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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[CWC]

So Leka/Laban should be taking over from Capewell/Marata, where does he fit in?
Leka’s current spot to cover Leka/Laban and Clark?

Bench of Healey/Dimetric/Ford/Gannon? Marata taking Healey’s spot as a prop until his contract expires?

He would be not expensive I hope, so more cap again when we release or not renew the current second rowers…

 

[Ever Hopeful]

I wonder if Capewell might mysteriously start to be linked to Superleague for next year?

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Yes, that is a glaring problem for sure, but I think another young second rower fits in our rotation. It feels like we have had older, tired players for a long time in broken Mannering, broken Hoffman, and Capewell. Niukore could still move to the middle, but if Gannon can fill Capewell/Walkers spot then there is room without affecting the other young guys. Keeps Ford honest too, which is good because he is great, but a guy that you need 100% energy from always with his limited skillset.

Eddie IT can force his way in if he is good enough as can a couple of others.

I don't mind this signing if it is a depth signing. I'm sure Laban/Leka are the natural successors to Capewell/Niukore in the 2nd row once they are both moved on next year.

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

I’d say Gannon is either a 13 or 14.
At 191cm, 102kg.

Similar to the “ideal” 13.
Large.
Ball player
Good work rate.

Isaah Yeo. 195cm, 106kg.
Tohu Harris. 195cm, 112kg
(All from Wikipedia)

 

[Worried2Death]

I’d say Gannon is either a 13 or 14.
At 191cm, 102kg.

Similar to the “ideal” 13.
Large.
Ball player
Good work rate.

Isaah Yeo. 195cm, 106kg.
Tohu Harris. 195cm, 112kg
(All from Wikipedia)

We're still short, has Brad got anything in a 195cm?

 

[roguei]

I’d say Gannon is either a 13 or 14.
At 191cm, 102kg.

Similar to the “ideal” 13.
Large.
Ball player
Good work rate.

Isaah Yeo. 195cm, 106kg.
Tohu Harris. 195cm, 112kg
(All from Wikipedia)

Clark is not a 80 min lock. If Gannon was to replace Walker in the bench lock position it'd be perfect for us. Also a really good way to get him into NRL quickly without the risk of a full 80 min position plus it would not block current pathways (sorry tom ale).

 

[Tohu’s_Knees]

Clark is not a 80 min lock. If Gannon was to replace Walker in the bench lock position it'd be perfect for us. Also a really good way to get him into NRL quickly without the risk of a full 80 min position plus it would not block current pathways (sorry tom ale).

Depends, if this guy can pump out 60min plus, he probably starts.
If he’s capable of 80 good minutes. Then he definitely starts.
With Erin coming on at the 20 minute mark, similar to the very successful Tohu and Walker in 2023.

We need at least 2 forwards to always play 80. Atm it’s Egan and Capewell.

 

[Noitall]

Interesting in that article too that CNK expected to extend

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Depends, if this guy can pump out 60min plus, he probably starts.
If he’s capable of 80 good minutes. Then he definitely starts.

He sounds like a good prospect but at 21 and a new arrival he'd have to do something special between then and now to become instant starter. Not impossible but might not be necessary. Ball playing lock sounds bang on.....if we get him

 

[Falcon]

193 cm also, be a good addition in a pack of midgets

Hopefully coincides with Laban shifting into the top side on a more permanent basis as well which gives us 2 x backrowers at 6.4’

 

[Playdaball]

Despite our not so successful record signing Englishmen in the past I’m all for it.
NZ is more like England than Aust in terms of weather and culture.
In theory their 2nd tier of players won’t demand as many $$$ as Aussies?
A guy like this can grow through the NSW Cup too.
Can we now sign some speedy players from there?

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

Looks legit...

Leeds Rhinos star to make NRL move after rejecting new deal

Leeds Rhinos forward Morgan Gannon is on the brink of a move to the NRL in 2026: having reportedly agreed a deal with New Zealand Warriors.

www.loverugbyleague.com

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

Statistically speaking, he isn’t quite on par with Morgan Smithies or Matty Nicholson at SL level so he’ll be more of a work in progress IMO

 

[dylpickle]

I wonder if Capewell might mysteriously start to be linked to Superleague for next year?

Fingers Crossed.

 

[MaybeTop8]

Missed a whole season due to concussion though

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I wonder if Capewell might mysteriously start to be linked to Superleague for next year?

I hope so, he came, he tried, it bridged a gap between the next man being ready.

So it has been successful and useful, but now it's time to move on.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Despite our not so successful record signing Englishmen in the past I’m all for it.
NZ is more like England than Aust in terms of weather and culture.
In theory their 2nd tier of players won’t demand as many $$$ as Aussies?
A guy like this can grow through the NSW Cup too.
Can we now sign some speedy players from there?

I'm glad it's a forward, it's more the backs we have had that have been mediocre.

 

[Wahs_Ultras]

His Dad used to play for Balmain so he has family across the ditch.

Morgan came through the amateur system in the UK with top side Siddal Rangers before signing with Leeds rhinos.

Agar game him his debut as a teenager.

The year off was a collective decision made by Gannon and the Rhinos medical staff in the UK as he was still only a teenager.

Leeds fought to keep him as he was rated very highly.

 

[Wrighty]

I wonder if we can get an immediate release.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Looks like we've been shopping in the value bin this week.

Double ACL Jye Linnane and concussion Gannon.

Let's see if the Moneyball route is the best way forward, but I'm really hoping we have a Ponga or Manu under our Easter tree