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
-	Jye Linnane	-	✔	✔	✔
-	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: 24/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights)
2026 Losses: Nil

Off Contract: Bunty Afoa, Tom Ale, Morgan Harper, Edward Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Tanner Stowers-Smith
Off Contract from 01/11/25: Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Freddy Lussick, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Warriorsfan92]

They wont get a pay bump this season according to nrl rules enforced. So itll be primarily for the opportunity and potential longer contract. But you leave everything you grew up with for that opportunity. Getting people over to Auckland is not as easy as you may think.

If I’m stuck behind a player, and gifted an opportunity to start for another team that isn’t a bottom 4 side (hopefully), I’d be taking it for sure

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I wonder if Jesse Arthars is an option? I don’t imagine he would be on much money but if the Broncos are trying to get Cobbo to stay, they would definitely have to release a player or 2 for next season.

He’ll be starting though, he won’t come

 

[WarriorsForever]

He’ll be starting though, he won’t come

Could also play centre with RTS outside him on the wing. Pompey’s off-contract at the end of this season..

 

[Wrighty]

He’ll be starting though, he won’t come

They owe us compensation for Reece Walsh. Let's call that in.

 

[Canonball]

Centres off contract:
Grant Anderson, Braidon Burns, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Asu Kepaoa, Aaron Schoupp, Harley Smith-Shields, Tommy Talau,

Fb off contract;

Corey Allan, Tom Chester, Kade Dykes, Daine Laurie, Will Pryce, Blake Wilson

Wingers off contract:
Selwyn Cobbo, Robert Derby, Haze Dunster, Jojo Fifita, Tony Francis, Albert Hopoate, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro, Sam Stonestreet, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Christian Tuipulotu, Semi Valemei

I only selected the players I’d even be remotely interested. Of these, currently either fighting for 1st grade ops or starting in cup, my targets would be:

Grant Anderson
Asu Kepaoa
Tommy talau
Daine laurie
Blake wilson
Jojo fifita
Albert hopoate
Christian tuipulotu
Semi valemei

None of the above are starters. All have been solid, some have been exceptional when given chances. They’re young too.

My 1,2,3 would be Fifita 1, Wilson 2, Laurie 3.

We have cap. We have a vacant wing spot. We’re not a basket case of a club. If I was any of these guys, I’d be on the phone to my manager tonight, and saying get me over there. I’ll take a pay bump, but more importantly I’ll get a chance to play regular NRL.

We can’t be going into 2025 with Kosi as a starter, it won’t end well. With DWZ sidelines for 6-12 weeks, this has just been exacerbated. In all honesty, this has probably been the first major fuck up from recruitment, alongside Zyon Maiu’u but that’s a different convo. We released Marcelo, essentially saying he’d be third string. We’ve now lost Marcelo AND DWZ, and Kosi is an nrl starter.

Personally I’d be playing Tuaupiki and RTS, but again, our depth has evaporated overnight. I’m expecting a signing in the next 2 weeks, this is actually an urgent issue.

Cobbo, why not? Trust the Culture, if he is willing ... He's amazing, incredible athlete ... Likewise Munro, but he'll probably get a starting spot for Souths ... then Fifita or Stonestreet ...

 

[Wrighty]

Centres off contract:
Grant Anderson, Braidon Burns, Mawene Hiroti, Delouise Hoeter, Asu Kepaoa, Aaron Schoupp, Harley Smith-Shields, Tommy Talau,

Fb off contract;

Corey Allan, Tom Chester, Kade Dykes, Daine Laurie, Will Pryce, Blake Wilson

Wingers off contract:
Selwyn Cobbo, Robert Derby, Haze Dunster, Jojo Fifita, Tony Francis, Albert Hopoate, Alex Johnston, Tyrone Munro, Sam Stonestreet, Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega, Christian Tuipulotu, Semi Valemei

I only selected the players I’d even be remotely interested. Of these, currently either fighting for 1st grade ops or starting in cup, my targets would be:

Grant Anderson
Asu Kepaoa
Tommy talau
Daine laurie
Blake wilson
Jojo fifita
Albert hopoate
Christian tuipulotu
Semi valemei

None of the above are starters. All have been solid, some have been exceptional when given chances. They’re young too.

