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:
Lot of these young guys have changes in size as they get older and positions change as their bodies do. I wonder if the rumours of Halasima being played at lock goes along these lines? Vaimauga is still listed as a second rower, but I wonder if he’s now viewed as a middle and had leapfrogged Zyon Maiu’u? Halasima was viewed as a second rower before, but I wonder if the emergence of EIT has changed that also with he and Laban viewed as the successors in the second row? Would be keen to see Ale extended
 

NZWarriors.com

Having 4 or 5 young guys on the up, you can't play them all. They're going to be drip-fed into grade and Zyon Maiu’u was likely the last on that list. In an approach from the dogs you have to do right by him getting an opportunity with more certainty. I just hope it means they're confident with the next crop coming through.
Would you keep Zyon Maiu’u if it meant losing Crosby next year?
Otherwise it's likely a decision that helps with squad balance considering the limited prospects coming through in the outside backs.
He shouldn't have been able to be approached by the Dogs, he was contracted until end of '26 so pretty suss unless his manager was speaking with clubs about whether he'd be getting more game time. Bit weird but we're not exactly short on young forwards either. Knights were also after him on a loan last year so he's obviously fairly highly regarded by a few other teams.
 
He shouldn't have been able to be approached by the Dogs, he was contracted until end of '26 so pretty suss unless his manager was speaking with clubs about whether he'd be getting more game time. Bit weird but we're not exactly short on young forwards either. Knights were also after him on a loan last year so he's obviously fairly highly regarded by a few other teams.
Could also be a couple of other options. There was rumours of a prop being shopped around by us. They may have mistakenly thought Bunty. Or it was Bunty and the dogs said no thanks but we would be keen on Zyon Maiu’u.
 
He shouldn't have been able to be approached by the Dogs, he was contracted until end of '26 so pretty suss unless his manager was speaking with clubs about whether he'd be getting more game time. Bit weird but we're not exactly short on young forwards either. Knights were also after him on a loan last year so he's obviously fairly highly regarded by a few other teams.
You're right, and only for 2 years you do wonder how that deal gets done...
 
Dont know how credible this is but there has to be something going on. Surely?

Don’t know how good the source is, but hearing he may be announced as going to the Warriors

This gains legs by the Warriors releasing a good up and coming prop to the Dogs today
If we instead end up signing Aloiai i hope everyone turns up at Mt Smart wearing rainbow colours so he pleads to go back.
 

If we end up signing Aloiai i hope everyone turns up at Mt Smart wearing rainbow colours so he pleads to go back.
Obviously wanting a bigger body than what we’ve got and Zyon Maiu’u was the victim?
 
he was unlucky with injuries and sort of regressed back end of last season imo. That NSW cup finals clash v Panthers he was quite average. Would have gotten rid of Bunty tbh.

Down to 27 now, hopefully they have someone big incoming soon. But honestly I dont know how I feel. I feel like this will be Katoa 2.0

Completely different to Katoa. Katoa had proved himself as a gun in NRL, then got done over with Covid, and shit Nathan Brown coaching. Zyon Maiu’u still has not dominated NSW Cup as of yet, and doesn't look quite ready for the next step, yet.
 
He has been training at lock and played some middle in Cup. I think he looks best on an edge but they seem to be going with the Penrith model of mobile middles

Unfortunate, but I ranked our youngsters potential as.

1. Halasima
2. Leiataua
3. Demetric
4. Zyon Maiu’u
5. Laban.

You can’t keep them all, and IMO we still have the better one’s.
I see Halasima and Demetric as 200 gamers
And Ali could be a top 5 centre.
After thinking a little bit.
The likes of Tobias Crosby, Eddie Toeava added to that list softens the blow a little bit.

Just having a look at our forward stocks,
Props,
Barnett, Fish, Vaimauga, Ale, Ford, Afoa, Stowers-Smith, Crosby
Edges,
Capewell, Niukore, Halasima, Laban, Eiremia-Toeava
Locks,
Clark, Walker
 
    Nobody is reading this thread right now.
Back
Top Bottom