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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[Wrighty]

Men and Ladies of the forum - is Dom Young an Aerial threat. He is quite tall. Could we bomb to Young on the 6th?

 

[Damo]

Men and Ladies of the forum - is Dom Young an Aerial threat. He is quite tall. Could we bomb to Young on the 6th?

BTM
BTY

 

[tyrael]

I'm back baby! And no I'm not talking fantasy and actually never was for you kents that reported me.

Anyways, Dom Young anyone? @Boston Boy

Roosters tell Dominic Young he can leave immediately

He has been one of the most prolific tryscorers in the game, but Dominic Young appears to have played his last game for the Roosters.

www.smh.com.au

 

[Muddogz]

At the very least, you’d have a good look at Dom Young. He’s killed us a couple of times so we know what he can do.

Confidence is low, but he certainly has the talent and at 23 plenty more good years to come. For the right price he’d be worth a punt especially given our wingers are both in their thirties.

 

[SouthernWorrier]

NZ born, Tuku Hau Tapua is a young prop at the Sharks I’d like the club to have a look at. 1.96 and explosive. It’s an absolute log jam there with props at the moment.

Can't believe I wasn't aware of this guy: NZ Born and physically what we're after. Our forwards are going really well but we can still be rolled by a genuinely big pack. Playing very limited minutes. As you say, a log jam over there but I wonder how bit a motor he has. Will be coming into his prime in a couple of years, one to watch.

 

[JustLikeStartingOver]

I'd take Young, Taine's jamming in and just about getting a fingertip on passes, Big Dom Young could swat them down from anywhere. Surely the locals can talk him into running it straight.

 

[Falcon]

There's a log jam here at the warriors, who is he coming in for?

Hes not coming in for anyone.
He’s adding to depth and body size.
JFH and Barney are your experienced guys, and then you have a converted backrower in Jackson Ford and Vaumaunga, … and then Tanner Stowers Smith?
We are not exactly bursting at the seams with front row stocks.

 

[Jaffa J]

I would like Dom Young I wanted him when he was off contract a few years ago has obvious deficiencies but would fix a speed issue we've had for a long time I trust webby would help him but from what it sounds like he's going back to Newy

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Hes not coming in for anyone.
He’s adding to depth and body size.
JFH and Barney are your experienced guys, and then you have a converted backrower in Jackson Ford and Vaumaunga, … and then Tanner Stowers Smith?
We are not exactly bursting at the seams with front row stocks.

Of course he would be a good get, but he would be in the same place that he's in at the sharks, why would you move for that?

 

[Ferdie]

Apologies, this is more about retention than recruitment.
But who would be our best 13 players (as in a starting lineup) of players that should be our highest priority to retain?
From the conversations here, I'll have a crack, but other opinions are welcome.
Note: This lineup excludes anyone in the top 30 or who have played NRL before.

1. Jeremiah Lemana
2. Raphael Sio
3. Kahu Capper
4. Caelys Putoko
5. Motu Pasikala
6. Jack Thompson
7. Jett Cleary
8. Jason Salalilo
9. Makaia Tafua
10. Rodney Tuipulotu Vea
11. Bishop Neal
12. Kayliss Fatialofa
13. Lennox Tuiloma

 

[chrisnz]

I would be more than happy to get Dom young for the right price would be nice for gannon also I imagine unfortunately for taine he is more a fullback than a utility and it's a position thats log jammed atm

 

[Noitall]

I would be more than happy to get Dom young for the right price would be nice for gannon also I imagine unfortunately for taine he is more a fullback than a utility and it's a position thats log jammed atm

Never realised he’s only 23. Feels like he’s been around for a while

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

I would be more than happy to get Dom young for the right price would be nice for gannon also I imagine unfortunately for taine he is more a fullback than a utility and it's a position thats log jammed atm

Is he the Kane Evans of the backs? I mean I've never seen a guy his size run so sideways!

He doesn't use his frame like he should.