My 1,2,3 would be Fifita 1, Wilson 2, Laurie 3.

We have cap. We have a vacant wing spot. We’re not a basket case of a club. If I was any of these guys, I’d be on the phone to my manager tonight, and saying get me over there. I’ll take a pay bump, but more importantly I’ll get a chance to play regular NRL.

We can’t be going into 2025 with Kosi as a starter, it won’t end well. With DWZ sidelines for 6-12 weeks, this has just been exacerbated. In all honesty, this has probably been the first major fuck up from recruitment, alongside Zyon Maiu’u but that’s a different convo. We released Marcelo, essentially saying he’d be third string. We’ve now lost Marcelo AND DWZ, and Kosi is an nrl starter.

Personally I’d be playing Tuaupiki and RTS, but again, our depth has evaporated overnight. I’m expecting a signing in the next 2 weeks, this is actually an urgent issue.

My favourite from that lot is Daine Laurie

In the NRL 47 starts at fullback, 8 starts stand off, 3 starts wing

Not many starts on the wing but usually any full back can play wing easily.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

My favourite from that lot is Daine Laurie

In the NRL 47 starts at fullback, 8 starts stand off, 3 starts wing

Not many starts on the wing but usually any full back can play wing easily.

He looked really good on the w.e too

 

[WarriorsForever]

Would prefer a more specialist winger/centre back up than Laurie. Having Taine as an option to fill in at wing is essentially the same thing as Laurie

 

[Wrighty]

He looked really good on the w.e too

I have always wanted him but thought he was a pipe dream so didn't bother posting in this thread about him. If Penrith are smart they won't let him go.

 

[Wrighty]

Would prefer a more specialist winger/centre back up than Laurie. Having Taine as an option to fill in at wing is essentially the same thing as Laurie

We need two Taine's at this point.

 

[Wrighty]

Would prefer a more specialist winger/centre back up than Laurie. Having Taine as an option to fill in at wing is essentially the same thing as Laurie

For example Taine looks like being our wing the next 12 games. If a center goes down the Laurie goes Full back and charnze to centre.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Starford Toa anyone?................. anyone?.................. wrighty?????

 

[Wrighty]

Starford Toa anyone?................. anyone?.................. wrighty?????

As I have posted you guys will be amazed at how good he is if we get him Criminally under rated on this forum but he is contracted 2025 and 2026 making him harder to get and also he is the Tigers outside centre depth otherwise they are relying on one of the more inconsistent players in the league ......Naden.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

As I have posted you guys will be amazed at how good he is if we get him Criminally under rated on this forum but he is contracted 2025 and 2026 making him harder to get and also he is the Tigers outside centre depth otherwise they are relying on one of the more inconsistent players in the league ......Naden.

Is he a definite starter at west tigers?

2 Taruva
3 ???
4 J Olam
5 J Skelton

 

[Wrighty]

Is he a definite starter at west tigers?

2 Taruva
3 ???
4 J Olam
5 J Skelton

Adam Douiehi is slated to start at 3...but Toa covers the wings and centres (ie exactly who we need) before round 5 they will need him. If they give us Toa then they are really dependent on Naden to get through the season and as I mentioned he has good games but also bad games.

 

[Mr. Brownstone]

Is he a definite starter at west tigers?

2 Taruva
3 ???
4 J Olam
5 J Skelton

He’s not even first cab off the ranks if there’s an injury.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Adam Douiehi is slated to start at 3...but Toa covers the wings and centres (ie exactly who we need) before round 5 they will need him. If they give us Toa then they are really dependent on Naden to get through the season and as I mentioned he has good games but also bad games.

Naden probably worth a watch in the all stars game then.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Other dreams are free suggestion - Daniel Tupou - he is turns 34 in June. Le Rooster might let him go based on how old he is.
In general i would be on the phone to Roosters as they have been kind to us before and we have a good rapport with them.

Mr Reliable! Consummate professional. Would love to have him for a year.

 

[Wrighty]

He’s not even first cab off the ranks if there’s an injury.

Well then we do have a play on him. Who is first cab off the rank for Tigers.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Naden probably worth a watch in the all stars game then.

Laugh at your ass for laughing at my suggestion!