench for some impact.
For sure, but there is no way this is just a loss of a player with nothing coming. We have cash so letting him go for no reason wouldn't add up.
 

NZWarriors.com

I am in favour of letting him Zyon Maiu’u go.

The inference of the articles and press release is that the bulldogs have offered him plenty of Frist Grade time. While he was lower on our pecking order and may only have gotten 5-7 games in this year with the Warriors.
All of the NRL management teams and especially the Warriors try to do what is best for the player especially developing players, even to the point of putting what is best for the club as a secondary consideration.
Yes he is an excellent asset for the Warriors but we would be holding him back from living out his dreams. He has been loyal to us soldiering away in NSW cup for a number of years and has earned some good will considerations from us. This is the right decision.
Well this is the reality. Zyon Maiu’u is ready for first grade. But he has guys ahead of him, to the point where he might not have played any first grade this season. The dogs are starting guys like Sam Hughes. He will play this year for sure. Hopefully he will get homesick when he's a gun.

I think we will see Niukore in the prop rotation this year. So that leaves us with a depth chart of JFH, Barnett, Niukore, Vaimauga, Ale, Afoa and possibly Clark or Ford is they are used that way.

Ideally we will sign a other good prop but we have others coming through too.
 
Releasing a highly touted rookie who would have been taking up bugger all cap, when we have 2 available spots already makes no sense to me.

Unless he was shithouse or turned up unfit and uninterested, you'd keep him and let him plug away in Ball until he either got better, or you release him.

Even if we do have something exciting coming (and I'm really expecting us to), there's still no reason to release Zyon Maiu’u imo
 
Releasing a highly touted rookie who would have been taking up bugger all cap, when we have 2 available spots already makes no sense to me.

Unless he was shithouse or turned up unfit and uninterested, you'd keep him and let him plug away in Ball until he either got better, or you release him.

Even if we do have something exciting coming (and I'm really expecting us to), there's still no reason to release Zyon Maiu’u imo
120kg Edgardo Asofa SoloKosi incoming
 
Yeah, I’m really not bothered by this. Also bit of a hothead
JFH has average numbers too, if that's what you go by. So did JWH. But some things don't show up on stat sheets. The intensity and aggression of players like Zyon Maiu’u create opportunities in other parts of the field. They intimidate the opposition and you need guys like that in your pack, rather than just tackle bots. And at 21, he's only just getting started. He reminds me of TPJ but without the massive ego. The sky is the limit there I reckon and we'll probably buy him back $600k a year more expensive.
 
JFH has average numbers too, if that's what you go by. So did JWH. But some things don't show up on stat sheets. The intensity and aggression of players like Zyon Maiu’u create opportunities in other parts of the field. They intimidate the opposition and you need guys like that in your pack, rather than just tackle bots. And at 21, he's only just getting started. He reminds me of TPJ but without the massive ego. The sky is the limit there I reckon and we'll probably buy him back $600k a year more expensive.
Both very poor examples, JWH was playing regular NRL at Zyons age and dominated at lower levels.
JFH also still puts up good numbers at the highest level?
 
Both very poor examples, JWH was playing regular NRL at Zyons age and dominated at lower levels.
JFH also still puts up good numbers at the highest level?
Not getting selected isn't Zyon Maiu’u's fault though. My point is that numbers shouldn't be the sole metric for keeping players. Aggression is something you either do or dont have and I think you could build a pack around Zyon Maiu’u in 5 years. And no, Fish's numbers don't compare to players like AFB or Haas. But as I said, he's elite for other reasons.
 
The warriors had given him his first nrl contract. The reality is, he was probably still 2-3 injuries away with ale, Sifakula, bunty all ahead of him imo. Whilst talented, he certainly does not command a spot on the bench. He wanted opportunities, he wasn’t prepared to wait (and learn from two international props), and left for another side supposedly guaranteeing him a role.

He won’t be on a big contract so this is hardly a release and sign type set up imo, although molo was a player we’d approached in the past who is 100% leaving the dragons, makes sense he’s on his way.

P.s. I also don’t think zyon get a role at the dogs either, and with Thompson signing there for 2026, this’ll be further blocked. He should have just bided his time and learned from two of the best props in the world..
 
Not getting selected isn't Zyon Maiu’u's fault though. My point is that numbers shouldn't be the sole metric for keeping players. Aggression is something you either do or dont have and I think you could build a pack around Zyon Maiu’u in 5 years. And no, Fish's numbers don't compare to players like AFB or Haas. But as I said, he's elite for other reasons.
Not getting selected was his fault based on his Cup performances. There was nothing there to say pick me. In contrast Halasima and Demetric were having an impact and gaining opportunities based on that
 
    Nobody is reading this thread right now.
Back
Top Bottom