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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[Roons75]

Yeah, we don't want to Ponga, be would come over here to just try and segue to Tugby.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

Yeah, we don't want to Ponga, be would come over here to just try and segue to Tugby.

He's arguably the best player in the game. I'd have him for a season. Or half a season.

Tuapiki is a really good backup, but not a 1st choice FG fullback IMO. Will he be one day? Hope so, but he's not yet.

Love CNK and don't get the diss for him at all, but he seems destined for a very well paid OE and who can blame him.

 

[sup42]

Lets all be real here. Ponga would be one of the greatest signings in the clubs history and would be the first ever spine player that the Warriors imported who is also a media darling and NRL superstar.

All that said let me revise my opening statement to 'Ponga would be the greatest signing in the clubs history', purely off star power alone.

Any talk of Ponga not being a good signing is crazy, absolute madness. But I am one to expect nothing from this rumor since we are not part of the insider boys club of secret handshakes and Salary caps that the NRL knowingly turn a blind eye to.

 

[Warriorsfan92]

We’re clearly clearing the decks for someone big. I’m of the belief nothing will be leaked & one day we will just get an announcement, like all the other major signings.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

The way SJ explained the Leka try makes me think Taine is a pretty visionary player, he was the one directing the ball that way and eventually swinging around to create the extra number. Can’t imagine Dallin doing it.

It was a good heads up read and move to create the overlap and no knocking Taine or anyone involved but it's pretty basic ball skills to create the numbers advantage and use the ball movement to beat the man.

Tigers also did it to us and it's a quite well worn idea. Like how Manly got around us a couple of games back.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

We’re clearly clearing the decks for someone big. I’m of the belief nothing will be leaked & one day we will just get an announcement, like all the other major signings.

Payne Haas
Who else would we benefit from having?

 

[defensivebomb]

I’d love for us to get AFB back. Plus a proper half

That would be elite

 

[SouthernWorrier]

I’d love for us to get AFB back. Plus a proper half

That would be elite

what would that be - 3rd compassionate release in 4 years?

Love his game, but I don't think the team would be gelling like they are now with him back. Hell of a player. Seems like kind of a dick with an ego up there with top NFL players. And Princess-Stirsalot in the wings. Hard pass.

 

[defensivebomb]

what would that be - 3rd compassionate release in 4 years?

Love his game, but I don't think the team would be gelling like they are now with him back. Hell of a player. Seems like kind of a dick with an ego up there with top NFL players. And Princess-Stirsalot in the wings. Hard pass.

yeah it would never happen. Just keen to get a no-nonsense big bopper to give the opposition no respite when either JFH or Mitch head to the interchange bench

 

[sydneywarrior92]

what would that be - 3rd compassionate release in 4 years?

Love his game, but I don't think the team would be gelling like they are now with him back. Hell of a player. Seems like kind of a dick with an ego up there with top NFL players. And Princess-Stirsalot in the wings. Hard pass.

I don't think we should take AFB back even if he wanted to come back. Especially if it means losing out on Leka/Demitric long term. JFH and Barney are forming a great combo. Not at the synergy levels of Leota and JFH yet, but it might get there by the end of the year.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Especially if it means losing out on Leka/Demitric long term

Why would we lose backrowers because of a prop ? I'd have Addin back in a heartbeat. No disrespect to James or Barney. But he is streets ahead of those two. Only if he came back single lol. Anyway , Its only hypothetical, And that shit ain't happening. All aboard the Fish & Chips(Barney) Train!!

 

[Ever Hopeful]

Why would we lose backrowers because of a prop ? I'd have Addin back in a heartbeat. No disrespect to James or Barney. But he is streets ahead of those two. Only if he came back single lol. Anyway , Its only hypothetical, And that shit ain't happening. All aboard the Fish & Chips(Barney) Train!!

The Panthers have conceded 118 points in 4 games. I reckon they miss JFH.

