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	Jett Cleary	✔	S	S
9	Wayde Egan	✔	✔	✔
10	James Fisher-Harris	✔	✔	✔	✔
11	Jackson Ford	✔	✔	✔
12	Leka Halasima	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
13	Morgan Harper	✔
14	Chanel Harris-Tavita	✔	✔
15	Sam Healey	✔	✔	✔
16	Edward Kosi	✔
17	Jacob Laban	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
18	Ali Leiataua	✔	✔	✔
19	Jye Linnane	✔	✔	✔	✔
20	Freddy Lussick	✔	✔
21	Te Maire Martin	✔	✔
22	Luke Metcalf	✔	✔
23	Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad	✔	✔	✔
24	Marata Niukore	✔	✔
25	Adam Pompey	✔	✔	✔
26	Tanner Stowers-Smith	✔	✔	✔
27	Taine Tuaupiki	✔	✔
28	Roger Tuivasa-Sheck	✔	✔
29	Demitric Vaimauga	✔	✔	✔	✔
30	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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	Motu Pasikala	T	?	?

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: 27/30
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
Can negotiate with other clubs from Nov 1, 2025 (Entering final year) : Rocco Berry, Tanah Boyd, Kurt Capewell, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Freddy Lussick, Te Maire Martin, Luke Metcalf, Marata Niukore, Taine Tuaupiki, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

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[Playdaball]

Compassionate grounds to return to QLD, due to new baby.

 

[Playdaball]

I’d take Ponga ahead of Manu … just saying

 

[Ferdie]

Interesting that CG shoots down the Manu rumour straight away, but made no comment on the Ponga rumours.

 

[Inruin]

So, Currently we have 21 players on contract in our top 30 for 2026

Assuming CNK and TMM aren't resigned and we re-sign Afoa, Ale and TSS it leaves us with 24 signed and light in the halves, wing and fullback. We surely must be close to announcing some extensions and a signing for 2026 if not 2 or 3?

 

[Naumaifooty]

I’d take Ponga ahead of Manu … just saying

Imagine getting both. Joey would go alright as a lock I reckon. But yeah Ponga would be top target for me.

 

[WahsaurusRex]

Todd Payten has a kink for Warriors sloppy seconds confirmed, as it was not already confirmed.

I would be okay with letting him go if he is just about guaranteed a starting spot elsewhere. But surely we have learned our lesson and grant that after we identify an adequate replacement/see enough from Hanson or Jett..

 

[Wah's Up]

Don't know how to post TicTocs on here but a few stories on there that Joey Manu has asked for a compassionate release to return to New Zealand. (for what it's worth)
Really good info on TicToc and Instagram

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Former Roosters superstar considering shock release as potential NRL return looms

Former Roosters superstar considering shock release as potential NRL return looms

www.foxsports.com.au

Manu considering a return to Sydney or NZ for family reasons. Nothing definitive about whether its NRL or super rugby and obv CG has denied having talks.

 

[Noitall]

Don't know how to post TicTocs on here but a few stories on there that Joey Manu has asked for a compassionate release to return to New Zealand. (for what it's worth)

With speculation around both of these players in Ponga and Manu, roosters seem to be about the only other team from us that could afford Ponga and Manu has speculation around a return to Sydney or NZ. Could we end up with one or the other?

 

[Naumaifooty]

Knowing our luck Ponga and Manu will probably both sign with the Auckland Blues

 

[Dantheman]

Former Roosters superstar considering shock release as potential NRL return looms

Former Roosters superstar considering shock release as potential NRL return looms

www.foxsports.com.au

Manu considering a return to Sydney or NZ for family reasons. Nothing definitive about whether its NRL or super rugby and obv CG has denied having talks.

If old Georgy boy has denied it we can basically guarantee it's a done deal

 

[Boston Boy]

What would Joey Manu be worth? If he's a full back $1m? Centre $850-900k?

 

[Boston Boy]

You know, I was thinking where are the Francis Meli type wingers in NZ? Manu V type too? Big, powerful and unstoppable 5/10 meters out. If we did sign a gun centre like Joey Manu, could Ali play that big powerful winger role?

The Joey Manu thing could be true. As he was going to France this year and potentially heading to NZ next year some videos suggested. So if he pulled out of the France deal (with the team having a change of coach) he could come to play NRL for the rest of this year and go to union next year?

 

[Stalefish540]

Manu and Ponga both seem like the Sydney type of Kiwi.

Couldn't imagine either of them wanting to live in Auckland.

 

[Wah's Up]

Just now on Youtube.


View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HJowhbPtfyM

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

What would Joey Manu be worth? If he's a full back $1m? Centre $850-900k?

Given that Dylan Brown got $1.3M per year, Ponga is on $1.5M I reckon at least $1M at fullback and if we have more we should offer him more. The Roosters will offer him the comfort of his old club but we could possibly offer him many 100s of thousand dollars more.

 

[juju]

Manu and Ponga both seem like the Sydney type of Kiwi.

Couldn't imagine either of them wanting to live in Auckland.

Manu grew up in Tokoroa so Auckland might be ok.
Not Bondi for sure though.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

The Sydney Roosters have lost recruitment guru Clint Zammit to a mid-season move to the Cowboys. A key link between Ponga and the Roosters was Zammit, who previously worked with the fullback at both the Knights and Cowboys.

Huge development in Kalyn Ponga pursuit as key figure quits Roosters immediately

Kalyn Ponga has been continually linked to the Roosters. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

 

[Buzz Killington]

You know…. Webby signed RTS to play like Manu at center. It would make a lot of sense to get the real Manu after his failed RTS experiment.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

You know…. Webby signed RTS to play like Manu at center. It would make a lot of sense to get the real Manu after his failed RTS experiment.

I cant help but hear that in Buzz's tired old voice