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Apologies, this is more about retention than recruitment.
But who would be our best 13 players (as in a starting lineup) of players that should be our highest priority to retain?
From the conversations here, I'll have a crack, but other opinions are welcome.
Note: This lineup excludes anyone in the top 30 or who have played NRL before.

1. Jeremiah Lemana
2. Raphael Sio
3. Kahu Capper
4. Caelys Putoko
5. Motu Pasikala
6. Jack Thompson
7. Jett Cleary
8. Jason Salalilo
9. Makaia Tafua
10. Rodney Tuipulotu Vea
11. Bishop Neal
12. Kayliss Fatialofa
13. Lennox Tuiloma

Patrick Moi Moi, Sio Kali, Daeon Amituanai, Tobias Crosby, Luke Hansen would be up there?

I thought Pasikala was signed for next year already?

 

[BangBro's (still banging)]

Apologies, this is more about retention than recruitment.
But who would be our best 13 players (as in a starting lineup) of players that should be our highest priority to retain?
From the conversations here, I'll have a crack, but other opinions are welcome.
Note: This lineup excludes anyone in the top 30 or who have played NRL before.

1. Jeremiah Lemana
2. Raphael Sio
3. Kahu Capper
4. Caelys Putoko
5. Motu Pasikala
6. Jack Thompson
7. Jett Cleary
8. Jason Salalilo
9. Makaia Tafua
10. Rodney Tuipulotu Vea
11. Bishop Neal
12. Kayliss Fatialofa
13. Lennox Tuiloma

1 J Ratcliffe
2 S Kali
3 P Moi Moi
4 C Putoko
5 M Pasikala
6 L Hansen
7 J Cleary
8 B Neal
9 M Tafua
10 J Salalilo
11 K Fatialofa
12 T Crosby
13 L Tuiloma

14 J D Aolua
15 R T Vea
16 L Mikaele
17 E Fukofuka

 

[Ferdie]

1 J Ratcliffe
2 S Kali
3 P Moi Moi
4 C Putoko
5 M Pasikala
6 L Hansen
7 J Cleary
8 B Neal
9 M Tafua
10 J Salalilo
11 K Fatialofa
12 T Crosby
13 L Tuiloma

14 J D Aolua
15 R T Vea
16 L Mikaele
17 E Fukofuka

Interesting that you moved Neal to prop.
With our depth of edge forwards, I have wondered if that could happen.

 

[run_it_str8_again]

Opinion on Dom Young to us.

He has issues but so do we. If his issues are personal and un coachable I'd leave him. But we are short a winger who knows his craft and on the end of our backline he might pull finger and buy in here. Whatever is going on with him seems like my deal breaker

*Edit. Plus he'll have Gannon to relate to. And we have better pies and fish and chips so.....

 

[Funky Ed Koosie]

Men and Ladies of the forum - is Dom Young an Aerial threat. He is quite tall. Could we bomb to Young on the 6th?

Wouldn't touch him with a bar of soap if my cell mate said your turn.

 

[Dlenai]

This is 100% a no brainer of a signing - SURELY!

Look at DWZ pre signing to us at his last year at the bulldogs, he was arguably worse than what Young is now before the mid season signing

 

[Blain]

Warriors tried to sign Tom Hazelton?

And is that the direction the NRL is going though?
Ok, yeah. Slow, but has that ever been a thing?
(But what is slow btw? Define that. Is Capewell slow? He’s been brilliant the last few weeks. Hell, is Barnett slow?)

Definitely NOT BIG. (According to league live)
Haas, 194cm and 117kg
Tino, 197cm and 107kg
AFB, 189cm and 123kg
Tapine, 189cm and 109kg
All middles, all on a million bucks. (There’s plenty more to btw on 800k plus)

Elite middles like JFH, May and Jurbo are pretty mobile. They’re smaller sure……. But still fairly big. Hardly an indication of where the NRL is going.




Yeah, his stats would suggest he has a handling problem. Both now and historic.

Hazelton has a huge motor on him, big work rate and moves really well for a big man, hence the praise over the past couple years. Neame is not that guy, different type of player.