AFB was a fantastic player for us, but JFH really fits at this stage. He is giving us enough metres, but his strength is how much he galvanises us on and off the field. I feel like he has been an upgrade for us, despite Addin being a more gifted, freak of a footballer.

We just need some more talented players around him to produce the attacking flair that we relied on Addin for. He was a luxury and a crutch in that regard.

 

[Worried2Death]

Anyway, Its only hypothetical, And that shit ain't happening. All aboard the Fish & Chips(Barney) Train!!

I wouldn't trade them for anyone, nobody disrespects Fush & Chups. If Tapine was homesick though... but Ricky's got no compassion.

 

[Playdaball]

I wouldn't trade them for anyone, nobody disrespects Fush & Chups. If Tapine was homesick though... but Ricky's got no compassion.

We got CNK due in part to Ricky’s ( and Canberra) compassion and ultimately Paulie Roache too.

 

[snake77]

Ricky Stuart was also favouring Xavier Savage over CNK. Releasing CNK would have freed up cap space.

We get players coming back to NZ on compassionate leave as well. We also need to realise that may be the driver for them returning but it is not a given they will see out their career here. The player needs to perform to justify it. They may also feel differently after a few years or get taken over by someone in the development system. It is worth mentioning as the "home card" may help keep players on unders but it also might not and it doesn't mean we can low ball them.

I'm not sure if we are clearing the decks for someone. The initial report was CNK rejected our offer. We don't know if we were negotiating with this mystery player before or after that.

I am not aware of any good names that are off contract (also haven't looked to hard).

So, it is safe to assume this player is under contract somewhere else. Given the NRL rules he must have been given permission to negotiate or have a clause in their contract allowing them to negotiate (assuming its an NRL player not ex NRL player playing union). We don't know if the permission is open to just us or all clubs.

I was watching one YouTube video as it caught my attention due to the "who is the mystery player" thumbnail. Not sure if they have sources or not but they said our initial offer was rejected and we were going back to them. So it sounds like whoever it is if they are wanting to come here/back to NZ I assume they are wanting their market value or an increase on their current deal.

The report on TMM potentially moving on and CNK rejecting our offer had a tweet saying "explains why they are after a fullback". Other posts on here also said if we have signed someone. So talk of a press conference or announcements being imminent might be pushing it.




I would like to get excited but also think we should be cautious. We have heard in the past the club approaches a lot of big name players and gets rejected. We have also got excited in the past about big name players and everyone puts them into their team for the following year. The signing never comes off.

Don't get me wrong I like the rumours but also think we need to be prepared nothing may come of this.

The club is keeping a tight ship and not open about targets in the media which I like. Get the deal done and announce it which I am guessing will be how this will work if it gets done.

 

[Noitall]

Ricky Stuart was also favouring Xavier Savage over CNK. Releasing CNK would have freed up cap space.

We get players coming back to NZ on compassionate leave as well. We also need to realise that may be the driver for them returning but it is not a given they will see out their career here. The player needs to perform to justify it. They may also feel differently after a few years or get taken over by someone in the development system. It is worth mentioning as the "home card" may help keep players on unders but it also might not and it doesn't mean we can low ball them.

I'm not sure if we are clearing the decks for someone. The initial report was CNK rejected our offer. We don't know if we were negotiating with this mystery player before or after that.

I am not aware of any good names that are off contract (also haven't looked to hard).

So, it is safe to assume this player is under contract somewhere else. Given the NRL rules he must have been given permission to negotiate or have a clause in their contract allowing them to negotiate (assuming its an NRL player not ex NRL player playing union). We don't know if the permission is open to just us or all clubs.

I was watching one YouTube video as it caught my attention due to the "who is the mystery player" thumbnail. Not sure if they have sources or not but they said our initial offer was rejected and we were going back to them. So it sounds like whoever it is if they are wanting to come here/back to NZ I assume they are wanting their market value or an increase on their current deal.

