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
-	Morgan Gannon	-	✔	✔	✔
-	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: 26/30
Confirmed Supplementary 2026: 1/6

2026 Gains: Jye Linnane (Newcastle Knights), Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
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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[Dannevegas]

I worry about his lack of leg speed. He looks like he needs more sprint training to fit this pack we have.

Leg speed? He’s quicker around the park than Ford, Fish, Barnett Niukore as well

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

When I watch cup footy Bunty is the best middle forward out there.

I find Ale by comparison overrated.

Bunty 2024 NRL tackle percentage: 95%
Ale 2024 NRL tackle percentage: 93%
Both offered little on attack.

This is the stat Webster will have as his top priority. Having said that though, Ale was preferred at the end of last year with 15 games (2024) vs Buntys 9.

 

[Wrighty]

On Gannon
By acquiring him in 2026 he gets a full season with Leeds first to road test himself from a concussion perspective before joining the one nz warriors. So I think it was smart for all concerned to not acquire him immediately.

 

[Muddogz]

Gannons a bit of a project player for me. I see him being eased in next year with more of a bigger role when Niukore and Capewell likely finish in 2026.

I like Bunty as a fringe first grader and NSW cup prop, but it depends on how TSS and Ale go over the course of the season whether I would resign him. I would think we’d have capacity to re-sign him given releasing Zyon Maiu’u and we’ll need proper depth considering the age of our current stocks.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Ricky has been so successful over the last five years importing English forwards into the Canberra forward pack. It's actually quite smart if you think about- Canberra like us struggle with recruitment because Aussies are reluctant to go to cold climates when they can hang out on the beaches of Manly, Cronulla or Bondi. That's never a problem with Brits who are used to cold weather and are just looking for any opportunity to crack the NRL. We can't let Ricky pick all the low hanging fruit from England.

So I think we should be willing to give Gannon the benefit of the doubt. If he has anywhere the near the impact that a Smithies or Nicholson has made to the Raiders pack, I can see this being worth the punt. Worst case scenario, he's good forward depth and will go back home over the short-medium term.

 

[Woofa]

send his partner over as well for our nrlw team. For inspiration purposes only .

Fark, bet the last name is not only reason they call him the Hammer

 

[Five&Last]

Dont twist his words now

You mean the words typed and posted on this forum. Can grab the receipts if you want

 

[MrFrankWhite]

You mean the words typed and posted on this forum. Can grab the receipts if you want

Carryover joke from the Trump thread where I too quoted the words he typed and was promptly accused of the above

 

[sup42]

Leg speed? He’s quicker around the park than Ford, Fish, Barnett Niukore as well

Must be my old eyes.

Ricky has been so successful over the last five years importing English forwards into the Canberra forward pack. It's actually quite smart if you think about- Canberra like us struggle with recruitment because Aussies are reluctant to go to cold climates when they can hang out on the beaches of Manly, Cronulla or Bondi. That's never a problem with Brits who are used to cold weather and are just looking for any opportunity to crack the NRL. We can't let Ricky pick all the low hanging fruit from England.

So I think we should be willing to give Gannon the benefit of the doubt. If he has anywhere the near the impact that a Smithies or Nicholson has made to the Raiders pack, I can see this being worth the punt. Worst case scenario, he's good forward depth and will go back home over the short-medium term.

And before Sticky you had the Burgi and James Graham tipping the NRL on its head.

Tis a shame that some of the best ESL players '(especially fowards) have no interest in an NRL stint. But in a way that is a good thing, it would be a shame to gut the Super league even more than it already has been.

 

[Canonball]

Ricky has been so successful over the last five years importing English forwards into the Canberra forward pack. It's actually quite smart if you think about- Canberra like us struggle with recruitment because Aussies are reluctant to go to cold climates when they can hang out on the beaches of Manly, Cronulla or Bondi. That's never a problem with Brits who are used to cold weather and are just looking for any opportunity to crack the NRL. We can't let Ricky pick all the low hanging fruit from England.

So I think we should be willing to give Gannon the benefit of the doubt. If he has anywhere the near the impact that a Smithies or Nicholson has made to the Raiders pack, I can see this being worth the punt. Worst case scenario, he's good forward depth and will go back home over the short-medium term.

Yeah, I like the buy - it's a win-win for player and club ... would be nice to get someone immediately tho...

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Yeah, I like the buy - it's a win-win for player and club ... would be nice to get someone immediately tho...

Who would you want immediately and what position?

I can't think of anyone who would come immediately that would make us better.

Maybe Blake Wilson from the dogs?

 

[PhilsySH35]

I think that's a good comparison. Bunty's d is very good while Ale has better feet at the line. We have a smaller pack so against the big packs we need Bunty's D. That's why he's on the bench for mine. He changes the middle and slows it down and absorbs the big men of the other teams.

he's da man - the BBas (Bunty Brigade appreciation society) has spoken, what other club has such a low level player exceeding expectations!

 

[Falcon]

Gannons a bit of a project player for me. I see him being eased in next year with more of a bigger role when Niukore and Capewell likely finish in 2026.

I like Bunty as a fringe first grader and NSW cup prop, but it depends on how TSS and Ale go over the course of the season whether I would resign him. I would think we’d have capacity to re-sign him given releasing Zyon Maiu’u and we’ll need proper depth considering the age of our current stocks.

Anyone else noticed Buntys footwork at the line now? He’s a valuable squad player who goes about his business without fuss and won’t let you down.

 

[Completion Rate]

he's da man - the BBas (Bunty Brigade appreciation society) has spoken, what other club has such a low level player exceeding expectations!

It's actually the Big Bunty Appreciation Society thank you.
He's building into his prime prop years and yes he's added some late footwork to his game (even made a half break against the Knights which we haven't seen in a while)
The plan with Bunty is ultra long term. A One-club legend with many generations of Afoas eventually donning the Warriors jumper.
And the best part is he's so chill for someone who knows he could tear your arms clean off your body if he wanted.
We need to keep good people like Bunty around the club.

 

[rugged]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

 

[sydneywarrior92]

Just heard a rumour that Manu is coming from next year.
Came from someone with access to players but am unsure how reliable it is.

please don't get our hopes up.

 

[MaybeTop8]

please don't get our hopes up.

34 pages later

 

[rugged]

please don't get our hopes up.

Yeah sorry not sure what to make of it - not had a rumour from this source before so can’t weigh reliability easily other than they had access to the club in Chch on Friday

 

[PNG Kiwi]

34 pages later

Once bitten twice shy

 

[Dannevegas]

If the Manu rumours true anyone know why he wouldn’t just come this year?