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: 25/30
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, 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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[Damo]

Can't see Taine waiting that long. If he isn't starting or getting good game time he will leave (even if it is for reserve grade elsewhere). Only way he stays is if the plan is for CNK to transition to another position

I love how we all become mind readers.
Who knows what is in Taines mind, he may be keen to stick around in NZ especially noting his young family.

 

[CWC]

Which NRL team will give Taine a starting FB spot not from injuries?

 

[roguei]

Can't see Taine waiting that long. If he isn't starting or getting good game time he will leave (even if it is for reserve grade elsewhere). Only way he stays is if the plan is for CNK to transition to another position

Why do you say that? Fuller is still at the dolphins and he is arugbly the better version of TT. Taine also has a great relationship with the playing group. He is also signed for next year... This is far, far from unprecedented.

 

[WA Warrior]

Why do you say that? Fuller is still at the dolphins and he is arugbly the better version of TT. Taine also has a great relationship with the playing group. He is also signed for next year... This is far, far from unprecedented.

I could see him looking at his options from November if Charnze is still looked at as the FB moving forward.

TT is only signed to the end of 26 so he would have to wait until 28 to get the 1 jersey if Charnze is still FB.

At his age he would be silly not to look around.

 

[sup42]

He's 26 in August.
Let's not forget you put a line through Halasima as an 18 year old...
Anyways, CNK's re-signing and the clubs interest in the likes of Joey Manu doesn't appear to be a vote of confidence in Tuaupiki, who I think will now test himself on the open market come 'Nov 1st

I did not put a line through Halasima.

Dunno why criticism of fanboi players on here gets translated into putting lines through them.

I stand by the criticisms of Halasima's game based off what I have seen. He has a temper which will need handling (seen him put a filthy shot on a vulnerable player in NSW cup that could have broken that players spine). He is young and might not have run towards the posts because he was too busy shushing the crowd and celebrating his own greatness on the big screen.

Neither of these checks mean I have put a line through him. He has talent, anyone can see that, hopefully checks on talented players remains free speech around here.

I am as excited about Halasima as the next guy, coz I love the Warriors.

This feels a lot like my criticisms of SJ in his debut season. SJ is one of the best players I have ever seen, but yeah I criticized him freely and without restraint.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

I think Taine stays put. I think the club will put a good offer together. He covers 1,2,5,6,14. He's next man up at 3 of those 5 and is obviously highly rated by the club. If we have missed signing our marquee FB, now is the perfect time for him to negotiate.

 

[Lance155]

Is there a player out there that won't do everything to get a first grade spot?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Is there a player out there that won't do everything to get a first grade spot?

He's played 6/6 games this year in the run on 13.. What exactly is he missing?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I think that's the end of Tuaupiki unfortunately. I mean he's behind Ponga, Manu, RTS and now CNK!

 

[hornbybrown]

I think a lot of people in here overestimate Taine, fully fit what team puts him in to start? I’m not sure any team does

 

[Get them onside ref!]

I think Taine stays put. I think the club will put a good offer together. He covers 1,2,5,6,14. He's next man up at 3 of those 5 and is obviously highly rated by the club. If we have missed signing our marquee FB, now is the perfect time for him to negotiate.

Always hard to keep players when they are behind in picking order
If they let CNK go
People would have jumped and said another bad decision
I hope TT stays
But no one is irreplaceable
Yep he’s a good player
Plenty of them around

 

[Lance155]

He's played 6/6 games this year in the run on 13.. What exactly is he missing?

1. It's a temporary calll up
2. It's not his usual position
I am not trying to mindread here but I am trying to put myself in his shoes. I like the kid and hope he stays but won't be surprised if he goes. If CNK was injury prone then that would increase the likelihood of hanging around.

 

[Stalefish540]

The reality is neither Joey Manu or Kalyn Ponga are coming which gave them some extra money to keep CNK probably go in for another dip at Ponga for 2028 otherwise Taine’s the guy from 28

Signing Manu to play fullback would be a mistake. He's allergic to passing the ball, which has been witnessed every time he has played fullback when Teddy has been out.

Much rather keep CNK at his pay packet. Given his work rate, defensive organising and ability.

Hopefully if the backline gels as the season progresses and we will see him chime in more as a link man on the right as he did well in 2023.

 

[Theking267]

CNK is fine we got him for 2 years which the club wanted. We probably gave him a little more cash as the sweetener. We don’t want to give an extra year to players turning 30 like we did with Capewell.