The report on TMM potentially moving on and CNK rejecting our offer had a tweet saying "explains why they are after a fullback". Other posts on here also said if we have signed someone. So talk of a press conference or announcements being imminent might be pushing it.




I would like to get excited but also think we should be cautious. We have heard in the past the club approaches a lot of big name players and gets rejected. We have also got excited in the past about big name players and everyone puts them into their team for the following year. The signing never comes off.

Don't get me wrong I like the rumours but also think we need to be prepared nothing may come of this.

The club is keeping a tight ship and not open about targets in the media which I like. Get the deal done and announce it which I am guessing will be how this will work if it gets done.

In consideration to CNK, I could see him getting a lower offer than perhaps he’s wanting to fill that outside back role as depth that the club is keen on being that he can fill fullback/wing/centre? He stated with RTS’s arrival that fullback was his and if he’s been told it’s not it’s going to be anymore, perhaps he’d rather see what’s out there? Surely you’d take payday in his stage of career, and better yet at Catalans rather than the low depth role

 

[FormerlyJamesW]

Any talk of Ponga not being a good signing is crazy, absolute madness.

Respectfully, I would disagree; depending on his attitude.

I agree, he's an incredible player.

I agree, he's an absolute star.

However, we've seen the effects of having massive stars in the team.

SJ - was heavily relied upon, until it broke him and he went elsewhere.

RTS - similar story to SJ.

AFB - we know what happened there.

Other than his propensity to milk penalities, I liked CNK; purely because he was a team player. Not flashy, not egotistical, a team player.

JFH was a massive signing because he elevates those around him. As mentioned by a previous poster, I suspect we are seeing this as one of the big reasons why Penrith don't look as robust as the moment.

I think you only have to see how the knights play, without Ponga, to consider how much he jams up their attack with individual play.

To me, our biggest stars have to be JFH and Barney. They are the captains. They set the attitude. What we need is someone who understands where their place is, knows that they aren't going to be the big dicks in the room and is the receptive to the notion that they may be playing in a system that requires them to listen and change.

Ideally, we would be looking at someone out of a systems focused team like the Storm.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Any Newey locals in here spot Cam George in town this week?

 

[Noitall]

Respectfully, I would disagree; depending on his attitude.

I agree, he's an incredible player.

I agree, he's an absolute star.

However, we've seen the effects of having massive stars in the team.

SJ - was heavily relied upon, until it broke him and he went elsewhere.

RTS - similar story to SJ.

AFB - we know what happened there.

Other than his propensity to milk penalities, I liked CNK; purely because he was a team player. Not flashy, not egotistical, a team player.

JFH was a massive signing because he elevates those around him. As mentioned by a previous poster, I suspect we are seeing this as one of the big reasons why Penrith don't look as robust as the moment.

I think you only have to see how the knights play, without Ponga, to consider how much he jams up their attack with individual play.

To me, our biggest stars have to be JFH and Barney. They are the captains. They set the attitude. What we need is someone who understands where their place is, knows that they aren't going to be the big dicks in the room and is the receptive to the notion that they may be playing in a system that requires them to listen and change.

Ideally, we would be looking at someone out of a systems focused team like the Storm.

SJ, RTS and AFB were on big salaries, so you expect your pound of flesh out of them. Problem was we often couldn’t put the team required around them because of the salaries. When you look at the way we play, it’s a real panthers style with big outside backs doing a lot of hard work to spell the forwards to concentrate on their defensive work. CNK fits this mould because he’s a hard worker, he always has high running metres because of the amount of carries he has. He won’t let you down for work, but his x factor is limited. I don’t believe we would have put Metcalf at halfback if we weren’t persevering with him there, so the only spots I see us trying to recruit is fullback or five eighth? But fullback is where I reckon with CNK departing. Out of that storm system, I could see them letting Fa’alogo go, but I’m not a fan defensively. In Ponga I see a worker and x factor, so if there was any chance, I reckon he’d be ideal

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I need some good news. The stock market is fuckeeed