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

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane
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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[Riz]

With Grant Anderson from the storm heading to broncos next year, does the Cobbo speculation start up again?

With Anderson going to the Broncos, does that open up Deine Mariner to the Wahs? I know who I'd rather out of him and Selwyn..

 

[Noitall]

With Anderson going to the Broncos, does that open up Deine Mariner to the Wahs? I know who I'd rather out of him and Selwyn..

Still think it’s a fullback we’re in the hunt for? I could see Cobbo at fullback. Mariner could play wing and RTS fullback? Tuaupiki could play fullback and we’ve got a chunk of coin sitting waiting?

 

[Sam Wahpira]

With Anderson going to the Broncos, does that open up Deine Mariner to the Wahs? I know who I'd rather out of him and Selwyn..

Its the same thing with Mariner to Ponga - his whole whanau is set up there and his dad is actually a diehard Broncos fan. To his group of family/friends/church its seen as a step forward in going to Aussie (and coming back here as a step back).

 

[Noitall]

Its the same thing with Mariner to Ponga - his whole whanau is set up there and his dad is actually a diehard Broncos fan. To his group of family/friends/church its seen as a step forward in going to Aussie (and coming back here as a step back).

Think Barnett still has his house in Newcastle in response to Ponga staying put? But I guess building a house is a bit different?

 

[Riz]

Its the same thing with Mariner to Ponga - his whole whanau is set up there and his dad is actually a diehard Broncos fan. To his group of family/friends/church its seen as a step forward in going to Aussie (and coming back here as a step back).

I understand that, but moving away for work for a few years doesn't mean he has to uplift everything and everyone from Queensland.
At the end of the day, money and job security talks, so if he can get more out of the Warriors then I can't see why it isn't an option.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Come on KP, come to the Wahs! Must be tiring getting the Luke Brooks treatment of being blamed for every Newcastle loss. Not much he can do behind a NSW cup quality pack that's lost Saifiti and is going to lose Leo Thompson next year to the dogs with no viable replacements. Little change of scenery would suit him very well indeed!

 

[nzwarrior51]

replying to some of the previous comments, I think Barnett plans on heading back to Newcastle in retirement.

I believe Cobbo remains in SEQ, young indigenous kid from Cherbourg I think he’ll want to remain close to family in Queensland.

I reckon Mariner is probably our best bet there. It’s a big watch with the Bronocs with a lot of good players coming off contract there.

 

[The Warrior Waka]

replying to some of the previous comments, I think Barnett plans on heading back to Newcastle in retirement.

I believe Cobbo remains in SEQ, young indigenous kid from Cherbourg I think he’ll want to remain close to family in Queensland.

I reckon Mariner is probably our best bet there. It’s a big watch with the Bronocs with a lot of good players coming off contract

I doubt Mariner will come here. All his whanau is over in Oz. Plus, His dad doesn't like the club lol.

 

[Billyspleen75]

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ru...-contract-options/U5YT4P3VJVDRPANPSD27XNBR2U/

2 year offer tabled to CNK.
Catalans supposedly offer 3.
One other team in the mix

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Looks like that’s the end of the Ponga rumours sadly

 

[Dippa]

Anthony Gelling just stated on Running It Straight that there is a pending signing announcement by Warriors soon. He couldn’t say who, but didn’t seem like a Ponga signing. It could be CNK resign, not sure.

 

[ndp26]

Looks like that’s the end of the Ponga rumours sadly

I'm not one to get hyped on rumours, as much as it would be a great signing - but what is "that"? Are you referring to the Burgess article?

There is nothing official from the club, but I think a few on here have said that Burgess is a bit of a mouthpiece for the club - so this article could be to just put a dampener on speculation? There is a hypothetical world we could keep CNK and bring in Ponga - we've got SJ, Walker and Tohu money (or the remainder of it following recruits/upgrades). We could be given a "unders" offer to keep CNK in NZ a little longer before he heads over to SL / retires, and then that would leave us flush with a good set of OBs (assuming CNK then moves to the centres to preserve his body) across NRL and Cup. Where does that leave Taine? Back-up fullback / winger? The reference to Taine in the article could be included to remind him that he is valued and has a great future, but he isn't KP... Just speculation - but from what I've seen, there is nothing to confirm or discount the rumour.

 

[JaggedJ]

Was the Ponga rumour ever actually a rumour? Just felt like it was something someone put out as a hypothetical and everyone ran with it to give it life.

 

[ndp26]

Was the Ponga rumour ever actually a rumour? Just felt like it was something someone put out as a hypothetical and everyone ran with it to give it life.

Very true! Bit of entertainment while we wait 14 days to see our team play again... haha

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Was the Ponga rumour ever actually a rumour? Just felt like it was something someone put out as a hypothetical and everyone ran with it to give it life.

Im pretty sure it was a April fools rumour/joke/prank...But some of us (Including me) got sucked into the -Keep it going , Might come true - suckers anonymous club.

 

[Damo]

Te Maire Martin dismisses rumours of immediate departure for Super League

The Warriors half insists he has no plans on a move to the UK.

sportnation.nz

 

[The Warrior Waka]

If the signing news is Wiremu Greig or Harper extended im going to run backwards into a unicorn horn with no jocks on.

No lube

 

[roguei]

https://sportnation.nz/article/im-n...isses-rumours-of-immediate-departure-for[/URL

"It's kind of hard working for a contract out of reserve grade, so you've got to try and still play your best. You get a lot of first-grade players that come back to NSW Cup and they sort of drop their lip. It's quite toxic and not really enjoyable to be around. "

Fuck i just love that. Really shows TMM's character and i hope we manage to keep him for a while longer. It's one thing to keep a good culture in the FG team, but it looks like he will be able to do that in the NSW side as well. And that is somthing that i don't think other clubs will be able to replicate very well. An edge to have, a NSW team filled with people not sour to be there but pumped and ready to go at the first opptunity.[/url]

 

[Dippa]

Have I just stumped across something………..

Sydney Morning Hearld has pulled the article, but I managed to screen shot a key piece which Warriors fans might want to have a say on.

 

[Dippa]