 

[Tookey 2.0]

Signing Manu to play fullback would be a mistake. He's allergic to passing the ball, which has been witnessed every time he has played fullback when Teddy has been out.

Much rather keep CNK at his pay packet. Given his work rate, defensive organising and ability.

I'm sure there might be a worry for Manu returning to the NRL undone after his rugby stint, but there's no doubting that Manu trumps CNK in almost every stat imaginable.

Manu allergic to passing the ball? While it's only a small sample size, he's played 16 games at FB and has a better try assist rate than CNK in his best year (2025). Of the 16 games he's played at fb Manu has won 11 of them, which sits at about 70%, which shows me that even though he's been out of position playing fb, he still has that winning touch.
Those 16 games were over 6 seasons too, imagine if he played a season or 2 at fb, you'd think he'd be even better. And lastly, almost every player improves under Webby....imagine if Manu was even better than what we know of him....

Absolutely we take him if he wants to return to the NRL, i just don't think hes interested

 

[John Nick]

I'm sure there might be a worry for Manu returning to the NRL undone after his rugby stint, but there's no doubting that Manu trumps CNK in almost every stat imaginable.

Manu allergic to passing the ball? While it's only a small sample size, he's played 16 games at FB and has a better try assist rate than CNK in his best year (2025). Of the 16 games he's played at fb Manu has won 11 of them, which sits at about 70%, which shows me that even though he's been out of position playing fb, he still has that winning touch.
Those 16 games were over 6 seasons too, imagine if he played a season or 2 at fb, you'd think he'd be even better. And lastly, almost every player improves under Webby....imagine if Manu was even better than what we know of him....

Absolutely we take him if he wants to return to the NRL, i just don't think hes interested

Don't think for one minute he would come here but on his best form he could be awesome.
Only reservation would be his returning from union

 

[Stalefish540]

I'm sure there might be a worry for Manu returning to the NRL undone after his rugby stint, but there's no doubting that Manu trumps CNK in almost every stat imaginable.

Manu allergic to passing the ball? While it's only a small sample size, he's played 16 games at FB and has a better try assist rate than CNK in his best year (2025). Of the 16 games he's played at fb Manu has won 11 of them, which sits at about 70%, which shows me that even though he's been out of position playing fb, he still has that winning touch.
Those 16 games were over 6 seasons too, imagine if he played a season or 2 at fb, you'd think he'd be even better. And lastly, almost every player improves under Webby....imagine if Manu was even better than what we know of him....

Absolutely we take him if he wants to return to the NRL, i just don't think hes interested

Each to their own I guess.

Different levels to their play. But feel watching Manu at fullback that him, RTS, and CNK all play somewhat similar styles at fullback.

Manu would come at about twice the cost of CNK or somewhere in that range. So you have to weigh that into the potential upside weighting also.

 

[Bluecat]

If we can't have a marquee fullback I'm OK with CNK for another year or two. I want to see Taine do well too but I'm not sure on him. As has been said he's 26 soon and he still hasn't cemented a starting spot anywhere. 26 is nearly halfway through the career of many players and I think if Taine was star quality he would have been playing regular first grade for 3 or 4 years.

Kind of similar to Metcalf. 26 and learning to play a position that others have played for several seasons by that age. I know he's had injuries but I thought watching the Tigers game that compared to 19 year old Galvin he lacked something. Maybe confidence? Or instinct? Although having seen the drama recently I would much rather have Luke in the team than Galvin.

CNK playing fullback next year buys us time to shop around. But I'm not sold on the utility roll as he ages. We have 3 good centres and others coming through. He's too slow for anything other than injury cover for the wing. Maybe a 13 but we have Clark and the young English guy? Do we have anyone coming through the system that will be ready in a couple of years? Or Charlie Webb? Brent Webb 0.2 would be so good.

 

[Ref]

Cody Walker, Jamal Fogarty debuted mid 20s.
I think CNK whilst the incumbent is also insurance and cover at a price that suits both parties.
They should do the same with TMM.
Both hearty kiwi blokes.

 

[Noitall]

We’ve got a shitload of cash spare in our salary cap. Can we not get anyone here? I’ve got no idea where we’re looking to strengthen? Obviously lock, with Morgan Gannon speculation, but he wouldn’t be getting a huge contract to come over if he does? Does CNK have fullback locked up? I personally don’t believe so. I thought storm game showed we could use another solid middle, we struggled when they got rolling